Rep. Diana DeGette, from the safely Democratic district of Denver, Colorado, just answered questions on Facebook.
The big cut and paste follows after the jump...
Congresswoman Diana DeGette Welcome to my Facebook chat. I am happy to answer your questions. Please post them as a comment to this post. Thank you!
Elaine Murszewski
Welcome Diana, thank you for doing this!
Robert Droel
Why are you not a cosponsor of HR 676, a bill for single-payer healthcare. It's the only real solution to our healthcare mess. 1/3 of all money spent on "healthcare" goes to the activities of the for-profit insurance companies. It's time to adopt a system similar to those which do well in every other industrialized nation.
Beth Rotach
I am for a public option, however am afraid that certain diseases will not be covered due to political ideals. Is there a way to make sure this does not happen? (abortion, STD/HIV prevention, reproductive health)
David Neil Dibble
Representative DeGette, could you please inform us as to the likelihood of the public option being passed by congress, and if so, what you estimate the chances are of it being passed solely with Democratic votes? Thank you.
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
I am working to support H.R. 3200, which is a comprehensive health reform bill. Among other things, it will establish a "public option" which will create true competition in the insurance market.
Many Americans support a single payer system, and I will vote for an amendment to establish such a system. I don't believe, however, that there is enough support in Congress to pass this law and it is imperative that make a national change that will cover everyone and increase efficiencies.
Doug Smith
should those of us opposed to certain diseases (abortion?) be forced to pay for them?
Maria Capece Mendelsberg
We already have TWO public options -Medicaid and Medicare. Why do we need another one??? This will only lead to a single payer system. I like my insurance and I don't want the government telling me what to do. I am tempted to vote across the board Republican next year due to this issue. It is not fair.
Mark McIntosh
Do you think your fellow politicians can accept a strategy to tackle health-care reform a step at a time rather than a complete overhaul in one fell swoop? Would the nation accept a measured and patient approach? It took years to get into the mess, it might take years to extricate from it? Fair? Crazy? Unrealistic?
Mardi Moore
as I listen to the news I hear that we are going to have to compromise. As part of the compromise will you be able to remove preexisting conditions from the hands of the insurance companies?
Joe Templeton
Yes Diana, I have a question... President Obama and Nancy Pelosi have said many times that there is a lot of greed in the insurance industry. They essentially paint insurance providers to be only concerned with profit. Here is my question: If that's how the corporate world is... why would "greedy" employers continue paying for employee benefits, when they know if they dump them, they'll still be able to get the public option? The President CLAIMS we can keep our insurance, but in this economy what employer is going to keep paying for it if they don't have to?
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
David, I believe that the public option will pass the House of Representatives. Citizens should lobby their Senators to ensure that the Senate plan (still being considered in the Senate Finance Committee) will contain a public option.
Christopher Hubble
I am also for a public option. I'd like to know why the president is abandoning those who voted for real change by hedging on the public option. I'd also like to know why you chose not to host any live town hall meetings during the summer break? I've voted Democrat for many years now and with the reneging on promises to the LGBT community, the healthcare reform fiasco, and the escalation of the war in Afghananistan, I'm wondering why I do.
Pamela Clifton
Is anyone doing anything about reinstating the Pelll grants for people in prison? Education is the number one deterrent to crime and recidivism....enhance public safety by educating people. 95% of the people in prison will be released.
Christopher Hubble
http://www.politico.com/...
"Obama has no plans to insist on [the public option]... officials said. 'We have been saying all along that the most important part of this debate is not the public option, but rather ensuring choice and competition,' an aide said. 'There are lots of different ways to get there.'"
Sandy Diersing
At what point are those trying in good faith for bipartisan progress allowed to realize that the parties they are trying to engage are all laughing out the other sides of their faces? Can't we just get on with it, succeed, and take the credit?
Dave Schemel
Will the public option be an expansion of Medicare? It makes sense as the system is already working very well. Thanks!
Take Care - Dave
Doug Smith
medicare is bankrupt and rationed. that's hardly "working very well"
Joe Templeton
I second that. Doug is right Dave.
Doug Smith
can anyone point to the specific section of the Constitution that authorizes the gov't to meddle in health care?
