Senator Mark Begich on the Senate Health Insurance Reform Bill
Merry Christmas Eve. This just crossed my desk and I thought I’d pass it on.
From Senator Mark Begich:
“I voted in favor of the Senate health insurance reform bill because I believe the status quo is unacceptable. The vast majority of the reforms in the Senate bill are good policies that, if given a chance, will improve the lives of Alaskans.
“This legislation ends discrimination for pre-existing conditions; ends discrimination based on gender; makes it illegal for insurance companies to drop your coverage if you get sick; extends the solvency of the Medicare trust fund by an additional 10 years while cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare; makes prescription drugs more affordable; requires insurance companies to pay for preventive care; and much more.
“Alaskans who have health insurance now, and are happy with it, can keep it. While the thousands of Alaskans who do not have health insurance, or have insurance they can’t really afford, will have access to an insurance exchange offering affordable health insurance choices. An estimated 52,000 Alaskans will quality for tax credits to help purchase affordable health coverage.
“Health insurance costs for Alaska families increased five times faster than wages during the past decade. If we do nothing, those costs will double again in a few years to about $24,000 – that’s 40 percent of the average family budget. The cost of doing nothing is just too high.
“The Congressional Budget Office projects the overall legislation will cut the deficit by $132 billion during the first decade of enactment and more than $1 trillion in the second. Cost containment means savings for Medicare, Medicaid, the Indian Health Service and veterans care, which really means savings to taxpayers.
“I look forward to working with the House to strengthen even further a final bill that will reduce costs, strengthen Medicare, and save lives.”
It will be interesting to see how much the House can push the bill in a better direction without losing the support of the corporate shills in the Senate.
Wow… a response to passing the Bill in ‘ complete ‘ coherent sentences so we can understand the meaning of the words. What a concept.
(And he didn’t even have to send out a ‘ tweet ‘)Guess he is not a fan… or a twit.
Maybe Sarah will now see the light….( Opps cross that out )
the ‘lite’ of day.
Fixed it.
Happy Holidays… one and all.
thank God palin didn’t appoint herself to the Senate
Awesome.
Merry Christmas mudpups.
It says you can’t be dropped for getting sick, but it doesn’t say you’ll be covered for that illness.
Yes, Virginia, Alaska has a Senator.
Merry Christmas, Senator Begich. Thank you, and, yes we can, sir!
Merry Merry, Mudpups!
40% of the “average” income. Damn wish i was part of that 2% they use to “average” incomes.
Was just watching some Hawaii coverage of Obama arrival and guess who hitched a ride on Air Force 1 to the land of aloha? Senator Mark Begich, sure hope he got the Presidents ear on that long ride. Guess he’ll be enjoying a white sand Christmas.
Merry Christmas everybody!
Thank you Senator Begich! This is awesome. It’s not where we need to be, but it is definitely progress.
Yay! The lobbyists have been warned. Back down!
How WONDERFUL that Senator Begich sent such a clear message so quickly to all his constituents!
I was worrying about whether he would be able to get home in time to spend Christmas with his family, given all the predictions of bad storms brewing. He has totally earned a warm hug and warm beaches. That’s so great!