Posted on 01/07/2014 3:25:24 PM PST by ColdOne
WASHINGTON – While all eyes are on the ObamaCare rollout, an ambitious health care experiment is going forward in Vermont that would create a government-run alternative know as a "single-payer" system -- and it's starting to attract more attention from liberals frustrated with the Affordable Care Act's implementation.
Democrats' faith in ObamaCare has been shaken by the technical failures of the federal and state insurance exchanges as well as, in some cases, premium increases. In Vermont, however, they see a potential first step toward the kind of national government-run health care system some have advocated for years. Filmmaker Michael Moore, in a column last week blasting ObamaCare, said Vermont's plan could "change everything."
But critics say the proposal goes too far and would kill thousands of jobs. "It’s not practical,” Vermont state Rep. Patti Komline, who voted against the plan, told FoxNews.com. “There are too many complications involved.”
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
We are into year 2 of this program and they STILL have not even HINTED how they are going pay for it.
Go for it Vermont. That’s what Federalism is all about - everyone can learn from your successes or failures. I’m very skeptical, but certainly a small state has a better chance of success than the Federal Government forcing failure on everyone.
Who is going to pay for it? None of the people planning it have a clue.
The more it's promoted, the better the chances that someone like Bernie Sanders will run for the Dem nomination. It will serve to make the Dems look like the fruitloops they are.
>> Who is going to pay for it?
The “greedy” 1% of course...
If they think health care is too expensive now, just wait until it’s ‘free.’
And another question. Vermont residents include Federal employees and retirees, both civilian and military, with
federal plans. Also, what about Medicare and Medicaid? The state of Vermont does not have any authority over those programs.
“The “greedy” 1% of course”
The greedy 1% can leave Vermont. They are also the most productive people. There will be nobody left to pay.
I think Vermont should do this if that’s what the voters of Vermont vote for. Absolutely! And then we’ll see how well it works
But the thing that irks me is that Vermont could have already done this way before now? They did not need to wait until Obamacare was passed to do this. In fact, the State has been considering it for a long time. But now liberals are implying that Obamacare prompted this move or somehow made it possible?
Why?
States supposedly could pass any health insurance laws rules they wanted ... that is BEFORE Obamacare.
LOL! all things that Liberals don't want to do at the national level.
Many in the Legislature acknowledge it will never be a true ‘single-payer’ plan due to your points. Additionally, Federal law prohibits states from treating retired state employees more favorably than retired federal employees. VT is a small state - all those who’ll be paying for this mess could easily transfer residency to NY, NH or elsewhere while continuing to live in VT.
There are no state insurance regulators now. The insurance companies are mandated to obey federal law. and they voluntarily do it. they want the kickbacks. done.
I think that's the type plan VT envisioned back awhile ago. Personally, I'd love an alternative such as that. For those with insurance, they'd go elsewhere or submit bills to insurance companies themselves.
Might work for a few weeks until all the doctors move to other states.
Hsiao predicts his plan would save the state 25.3 percent a year in total health care spending, lower household and employer health care spending, boost job growth and create a higher economic output for the state.
Were have I heard rosy predictions like this before? Promise lies, then fail to deliver.
I agree. I always thought Romney would have won if he would have defended Romneycare (which was really Weldcare) on federalist grounds.
If states want to commit suicide and pass universal health-care, along with other liberal utopian garbage like minimum-wages, who cares?
Vermont currently has one of the highest doctor to resident ratios of any state. I’ll be intrigued to see how quickly that changes.
Older Vermonters (the people with money) already claim Florida residency, for tax reasons, even if they are only there for a few months.
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