Paul Ryan's Health Care Reform Plan
Preface
I first wrote this hub while Paul Ryan was running for Vice President as Romney's running mate. The following material is based on the plan that he had at that time. His current plan is similar but is more robust about state's rights and entitlements.
After participating in several forums about Paul Ryan and his plan, I went to his web site and downloaded his 65 page plan. The first 34 pages are the introduction to the plan, followed by each category of the plan and a summary of each category. This hub summarizes his Health Care Reform Plan.
Organization of the Plan
The plan is called A Roadmap to America's future and is organized into the following eight categories.
- Title 1 - Health Care Reform
- Title 2 - Medicaid and SCHIP Reform
- Title 3 - Medicare Reform
- Title 4 - Social Security Reform
- Title 5 - Simplified Income Tax
- Title 6 - Business Consumption Tax
- Title 7 - Job Training Reform
- Title 8 - Budget Process Reform
Title 1 Health Care Reform
The plan proposes a $2,300. tax credit for individual filers and $5,700 for joint filers per year. Here is how it would work: At the beginning of a year or at the end of the year, you would file for a refund on your tax return for the eligible amount. The payment is made directly to the health plan you have chosen that best suits your needs. If you don't spend all the money on your health care, you get to keep the difference. If your health care costs are higher than the eligible amount, then it is up to you to make up the difference.
It should be noted, this plan does not apply to those already on medicare or in the military.
The plan is portable and can be carried from employer to employer if you change jobs. There will be high risk pools at the state level for those who would otherwise be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. State base exchanges will give each person an opportunity to choose the plan that best fits their needs.
Inflation Adjustable
The refundable tax credit is adjusted for inflation specifically, by an average of consumer price index and the percentage of increase in the medical care component of the consumer price index
Interstate Purchasing
Individuals who live in one state will be allowed to buy a more affordable health insurance plan in another state. Health insurance providers would be able to sell their polices in every state.
State Based Exchanges
This plan would require the states to contract with health insurance companies to run the exchanges It would prohibit state exchanges from discriminating on pre-existing conditions. The plan would have the following features:
- Auto enrollment
- High Risk Pools- each state will ensure pools are funded to help low-income folks from paying excessively high premiums.
My Take on His Plan
It seems to me that if he is going to run his plan in parallel to the current medicare plan. That is, if you are currently on medicare, this plan will not affect you. However running two plans together seems like it would require more federal government not less. He is also requiring the states take over many of the responsibilities of the plan. But those requirements have to be overseen by some watchdog group, again the federal government. Also if your medical costs are more than the refundable tax credit (voucher), the balance would have to be paid out of pocket.
Your comments are much appreciated.
Comments
Yes, peoplepower73, it would be a good idea to write something about our healthcare system here in Canada. I think there are a lot of misconceptions by our good neighbours to the south about our system here. I think we are perceived as having inadequate care, services and long wait times which could not be farther from the truth. Imagine this, Canadians have free hospital stays, free surgeries and free medical visits with GPs and specialists. We are also covered for other things depending on situations like home care, medical equipment and so on. We have top notch medical facilities and hospitals and we have some of the best doctors in the world and that is not an exaggeration. As far as long wait times go, it is a bit of a myth because the most serious cases are taken immediately and wait times are not extremely long. We are also covered with certain out of country medical issues. Also, most employers provide their employees with benefits for prescriptions, dental and so on. Some may have to kick in a few dollars towards it each month but most benefit packages are covered by the employer completely. It is true that our cost of living is a little higher than the USA and we do pay more in taxes but the benefits outweigh the negatives. If you look at other countries in Europe such as the Scandinavian countries they pay a lot in taxes, however, their social net is even better than ours. This is our healthcare system in a nutshell, lol. I could go on and on. Take care. -Rose
I went to the mail box after my last post here and there was a bill from the hospital ER where my husband took me for my migraine. I wonder if you could guess how much the bill was.
You would be even happier that you have Medicare. My bill for about 4 hours was $1850.37.
