Comments on: Congressman Massa – do you support health care reform? http://citizenactionny.org/2009/08/congressman-massa-do-you-support-health-care-reform/818 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Robin Wilt http://citizenactionny.org/2009/08/congressman-massa-do-you-support-health-care-reform/818/comment-page-1#comment-98 Robin Wilt Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:49:38 +0000 http://citizenactionny.org/?p=818#comment-98 I am not a Republican, and I am calling Rep. Massa's office today to urge him to vote against HR 3200. The public option in HR 3200 is not only not available on day one (it will be made available through the Exchange in 2013), it is weak. Eligibility is not only limited to those who do not currently have employer-provided insurance (so it really does not represent a legitimate "choice" for those dissatisfied with their private insurance plans), it is funded through premiums, as opposed to through the government (other than initial seed money of $2 billion). This bill offers massive subsidies to the private insurance companies from the government, funded in part though cuts in Medicaid and Medicare, so that private insurers will insure those that they were unwilling to insure before. Medicare still will not be able to bargain prescription drug rates under HR 3200. Instead, we will have to rely on the good will of the pharmaceutical industry to slow increases in costs to the tune of $80 billion. Moreover, it will not offer universal coverage, and existing employer-based health insurance plans have a five-year grace period within which to come into compliance with new conumer protections offered in the Exchange. Is that meaningful change? No to me. It is robbing the poor (Medicaid and Medicare) to give to the unfortunate (the uninsured). I am not a Republican, and I am calling Rep. Massa’s office today to urge him to vote against HR 3200. The public option in HR 3200 is not only not available on day one (it will be made available through the Exchange in 2013), it is weak. Eligibility is not only limited to those who do not currently have employer-provided insurance (so it really does not represent a legitimate “choice” for those dissatisfied with their private insurance plans), it is funded through premiums, as opposed to through the government (other than initial seed money of $2 billion).

This bill offers massive subsidies to the private insurance companies from the government, funded in part though cuts in Medicaid and Medicare, so that private insurers will insure those that they were unwilling to insure before. Medicare still will not be able to bargain prescription drug rates under HR 3200. Instead, we will have to rely on the good will of the pharmaceutical industry to slow increases in costs to the tune of $80 billion. Moreover, it will not offer universal coverage, and existing employer-based health insurance plans have a five-year grace period within which to come into compliance with new conumer protections offered in the Exchange. Is that meaningful change? No to me. It is robbing the poor (Medicaid and Medicare) to give to the unfortunate (the uninsured).

]]> By: Robin Wilt http://citizenactionny.org/2009/08/congressman-massa-do-you-support-health-care-reform/818/comment-page-1#comment-868 Robin Wilt Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:49:00 +0000 http://citizenactionny.org/?p=818#comment-868 I am not a Republican, and I am calling Rep. Massa's office today to urge him to vote against HR 3200. The public option in HR 3200 is not only not available on day one (it will be made available through the Exchange in 2013), it is weak. Eligibility is not only limited to those who do not currently have employer-provided insurance (so it really does not represent a legitimate "choice" for those dissatisfied with their private insurance plans), it is funded through premiums, as opposed to through the government (other than initial seed money of $2 billion). This bill offers massive subsidies to the private insurance companies from the government, funded in part though cuts in Medicaid and Medicare, so that private insurers will insure those that they were unwilling to insure before. Medicare still will not be able to bargain prescription drug rates under HR 3200. Instead, we will have to rely on the good will of the pharmaceutical industry to slow increases in costs to the tune of $80 billion. Moreover, it will not offer universal coverage, and existing employer-based health insurance plans have a five-year grace period within which to come into compliance with new conumer protections offered in the Exchange. Is that meaningful change? No to me. It is robbing the poor (Medicaid and Medicare) to give to the unfortunate (the uninsured). I am not a Republican, and I am calling Rep. Massa’s office today to urge him to vote against HR 3200. The public option in HR 3200 is not only not available on day one (it will be made available through the Exchange in 2013), it is weak. Eligibility is not only limited to those who do not currently have employer-provided insurance (so it really does not represent a legitimate “choice” for those dissatisfied with their private insurance plans), it is funded through premiums, as opposed to through the government (other than initial seed money of $2 billion).