Donald Hanchett
I've heard that people in Congress are being asked to pass a Bill that has them having to take the Public Option. If so, do you support this or not and why? Thank you?
Ray Springfield
When do you believe that we will have a single bill get out of committee and come up for a vote?
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Thanks for the great questions and comments. Let me respond to a few:
- The current bill says that insurance companies cannot exclude people for preexisting conditions. That is one of the most important features that will help existing consumers.
- I have already had a number of public meetings and telephone town hall meetings. More are scheduled in the coming weeks. For information, please go to my web site:www.degette.house.gov
- Under current law, insurance companies can cover abortions and any other legal procedures with premiums paid by private dollars. Our bill would allow that system to continue. We will continue the current policy that abortions will not be paid for with public dollars.
- The reason we need a public option or some other alternative to for-profit insurance plans is that we have to bring costs for consumers under control. If we don't have an alternative, insurance companies will just continue to increase premiums and their own profits.
Doug Smith
If you want more competition, and who doesn't, why not use the interstate commerce clause to allow insurers to compete across state lines?
Maria Capece Mendelsberg
The Senate does not have enough votes for the public option to pass.
Elaine Murszewski
Pamela, are you for real? Higher Education has been cut in Colorado, the upstanding citizens should have it first!
Nancy Cronk
Have you heard from Mark Udall? I think we should send out an Amber alert.
Kenny Miles
My question: Is there a simpler way to control costs then setting up a public option? When the airline industry was deregulated, it lowered the cost and spurred competition. I'm thinking more of a Southwest Airlines health care option for consumers rather then an Amtrak option. I feel like setting up a new system would take a long time, cost a lot, and provide a disadvantage to poorer Americans. What are the draw backs to this happening? Why a public option? Also, I feel its hard to re-form a system with 300 million people who eat bad processed food and consume prescription drugs like we do. How are you (DeGette) addressing our food crisis and all the lifestyle choices that over burden our health care system? Thanks!
Doug Smith
it's good that the public option won't pass. It's only in there to force private insurance companies out of business by using my tax dollars to undercut their prices
Ray Springfield
Ok so H.R. 3200 is the bill to track.....
Doug Smith
good point Kenny
Mark Mehringer
I second the question on the single-payer bill :)
Joe Templeton
Diana, you say H.R. 3200 would cover those with preexisting conditions, which is true. Here's my question on that: if anyone can get insurance, sick or not, why would they get insurance BEFORE they got sick? That would just be a waste of money. You know and I know that everyone will wait to get cancer to call United Healthcare or whoever. You also know that insurance companies will go broke because of it. How can you say with a straight face that we can keep our insurance when this bill has about 10 provisions that would prevent it?
Amber Cross Strickler
Thank you for hosting this conversation. I believe in reform for our health care and insurance systems but I do not agree that HR 3200 is the answer. I do not believe our government can afford this right now and our country's financial and economic stability should be of utmost importance. I also do not believe the government can solve all of our problems and I would like to keep my liberties as it pertains to my health insurance and care. This is a very important issue to all citizens and we must get it right! I believe that passing any public option or any controversial part of the bill using the 51 votes by reconciliation would be one of the most un-American things imaginable.
Jeremy Parnacher
I fear that our Party (Democrats) is allowing the GOP to turn this into a 2010 Election Issue instead of the crucial social issue that is reflected by Healthcare Reform, presently... I believe that in the end, the Blue Dogs (their voting base of Southern Democrats seem more persuaded to vote Republican) will lose seats; impairing further reform to our Education system, Regulations regarding Wall Street, repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", etc., etc., and "Jimmy Carter-ing" President Obama. What are our lawmakers doing to genuinely work across the aisle to garner support for our country and our President? This is a very crucial cornerstone to begin the implementation of the platform for which he campaigned to the American people.
I would like to note that I believe Jimmy Carter was before his time, in terms of social progress. Will this issue make President Obama seem "before his time" if it does not succeed? I think that this is a legitimate fear.
Doug Smith
they will have to meddle in our diets and anything that could cause us to be unproductive slaves to save money
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
I believe that the House will pass a bill this fall. I will return to Washington next week and will have a better idea of the scheduling then.
I will vote for an amendment that puts Members of Congress into the "exchange" system (which includes the public option) of the bill.