I thought this was a very interesting and insightful article regarding Paul Ryan's Health Care Reform Plan. I actually enjoyed reading everyone's comments and input that has taken place over the past several months. Being Canadian, we have a different perspective on Health Care issues so I found it rather interesting. Thank you for sharing. (Voted Up) -Rose
When I read "Roadmap to America's Future". In my mind I see Bruce Willis in one of his movies walking on broken glass.
Thank you peoplepower73 for leaving this up. I wrote my husband's "Count Down to a Miracle" story here on HP and I will send it to the White House as you suggested.
When I was laid off in 2007, I went for almost 2 years without insurance, because Cobra was $1,000 a month, just for me, And I did pay it until I got another job and still had a hard time getting insurance of any kind.
I appreciate this so much your leaving this hub up.
Shyron
We all know that anything that has to do with the IRS and taxes ends up costing us money. Just like the time when Bush gave all Americans money the next year it had to be paid back at tax time. I dont agree with anything that is tax related because in the end we lose. Right now through my hospital I have good insurance but that doesnt mean we will keep it. It's sad that Americans work their whole life and end up basically we will all be in poverty when we retire if we are able to retire at all.
Sorry I forgot to say I'm voting this hub up, useful, and awesome because every one of your hubs that I've read so far are that and more. Will share with my followers also.
Paul Ryan lives in his own little world where everyone has money oozing out of every orifice. He needs to be demoted to doing what he was doing before he became a House member from WI. I believe he was a waiter and a trainer. Neither requires much gray matter and I think he must have been perfect for those jobs.
We should have had an extension of Medicare to everyone instead of ObamaCare. The bureaucracy is already in place and working well. My main objection to ObamaCare is that there are no cost controls built into the program. That's the reason it's costing so much. There is still too much profit to insurance companies included, yet doctors are not being paid what they should be under Medicare. How does it make sense to pay obscene profits to private insurance companies, but pay doctors so little?
peoplepower73
''2013 AARP Medicare Complete Plan insured through United Health Care. It's $6,700. for 2012, but $3,400. for 2013.''
peoplepower73
Ryan plan ‘’It's a voucher system that runs in concert with medicare for the elderly’’
‘’That will be no easy task to implement.’’ ’’the jury is still out as to the effects of Obama Care’’
The law is still being written even after Congress approved the unfinished bill, a travesty of a corrupt government.
Today the medicare advantage plan and a couple of others is a voucher plan. The government sends a sum of money to the insurer monthly to cover the applicant. The big difference is that the unused portion goes to the insurer . In Ryans plan, in like your healthy situation would go to your personal health savings plan not to build up insurers profits.Present medicare recipients are not effected by Ryan’s plan.
COMPETIVE BIDDING
4/18/12
Pilot 'competition' effort saved Medicare $200 million-Competitive Bidding
A year long experiment with competitive bidding…..
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2012/04...
Medicare is WAISTING more than $8 billion on an experimental program that rewards providers G.A.O. Calls Test Project by Medicare Costly Waste
peoplepower73, I see one of the comment about the Iraq War. All their lies are caught on tape, Scheming to Make a Case for War. This is even better than the 47% tape of Romney.
peoplepower73
A couple new items to be aware of
26/13
Obamacare Will Cause Medical Claims Costs To Jump 32 Percent: Study
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/26/obamacare...
26/13
Obamacare Will Cause Medical Claims Costs To Jump 32 Percent: Study
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/26/obamacare...
The health-care law "includes the largest set of tax law changes in more than 20 years,
IRS. The agency will have to hire thousands of workers to manage it, requiring significant budget increases
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/07/07/...
How Will the New Health Law Affect Your Premiums?
http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2013/0...
Insurers warn of overhaul-induced sticker shock
peoplepower73
''but they forced them to change the intelligence to make it look like there were'' WHO IS THEY?
peoplepower73
Place the blame not on bush or Congress, who voted to go to war but on the people working inside the intellegence part of our government. NO PRESIDENT would send our young men and women into battle knowing they might not comeback without due cause.
peoplepower73
That's your choice but you are missing the news clips of Obama'S LIVE UNCUT statements the last 5 years. The President distorts many facts and in some instances may be lying.That's ok, the mainstream media don't report the misques anyway.
peoplepower73
The prop is not the issue , the issue is that the law is still being written.
