Sep 11 2009
What About the GOP’s “Health Care Reforms” We’ve Never Heard About?
It seems by now the American people are completely aware of the health care reforms pitched by Obama, but what the average news watcher probably doesn’t know is that the Republican camp has submitted a total of 35 reforms to the president while not receiving audience for even one of them. In fact, the president has refused to meet with Republicans since last April while pointing the non-bi-partisan finger at them the whole time and telling the press that it’s the GOP that’s not compromising with him. To help us out in our understanding of exactly what our current president is going for, I’ve listed a few GOP suggested reforms below that are a bit more on the capitalistic side of things when compared to Obama’s government-run suggestions. Patients’ Choice Act Introduced: May 20 by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan. Summary: This plan offers refundable tax credits of $2,290 to individuals and $5,710 to families to pay for health care. It would create marketplaces to offer insurance choice and make more private insurance options are available to consumers without creating a public insurance system. It would create independent health courts to resolve malpractice disputes outside the current system. Health Care Choice Act Introduced: July 14 by Arizona Rep. John Shadegg. Summary: This plan allows consumers to purchase health insurance in other states. Empowering Patients First Act Introduced: July 30 by Georgia Rep. Tom Price. Summary: This plan would extend tax deductions on health care premiums to the individual market and offer a low-income tax credit of $2,000 to individuals, $4,000 for couples and $5,000 for families. The plan would also allow employer to offer discounts for healthy habits. Access to Insurance for All Americans Act Introduced: July 31 by California Rep. Darrell Issa. Summary: This plan would allow consumers to enroll in the same health care plan for lawmakers and federal employees. It also allows employees to transfer their coverage when they change jobs. Patient-Controlled Healthcare Protection Act of 2009 Introduced: July 31 by Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert Summary: This plan provides incentives for consumers to purchase private insurance with a high deductible while paying into an unlimited Health Savings Account. It seems everybody out there agrees that health care needs a vast reformation but exactly how America goes about it will most likely always remain in hot debate.
