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Hillarysworld -> Health Care Issues -> Congress' own healthcare benefits: Membership has its privileges (LA Times 8/2/09)
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TOPIC: Congress' own healthcare benefits: Membership has its privileges (LA Times 8/2/09)
JustTheFacts


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Congress' own healthcare benefits: Membership has its privileges (LA Times 8/2/09)
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Lawmakers can choose among several plans and get special treatment at federal medical facilities. In 2008, taxpayers spent about $15 billion to insure 8.5 million federal workers and their dependents.
Too much, too fast, too expensive. Those are some of the objections lawmakers have voiced against the healthcare overhaul Democrats are attempting on Capitol Hill.

But many Americans think Congress is out of touch. How, they wonder, can lawmakers empathize with the underinsured or those lacking insurance when they receive a benefits package -- heavily subsidized by taxpayers -- that most of us can only envy?

Among the advantages: a choice of 10 healthcare plans that provide access to a national network of doctors, as well as several HMOs that serve each member's home state. By contrast, 85% of private companies offering health coverage provide their employees one type of plan -- take it or leave it.

Lawmakers also get special treatment at Washington's federal medical facilities and, for a few hundred dollars a month, access to their own pharmacy and doctors, nurses and medical technicians standing by in an office conveniently located between the House and Senate chambers.

In all, taxpayers spent about $15 billion last year to insure 8.5 million federal workers and their dependents, including postal service employees, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

Generous plans are available in private industry. But the federal coverage far surpasses that enjoyed by 70 million Americans who are underinsured and at financial risk in the event of a major health crisis -- not to mention the estimated 46 million who have no medical insurance.

"For the average worker, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan would probably look quite attractive," said Pete Sepp, a spokesman for the National Taxpayers Union, a pinch-penny advocacy group.

Indeed, a question often surfaces: Why can't everyone enjoy the same benefits as members of Congress? The answer: The country probably couldn't afford it -- not without reforms to bring costs way, way down.




Rep. Steve Kagen, for one, is skeptical.

The Wisconsin Democrat has refused to accept federal healthcare benefits, making him the only member of Congress to do without. He will continue, he said in an interview, until every American can enjoy the same coverage as federal lawmakers.

Kagen recently had knee surgery, writing checks for more than $4,500 after bargaining for a reduced-rate MRI and a 50% discount on the operation. (He is still dickering over the hospital bill.)

"If every member of Congress put their heads on their pillow every night like I do . . . knowing this could be the night I lose my house, we'd fix healthcare in a week," said Kagen, who spent decades as a doctor in the Green Bay area before winning office in 2006.

Kagen said his wife and three of his four children have health coverage. But not his oldest daughter, 28, who can't afford insurance.

She's a nurse in Miami.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-congress-benefits2-2009aug02,0,7524121.story


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foxyladi14


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i want what they have..

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MotherOfThree


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foxyladi14 wrote:

i want what they have..



Me too!



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Sanders


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That's what Hillary had in her plans.



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Alice Paul


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Sanders wrote:

That's what Hillary had in her plans.



Yes, she did have that in her plans and what shocked me was seeing liberals oppose it just to vote for Obama's inferior plans. He was using far right wing Harry and Lousie ads against her to stop you all getting comprehensive health coverage. Her plan costs LESS and covered more people. She had the benefit of knowing after years of study what would really work. Yet, the very people who support HR676 *single payer* were not voting for her in some numbers. I was totally baffled as she was the best hope of EVER getting lower cost, more comprehensive health care for all Americans accomplished. Obama's plan was a mish mash of unworkable solutions even during the campaign.

He's just about ruined any hope we ever have of getting decent health care. When his plan doesn't work, and it won't, that failure will be used in the future to say that single payer would not work either.

Pelosi hasn't taken HR676 totally off the table but, it has scant chance of ever passing now. Obama doesn't want it you see...he wants HIS lesser than plan that is nothing more than pandering to insurance companies. He doesn't care about health care at all. The insurance companies will back him in the next election for not tossing them aside in favor of the American people and single payer!

 



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