| Health insurance coverage for the masses has been in | | | | private insurance for up to 75% less. The remaining |
| the news for awhile now. But with the recent | | | | 6% would not qualify and should be allowed and |
| campaign season, and the economic downturn the U.S. | | | | possibly subsidized until they can find another group |
| has been experiencing, it has been pushed to the | | | | health insurance plan or be allowed to remain on |
| forefront with renewed vigor. While I, like most of you, | | | | C.O.B.R.A. until the age of 65 when they would qualify |
| would like to see the entire population have some type | | | | for Medicare. If the government insist on subsidizing |
| of health insurance coverage, I don't believe the | | | | everyone on C.O.B.R.A. Wouldn't it be far cheaper for |
| government should foot the bill. Or at lease not all of it. | | | | them just to subsidize the cost of the lower cost |
| The proposed $836 BILLION dollar stimulus package | | | | private plan? Potentially saving billions of dollars while |
| sets aside about $40,000,000,000.00 (40 billion) to help | | | | still providing basic coverage for those who lost their |
| the uninsured. Some of the money is to be used to | | | | jobs. |
| expand medicaid for the poor, while the rest is to used | | | | The group of people being left out of this plan are the |
| to subsidize C.O.B.R.A. for those who lose their jobs. | | | | people who do not have group coverage, make too |
| On the surface these seem to be good ideas but | | | | much money for Medicaid and have to provide their |
| upon further review the plan is more expensive than it | | | | own coverage. I think what these people need is not |
| needs to be while skipping a large portion of people in | | | | subsidies or "free" insurance but information and |
| the middle. | | | | education on what insurance coverages they need |
| Helping those less fortunate than ourselves is a noble | | | | versus what the think they need. We are at the end |
| cause, thus I believe helping the poor by expanding | | | | of the HMO generation. The time when most had an |
| Medicaid sounds reasonable, however, the individual | | | | HMO plan through our employers or our parents |
| states we be able to set the baseline for acceptance. | | | | employers and there was little to no cast for any |
| Meaning that if the state sets the limit too some of the | | | | medical services. Those days are gone but many |
| truly needy will not qualify, but if they set the limit too | | | | believe that is the only acceptable type of coverage, |
| high then we as tax payers are helping those who | | | | Low cost high coverage and no personal financial |
| should be able to help themselves. Also covered under | | | | responsability. During these difficult financial times we |
| the Medicaid program will be those who choose not to | | | | need to take a look at the type of coverage that we |
| report their income either for tax or immigration issues | | | | truly need, take responsibility for that coverage, seek |
| as well as those who simply choose not to work. (But | | | | out those that can best advise us and then put it in |
| that is another article for a different day) If we as the | | | | place. |
| taxpayers are expected to pay the bills we should | | | | Insurance is not the governments responsibility it is |
| have the right to expect our government to enforce | | | | OUR responsibility. Government funded insurance |
| the rules that govern our money. Some portion of the | | | | should not be a right of the people until all of the people |
| Medicaid funds should be set aside for that purpose. | | | | are required to help fund it. These are just my opinions |
| So that we are not being taken advantage of. | | | | and my thoughts and every person is entitled to their |
| The second portion of the stimulus to to subsidize the | | | | own. If you like my ideas or have different ideas of |
| high cost of C.O.B.R.A. coverage when an employee | | | | your own, do the right thing and contact your |
| with company sponsored benefits loses their job. I | | | | congressman and let them know what you would like |
| believe that this, for the most part, is a tremendous | | | | them to do. Without our voices they are voting on |
| waste of funds. 94% of people on C.O.B.R.A. would | | | | these issues assuming that you agree with their |
| qualify for an IFP(individual or family plan) though | | | | opinion. |