Ok I have asked and asked and so far I have not gotten what I consider a complete answer. Slinkerwink, et al ( the folks that should know or have at least an idea) have yet to lay out what HCR through reconciliation looks like and what it actually does.
So here's what HCR looks like to me doing it through reconciliation.
Public Option or expanded Medicare or maybe a bit or a lot of both. Period
Ok where's the insurance reform? Well those cannot be done through reconciliation since regulatory provisions are not budgetary matters. So those are off the table for a reconciliation bill.
And don't forget a bill passed using reconciliation must have a sunset provision. So we will have to vote on it again to keep it. So the bill must be designed in such a way as to be untouchable. Political suicide for those who try to undo it.
So so far so good. Now onto the regulations on private insurers.
Folks are suggesting, including Congress Critters we do insurance regulations piece meal. Just let the Republicans try and block a reg that says insurance companies cannot deny customers with a pre-existing condition. Well this is probably correct - too popular not to pass. However where's the cost control? As soon as this bill passes the insurance companies pass along the perceived increased risk this provision places on them to you and me their policy holders. So our premiums jump yet again. And on it goes.
So if we are going to do it piece meal the very first thing that needs to get passed is the mandate. You cannot control cost without increasing the size of the risk pool. You cannot increase the size of the risk pool without a mandate and penalties for not having insurance. Can we live with that and will we get a majority to vote on it?
I don't know, but I don't feel good about it.
Ok now am I right on how this works? I await patiently someone with far greater knowledge than I to weigh in and correct me.
Please make your answers more than NO. A little detail helps us all.
I will fight tooth and nail for reform, but let us this time do a better job of explaining it and how we get there.
Thanks for your patience and your help.