Value Added Health Service

Given your life/your health/your means to care for yourself will be determined by the Federal Government..?

Does that bother you in least (for those who want socialized health care)? Look at the excerpt from the House Ways and Means committee indicating your care will be predetermined by population and money set aside for that state. Oh and look at the additional taxation being discussed. One more thing---look at the date it was introduced. 1/6/2009--Introduced. National Health Insurance Act - Requires that medical services, hospital services, and other personal health services be made available to eligible individuals in all U.S. health-service areas as rapidly as possible. Sets forth minimum income requirements for eligibility. Allows health care professionals and hospitals to enter into agreements to furnish services to eligible individuals. Gives responsibility for administration of the benefits provided under this Act to local administrative committees or officers. Allows a state to assume responsibility for administration of the personal health benefits provided under this Act. Human Services (HHS); and (2) the National Advisory Medical Policy Council. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine the eligibility of any individual for benefits under this Act. Limits benefits under this Act for an individual to only those services for which the individual is not eligible under Medicare. Requires the Board to: (1) determine the sums to be made available for the provision of personal health-service benefits; and (2) allot amounts to each state based on population, available professional services and facilities, and the cost of compensation. Allows the Board to make grants for the training of professionals providing benefits under this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a value added tax of 5% on each sale of property, performance of services, and importation of property in the United States by a taxable person in a commercial-type transaction. Sets forth exceptions, including for food, housing, medical care, exports, interest, governmental entities, and certain tax-exempt organizations. Establishes the National Health Care Trust Fund and appropriates to it amounts equal to the revenue received by the Treasury from such tax. Requires the Secretary to study and report on the various methods to control the costs of providing personal health benefits under this Act.

Public Comments

1. Someone already determines it for me - my insurance company. They tell me I have to go to a PCP, get their blessing, and then go to a specialist. Everyone gets a profit. Oh, and since I had a pre-existing condition, they don't have to cover anything related to that. Don't support Universal Health care, but come on!
2. You mean instead of being determined by a corporate shmuck in a windowless office somewhere? At least the government is accountable to the people.
3. Your life/your health/ your well-being are now being determined by health insurance companies whose only motive is profit. How you like that?
4. The US already has "socialized" health insurance. Health Insurance from employers is exactly that--divided up into thousands of social groups--one for each employer that offers insurance. And every single one of those employers enters into cost-containment agreements similar to those you listed. So, what's your beef? By pooling ALL the US into one large social group, we get the buying power and ability to spread risk over much larger numbers of people. We get the ability to drive down costs (by directing people toward clinics instead of emergency rooms). AND --big benefit here-- no one can be denied coverage, or lose coverage due to changed employment status. Families won't go bankrupt due to one illness. Elderly can get the care they need without destroying the financial futures of their children. So, what's not to like? I believe these benefits far outweigh the loss of 2 million insurance company jobs.
5. I read the Republican plan- it is only 4 pages including a summary. They do nothing to keep insurance companies from dropping sick people, nothing to keep them form not insuring people with pre-existing conditions. Sorry not good enough.
6. The government won't charge abusive prices like the insurance companies would if they had a monopoly. The public option is voluntary. You are free to stick with your private plan if you choose to do so.