May 13, 2004


It's good news if...

There is someone out there willing to kill off the medical liability caps legislation. The House passed a bill that will allow rollover of Medical FSA money from year-to-year. Good. But they seem to have tied it to other legislation capping medical liability...more campaign contributor payback.

People who set aside salary in tax-free accounts for health bills would be able to roll unused funds over to the next year or into long-term health savings accounts under legislation approved by the House Wednesday.

Approved 273-153, the bill is one of three pieces of related legislation that Republicans are pushing during a week of heightened attention to health care and the uninsured. All three have previously passed the Republican-led House, but have been blocked in the Senate, leading House Democrats to assert that the new round of votes is merely political theater.

The other bills would place limits on medical malpractice awards and let small employers buy into national health insurance plans to get more affordable rates for employees.

So do something good and then screw everyone. Hmmmm, why do I see a certain Toxic Texan's hands all over this one? Could there be payback involved? Nah, never happen here...

posted by Jo Fish on 05.13.04 at 12:29 AM





Comments:

The concept of set-asides for health care is sound but unfair to those many who cannot afford to set-aside any portion of their income. 401(k)s and IRAs are good ideas also. But too many just cannot afford to participate, as they live from paycheck to paycheck. Is it coincidence that these good ideas seem to benefit those who have excess funds that may be tax deferred? In fairness, some sort of tax credits should be provided for those living from paycheck to paycheck as an equalizer. Or better yet, universal health care.

posted by: Shag from Brookline on 05.13.04 at 06:14 AM [permalink]



There are other problems with caps on awards. Also, I don't know this legislation and it has me wondering. See, the idea that there are all these fantastical awards of money is a myth. Enormous awards given by unreasonable juries are exceptionally rare, and those are the ones you always hear about. So there really isn't a problem being solved by that legislation. However, are the caps absolute in all cases or do they apply on a "per plaintiff" basis? That is, if you have a thousand people in a class action suit, and the cap is $250,000, is that per person or for the entire lawsuit? If it is for the entire lawsuit, then you are talking about an award of $250 per person, out of which come legal fees and expenses. In a case where many people are inured and face lifelong health risks because of an illegal toxic waste dump, that hardly seems right.

The rollover is a good idea, though. One reason my wife and I do not use the set-aside option is that it is like gambling. You bet what it will cost you and then you lose it if you don't need medical attention at that level. And if you need extra, it costs a lot more. The set-aside system as it is now is kind of a gyp.

posted by: dean on 05.13.04 at 08:14 AM [permalink]



This is always the problem when something is "privatized" by politicians - it only helps people with money unspent at the end of the month.

People talk like there is no inflation, because they take out the "volatile" items: food and energy. Well food and energy are the bulk of spending for poor people, utility bills, gas, and food are required, not options.

As for the caps, we did it in Florida and were rewarded with another rate increase.

posted by: Bryan on 05.13.04 at 08:26 PM [permalink]



Caps would be a solution if placed in the ass, see also Sully and his fearless leader's poster over his bed (or under it so he can see it while on knees).

Of course he could always roll over. ROllovers for the rich so they can set up escrows that carry over while the working poor have nothing. The result- higher copay and deductibles for those who can't fund such exhorbitant levels.

Dean was screaming about this stuff, glad to see the media make him a non-item to end the worries of special interest.Not.


posted by: Mr.Murder on 05.14.04 at 07:06 AM [permalink]






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