Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Emanuel doubles down
Next Post: Illinois’ “get along” shirt
Posted in:
* From the Pritzker campaign…
Yesterday, JB joined protests against the GOP Senate health care bill that would strip insurance coverage from millions of Illinoisans. The protest was organized by Indivisible Chicago, a grassroots movement that formed after the 2016 election to resist Donald Trump.
Here’s what Illinoisans are reading about Bruce Rauner’s cowardice on the devastating GOP heath care plan:
Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Senate GOP health care bill hammers Illinois, while Rauner is AWOL
The Senate bill is as mean-spirited as the House bill. Illinois would get hammered even harder. And Gov. Bruce Rauner is still AWOL.
The Chicago Reporter: Illinois Republicans try to lay low on repealing Obamacare
While a handful of U.S. senators were huddling in secret this week in Washington to draft legislation repealing Obamacare, grassroots activists across the Chicago region and Illinois were working hard to bring as much public attention – and public outrage – to the issue as possible.
That includes shining a light on the inaction of Governor Bruce Rauner – who has not spoken out as other Republican governors have – and on Republican members of Congress who have avoided public engagement on the issue.
Chicago Sun-Times: Does Rauner have any guiding principles on health care insurance?
The Senate Republicans released their health care insurance draft bill on Thursday — the House version to overhaul Obamacare passed in May — and once again, GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner isn’t doing much to make sure the final measure is good for Illinois. […]
Rauner is abdicating his responsibilities to the people of the State of Illinois by his silence…
“Bruce Rauner has no principles and no courage in his spineless failure to protect Illinoisans from TrumpCare,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “In maintaining his cowardly silence, Rauner is siding with Trump and radical Republican Senators over the people of Illinois. Millions of Illinoisans could lose their health care if this bill passes. It is imperative that the governor of this state stand up for them, but Bruce Rauner is once again nowhere to be found.”
* That Lynn Sweet column briefly excerpted above makes it pretty clear why this is a state issue…
A core element to GOP proposals is to shift to states the authority to reshape health insurance rules: for those who get it through employers; via Medicaid, the state/public plan for the low-income medically needy; or through the exchanges established under former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
Governors become far more important in the GOP vision of how health insurance should be delivered in this nation.
In Illinois, the politically explosive issue of rising premiums will become the fault of the governor and Illinois General Assembly — not Washington, if the GOP state-centric Obamacare overhaul plans become law. […]
Obamacare requires coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, with caps on how much they could be charged. The Senate bill would allow a state to limit the benefits allowed for someone with a pre-existing condition.
Would Rauner want to change current rules concerning capping coverage costs and for people with pre-existing conditions? Should any benefits be reduced?
At present, Obamacare mandates coverage for 10 essential benefits. The Senate bill allows for states to apply for a waiver so an insurance plan could offer less. That may impact the price.
What is the Rauner view when it comes to the essential benefit current package? Should it be cut? Stay the same?
There’s lots more, so go read the whole thing.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 11:53 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Emanuel doubles down
Next Post: Illinois’ “get along” shirt
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
This situation seems to put the full measure of GovJunk’s incompetence on display
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:05 pm
It’s not incompetence. He wants it this way.
Comment by Nick Name Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:10 pm
All the noise about the effects on Medicaid but not a single whisper about putting a leash on the Insurance Racket.
As one of the 350,000 in Illinois buying private insurance, and indirectly paying the bill for the 650,000 on medicaid in multiple ways, I find it inexcusable that our government powers will not shut down this RICO enterprise.
I refuse to pay $18,000 a year protection money to be allowed into a “network” that has secret prices that are completely hidden from the public. And, adding insult to injury, be expected to pay a $7500 deductible on top for completely blind charges.
Do I dare hope that Illinois GovJunk or the GA/Madigan will ever do anything about this? You would think with the colossal ripoff occurring of overcharging costs structures, no property taxes for medical not-for-profit complexes, someone would wake the blank up. Legislate price transparency. Throw the med codes out the window; biggest scam ever. Encourage medical tourism here in Illinois for non-residents to find fair pricing for services.
It appears the MSM, Congress, and Illinois enjoy the status quo of lower health outcomes at double the price of the rest of the world.
/rant over
Comment by cdog Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:15 pm
The governor’s supposed to address this when the state is melting down? No one is more disappointed and frustrated than him that there’s no budget deal. Madigan and his corrupt cronies wrecked the state and won’t compromise and pass sensible reforms to grow jobs and make Illinois attractive to job creators.
We need to focus. Focus is a good thing. Focus is a good thing.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:16 pm
Focus - I am focused and scared. The Senate Bill will raise my health care costs by almost 60%! Where is our gov? NOT to be found. The gov. of Ohio, a Republican, has some common sense ideas on health care - but… common sense is not found in any ready supply with Rauner. Maybe we could make a trade?
Comment by Tired Teacher Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:21 pm
There are 50 Governors in the U.S.; a majority are Republicans. Governor Rauner has treated President Trump as if he were Plutonium. They are anything but fast friends. So, why should anyone believe that Rauner’s opinion will make a nickel’s worth of difference in the Congress’s handling of Obama Care?
Comment by Keyser Soze Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:22 pm
There are many Republicans in Illinois’ congressional delegation who will be voting on health care bills. Some of them might listen to the largest donor to the Illinois Republican Party.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:37 pm
“Governor Rauner has treated President Trump as if he were Plutonium.”
I don’t know why. No president has ever accomplished more good things for the American people than Trump, in the same time period. Believe me. He’s done so many good things and passed so many good things, you’re not gonna believe it. He’s kept every promise to the American people. No one has kept promises like President Trump, believe me…
“So, why should anyone believe that Rauner’s opinion will make a nickel’s worth of difference in the Congress’s handling of Obama Care?”
Oh, I don’t know, maybe because he’s a governor and a Republican who can put pressure to try to stop this? Pretend it’s fair share fees.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:34 pm
Cdog,
That was a lovely rant. But I have no idea what you actually want to see done. Are you saying the GOP bill is good? Bad? I mean I could agree with you about transparency and insurance being a racket, but then what? Medicare for all? No insurance?
Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:45 pm
Chicago Cynic, thanks for asking but I feel very inadequate re viable to solutions. The goal should be to not have the insurance racket be completely in charge with no accountability, no sunshine. This seems to be the case now. There are absolutely no market forces at patient/doctor transaction level, now.
If one of us needs a hernia repaired it is completely impossible to know how much that procedure will cost. There is no comparable market in the world with this kind of blindness. And nobody talks about it! We can travel out of the country and know to the penny, in a world-rated facility. (We don’t need anything now, just always working on contingencies…)
The insurance should run more like typical auto, or property. File a claim, IF YOU CHOOSE.
Purchase types of coverage, accident/acute, chronic, hospitalization, etc.
Make insurance cos have more skin in the Medicaid game as one could argue lack of access due to racketeering has created many chronic expensive problems…
This article has a lot to think about in it as far as how to legislate this.
https://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=231949
Comment by cdog Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 2:08 pm
=Grandson of Man - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:34 pm:=
What have you been smoking? Take off those rose colored glasses & put on a pair you can see with.
Comment by Mama Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 4:38 pm
Make health insurance companies non-profit like other countries.
Comment by Mama Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 4:40 pm