''Can regulations be added without congress' approval'' Not really except that the Democrats had 100% control of passing the bill. That deffinetly is not how our government making laws was set up.Bi partisan compromise was AWOL in passing the bill. In order to pass the bill the Senate and the House used a tactical move requiring a simple majority in lieu of the 60 vote rule .In time, Obamcare will open many other issues not in the best interest of the people.
Partial list of taxes and fees in health overhaul
peoplepower73
Since you called me on it, I checked and found it came from the floor of the Senate. Obamacare’ Regulations Printed and Stacked High
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/03/11/mitch-m...
http://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p...
Mainstream media is threatening our country's future
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/09/29/mainstre...
11/04/09
WAKE UP AMERICA TO 2000 PAGES OF HOCUS POKUS
https://hubpages.com/hubtool/edit/947597
https://hubpages.com/hubtool/edit/947597
A Obama quote ‘’I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits -- either now or in the future,” the President said at a joint session of Congress. “I will not sign it if it adds one dime to the deficit, now or in the future, period.’
IN 4years he has added $6 trillion, he has a lot of CREDIBLTY?
You are on the ball!
peoplepower73
''verify the 20,000 page document?'' On a cable news channel, a stack of the healthcare law was piled and stood over 8 feet.The commentator said the healthcare bill is now 20,000 pages and has 20,000 new regulations. I doubt that any of the .gov links will advertise the true numbers of the bill to date.I seen the so called pile and heard the comments.
peoplepower73
Any link ending in . gov is not likely to be accurate. The whitehouse giving information to the media is 40% distorted. The Administration lacks credibility. The Arizona governor was on the tube, complaing about the number of illegals let lose were far more than what she and the public were told.
I'm finding many of certain links related to Obama and the government have been censored.Take it for what it is.
jon e
peoplepower73
An update on the behind the scenes.
2/14/13
Having It All for Free: 19 Things Obama Says Won’t Add to Deficit
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/02/havin...
Summary of President’s budget 2013
The 2012 deficit is now projected to be $1,211 billion, reduction results primarily from lower projected spending for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and net interest, partially offset by lower projected receipts
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BUDGET-2013-MSR/pdf/B...
6/21/12
Billions of Dollars Are in Play Over Health Care Law
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/health/billions-...
Medicare is WAISTING more than $8 billion on an experimental program that rewards providers G.A.O. Calls Test Project by Medicare Costly Waste
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/health/policy/ga
Obamacare is still being written, it has 20,000 new regulations since it was signed by the President. What started out as 1800 pages than 2600 pages, now is 20,000 pages.
Ryan and his fraud team are trying to pretend there is a change in their party but its just a lie. They decided to spend 10 million dollars to convince minorities that you should vote for them. I do not need any care but because I care about other people. Obama care is still better then anything else. Even more stupid is Ryan’s plan to balance the budget. They will do anything to keep Corporate America and the wealthy from paying taxes.
Peoplepower73
Your hub is very interesting. Here is what I know, If not for Medicare, my husband and I would be homeless. If my husband's accident in 2005 happened under the Ryan plan, we would be hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, with no way to pay. The hospital would have probably let him die.
I do not trust Ryan's plan for anything, he is evil, and greedy.
Thank you writing this.
Shyron
peoplepower73
''Each month $104.00 is taken from our social security to pay for medicare. '' Medicare don't pay for all the costs, Medicare cuts payments to providers 20% and then only pays 80% of the cut. who is paying the 20% that Medicare cuts?
Can you clarify your post?
Davesworld
'' I already have my Medicare card in my pocket''
Which Medicare plan did you choose??? The insurance companies contracted by the government to provide Medicare insurance are pushing the Medicare advantage plans?The advantage plans may look similar to the voucher ryan plan with the acception that the money is going directly to the insurance companies instead of the insuree. check it out and comment.
