Romney Outlines Health Care Plan

Former Massachusetts Governor Says Other States Can Replicate His State's Universal Health Care Program

(AP)  Former Gov. Mitt Romney says other states can replicate Massachusetts' program of universal health care if the federal government creates an environment in which private health insurance can expand.

In a speech being delivered Friday to the Florida Medical Association, the Republican presidential contender is to declare he wants the government to help states lower premiums by deregulating their insurance industries.

Romney says Washington also should make tax changes so all people can use pretax dollars to buy coverage — as workers do who get coverage through their employers.

And he says the Medicaid program for people with low incomes should be overhauled. The goal should be to provide states with block grants so they can create insurance programs — freed from federal mandates — that are tailored to their individual needs.

In Massachusetts, a federal block grant was used to subsidize low-income insurance coverage, which, in turn, is being used to encourage residents to engage in more preventive and less emergency care. Similar grants were used nationally in 1996 so states had the freedom to restructure their welfare programs.

Romney's plan would help people buy private health insurance "in a way that builds on the experience in Massachusetts but doesn't force a one-size-fits-all approach on other states," said Sally Canfield, a Romney policy adviser who previewed the speech for reporters.

Health care has typically been an issue emphasized by Democratic candidates. The former Massachusetts governor has battled to claim it for the GOP by citing the 2006 measure he signed into law to help bring coverage to people who lack insurance.

On Thursday, Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton outlined her own vision for covering the 45 million nationally who lack insurance, although Romney has preferred to deride as "Hillarycare" the universal health program she tried unsuccessfully to implement in 1993 while serving as first lady.

The overarching principle in Romney's national plan stems from the line in the Hippocratic oath: "Do no harm." The candidate says Americans like their existing system of employer-provided coverage, and he believes it needs only modifications to expand to the uninsured.

One slide in the presentation he plans to deliver states: "No Europe-like rationing."

While the presentation highlights features of the Massachusetts plan, Romney also distances himself from the government bureaucracy it created and its requirement that all state residents get coverage by July 1. He says states will be free to craft the specifics of their own programs.

Social and fiscal conservatives such as those Romney is courting generally favor fiscal discipline, loathe government bureaucracy and oppose federal mandates.

"We're not saying every state has to have a mandate," said Canfield, the Romney policy adviser. "Their uninsured may be a different slice than it was in Massachusetts."

[ekucrew]

Does anyone hear a chicken cluckin''?

[perception5]

Mitt has the proven experience because of his strong cross-functional experience. Mitt is the most qualified candidate to ever run for president.

[standlee5]

Romney''s plan sounds good but it seems like we''d all be better off to phase out employer provided healthcare.

[SIDNEYWILLIAMSMD]

Romney has good ideas, a man who can think and think about other things than skirt sniffing. Kinda refreshing compared to the half baked Obama fries, and the small Clinton breasts, and the other mental midgets who are running. But...he is the only Morman in America with only one wife.

[uceslady]

Check out "Council on Foreign Relations" and see what Ron Paul is trying to tell the American citizens. He knows what he is talking about!

[standlee5]

Let''s phase-out employer provided health insurance. We''d all be better off to be in control of purchasing our own plan. It''d save busineeses bilions and they could increase wages.

[standlee5]

All municipalities, local federal and state are going broke because of health care in their pension plans. Our city had to cut firefighters in order to pay for pensions granted in the 60''s.

[skyk-2009]

Let''''s phase-out employer provided health insurance. We''''d all be better off to be in control of purchasing our own plan. It''''d save busineeses bilions and they could increase wages.
Posted by standlee5 at 01:14 PM : Aug 24, 2007

YOU think these low life creatures who have shipped MILLIONS of American Jobs to third world countries would pass along those savings to employees? ROFLMAO What are you smoking there? ROFLMAO

[skyk-2009]

Mitt has the proven experience because of his strong cross-functional experience. Mitt is the most qualified candidate to ever run for president.
Posted by perception5 at 01:06 PM : Aug 24, 2007
+ report abuse

Right! Mit is nothing but a northern version of the Rich little brat we NOW have. He has no more knowledge of what the average working stiff goes through than the man in the moon. Let''s get real here folks. After 30 years of the same tired old "Trickle Down" Garbage what do we have? The LOWEST standard of living AND the worst healthcare PERIOD! We need a complete change in direction not more of the same.