I always try to pass legislation on a bi-partisan basis, however, if the Republicans won't work with us, we have no choice but to pass a bill. We have about 47 Americans with no health insurance, many millions more who are uninsured, and people who can't get coverage for preexisting conditions or who hit up against annual or lifetime caps by the insurance companies and are forced into bankruptcy. This is an untenable situation and must be addressed. I would urge the Republicans to work with us, but their efforts must be truly directed towards reforming the whole system. It is too late for incremental change.
Cathy D Thomas
No, H.R. 676 is the optimal solution. Failing that, following Anthony Weiner's swap of H.R. 676 language into 3200 would solve all the problems with 3200's ambiguity about coverage. At the very least, Congress can allow states to implement Medicare for All solutions locally. If we're in the mood for piecemeal, doable fixes, that's the place to start.
http://www.pnhp.org/
Nancy Cronk
Seriously, I have been calling Senator Udall's office almost constantly, and I just get a lot of vague non-answers. Any idea why he won't tell the public where he stands? Have you been in communication with him?
Cathy D Thomas
And as for deregulation, the airlines have limped along from one bankruptcy to another, plane maintenance has been outsourced internationally to mixed results, and the wages and lives of airline personnel have been made more unstable and precarious. The only people to benefit from deregulation, long-term, have been the investment capital firms profiting from the acquisition churn.
Doug Smith
obama would have everyone's respect IF he avtually supported and defended the Constitution as he swore he would on inauguration day. Until he changes course he is guilty of insubordination
Joseph Wilcox
Our system of employer sponsored health insurance through private insurance companies has evolved into an nightmare. I'm a free-market enthusiast, but we've structured this market to encourage foot-dragging administrative inefficiency. I'd be happy to get a single payer system, but, short of that, what can I do to promote a system that is at least rational? I'm not happy that so much of the discussion seems to be powered by special interests such as pharmaceutical companies, health insurance companies and trial lawyers.
Nancy Cronk
Maria, I think you are wrong on this. The public health option momentum is building, not waning. The teabaggers have all but given up, at least in CO. The media has been biassed toward conservatives for years -- we saw that during the Obama election. They did not have a firm grasp on the pulse of America. Survey after survey says people believe in the principles of the public option, but they get confused by the spin.
Carmencita Llado' Miranda
Thank you for your support of the public option.
Joe Templeton
Hey Nancy, since you like to answer questions and Diana doesn't, why don't you answer my question on preexisting conditions?
Doug Smith
Nancy, udall is waiting in line for routine health care
Michael Ditto
Congresswoman DeGette, I feel like most of Colorado's delegation has pretty much staked out their positions with the exception of Salazar and Markey. What do you think we can do to influence legislators in other states? And what kindnof legislation do you think the state legislature should be looking at to enable reform?
Kenny Miles
Good point about the airlines however we pay pretty decent prices for airline tickets especially with 2009 inflation. My other point is that I feel its hard to re-form a system with 300 million people who eat bad processed food and consume prescription drugs like we do. How are DeGette addressing our food crisis (that I was informed about by watching her in the documentary "Food, Inc.") and all the lifestyle choices that over burden our health care system?
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Kenny, there may be a simpler way to get competition than the public option, but I haven't heard of it. If someone wanted to find a way to get competition in the insurance exchange in another way, I'd look it it.
For those of you unclear about how the public option works, here's the story: Those of you who are enrolled in private insurance that you like or medicare now would stay in those programs. Then, for those without insurance, an "exchange" would be created. Private insurance companies would be allowed to compete in the exchange for new patients. Also, within the exchange, there would be "public option" which would be operated by the government, but which would be funded by premiums just like private plans. No one would be forced to enroll in the public option. Since it would essentially be a non-profit insurance plan, many of us believe that it would force for-profit insurance companies to compete with both rates and benefits. That would reduce costs and improve care.
Doug Smith
Joseph, special interests gain power by focusing on those who co-opt too much power to control our lives. Take power to meddle from gov't and those special interests would have to convince each of us of the vaule of their products and indeas
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
In Massachusetts, they established an insurance exchange without a public option and, while they insured a lot more people, they also did not contain costs so people's premiums and health care costs continued to escalate.