June3.2011 Medicare -no change 55 over
Ryan and Van Hollen Debate Medicare Proposals 6/3/11 '' THE TRUTH ''
Great share peoplepower, Ryan plan is just another slippery slope. One should avoid hasty conclusion until they carefully apply the principles of economics to this plan. There is a hidden outcome to this plan which needs to be explored! Sounds realistic, but where have this plan tested (state, country etc) before. To present this is one thing, but as we know to execute it is another. Over the years we have seen Government, put forward all these colorful proposals just to get elected, but after election guess what happen --- nothing!
peoplepower73
I suggest you check your plan out. the insurance companies max payouts are $ 6600, MEDICARE payments to insurance companies. ( check it out ). the government foots the bill, after that magic number please verify if that is correct.
peoplepower73
You and your wife pay for Medicare insurance $104 ea. If you did not choose a Medicare advantage type of plan ( HMO ) you would have original Medicare which pays about 80% to the provider. Under this plan one needs to buy a supplement plan to cover the other 20% to pay the provider. Now in most of the supplement plans bought, a co-pay is required because if one did not have a co-pay, the premiums would be much higher. A pre- existing condition (like diabetes) will increase the premiums. The advantage plans in most cases don’t require a monthly payment. The payments depend upon what healthcare requirements for the chosen plan. ’’ It's getting even better under Obama care, because the cost for drugs is coming down and quality of health care is going up.’’ NOT TO SURE
Obamacare – Anatomy of Government Fraud
https://lionsdenmedia.hubpages.com/hub/Obamacare-A...
IRS to play major role in Health-care system ( penalty/ tax)
CBO estimates that 4 million people will pay the penalty
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/07/07/...
June3.2011 NO changes for 55 & over ( roughly 10 years from today unless Congress raises the retirement age )
Ryan and Van Hollen Debate Medicare Proposals 6/3/11 '' THE TRUTH ''
http://foxnewsinsider.com/2011/06/03/ryan-and-van-...
The President's Speech Distorts the Truth
http://www.facebook.com/notes/paul-ryan/the-presid...
The Democrats object to a voucher system that will be between the insurance company and the buyer. Check this out. What the government ( Medicare) is doing today , the advantage plans, is a type of a voucher system. The selected insurance ( only a select few ) companies contract directly with Medicare to provide the Medicare services for your health. When you sign up for an advantage plan ,Medicare will send on a monthly basis a certain amount of money for your care to the insurance company, hence in most cases there are no monthly premiums that you pay. Obama and the Democrats complained that the insurance companies were making huge profits. In other words the insurance companies managing your health was a lot cheaper than Medicare being in charge.
Now consider Ryan’s plan. Instead of the government giving the money ( A VOUCHER) to the insurance companies, the government gives it to the recipient ( citizen ), who will benefit if they are healthy. The buyer can keep the savings of which can be put into a healthcare account, for one’s benefits rather than the insurance companies. In the private market ,competition is the game and the choice is for the people. Keeping in mind that Ryan’s plan is to save Medicare for those paying in now so that Medicare will still be there for them in the future.
Your comments, please.
peoplepower73
''I've been on Medicare for five years now and I love it. It's getting even better under Obama care, because the cost''. What kind of Medicare plan are you so happy about? Can you explain part A, B and D plans or any other plan? March 23, 2010 President Barack Obama is applauded after signing the health care bill
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/09/study-c...
Check these links and make a comment.
Obamacare – Anatomy of Government Fraud
https://hubpages.com/politics/Obamacare-Anatomy-of...
IRS to play major role in Health-care system ( penalty/ tax)
CBO estimates that 4 million people will pay the penalty
I'm all in favor of interstate purchasing of Health insurance. It is long past time to reduce the 50+ Insurance commissioners with their 50+ sets of rules, regulations and requirements, to only one set. If, however, I can live in Minnesota and buy an Iowa policy but my health care provider has to then abide by two different sets of rules it's a no go from the get go.
Yikes! Here I am, a small government guy proposing a national Health Insurance Commissioner. I may have to go lie down for a bit ... But I do think that if we had nation-wide competition for health insurance a GEICO like provider would emerge and that would help alleviate costs to individuals. And that can't work with 50 different sets of rules.
Full disclaimer here, the Ryan plan won't affect me. I turn 65 in December and I already have my Medicare card in my pocket. But I wish it would. I would like to have the option.
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