[skyk-2009]

Romney has good ideas, a man who can think and think about other things than skirt sniffing. Kinda refreshing compared to the half baked Obama fries, and the small Clinton breasts, and the other mental midgets who are running. But...he is the only Morman in America with only one wife.
Posted by doctorwho4 at 01:09 PM : Aug 24, 2007


OH PLEASE!! It''s the same tired *** we''ve been handed now for decades... He has no solutions only "Stay the Course". No change here! Right now we pay MORE than anyone in the entire WORLD for health care and that system cover''s LESS people... just handing more money to Insurance Companies will help ONLY those who already have more than they should.

[walt1944-2009]

Mitt Romney is like all the other Republican candidates when it comes to health insurance. Keep the insurance in the hands of "private" insuramce companies so it will keep generating profits FOR THEM! And what about all those who have that catch-all "pre-existing conditions" clause that blasts your premiums into orbit, if the insurance company will insure you, that is!

What cracks me up is that Romney says American workers like the arrangement with employers who pay most of the insurance for their employees. He doesn''t mention that those excess premium costs flow straight down to the bottom line on a company''s income statement as "expenses" are are tax-deductible FOR THE COMPANY. The company also covers those costs by building them into the selling price of the product it sells and which YOU BUY! A nice "win-win" situation for business!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[lars008-2009]

it is fascist nazi terrorislam stupid%u2026.

non muslims of the world unite... fight against the tyranny of the fascist nazi terrorslam imperialist empire of the darkside...

I was a fanatic...I know their thinking, says former radical Islamist
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair''s bombs" line did our propaganda work for us.
More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=465570&in_page_id=1770
Bless the Beasts and Children
Fascist nazi terrorslam kills every man woman and child in the village again%u2026 typical mo for terrorslam%u2026
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/bless-the-beasts-and-children.htm

Our Prophet commanded us to fight the kaafirs when we are able and to attack them in their homelands and to give them three choices before we enter their lands: either they become Muslim and be like us, sharing our rights and duties; or they pay the jizyah (poll tax) and feel themselves subdued; or they fight, in which case their wealth, women, children and homes become permissible as booty for the Muslims.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=13759&ln=eng&txt=before%20islam%20arabia%20pagan

[ioweign]

Mitt has the proven experience because of his strong cross-functional experience. Mitt is the most qualified candidate to ever run for president.
Posted by perception5 at 01:06 PM : Aug 24, 2007


Compared to who ??

Does he have the same military experience as his sons ??

[condumism]

Romney, the Mormon Cult member is not being taken as a serious candidate by anybody except the dying breed known as the Neocon. Keeping health care in the hands of private insurers by deregulating the insurance industry is a guaranteed recipe for even higher costs to US, the consumer. Europe, Japan, and Canada spends one-half what the USA spends for health care with their government managed universal health care programs. They have few, if any waits in lines, as our fascist corporate media lies to US about everyday of the week. Europes healt care system is superior to Americas in everyway. Romney spousing "Europe" in the negative just goes to show how dumb the audience is that he is trying to reach. Romney is a pathetic liar, same as every Republicon I have ever known in my life.

[hwk_i67]

Let''''s phase-out employer provided health insurance. We''''d all be better off to be in control of purchasing our own plan. It''''d save busineeses bilions and they could increase wages.
Posted by standlee5 at 01:14 PM : Aug 24, 2007

You obviously haven''t priced an individually owned health insurance policy lately, or ever for that matter. It would cost the average family 2-3 times more than if it was offered through their employer. I know b/c I used to sell health insurance.

Call your agent and compare it to your company health plan if you have one. You''d be surprised. Don''t worry, I''ll wait here.

[cdfoxtrot]

I love the way anything "European" is derided as below standard. Fact is, the US is now not even in the top 40 in terms of life expectancy worldwide, according to last week''s UN report. Most of the countries above the US in that list are European. "Romneycare" is based on the fallacious assumption that insured people are getting the healthcare they need, right now, and all that''s needed is to extend that to the uninsured. No. The reality is that most people don''t get to really test the system until they are in the terrible situation of having a major illness. That''s when they discover that the "great" healthcare system in the US is maybe not that great -- as their insurance company routinely denies claims on expensive procedures. If you happen to be rat Cheney or a zillionaire like Romney, yes, the US system is terrific. But if you''re a poor schmuck like most people, good luck if you need a heart by-pass with a great surgeon.

[drivelphobe]

walt1944...

Without profit for the insurance companies, there would be no insurance. Pre-existing conditions are legitimate concerns and no insurance compnay can be expected to cover anyone with any problem. Exclusions and additional charges are a small price to pay for coverage. Be thankful for what you get.

All costs of business are deductible, built into the price of the goods or service, and are deductible as incentives. No incentives and there would not be any benefits for employees offered through a business. The business still pays, but the cost is just reduced by the tax bracket.

Not all costs are deductible. Salaried income over $1,000,000 is not. That is why you have all the games with stock options, golden parachutes, and performance bonuses.

