Obama makes health-care pitch in N.Va.

The independently-funded healthcare policy research organization, The Commonwealth Fund, compared possible savings ‘a health insurance exchange’ could bring under three different scenarios. One would include a Medicare-like plan along with private insurance. Another would instead offer only a government-run plan with rates somewhat higher than Medicare. The final one would be private insurance with no government plan at all.
Commonwealth’s study found cumulative health system savings between 2010 and 2020, compared with projected trends for that period, would range from $3.0 trillion under a Medicare-like plan along with private insurance paying providers at Medicare rates in competition with private plans, to $2.0 trillion for a public plan paying providers at rates between Medicare and private plan rates, to $1.2 trillion in the private plan-only scenario. All three options would help insure nearly all Americans, it said, with the number of uninsured dropping to about 4 million people by 2012.  ‘Such an exchange’ would offer a central point for consumers to shop for and compare health plans.

Under the Medicare-like plan along with private insurance, all U.S. residents would be required to obtain health coverage. The plan would establish a new government-sponsored health program for people younger than age 65 who are not eligible for Medicare. More than 40 million people would be expected to enroll in the program, according to Cathy Schoen of the Commonwealth Fund.
The government-operated insurance exchange would be similar to an existing program in Massachusetts and would allow people to compare coverage offered by private insurers and the new public program. In addition, the plan supports wide adoption of health information technology, better disease prevention efforts and ‘changes to the insurance payment system’ that promote efficiency. Health spending would continue to increase under the plan, but at a slower rate than current projections over the next 10 years. The Commonwealth Fund said the plan would reduce annual health care spending growth from a projected 6.7% to 5.5% and save a cumulative total of about ‘$3 trillion’ by 2020, adding a national health insurance exchange program that includes a federally managed health insurance option could potentially save $1.8 trillion more than a plan consisting only of private plans.
The group’s analysis assumed other changes would also be made to the U.S. healthcare market. These include an expansion of existing government coverage and new regulations that would require insurers to cover a wider range of consumers. Hospitals and doctors would also see their revenues grow with any of the three exchanges but at a slower rate, the report said.

The proposal’s advocates have argued that a government-sponsored insurance plan would offer the 46 million uninsured Americans an affordable alternative to costly private insurance,  adding that It would provide a strong incentive for private plans to strealine, innovate and compete.

‘Smith is a volunteer…for Obama’s political operation.‘ Sad to say, I knew before the article was over the other shoe would drop on this person’s story. These ‘town meetings’ are getting old, especially when after all the orchestration it turns out there’s no ‘there’ to Obama’s plans. He’s all smooth words, hugs and ‘concern’. I care to, but I don’t count because my ‘care’ is not the ‘care’ Obama and the Democrats want. They only ‘care’ as long as they gain more power, more control and more wealth.

The Green Party stands for joining the REST OF THE WORLD in single payer health care, while the Republicrats are for more insurance and hospital profits.

http://gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=226

Greens call for new GAO, Congressional Budget Office studies on Single-Payer health care

Interesting.. while Governor Kaine was sitting in this meeting helping to promote another government proposal we can’t afford, 10 disadvantaged youth had to cancel their fishing trip at the local state forest.  My husband watched a gentleman come in with a group of city kids to the local convenience store to buy blood worms for their fishing adventure.. When he was informed of the $15.00 per person fee, his face fell.. he didn’t have that much money.. The kids were so down hearted.. he had to put the bloodworms back and they left.. Sort of ironic that this is the governor who touts camping in our state parks.. now I guess it’s only for the “rich”.