Will there be other ways to get health care in the United States? republicans unveil their plan that is reported to be less costly then the 2 trillion dollar Obama plan.
Republicans Offer Alternative to Obama Health Care Plan
Thursday, May 28, 2009
By Fred Lucas, Staff Writer
President Barack Obama arrives Wednesday May 27, 2009, in Los Angeles for a fundraising event.(AP Photo/Nick Ut)
(CNSNews.com) – Republican lawmakers have proposed what they describe as a revenue-neutral, free-market-based alternative to universal health care.
The bill is a response to the plan supported by President Barack Obama that would establish a separate government insurance program to compete with private insurance programs.
In contrast, the Republican proposal -- called “The Patients Choice Act” -- would redirect the $300 billion already spent on federal subsidies for employer-based insurance to annual tax credits of $5,700 for families and $2,300 for individuals to buy private insurance.
“There is no question we cut the uninsured in half,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) told CNSNews.com during a conference call Wednesday. “This is revenue neutral. Why would President Obama not support it? His plan costs another $1.5 trillion (over 10 years). Our bill forces insurance companies to have to compete.”
The bill is sponsored by Coburn and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) in the Senate and by Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) in the House.
The legislation, if enacted, also has grants $5,000 for low-income earners to spend annually on health care. That would give Medicaid beneficiaries an option for another plan. Medicaid is the federal-state health insurance program for the poor.
Despite the daunting Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, Coburn believes if the public is made aware of the contrasting proposals, there will be a public groundswell against a government-run system. He referenced an immigration reform proposal from 2007 defeated because of popular opposition.
For their part, Obama and the Democrats already have gotten certain aspects of their health care proposal through Congress in the economic recovery act passed earlier this year. That bill spent $2 billion to establish a comparative effectiveness council to determine the most cost effective treatments.
The stimulus legislation also established a centrally linked system to store the medical files of every American by 2014.
A White House official said the Republican proposal is not on their radar now but said this bill could effectively tax health care benefits. That’s because workers currently get a tax subsidy through their employer-based health insurance, which would go away if health care is no longer employer-based.
The White House official referenced a May 18 speech by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, in which the chairman opposed any legislation to increase taxes on health care.
“President Obama and Democrat leaders want a brand new tax on our health care benefits and are devising a plan to give federal government bureaucrats control of our health care system,” Steele said last week.
Coburn said in most cases, people will opt to take the credit and find less expensive insurance, so it will not amount to a tax hike.
“Almost everybody under our plan gets a tax cut and will never be bound to a job again because now that tax credit goes to them.”
Ryan praised the budgetary aspect of the bill, as Medicaid beneficiaries can opt in to a private plan with the new debit.
“It brings solvency to the most insolvent program out there – Medicaid,” Ryan said.
The bill is a response to the plan supported by President Barack Obama that would establish a separate government insurance program to compete with private insurance programs.
In contrast, the Republican proposal -- called “The Patients Choice Act” -- would redirect the $300 billion already spent on federal subsidies for employer-based insurance to annual tax credits of $5,700 for families and $2,300 for individuals to buy private insurance.
“There is no question we cut the uninsured in half,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) told CNSNews.com during a conference call Wednesday. “This is revenue neutral. Why would President Obama not support it? His plan costs another $1.5 trillion (over 10 years). Our bill forces insurance companies to have to compete.”
The bill is sponsored by Coburn and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) in the Senate and by Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) in the House.
The legislation, if enacted, also has grants $5,000 for low-income earners to spend annually on health care. That would give Medicaid beneficiaries an option for another plan. Medicaid is the federal-state health insurance program for the poor.
Despite the daunting Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, Coburn believes if the public is made aware of the contrasting proposals, there will be a public groundswell against a government-run system. He referenced an immigration reform proposal from 2007 defeated because of popular opposition.
For their part, Obama and the Democrats already have gotten certain aspects of their health care proposal through Congress in the economic recovery act passed earlier this year. That bill spent $2 billion to establish a comparative effectiveness council to determine the most cost effective treatments.
The stimulus legislation also established a centrally linked system to store the medical files of every American by 2014.
A White House official said the Republican proposal is not on their radar now but said this bill could effectively tax health care benefits. That’s because workers currently get a tax subsidy through their employer-based health insurance, which would go away if health care is no longer employer-based.
The White House official referenced a May 18 speech by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, in which the chairman opposed any legislation to increase taxes on health care.
“President Obama and Democrat leaders want a brand new tax on our health care benefits and are devising a plan to give federal government bureaucrats control of our health care system,” Steele said last week.
Coburn said in most cases, people will opt to take the credit and find less expensive insurance, so it will not amount to a tax hike.
“Almost everybody under our plan gets a tax cut and will never be bound to a job again because now that tax credit goes to them.”
Ryan praised the budgetary aspect of the bill, as Medicaid beneficiaries can opt in to a private plan with the new debit.
“It brings solvency to the most insolvent program out there – Medicaid,” Ryan said.
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