Posted on 09/09/2012 12:54:46 PM PDT by GR_Jr.
Throughout his campaign, Mitt Romney has constantly voiced one rock-solid promise: the repeal and replacement of Obamacare. This morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Mitt Romney was pressed about his plans for healthcare. During his answer, he said "Well, I'm not getting rid of all of healthcare reform."
Voices from both ends of the spectrum have pounced on the line. The left (including most major media websites) claims he said he’ll keep parts of Obamacare intact. Meanwhile, the right is busy calling him a turncoat and sellout who’s dumped his plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In reality, they’re both wrong.
If you listen past the soundbite, you’ll hear Romney’s full intent.
“Of course, there are a number of things that I like in healthcare reform that I'm going to put in place," Romney said. "One is to make sure that those with pre-existing conditions can get coverage. Two is to assure that the marketplace allows for individuals to have policies that cover their family up to whatever age they might like."
From the very beginning of his candidacy, the word “replace” has been a regular fixture of Romney’s plans. Today was no different.
"I say we're going to replace Obamacare. And I'm replacing it with my own plan. And even in Massachusetts when I was governor, our plan there deals with pre-existing conditions and with young people."
Clearly, from day one, both pre-existing conditions and the ability to keep college-age children on family health plans have been “on the table.” You can certainly argue the merits of these decisions, but you can’t pretend they weren’t being considered. When Romney presents a new plan, they'll probably be included.
Along with these adjustments will likely come tort reform and laws allowing insurance companies to compete across state boundaries. That these measures might eventually become part of Romney’s future health care provisions in no way means he’s abandoned his pledge to repeal. In fact, it makes it pretty clear that's still the plan..
No one should be surprised that there will be some form of new health care legislation should Romney be elected. He’s made this clear for months. In fact, he’ll likely give the left some of what they’ve been asking for. However, there’s nothing in today’s comments that should give anyone the impression that he won’t repeal Obamacare.
We all know there is work to be done in the health care space. All Romney did was acknowledge that fact - something he’s done many times before.
Thank you for this. The pant-wetters and the ABRs can clean themselves up now.
It is the word “replace” that has so many upset.
Excuse me, but pre-existing conditions would bankrupt an insurance company. No way to do it without a mandate.
Insurance is post NOT pre condition.
A strategy that works much of the time.
Not Necessarily. An exchange based on market principles would allow underwritters to adjust and mitigate these risks, unlike a government imposed program. You should know better.
Well, I don't see that this makes much difference. He's going to replace Obamacare with Romneycare, another government mandated program on which Obamacare was based.
Or, he's going to replace mandated coverage of pre-existing conditions with mandated coverage of pre-existing conditions, but with his name on it instead of Obama's. Sure, he's weasel-wording it here, but basically he's saying that there will still be socialist, government mandated healthcare, only he's going to change the name from Obama to Romney.
And that will presumably also include free, taxpayer-funded abortions, just like in Massachusetts. Either way, you get to pay for Sandra Fluke's morning after pills and abortions.
Agree. Don't we already (pre-ObammyScare) have in place that if you're already insured and you switch carriers, they have to cover pre-exisiting conditions? This is different from covering an illness after Mr. Uninsured receives a diagnosis.
Also, if parents chose to pay for and cover their kids, up to the age of 26, let 'em! So long as someone's actually paying for this coverage, out of their own pocket....and not with my tax $$!!
A NY Times/CBS Poll- "...in March found that 85 percent of Americans support the law's pre-existing conditions protections. ... …It seems like children and people with pre-existing conditions should be covered.
Romney would a complete fool not to say something about the pre-existing condition issue.
You don’t know that his plan simply a mandate to take policies whole cloth.
These are the exact provisions I would have expected any candidate to address - the only ones that individually are popular with the public. Dealing with these issues is what was used as an excuse by Obama and the Dems to have a government takeover the entire industry with thousands of pages that had nothing to do with any problems in health care coverage.
Please explain how he is going to clean up the Pink Mafia in the Pentagon, including the one star dyke who hid until she could get married on base. (That's 20 years of violating the UCMJ.)
Please list the Czars and their staffs he is going to fire, and indict.
Holder is going to run out the clock and walk away with a pardon, along with his entire staff. Is Romney going to do a GW Bush and let Holder go private from a murder charge, with a massive pension, smiling,? (Remember 'Socks' Burger and his raids on the Library of Congress?)
Will the new DoJ find out when the Great Chicago Thief sold his Senate seat?
Will they find out where he was actually born?
Fat freaking chance. Romney will, in the spirit of "sportsmanship", (Or whatever he calls "I won't tell if you won't..."), let Obama stroll out with all the "r" keys in his pocket, as well as the furniture, dishes and silverware. They will drain the dishwasher on the kitchen floor, rip out any copper pipe, and punch holes in the walls. (I grew up in Chicago. I've seen what 'Holder's People' do to a rental when they get evicted...)
Exactly. Insurance is like gambling... you put money up front first not knowing the outcome. If you need it, you will get it.
With preconditions, you know for certain that you will need it, thus cheating the insurance companies. Those companies are there to make money for their shareholders, not to make you feel good about your diseases and alleviate your financial burden.
Your disease, your responsibility.
GFY
Romney only fooled those who can’t tell the difference between a RINO and a liberal. I will vote for Romney, then go puke someplace. Thank you, oh so much, you leftist Republican want-to-be people who put him through the primary. I hope you are proud.
“Hey, I refused to get catastrophic insurance but I paid for the lowest premium I could find. Romney, I developed diabetes cause I love my candy and now I have a kidney disease which requires dialysis 3x a week. Either make my neighbor pay or let the insurance company take a loss.” Market forces where exactly? This furthers big insurance and is another example of unintended consequences just like what happened in Mass. Romney opened up the door for government interference and Deval Patrick said thank you very much Ronmey while expanding the reach even further.
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