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Bush Proposing Health Insurance Changes

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...8MPA1CO2.shtml

Quote:

(AP) President Bush will propose a tax deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families regardless of whether they buy their own health insurance or receive medical coverage at work.

The proposal, to be announced Tuesday in his State of the Union address, is aimed at giving the uninsured an incentive to purchase a medical plan. It also is designed to encourage those with generous plans to either embrace cheaper insurance or pay taxes on the part that exceeds the deduction, a Bush administration official familiar with the proposals said Saturday.

If passed by Congress, the proposal would be the first time that workers could get a tax break if they bought their own insurance. But it also would be the first time that some employer-provided health care benefits could be taxed. Health care benefits provided by companies are currently exempt from income and payroll taxes.

Sounds like a very bold move but anything other than rhetoric at this point has to be of some help. Being in healthcare insurance and the lack thereof is something that is on my mind often. At the same time if this is followed up by cuts to reimbursement it will put the squeeze on hospitals already treading water.

My own state has been in a Medicaid nightmare so it wouldn't take much funding decreases at the federal level to put us back in trouble.

On a related topic I was curious how well the military is doing taking care of prescription drugs for the retirees.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonglh

[url]On a related topic I was curious how well the military is doing taking care of prescription drugs for the retirees.

Can't speak for anyone but myself and my wife, but we have not had any problems with prescription drugs and do not anticipate that we will ever have any problems getting serviced by DOD programs and or the VA.

The VA does not have the same formulary as the local military pharmacy, and switched two of the three meds I was taking, as well as providing me with a pill cutter to split another because they did not stock the lower dosage tabs.

OTOH, if it enables then to negotiate with the pharm companies and drive down prices to the point where more people can be treated, I have no complaints with their pharmacy.

I get the Doc to enter the scrips, call to reorder before I run out, and they send it in the mail like clockwork. No lines, no copay.

Not a bad system.

TR

[QUOTE=The Reaper]The VA does not have the same formulary as the local military pharmacy, and switched two of the three meds I was taking, as well as providing me with a pill cutter to split another because they did not stock the lower dosage tabs.

OTOH, if it enables then to negotiate with the pharm companies and drive down prices to the point where more people can be treated, I have no complaints with their pharmacy.

I get the Doc to enter the scrips, call to reorder before I run out, and they send it in the mail like clockwork. No lines, no copay.

I have VA coverage, 20% disability service connected. I pay only $7 per prescription. Every thing else is based on my annual adjusted gross income. As of right now I pay $50 per visit to anything other than primary care. Any surgery's are completley covered, less the $50 co-pay. A visit to the ER is only $50 etc. For the past three years, I've only had to spend the $7 per prescription. If your healthy, the cost is near nothing. Other than waiting in line for two hours at the VA hospital pharmacy if you forget to order your prescriptions over the phone for each refill.

Some medications are available some are not. If you dont mind being seen by a medical resident for speciality treatments, then the VA coverage for disabled vets is a god send. Since I have only my son and myself, and am independently contracted I have the individual policy on my son and VA for myself. His individual policy costs only $78 per month.

I actually enjoy the visits to the VA center. There's alway's an opportunity to lend a helping hand to someone way far worse than myself.

I agree, I am on VA and family on CHAMPVA. CHAMPVA is better than Blue Cross that we had.

Only problem with VA, is underfunding. The Hospital in Portland, OR is understaffed in some areas. To see a dentist, they pretty much limit care to emergency only.