Here by way of michiexile. Thanks for the links, those are very helpful.
One question about your letter; you write:
he's proposing to put a public health insurance on the market with the private companies, to let people choose and see what works better
However, according to the summary of the SELF plan, Title I Subtitle D, "All individuals will be required to obtain health insurance coverage." It further states, "The minimum penalty to accomplish the goal of enhancing participation in qualifying coverage will be no more than $750 per year."
I respectfully submit that this is not the same as "putting a public health insurance on the market with the private companies, to let people choose and see what works better", because under this plan, people no longer have the ability to choose not to carry health insurance. I know a few people who genuinely prefer just to pay their doctors directly; there are also people who prefer alternative therapies to allopathic medicine, and their preferred treatments will almost certainly not be covered. The plans on the table take away their option not to participate in a health insurance plan, and in fact penalise them for not doing so. How is this fair?
Also: I am a U.S. citizen who no longer lives in the United States. I haven't been able to find out how this is going to affect me and other expats; since we're still U.S. taxpayers, will we have to purchase coverage that we won't ever use or else pay a fine? I already pay for coverage in the country where I live; however, my insurer does not do business in the U.S. and thus my health plan would not be a qualified health plan. What happens to me and the other ~4 million expats out there?
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momijizukamori
Re: wording & framing
Date: 2009-08-25 10:21 (UTC)One question about your letter; you write:
he's proposing to put a public health insurance on the market with the private companies, to let people choose and see what works better
However, according to the summary of the SELF plan, Title I Subtitle D, "All individuals will be required to obtain health insurance coverage." It further states, "The minimum penalty to accomplish the goal of enhancing participation in qualifying coverage will be no more than $750 per year."
I respectfully submit that this is not the same as "putting a public health insurance on the market with the private companies, to let people choose and see what works better", because under this plan, people no longer have the ability to choose not to carry health insurance. I know a few people who genuinely prefer just to pay their doctors directly; there are also people who prefer alternative therapies to allopathic medicine, and their preferred treatments will almost certainly not be covered. The plans on the table take away their option not to participate in a health insurance plan, and in fact penalise them for not doing so. How is this fair?
Also: I am a U.S. citizen who no longer lives in the United States. I haven't been able to find out how this is going to affect me and other expats; since we're still U.S. taxpayers, will we have to purchase coverage that we won't ever use or else pay a fine? I already pay for coverage in the country where I live; however, my insurer does not do business in the U.S. and thus my health plan would not be a qualified health plan. What happens to me and the other ~4 million expats out there?