That is why we need a public option or some other kind of robust alternative.
Maria Capece Mendelsberg
Well this just makes me want to vote Republican in the next election. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THE PUBLIC OPTION WILL CROWD OUT PRIVATE INSURANCE AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE OVER. THey ahave already spent enough taking over the banks, the autos, the stimulus package. Americans are fed up. THere is a small % of liberals who like this but those of us in the middle are upset. OBAMA CANNOT WIN IF HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE MIDDLE.
Christopher Hubble
@Doug -- UM... try the PREAMBLE!!!!
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
David Neil Dibble
I totally agree, Sandy. It never ceases to amaze me how these zealous advocates of free-market capitalism seem to have little to no faith in the system they claim to be protecting. If they did, they'd wholeheartedly support a public option as a way of innovating the health care industry, slashing costs, cutting premium rates, etc... you know, competition instead of monopoly!
When you're blinded by ideology, though, I guess consistency is the first casualty. Sadly those like Doug don't even recognize the inherent contradiction in their own lines of thought.
Doug Smith
Diana, The simpler way to get competition is to get gov't out of the way and let the insurers compete for us. Now you've heard the simpler way that would actually solve the problem w/out destroying the American economy or Liberty
Joe Templeton
Thanks for explaining Diana. I'll pick up where you left off... Page 124, Lines 24-25 of H.R. 3200 show a clear intent to establish a government healthcare monopoly. This section protects the government from judicial review on their prices. This bill is trying to establish protection, so the federal government can underbid everyone with our tax dollars. John D Rockefeller style.
Maria Capece Mendelsberg
Thanks Doug
Elaine Murszewski
The "special interest" groups are known to "grease the palms" of our state to federal legislators so that the vote will be swayed. The legislators that votes are swayed are NOT working for YOU the voter! In this case, they should all be found out -- can we impeach senators, house rep and congresspeople?
Karen Marie-Stella
i don't have faith in any of this materializing in a perfect scenario...my daughter is developmentally disabled and relies on medicaid...and it is continually allowing her and her care to fall through the cracks in the system...take off the rose colored glasses...government health care & resources will not be perfect no matter what, but some care is better than none...btw...i lost my health care when i lost my job.
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Thanks for participating in this chat. I wish I could spend the rest of the afternoon answering all of your comments. If you want more information, you can participate in my telephone town hall meeting tomorrow night from 7:10-8:10. If you are interested in signing up, you need to do so by 4 p.m.Mountain time today on my website: www.degette.housel.gov
John Blanco
Hello Congresswoman! My question is, would anyone be able to choose the public health option? I get private insurance through my employer currently, but would like public insurance instead. I feel it would be run a lot better. Are there restrictions to who can be on it (e.g., salary requirements, etc.)?
Doug Smith
Christopher, the preamble does not command the gov't to meddle in our lives. Promoting the general welfare is not to promote the general welfare state. It is to allow the free market to provide what people really want not what eh gov't decides we should want
Peter Baumann
Hey Congresswoman, thank you for hosting this forum. Something a lot of people seem concerned about is losing the employer based coverage that serves so many so well. What steps does HR. 3200 take to insure that employers do not automatically dump their employees into the exchange?
Joe Templeton
Hey David, we believe in free-market competition, when it is truly that. But when the federal government is competing with an unfair advantage i.e. no concern for losses and OUR TAX DOLLARS... that's anything but fair and free.
Joe Templeton
Peter, I understand your concern man. Too bad the bill doesn't have any provision to prevent that. That's because your employer dumping your benefits is the ultimate goal.
Cathy D Thomas
Why would insurers compete for us any better than they do now?
And why can't the government provide a single-payer plan whose details have been proven to work in other capitalist countries, in order to compete with those insurers fair and square?
If PHARMA's paying for adds to tell Democratic members of Congress to vote in their favor -- the only TV ads I've seen on health "insurance" reform I've seen all Summer -- what does that tell you about who'll benefit, and who won't?
Why can't they deal with that level of true competition?
Why do they create mind-boggling memes as "take government's hands off my Medicare"?
Why can't they deal with that level of true competition?
Why do they create mind-boggling memes as "take government's hands off my Medicare"?
