Speaking to constituents Thursday evening, Republican Representative Marsha Blackburn claimed that the Democrat’s proposed health care plan would be burdensome to seniors and that it would amount to a “government takeover of health care.”
With the measure expected to come up for a floor vote Saturday, conservatives are rallying together in opposition. Thousands gathered in protest at the capitol Thursday. That evening, Blackburn held a telephone town hall with people who live in the Western half of her district.
Several were concerned about what changes would mean to the elderly. Blackburn said the bill would insert the government into decisions about what care would be allowed, and that it would institute surcharges on certain medical equipment. That bothered Rebecca, whose mother is on oxygen and uses a nebulizer.
Rebecca: “When you have people who live on a certain amount of money each month, it’s hard to – you know, you can’t put surcharges on things, because how are they gonna afford when they’re on a fixed income?”
Blackburn: “Well, you’re exactly right. What is happening is, as the cost goes up, they’re on a fixed income, you’re driving the taxes up, you’re driving the cost up, you’re limiting the access, and that’s why many people are concerned about having a bureaucrat in DC that basically ends up between them and their physician.”
The bill would set minimum levels of coverage for new insurance plans, including requirements that insurance help pay for things like durable medical equipment. Republicans like Blackburn clam that will drive up the cost of premiums. Democrats contend the regulation will ultimately cut down on out of pocket medical spending.
Blackburn says she can agree with Democrats on a number of ideas, like making health insurance portable and easier to get with a preexisting condition. But she says the Democrat’s plan would effectively bury the nation’s health care system in red tape.
The overhaul would set up a “health care exhange-” a sort of marketplace where people who don’t get their coverage through work or existing government programs can shop for a plan. The so-called Public option would be one of the plans offered. To participate in the exchange, private insurers would have to offer a certain level of coverage, specified by federal officials. Blackburn says that gives the government control it shouldn’t have.
“You’re just adding bureaucracy and roadblocks to affordable health insurance at every turn.”
Blackburn touted an alternate Republican bill that she says would drive down costs. She says it would expand health savings accounts, allow insurance to be sold across state lines and create high risk pools and options similar to worker’s comp plans for people with chronic illnesses or preexisting conditions.
The Congressional Budget Office did find that the GOP option would lower premiums for individual plans and cut the federal deficit. However, the CBO report estimates that it would not make a substantial change to the number of uninsured.
She says the GOP plan will be introduced on the floor when the Democrat’s measure comes up for debate.
Marsha Blackburn will hold a second telephone town hall meeting Friday night at 5:10 p.m., with constituents from the midstate portion of her district.
To participate, call 1-877-229-8493 and enter the ID code 14988 when prompted.
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