Saturday § January 17, 2009
Obama Plans Increased Role in Government Subsidized Healthcare Financing for the Uninsured
The really cool thing about the not-so-common inaugurations of newly-elected US presidents is how quickly they pursue (most of) the agendas upon which they were elected. The media frenzy surrounding such an event is the perfect forum for equally capturing the attention of both the political junkie and neophyte at probably the only time in a president’s term. With all of the actions of his seemingly ad hoc formation of the Office of the President-Elect, it comes as no surprise that Barack Obama will hit the ground running with new initiatives. Other than quickly pouncing on the 2-ton pachyderm in the room that is the recession, it appears as though the new administration will focus on reforming the delivery of healthcare. The uninsured are in Obama’s crosshairs.
Apparently, expansion of the federal government’s role in financing Medicaid is a priority. According to the WaPo, Obama plans on allowing states temporarily to sign up jobless residents for Medicaid, with the federal government for the first time paying the entire cost of doing so. Even more boldly, the new president will also provide “unprecedented” federal subsidies to increase the affordability of COBRA, a temporary coverage mechanism for laid-off workers that, for many, remains unaffordable.
Call it Obama’s initial stimulus package for the ailing healthcare economy — a lame beast whose failing function needs life support on an extraordinary scale not seen in almost fifty years since the formation of Medicaid. Perhaps even more extraordinary is the expectation, even among liberals, that this increase in healthcare financing by the federal government is still not enough — as unemployment numbers continue to skyrocket into 2009. | LINK
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I am a reciently layed off worker,my unemployment payment is about 310 dollars a week after taxes.A cobra payment of 1000 a month,with 240 dollars a month to live on. Oh yea were living the high life now.Try making ends meet on that,with no work in sight.It all seems to go back to JOBS, If i was working i could be making that house payment.If i was working i could pay off that credit card.Oh did i mention food. I just need to get back to work and these problems will take care of them self.
It’s my understanding that Mr Obama wants to make “the same health care plan that government employees have” available to the rest of the country. I believe the plan that senators and house members is a pretty “all inclusive” plan, so how the heck is this all going to be paid for. Mr. Obama’s plans have already saddled the next couple generations with more debt than can be handled… so HOW can this health care plan be possible???
Joe,
I think that the type of government run health plan Obama spoke of during the campaign trail is vastly different from the one he is considering implementing as a result of imminent Senate debate on the matter.
Since being elected, Obama has moved much more to the center on the issue of healthcare access and its possibilities for subsidy. It should be an interesting summer with regard to debate on this issue.
–MD
i think its all just a freakin cop out to maintain the majority of the black and far left liberal votes for reelection of a second term,this “president” knows if he faulters on his campaign promises his supporters might see the error of their ways so to speak and not consider him for reelection in 2012, so he is doing what ever he has to with out any regurds to the average american, mind you ,and in the the end it will all go his way beacuse the vast majority of americans are so afraid to speak out againts any potentially economicaly damaging issue for fear of being labled a “racist” or a hate monger or just a flat out right wing wacko, we all know full well that government subsidized free health care is not the way to go because in the end we will be stuck paying for it while others just mooch off of it . Just think of the new demand there will be for RN’s and other health care professionals there will be such a high need for them that eventually the pay for them hourly will drop and then the quality of health care will soon follow suit.