Today, the Blue Cross Association stated that a Government Plan Option was not required to meet the objectives of reform;
"A government plan option -- in any form -- is unnecessary to achieve comprehensive reform and would have devastating consequences on the health insurance coverage that employers and individuals currently have, the federal budget deficit and existing provider systems," the groups said.
Last year, Blue Cross partnered with Governor Charlie Crist of Florida in order in order to provide "comprehensive reform" for individuals and employers in the Sunshine State.
What kind of comprehensive reform did the Republican Governor work out with Blue Cross?
The Sunshine on that plan is below the fold-
Governor Crist is so proud of his Blue Cross plan and reform measures that he is prominently taking credit for it in his new campaign for the Florida Senate Seat. From www.charliecrist.com;
I signed into law a nationally recognized, market-based health care program to provide low cost health insurance for nearly four million uninsured Floridians.
Remember, those words because here is the Republican Governor's Prescription;
During the 2008 legislative session, my administration worked with legislators of both parties to secure unanimous approval of the Cover Florida Health Care Access Program. This legislation makes affordable health coverage available to 3.8 million uninsured Floridians through a comprehensive market-based strategy.
Just how is that "comprehensive market based strategy" in statewide partnership with Blue Cross working for the average Floridian?
When Richard Browne checked into the plan, he found it too expensive. For men ages 50 to 59, the monthly catastrophic coverage costs $363 to $463.
"I'm not sure who it's supposed to be affordable for, but it's not affordable for me," he said.
But you may be thinking Richard Browne could end up using a lot of benefits, right? Well the Blue Cross plan has an annual maximum of $25,000 in benefits with a lifetime maximum of $50,000. So the above Floridian will pay $5,556 a year for a possible single year benefit of $25,000.
Please, go to the Cover Florida website and check out the Republican Blue Cross solution, it is an eye opener. (You can use zip code 32803 in Orange County, FL to get quotes)
Charlie Crists prescription was to provide health coverage for "3.8 million uninsured Floridians."
Someone needs to ask Charlie why only 1,716 uninsured Floridians have signed up for his "nationally recognized, market-based health care program."
Blue Cross should be ashamed what it did to Floridians in the guise of reform. That is why a Government Option is needed to keep everybody honest.
Florida is called the Sunshine State, it is time for Daily Kos to bring sunshine to Charlie Crist's Blue Cross option and show it to the rest of America.
