Health Reform Policy Update
BlueCross-funded Oliver Wyman report: Baucus bill would increase premiums in the individual market by 50%.
AARP sells out seniors: Can’t understand why its members are unhappy.
Hoekstra and Shadegg: Special interests shaped the Baucus bill: The federal government picks up Medicaid costs in four states, New Yorkers are exempt from the tax on “Cadillac” plans and $10 billion will bail out union health plans.
The primary tenants of health reform, championed by Congressional Leaders, probably require less than 18 pages to describe. The House Tri-Committee bill is 1,018 pages long. Simple math would suggest that that leave about 1,000 pages for favors to special interests.
Everybody who knows anything about insurance is coming to the same conclusion about the Baucus bill.