Calls for Health Insurance by 2012 (from Suddenly Senior)

From John Curry, Aug. 1, 2006
Subject: ??? calls for health insurance for all by 2012 - from Suddenly Senior

Note from John (especially to STRS retirees):

The question marks above (???) were put there by me. I wanted you to think a little bit about what health insurance for STRS retirees will be next year (we'll find out at the August STRS meeting). For a 30 year retiree who wishes to insure him/her self with an STRS PPO plan (80/20), the monthly tab will certainly be over $800 per month. Do you think that those making over 200K per year are really that concerned about the monthly cost of health care premiums for themselves or for those of us retirees who are struggling to eat, pay utilities, buy prescription medicine, gasoline, and heating fuels? They are even happier that they recently received their tax cuts complements of our President and members of his majority in Congress. What's 200K have to do with this? Read on.
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Nationalized health care is a concept that is gaining in popularity in the U.S., even though the rest of the industrialized has already seen the light. "Nationalized" Medicare is a concept that has been with us for many decades now although part of it has recently been "privatized" with the addition of Medicare Part D and it's accompanying donut hole - this in an appeasement to Big Pharma for their campaign contributions. With the exception of Part D, most Medicare recipients are happy with their coverage even though some Docs aren't too happy with Medicare's "ceiling" on payments to them with the prohibition that they legally can't charge the additional fees to their patients (sorry, Docs - I just hate to see you cry "poor mouth!"). Some even limit their Medicare practice to a certain set percent of their clientele.

Oh - almost forgot the (???) question marks in the title above. Who was he -- the guy who proposed this idea that has now even been realized as reasonable by more U.S. citizens?

HINT: Well, half (48%) of you sided with him a few years ago - wonder what the results would be today?

Scroll down to see the article. John, a Proud CORE member

----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Kaiser" To: Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 9:16 AM Subject: [SeniorNews] Kerry calls for health insurance for all by 2012 - from Suddenly Senior>

Kerry calls for health insurance for all by 2012

By Associated Press

Monday, July 31, 2006 - Updated: 10:14 AM EST

BOSTON - Sen. John Kerry on Monday proposed requiring all Americans to have health insurance by 2012, "with the federal government guaranteeing they have the means to afford it."

The Massachusetts Democrat, whose name is figuring prominently in 2008 White House speculation, repeated his 2004 presidential campaign call for expanding the federal Medicaid program to cover children. He also proposes creating a program to cover catastrophic cases so an employer providing insurance doesn't have to pass the cost to his other workers, and; offering Americans the ability to buy into the same insurance program used by federal workers such as members of Congress.

Kerry proposes to pay for the program by repealing tax cuts enacted during the Bush administration that benefit those earning over $200,000 annually. He did not immediately elaborate on how he would enact his insurance mandate.

"One of my biggest regrets is that fear talk trumped the health care walk, and that we are less safe abroad and less healthy at home because of that," said the prepared text of a speech Kerry planned to deliver at midday at Faneuil Hall. The senator has already delivered two other speeches at the Revolutionary War meeting house laying the ground work for a second presidential campaign.

The senator also promoted his health care proposal in a Boston Globe op-ed piece published Monday morning, and during an appearance on Don Imus's national radio program.

In his speech text, Kerry conceded his health care proposal is virtually the same as the program he outlined during his failed campaign. However, he said that continuity was a measure of his commitment to his health care ideals.

"Every day since Election Day, the health care crisis has grown steadily worse," said the remarks. "The president has stuck to his guns - or, more accurately, his empty holster - and done nothing beyond trotting out the conservative hobby horse of health savings accounts."

The senator said his plan will lead to universal coverage by 2012, "but if we're not there by 2012, we will require that all Americans have health insurance, with the federal government guaranteeing they have the means to afford it."

The Republican National Committee, which typically responds to political criticism of the president, said Kerry's critique ignored the prescription drug program enacted by the Bush administration.

"It's unfortunate that John Kerry's bitterness over losing the election clouds his ability to recognize the president's prescription drug plan is providing millions of seniors with more affordable medicine," said RNC spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt.

Whatever his criticism, Kerry faces the reality that the governor of his home state - Republican Mitt Romney, himself a potential 2008 presidential candidate - has not only talked about but enacted a sweeping health care overhaul designed to bring universal coverage to Massachusetts. Last week, Michael Leavitt, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, called the program "a model" for the nation.

Romney negotiated the plan with a Democratic Legislature, and in cooperation with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., Kerry's senior colleague.

Under Romney's plan, which the federal government is assisting with $385 million annually, Medicaid will be expanded for 100,000 people, the government will cover premium costs for another 200,000 who buy private programs, while an additional 200,000 will be required to buy insurance from low-cost policies offered by private companies working in tandem with the government.

Romney signed the bill into law in April on the same Faneuil Hall stage where Kerry planned his remarks.