Senate HELP Committee Passes Affordable Health Choices Act

Flanked by members of the American Nurses Association, President Obama announced that the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) Committee passed The Affordable Health Choices Act, a proposal for health care reform that requires shared responsibility — from government, insurance companies, medical providers, individuals, and employers.

Included in the bill is the hotly debated public option. Another key provision provides that no insurance company would be allowed to deny coverage for a pre-existing condition, nor would they be allowed to price those people out of the market. It would put an end to the practice of arbitrary terminations of policies just when the need is greatest.

The House introduced its own health care reform proposal, House Bill H.R. 3200, on July 14. According to the President,

“Both proposals will take what’s best about our system today and make it the basis of our system tomorrow – reducing costs, raising quality, and ensuring fair treatment of consumers by the insurance industry. Both include a health insurance exchange, a marketplace that will allow families and small businesses to compare prices, services, and quality so they can choose the plan that best suits their needs; and among the choices available would be a public health insurance option that would make health care more affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices, and keeping insurance companies honest. Both proposals will offer stability and security to Americans who have coverage today, and affordable options for Americans who don’t.”

The President stressed that “this progress should make us hopeful, but it shouldn’t make us complacent,” urging the House and the Senate to finish their critical work on health care reform before the August recess.

But what about “government-controlled” health care? Do you want a government bureaucrat in between you and your doctor? Isn’t a government plan un-American? Don’t you want to remain in control of your own health care? Those are some of the fear tactics being thrown out by opponents of reform. The fact is, many of us lost control over our own health care decisions to the insurers long ago. Having the alternative of a government option is a life ring to those who have been thrown overboard by the insurance industry.

We are a strong nation, a proud nation. We believe in self-reliance and a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” philosophy. But we are also a caring nation, one that should provide a level playing field when it comes to matters of health, a nation that looks out for its own.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Crystal T.

6:35PM PDT on Jul 17, 2009

The fact is, many of us lost control over our own health care decisions to the insurers long ago.

Unfortunately, these rules are only too true. All those insurance-company backed commercials spewing the crap about a government bureaucrat in charge of your health hides the fact that we have greedy corporate bean counters in charge of our health now... overriding your doctor on things like if you should have anesthesia for a procedure (insurers won't pay for it if they deem the doctor shouldn't be using anesthesia on a procedure) and determining how often you can have a test or even if you can have a test (my favorite was when the insurance company refused to pay for an HIV test the doctor ordered because it was negative). At least the government bureaucrat wouldn't be feathering his golden parachute with your health care.

As for those who berate HMOs... HMOs are a great concept... the problem is that they, too, are beholden to those same insurance companies, who are allowed to give bonuses and perks to those doctors who don't spend money on you.

It all goes back to insurance companies who are fighting with loads of our money (high premiums) against single payer health insurance because the latter is not in their interests. What is in their interests is continuing to soak us for the most amount of money and then deny, deny, deny, paying out as much as they can. And if you haven't experienced that yet, count yourself lucky, because unfortunately your day is coming

send a green star

Joanne B.

9:24AM PDT on Jul 17, 2009

UPDATE AND CORRECTION!
This is an update on my previous comment asking people to call the (House) HELP subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee to ask approval of the amendment which would allow states to set up their own single payer plans. THIS AMENDMENT WAS ACCEPTED IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE--there is no need to make calls now. I do not know the next step... I believe it will have to be voted on by the whole house later, maybe the committee first... but it has passed the present hurdle.
In the meanwhile, if you would still like to see single payer under consideration for the whole country, you could call your congressperson asking them to support HR676. Thanks.

Pristine P.

8:43AM PDT on Jul 17, 2009

The AMA is in support of this bill because as it's written the government will subsidize insurance premiums for people making up to 88,000 a year who "can't afford insurance".

This is NOT true reform. This bill will explode the deficit, do nothing to control cost and still leave out millions of people.

A better model is The5DollarRevolution which funds the public option by targetting the working uninsured and companies who don't currently provide coverage to their employees. It's not dependent on taxes and will not add to the deficit. Check out the5DollarRevolution.com for more info. This model has been proven to work. Then call the White House Swithcboad and leave a message for the president letting him know you support The5DollarRevolution.com

6:03AM PDT on Jul 17, 2009

If you are still hoping for single payer healthcare (eliminating the insurance company middleman and paying for healthcare through taxes--much cheaper and more fair system), please contact any member(s) of the HELP subcommittee (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) and ask them to support the amendment introducted Thursday to them by Rep. Kucinich which would allow states to set up single payer healthcare. Canada's single payer healthcare began in the individual provences. Call members of the HELP subcommittee:
George Miller (CA-7) 202-225-2095
Dale Kildee (MI-5) 202-225-3611
Donald Payne (NJ-10) 202-225-3436
Robert Andrews (NJ-1) 202-225-6501
Bobby Scott (VA-3) 202-225-8351
Lynn Woolsey (CA-6) 202-225-5161
Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15) 202-225-2531
Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4) 202-225-5516
John Tierney (MA-6) 202-225-8020
David Wu (OR-1) 202-225-0855
Rush Holt (NJ-12) 202-225-5801
Susan Davis (CA-53) 202-225-2040
Raul Grijalva (AZ-7) 202-225-2435
Tim Bishop (NY-1) 202-225-3826
Joe Sestak (PA-7) 202-225-2011
David Loebsack (IA-2) 202-225-6576
Mazie Hirono (HI-2) 202-225-4906
Jason Altmire (PA-4) 202-225-2565
Phil Hare (IL-17) 202-225-5905
Yvette Clarke (NY-11) 202-225-6231
Joe Courtney (CT-2) 202-225-2076
Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1) 202-225-5456
Marcia Fudge (OH-11) 202-225-7032
Jared Polis (CO-2) 202-225-2161
Paul Tonko (NY-21) 202-225-5076
Dina Titus (NV-3) 202-225-3252
Thank you!

Lee G.

5:12AM PDT on Jul 17, 2009

The patient lost control of choosing health care providers when HMOs were instituted. The difference is whether a private administrator, whose job depends on denying services to make profits, or whether a government bureaucrat whose incentive is to provide as much service as possible so his job looks bigger and more important, is the controller. The alledged government waste is minimal compared to the corporate greed.

Past Member .

3:59PM PDT on Jul 16, 2009

i read quite a bit of the legalise jargon souped up by the health care reform committe, hr 3200, there sure is total control by this admin. with many appointments from sebellius (sp?), sec of hhs, right on down to special overseeing boards. i know the health care in america needs to be reformed but as a working medical professional, believe me this whole idea just isn't it!!!!! this proposed system is a twin/duplicate blueprint that began as a supposed "great idea" and presently represents the canadian/russian/uk etc. medical systems...it will be a long, sad and deeply painful road to the bottom...i'm afraid to say for many...like i mean, what's the rush? i'm a nurse, but i for one would not have stood next to the pres. at the podiom WH press conf. the other day, when he was supposedly surrounded by the ANA and NLPN...those nurses didn't represent or speak for me or any of the med. prof. people i work beside when on duty each and every day...reform is definately necessary but this offering by those in power will do more harm than good, mark my words...no matter their intentiions. "control" is starting to seem like the key word to the govt. legislations'/policys' these days, doesn't it? i am concerned about my country and my fellowman...i just went and looked out the back door to make sure my yard hadn't changed and that i'm still in America. sighhh~~~yep still here.