Enjoy the balance of the day.

[pepperp1]

Romney is a refreshing Republican candidate, mainstream, a successful man in his own right throughout his life and member a of a traditional religion. Not a born again bad boy cultist, he has lived a life of good character hard work and treated his wife and children with respect.

The Mormon faith that you so decry has many many years ago isolated and purged the cultist and extremes for their congregations, very unlike the current Evangelical community newly riddled with extremist, supposedly redeemed bad boys, and cultist that prey of the clinically ill and displaced in our society preaching a doctrine of inadequacy and victimization.

[akoeppen]

I am a member of the vast middle class workers in America. My employer provides health insurance for me and my family, however, the premiums are substantially more than the private sector charges. So I skipped out on the crappie plan my employer provides and bought private health insurance.

The BIG PROBLEM with that move is that I cannot use pretax dollars to pay for it. I am in favor of allowing my premiums to be paid with pre-tax dollars. It will save me and my family a lot of money. Give the plan a chance. It allows 50 different states to experiment with changing their individual health systems.

America will NEVER have a universal, communist-like, health care system,(ie "Hillarycare")compromising is better than leaving it the way it is.

[ramos937]

This is my idea of universal health coverage:
(1) do away with Medicare/Medicaid and fire about 90% of the staff, (2) open the Federal Employee Health Plan to the general public, (3) Use the .0165 payroll tax now going to Medicare/Medicaid to fund the new "FEGP". Do this with everyone earning a wage and/or pension and/or welfare checks. (4) direct the personnel savings towards the new "FEHP".
Keep the present structure where 15 to 20 health provider(s) bid for this business.

You see no new taxes, elimination of a bureacracy and better health care for everyone.

Supplemental policies would be available for those that want more than basic health insurance.

[standlee5]

Hwk, I''ve been buying myown health insurance since 1989 so you''re challening the wrong person. I''ve been on high deductible and 100% coverage plans. I just changed policies to a $3000 deductible plan and saved $100 a month. Right now I pay $165 mo. A family would pay $632 and that includes prescription policy with 0 deductible for generics.

[condumism]

Posted by akoeppen:

America will NEVER have a universal, communist-like, health care system,(ie "Hillarycare")

American''s are too dumb and badgered by corproate america to realize that the government run universal health care programs in Europe, Japan, and Canada costs one half of what is in the USA, with superior care. You deregulate everything repigs are the number one problem with the USA, thus the reason 17% of GNP in the USA goes to a broken health care system. I''ll take socialism over American Corporate anarchy anyday!

[prinzowhales]

War Pig Romney wants to "deregulate" the insurance companies because it will, lower costs...That worked well for the Savings & Loans didn''t it? If you vote for this clown, you''ll end up envying his dog who so enjoyed his ride in a dog carrier on the roof of his station wagon.

We have a health care system that is over-priced, over-rated and is based on what has been called "Rockefellar Medicine". I don''t want to have to pay for this system for myself, or anyone else. The WHO ranks us 37th in the world.
Cuban peasants live longer than our physicians.
Our health care system is a leading cause of death!

[ov442]

Operation Monarch/ Project MK Ultra, must be what the Republicans used on their loyal, unquestioning and completely nonsensical loyal following of supporters.

How else do you explain their rage filled, violent, hateful personalities? They support their GOP commanders whilst committing crimes, passing power grab and greed legislation, and empowering rich powerful people to stomp on the poor and lower classes.

they then lie cheat and insult the opposition, with falsehoods, mischaracterizations, and commit historical whitewash.

[vastr-wcon]

.

If you don''t like flip-flop--flop-flip Romeny''s healthcare plan, just wait a day or two. By then he should have a different one.

.

[sjc_1]

Mandatory health insurance is like leading lambs to the slaughter. My state has mandatory auto insurance, but fails to adequately regulate the auto insurance industry. The result is that you are forced to pay what they charge you.

Since there is more that 20% overhead in private for profit health insurance plans and less than 2% over head in Medicare non-profit health insurance plans, I would want Medicare for all, it is much more efficient. We can provide better care to more people at a lower cost.

[brianbwb-2009]

Private insurance is even more corrupt because it is not accountable. Romney''s is just more "trickle down" puerile pap.

Here''s how to do it, subsidize med school in exchange to serve the equivalent of four years in public hospitals, whose construction and maintenance are to be funded by taxes on tobacco, alcohol, firearms, Pharmaceuticals, legalized marijuana, gambling, and the money saved by ending our involvement in Iraq. Also tax Bechtel and Halliburton''s US assets to recover the illegal war profits, and kick that into the pot.

