This week, lawmakers in the state of Massachusetts approved a bill that would make Massachusetts the first state to require that all its citizens have some form of health insurance.
The plan ” approved just 24 hours after the final details were released ” would use a combination of financial incentives and penalties to dramatically expand access to health care over the next three years and extend coverage to the state’s estimated 500,000 uninsured.
If all goes as planned, poor people will be offered free or heavily subsidized coverage; those who can afford insurance but refuse to get it will face increasing tax penalties until they obtain coverage; and those already insured will see a modest drop in their premiums.
This weeks poll asks:
Would you support a government-run, taxpayer-funded universal health system modeled after Medicare?
Your Options include:
Yes
No
Unsure
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This post is open for discussion on the topic.
View previous poll results.
Related in the News:
Health Care Pains Growing Health Care Concerns Fuel Cautious Support for Change – ABC
Nurses rally for universal health care coverage, in Minnesota via KARE11 TV.
U.S. Health Care Lags in Quality, Access – Forbes
Lawmakers question costs of universal health care proposal – ThisWeek News
Universal health care needn’t mean government-run – San Jose News
Related in Blogs:
Health Care Conneticut Online with Health Care Group: Bush’s Visit “Shines Light” On Need For Universal Care, has the press release Tuesday about President Bush’s visit to Connecticut.
College Conservative Movement with Massachusetts lawmakers pass bill that starts a statewide universal healthcare program, states: “It’s nice to see my tax dollars are going into such a ridiculous program.”
Daily Kos with Mass. Passes Universal HealthCare, states: “Folks, as usual liberals has beaten conservative’s asses again by passing the first universal healthcare bill for the state of massachusets which can be a model for other 49 states in the future.”
InsureBlog with The Elephant In The Room, states: “There is an elephant in the room and no one wants to acknowledge it. The cry for universal health care is getting stronger. In California (no surprise there) SB840 is (apparently) picking up steam.”
Based on what I read about the MA law, I am not seeing anything beyond medicaid, which they had to begin with.
1. but would require businesses that do not offer insurance to pay a $295 annual fee per employee.- Is this a joke? What employer in their right mind would not opt for this? The alternative is offering insurance at a rate of a minimum $200/month/employee.
2. For the poor..read carefully- If all goes as planned, poor people will be offered free or heavily subsidized coverage-that is medicaid
3. those who can afford insurance but refuse to get it will face increasing tax penalties until they obtain coverage; That won’t hold up in court…but let’s see how that plays out…
yeah, I’m not sure on this one. I do support universal health care for all, but not I’m sure if it should be modeled after Medicare…:???:
Do you favor taxpayer funded partial birth abortions for teenagers without parental notification?