This bill offers massive subsidies to the private insurance companies from the government, funded in part though cuts in Medicaid and Medicare, so that private insurers will insure those that they were unwilling to insure before. Medicare still will not be able to bargain prescription drug rates under HR 3200. Instead, we will have to rely on the good will of the pharmaceutical industry to slow increases in costs to the tune of $80 billion. Moreover, it will not offer universal coverage, and existing employer-based health insurance plans have a five-year grace period within which to come into compliance with new conumer protections offered in the Exchange. Is that meaningful change? No to me. It is robbing the poor (Medicaid and Medicare) to give to the unfortunate (the uninsured).

]]> By: Andrew http://citizenactionny.org/2009/08/congressman-massa-do-you-support-health-care-reform/818/comment-page-1#comment-96 Andrew Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:33:37 +0000 http://citizenactionny.org/?p=818#comment-96 Massa should know full well that delaying at this point plays right into the hands of the insurance lobbies and Republican Party. We know what the options are, we know what the need is; heck, we've known it for 50 years! A strong government-run public healthcare option linked to Medicare costs and funded by modest tax increases on America's most wealthy! We could have this if we fight for it! Massa should know full well that delaying at this point plays right into the hands of the insurance lobbies and Republican Party. We know what the options are, we know what the need is; heck, we’ve known it for 50 years! A strong government-run public healthcare option linked to Medicare costs and funded by modest tax increases on America’s most wealthy! We could have this if we fight for it!

]]> By: Andrew http://citizenactionny.org/2009/08/congressman-massa-do-you-support-health-care-reform/818/comment-page-1#comment-867 Andrew Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:33:00 +0000 http://citizenactionny.org/?p=818#comment-867 Massa should know full well that delaying at this point plays right into the hands of the insurance lobbies and Republican Party. We know what the options are, we know what the need is; heck, we've known it for 50 years! A strong government-run public healthcare option linked to Medicare costs and funded by modest tax increases on America's most wealthy! We could have this if we fight for it! Massa should know full well that delaying at this point plays right into the hands of the insurance lobbies and Republican Party. We know what the options are, we know what the need is; heck, we’ve known it for 50 years! A strong government-run public healthcare option linked to Medicare costs and funded by modest tax increases on America’s most wealthy! We could have this if we fight for it!

]]> By: Dawn Kessler http://citizenactionny.org/2009/08/congressman-massa-do-you-support-health-care-reform/818/comment-page-1#comment-95 Dawn Kessler Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:46:10 +0000 http://citizenactionny.org/?p=818#comment-95 You are shocked that Massa slowed down the process??? Have you read any of the versions of the bill??? There are lots of "bugs" that need to be worked out and this is NOT something that should be passed with out VERY SERIOUS debate and looking at other options (which there are, they are just not telling you)! I don't know what the extreme rush is except for the fact that the liberals will be out of a job come the 2010 elections, so they HAVE to do it NOW! You are shocked that Massa slowed down the process??? Have you read any of the versions of the bill??? There are lots of “bugs” that need to be worked out and this is NOT something that should be passed with out VERY SERIOUS debate and looking at other options (which there are, they are just not telling you)! I don’t know what the extreme rush is except for the fact that the liberals will be out of a job come the 2010 elections, so they HAVE to do it NOW!

]]> By: Dawn Kessler http://citizenactionny.org/2009/08/congressman-massa-do-you-support-health-care-reform/818/comment-page-1#comment-866 Dawn Kessler Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:46:00 +0000 http://citizenactionny.org/?p=818#comment-866 You are shocked that Massa slowed down the process??? Have you read any of the versions of the bill??? There are lots of "bugs" that need to be worked out and this is NOT something that should be passed with out VERY SERIOUS debate and looking at other options (which there are, they are just not telling you)! I don't know what the extreme rush is except for the fact that the liberals will be out of a job come the 2010 elections, so they HAVE to do it NOW! You are shocked that Massa slowed down the process??? Have you read any of the versions of the bill??? There are lots of “bugs” that need to be worked out and this is NOT something that should be passed with out VERY SERIOUS debate and looking at other options (which there are, they are just not telling you)! I don’t know what the extreme rush is except for the fact that the liberals will be out of a job come the 2010 elections, so they HAVE to do it NOW!

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