Joe Templeton
PHARMA will benefit due to the porky gov't contracts that are usually handed out. However, insurance companies will be taken to the cleaners. I happen to love my insurance... so that sucks.
Raymond M Reed
Rep. DeGette, much of the opposition is driven by incorrect or at best unqualified generalizations about this issue and appeals to emotion/fear. ‘Death Panels’, ‘Socialism’, fear of losing current health care insurance as a result of reform, etc. Why is the economic rational and moral rational for reform not being discussed more?
Krugman recently wrote in a column to the effect that the only reason the U.S. has a functioning system now is because the government insures the elderly and because of tax incentives and regulations most other Americans can obtain insurance through their employers. The US spends in the neighborhood of 16% of GDP, other Western countries spend a fraction of this while covering their full populations. The GDP will grow faster long term if this inefficiency is corrected. Why is this not framed in the light that the baby boomers will be retiring soon, entering Medicare, and destroying the Fed budget and economy? $70 trillion liability w/out change.
Michael Quigley
Dear Congresswoman DeGette,
Thanks so much for your hard work on this critical issue!
What can we do to help Congress reach a sound, sensible and affordable solution to the health care dilemma? Surely there must be a way for citizens to play a constructive role in bringing our representatives from both sides of the aisle together to pass this legislation which is so desperately needed.
Many many thanks, Michael
Ray Springfield
Hard times make people hoard in my opinion. This creates fear when the media focuses on potential losses, real or imagined, and the right wing uses these scare tactics to predict that private insurance will disappear because the public option in their view would drive the for-profit companies out of business. This is hardly realistic.
With Sen. Kennedy's passing, we have regained momentum in the last week.The focus needs to be on real people that currently suffer rather than the media driven lies of "euthanize Grandma"
Doug Smith
big pharma can afford the extra regulations that will bankrupt little pharma companies. That is why big companies are pro-regulation
gov't can't provide a single payer plan that works because gov't can't provide anything that works. The best thing they can do is stay out of the way and let the market work. That is why the Consititution is there to limit gov't
Cathy D Thomas
No, PHARMA benefits by the lack of regulation present in any solution short of single-payer coverage. Love your insurance, love your insurer -- just give me the right to choose and fund Medicare at least for kids, then extend it to adults now short of retirement. What are insurance companies afraid of, to even have test cases in the states?
Elaine Murszewski
Karen, I agree. I lost my job in April, COBRA ARRA runs out next month. After that my payments for health insurance while on unemployment will be $448/month. Can I afford it? NO. What doctor will see me without some kind of insurance?
Joe Templeton
Diana, I would also like you to address how this bill will create a shortage of doctors in two ways. First, you claim there are 47 million uninsured. That's not really the case but let's assume it is. How will we not experience long lines, with the same amount of doctors and 47 million more patients? Also, page 241, lines 6-8 clearly state that all doctors will be reimbursed at the same rate, regardless of specialty. Why would any doctor, spend more time and more money learning a specialty, when they'll get paid the same as a GP?
Jeremy Parnacher
MARIA CAPECE MENDELSBERG: I do not understand how your line of thought is conceived. Can you please elaborate your understanding of the free market and how it works? A public option will only crowd out Big Insurance if consumers exchange their respective coverage. Therefore the Market will determine if a single payer system is correct for our country. I do not believe that this will happen because Big Insurance will lower their costs to more competitive in this market scenario. PLEASE DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE "Middle" but rather yourself, on this issue. That's all.
Joe Templeton
We already did test a "public option" in Oregon Cathy. It failed miserably.
Elaine Murszewski
On another note, to those who are afraid of where your tax dollars are being spent -- where is Medicaid funded through? and while you are thinking about that -- the insurance companies also put $$ into an uninsured fund. Again, what doctor will see me without insurance or money to pay for the visit.
Doug Smith
Ray, teddy rationed and delayed medical care to a congressional aid he was having an affair w/. if you think liberals care for you more than teddy cared for Mary Jo you may as well bend over
David Neil Dibble
Joe, I like the caveat you have in your definition of "free and fair." It's apparently only free and fair when it meets with your ideological imprimatur.
That doesn't sound much like capitalism to me. If you support free markets then you should be doing it consistently, not just when it suits your preconceived notions of what free markets are.