Legal Commentary

Why Can't We All Get the Same Heath Plan as Congress?

By Jeralyn

We've heard lots of times that members of Congress have a great health care plan. The LA Times has an article today describing its benefits and how it differs from the private insurer plans the rest of us are offered.

We're paying for Congress' plan -- as well as the plans of other federal workers:

In all, taxpayers spent about $15 billion last year to insure 8.5 million federal workers and their dependents, including postal service employees, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

....The plan most favored by federal workers is Blue Cross Blue Shield, which covers a family for about $1,030 a month. Taxpayers kick in $700, and employees pay the rest. Seeing a doctor costs $20. Generic prescriptions cost $10. Immunizations are free. There is no coverage limit.

As to why we all can't have that plan: [More...]

The answer: The country probably couldn't afford it -- not without reforms to bring costs way, way down.

Do they mean reforms or reductions in coverage? I think it's the latter. Which again leads me again to suspect that when politicians talk about "reducing costs" for Medicare, they are talking about reducing covered benefits.

I happen to like my health insurance plan, although the cost is far more than what federal workers pay. If the new health care plan Congress passes results in reduced coverage and benefits but not reduced rates, I'm going to be one unhappy camper.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 02, 2009 (boomark / email).