Lawmakers Want State, Not Federal, Insurance Connector
Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, is no fan of "Obamacare." But he told his House colleages this afternoon that if they don't set up a health insurance exchange — one of the tenets of the reform — by 2014, the federal government will do it for them.
The so-called insurance connector would effectively serve as a public marketplace a la Travelocity or Orbitz, where consumers could shop for health insurance, or find out if they qualify for Medicaid or other services. Zerwas' bill sets up an oversight committee "to make sure this thing doesn’t fall off into an abyss and we ...
Comments (7)
Debra Medina via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So what's the difference? Government sponsored insurance exchange lays foundation for single payer (that's no private) system. You can't legitimately say you oppose Obamacare while at the same time sponsoring the bill that will lay the foundation for its implementation.
Jason Roper via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Either this bill passes or you cede control to the Fed Debra, do you trust them more? The choice is not this, the Fed or nothing; it is this for the Feds in control. Are you willing to gamble that the Obama care will fail in the courts because unless Republicans win in 2012 both the Presidency and the Senate it will become law unless the courts do something and you nor anyone else can 100% GUARANTEE that. Maybe you want the Federal HHS department dictating this program in TX. I will say that this bill should have both sunset and a negative trigger so that if Obamacare is repealed or overturned in the courts then this law becomes inactive. Also have you read the bill ?
Michael Cosper via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Obamacre is a Republican policy enacted by a Democratic congress. I am sure that either way Texas will screw it up. Insurance companies are going to mine your pockets for all it is worth and more. Texas does not historically stand up to insurance companies.
Debra Medina via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@Jason. Yes, I've read the bill and the fiscal note. It is the cornerstone for Obamacare in Texas and you're supposition that the plan would be tolerable if only administered by the state is ludicrous. This is government single payer healthcare. I'll take my healthcare free market thank you!!
Brent Connett
Obamacare is a disaster. Insurance exchanges are not. Further, while PPACA has been in law only since March of 2010, the idea of Health Insurance Exchanges has been discussed for decades by various Administrations. In that same regard, the creation of state run-and-operated Exchanges is certainly not a new concept given that several states currently have in place, and are operating, successful exchange models. Likewise for the federal government. And as this article mentions, one-stop-shopping comparison websites are popular for travel, but they also have benefited Texas consumers of electricity. Since the state deregulated the retail electricity market more than a decade ago, powertochoose.org has become available as an online utility to help consumers pick the electric plan that best suits their needs. An insurance exchange would operate on the same principles, and would bring many similar benefits if it is designed and operated by state government, which will be far preferable to one established by Washington bureaucrats.
Phillip Green
After Zerwas's comment in the article Insurers Drop Child-Only Plans, Blame Health Reform - “Time will tell whether there really is a problem or not,” said Rep. John Zerwas, an anesthesiologist and Republican of Simonton. “If there’s a viable market for it, I would like for it to sustain itself.” - I'm not sure he has the knowledge to write or support a bill pertaining to Health Care. If he's not willing to help the children of Texas under the age of 19 obtain Health Insurance, then it seems that being an Anesthesiologist all he wants is to put Texans to sleep. Being a Democrat, Republican or an Anesthesiologist does not make you an expert on Health Insurance. What is needed is a common sense plan, which is what seems to be lacking theses days in Austin and Washington. Health Care has been a problem for some time, made worse by the Federal Health Care Reform. The only way we can fix our problems is by working together using a logical common sense approach. We have to quit pointing fingers at one another and start to fix the things that are affecting us and the future of our children.
Rudy Gonzales
Texas is the laughing stock of America and the world while these Yahoos sit on their high-and-mighty thrones and dictate their religious beliefs onto the general public of Texas. We need to vote out all these extreme GOP/TEA party members and get new blood into office in Austin. I used to be proud to be called a Texan, but not now with these sick Yahoos screwing around and wasting "OUR" money. They went through an entire session and didn't pass the basic budget. These A--holes failed miserably and did not pass the basic budget so the schools would know what they needed to do. This should not even be on the "Special Session's agenda. These A--holes are wasting our money and time doing BS legislation in Austin. This is the perfect reason to kick out all the a--'s! There should have never been a special session. This should have been taken care of day one in regular session. These a------'s blew through BS legislation rather than do their fiduciary and representative's job. Every school in Texas is waiting for the budget to see how much these GOP/TEA a----'s are going to cut from their budget. Are you really happy with the jobs our Texas Legislature is doing? I'm not, and I hope your not!
Per Capita Spending in Texas:
· Mental Health - 46th
· Medicaid - 38th
· Public Health and Hospitals - 20th
· Public Elementary-Secondary Education - 38th
· Parks and Recreation - 49th
· Police Protection - 48th
· Environmental Protection - 45th
· Highways - 42nd
· State Arts Agencies - 48th