That will cover it, and will provide the competition necessary to force the private insurers to lower costs, and deliver better product.

[pepperp1]

Romney says Washington also should make tax changes so all people can use pretax dollars to buy coverage %u2014 as workers do who get coverage through their employers.


This is a good element of the plan.

[forthepeopl1]

She says she is the Democrat best equipped to fight terrorists, but White House hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton told New Hampshire voters Thursday that another attack on the United States would likely help Republican candidates at the polls. IN OTHER WORDS BIN ARE YOU WATCHING IF YOU DONT WANT A DEM IN OFFICE AND WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THIS WAR THAN GO AHEAD AND ATTACK US..


Sen. Hillary Clinton said the Republicans would benefit politically if a terrorist attack occurred before the ''''''''08 vote.

"It''''''''s a horrible prospect to ask yourself, ''''''''What if? What if?'''''''' " Clinton, a New York Democrat, told a house party in Concord, according to the New York Post and The Associated Press and confirmed by her campaign.

"But, if certain things happen between now and the election, particularly with respect to terrorism, that will automatically give the Republicans an advantage again, no matter how badly they have mishandled it, no matter how much more dangerous they have made the world."

Clinton added that if such a scenario occurred, she is the best Democratic presidential candidate "to deal with that." AND YOU WANT THIS TRAILER TRASH AS PRESIDENT..RIGHT...

GO AHEAD AMERICA AND VOTE HER IN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS...

[navyretired2]

And the guys that pay the big campaign bucks and smooch the most rear continue to get the headlines and press coverage...

Meanwhile, Dr. Ron Paul has the best message and agenda for AMERICANS of all candidates, but you hear nothing of him. He''s not sleeping with big business so "shhhhhhhhh...don''t talk about that guy."

www.ronpaul2008.com

[sjc_1]

All the private plans merely put public funds into private for profit hands. With auto insurance, you can chose not to drive, with health insurance I guess you would have to chose not to live and that seems at least more than a bit extreme.

Unless you have Medicare for all, you are just putting a band aid on a major wound. Health Care (and I use that term loosely) has become such a big cash cow that he has become THE gravy train for many in our economy. This is NOT sustainable.

[perception5]

Mitt is the most viable moderate conservative in the Presidential race and the best qualified to bring new leadership with his vision for America''s future. As Michael Reagan has reminded everyone, his beloved father, The Gipper; when Governor of California signed a major pro-abortion piece of legislation before he became our party''s greatest conservative and pro-life President. So good people do evolve in their positions on social issues. When elected governor in 2002 he assumed a monstrous 3 billion dollar deficit and put the state od Massachusetts back in the black without raising taxes. His success in public office mirrors his record in the private sector at Bain Capitol where he reorganized and made household names of companies such as Domino''s Pizza and Staples. He also bailed out the U.S. Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002, and turned a profit there for 100 million dollars. Candidate Romney graduated valedictorian in undergrad; then pursued a double degree at Harvard (M.B.A. and law) graduating in the top 5% of his class while doing so. Gov. Romney''s record not only reflects his fiscal expertise; but he''s also pro-life. As governor, Romney vetoed a bill which would have funded human cloning and the destruction of human embryos. A strong family man, Romney has been married for 38 years to his wife Ann. Romney has also taken a tough stance on terrorism, and he''s the only top tier presidential candidate who strongly opposed the flawed Senate immigration bill.

[realpatriot1]

Mitt''s brilliant plan is to force those who can''t afford insurance and must choose between food and healthcare to coose healthcare.

It''s already a failure because the uninsured are still uninsured. Is he going to start putting poor people into jail now?

What a typical rich ***.

[standlee5]

Poor people get health care from our welfare system. It''s middle class people who need assistance. Mitt''s plan has merit but it seems as though we''d all be better off to get the employer out of the equation.

[Ed0719]

Flip-Flop Romney''s "plan" is simply more of the same. Just like the current "prescription plan" that a GOP congress pushed through, it is welfare for the corporate world. There is little help for people who actually need it, but big government payouts to corporate interests, and a tax cut for the wealthy to boot.

And what does the GOP manage to do very well? Lie about every other country''s universal healthcare system. The GOP can spread propaganda extremely well. And they have Faux News to help them. And there''s always some lackey in these forums claiming to have family in Canada or UK, etc. and telling horror stories. But I simply don''t believe them. Why? Because I''ve personally experienced the systems in Canada and UK. The only wait you may have is for ELECTIVE care. If you''re sick you get care immediately, if your life depends on surgery, you get it immediately. You might have to wait for that boob job or facelift, though, and that scares the bejesus out of the GOP housewives.