The message: too many businesses of all sizes aren't committed to providing insurance coverage regardless of cost. A tax increase would increase the number of uninsured people more than it would offset that number. Also, the hospitals dependent on the federal uncompensated care dollars that Bush is going to propose giving to states will simply reduce their charity care, meaning that uninsured people will have fewer places to turn for health care service.

Finally, federal poverty level for individuals in 2006 was $9600 and for a family of four was $20K. Either way, the $360/mo. number Cindy mentioned for up to 3x FPL sounds terrifying.

It separated it into three posts...

No, I mean my overlong follow-up. When I clicked Post, it came up truncated.

No, I mean my overlong follow-up. When I clicked Post, it came up truncated.

Oh, that's just weird, then.

Increase taxes AND increase the cost of health care and insurance. Another win-win for the Bush White House!

Seriously, can't imagine what they are thinking. They know this won't pass a Democratic Congress. I'd think they have something EEEEvil up their collective sleeves but actually it seems like they're consistently winning the war against minimal political competence.

I'd think they have something EEEEvil up their collective sleeves but actually it seems like they're consistently winning the war against minimal political competence.

That's kind of where I am with the Bush administration now. Instead of a wary, "What diabolical plan is this? I can't parse it at all. It must be ingenious" - now I think, "Sweet Zombie Jesus! They're constipated with stupidity."

I knew stupidity was constipating!

It sounds as though the construction workers are demolishing something large made of concrete directly below my desk. Which might in fact be the case. It is very loud and vibratey.

You know what? Monday was not the most depressing day this year. Today is. In fact, the entire week is tainted just by standing next to Monday and Tuesday. The only silver lining I can see is that at least tomorrow's a new Daily Show so we don't have to wait an entire weekend for the mocking.

American Prospect blogger on the Bush health insurance plan:

I WAS WRONG. Alright, unpleasant post to write, but I was wrong: The Bush administration's health plan is a trap. I'd counsel Democrats to oppose it, but that'll hardly be necessary. The surprising outcome would be if they even notice it. And this comes, I hasten to underscore, from someone who was willing, eager even, to give the Bush administration a chance, to believe the Democratic majority had spurred them towards more pragmatic, constructive policy-making. Fool me once...

What the early reports either didn't make clear or didn't know was that the plan's changes to health care deductibility don't set limits, they're creating, instead, a standard deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families. My initial understanding was that those were caps: Above them, you couldn't deduct anything further. Below them, you simply deducted what you spent. That was incorrect. Instead, everyone will get precisely those deductions no matter what they spend. If you're 23 and your health care costs $2,000 a year, you still deduct $7,500, pocketing the difference. It would, in that situation, be economically foolish of you to purchase high quality, comprehensive coverage. And that goes all the way up the line. The intent here is clear: To incentivize the purchase of low-quality, high-deductible care, particularly among the healthy, young, and/or rich. To degrade the risk pool, and encourage HSAs. To reduce coverage, costs, and health security.

It's almost laughably wrongheaded, and won't survive an instant in Congress. Pete Stark, chair of the House Health Subcommittee, has already dismissed the idea of hearings. Other Democrats, I expect, will react much the same. Bush is responding to America's fears of high health costs, inadequate coverage, and increased risks with a proposal that promises to further weaken their coverage, heighten their risk and, when they get sick, increase their costs. It's a wonder he's even bothering. As for me, I made the mistake of extending good-faith to an administration that, time and again, has proven it deserves none. The optimist in me has been grounded for a week, and won't get dessert for two.

[link]

Health insurance is so frustrating. The temp agency I work for does have a health plan of sorts, but it doesn't cover mental health so it's completely useless to me.

The company I'm assigned to as a temp offers the same HMO I'm on now, but after 3 yrs it's clear my position is not going to be made permenant. (However, arrangements were made to get me a raise to cover a recent increase in my HMO monthly payments).

I currently pay $420/mth for a "non group" plan with an HMO (which my raise pretty much covered). It's a good HMO and I've had fantastic coverage. However, I'm also in the highest plan of co payments ($50/$30/$15), which means my current prescribed meds cost me $110/mth (which is one reason I want to go off one, it's the most expensive and would bring my co pays down to $60/mth). The last time I got an antibiotic I paid out of pocket because it was $12 and my co pay would be $15.

In the fall I'll be looking for a new job and one of the things I'll be looking for is a job that has health insurance through the HMO I have currently. I don't want to change becuse the alternatives are sucky.

One of the arguements I've heard against universal health care is a lack of doctor choice, but frankly, Mom and a few other people I know who have HMOs have run into this same problem. They can't see who they want because it's not covered.

I have several used to be strongly against universal health care for a variety of reasons but they see the problems I and my cousins in the "younger generation" (as it's been put) have had getting any kind of health insurance and realise that changes need to be made.

"Sweet Zombie Jesus! They're constipated with stupidity."

That's about all I can figure out too. It will be DOA in congress and I don't see a political upside for the republicans either. I guess it at least provides a stance on health care.