GOP Health Reform Bill Shifts More Costs to You

http://www.insurancecompanyrules.org/blog/entry/gop_health_reform_bill_more_shifts_costs_to_you/

The New York Times reported yesterday that

"House Republicans have come up with an answer to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, drafting an alternative health care bill that would reward states for reducing the number of uninsured, limit damages in medical malpractice lawsuits and allow small businesses to band together and buy insurance exempt from most state regulation."

That, in a nutshell is the House GOP bill (PDF) to reform our health care system. Same old, same old. There is nothing new in their plan. It is a rehash of the Republican party's answer to every problem:


* Deregulate the industry involved as much as possible;
* Put the burden of cost and risk on consumers and taxpayers ("buyer beware"); and
* Protect business from injured consumers.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/health/policy/04health.html?_r=1

G.O.P. Counters With a Health Plan of Its Own

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By ROBERT PEAR and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: November 3, 2009

WASHINGTON — House Republicans have come up with an answer to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, drafting an alternative health care bill that would reward states for reducing the number of uninsured, limit damages in medical malpractice lawsuits and allow small businesses to band together and buy insurance exempt from most state regulation.

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The Republican bill differs from the Democratic measure in that it would not require people to obtain insurance or require employers to offer it. It is almost surely cheaper than the House Democrats’ bill because, unlike that proposal, it would not expand Medicaid or offer federal subsidies to low- and middle-income people to help them buy insurance. Nor would the Republican bill impose new taxes.

The House Republican bill would not explicitly prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people because of pre-existing medical conditions, even though many Republicans have said they agree with Democrats that the federal government should outlaw such denials.

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