Senate presents health reform proposal
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
Democratic Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus pledged to work with Republicans to come up with a health care reform proposal. The result was released yesterday, without Republican backing. It includes many of the President's goals:
• no denials of coverage for pre-existing conditions
• mandated health insurance for citizens
• tax on larger employers if they don't provide health insurance
Notably different is the lack of a public health insurance option. Instead, the bill would encourage co-op style insurance groups.
All in all, I think the Baucus/Senate approach has its strengths.
It answers the Republican philosophy that people are responsible for their own health care by making coverage mandatory.
It answers the Democratic philosophy in providing subsidies for low-income workers.
Not sure if the co-op plan will help to reduce costs, but we know the public option is a non-starter in the Senate, with its filibuster threat.
(Not even sure that a public "option" is the way to go; I think you should go totally public, or don't bother. All or nothing at all.)
So as they say, at the end of the day, this may be the best and most reasonable plan we can hope for this year.