The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has reported out the Affordable Health Choices Act to address the increasing number of uninsured Americans. As best I can tell from the Committee's summary of the bill, it does not address the 24 month (really 30 month for most people) waiting period after becoming disabled before Medicare benefits begin.
It appears increasingly likely that a major health care bill will be passed and signed by the President this year. Whatever is passed will dramatically reduce the number of uninsured Americans but a very significant part of the remaining uninsured Americans will be individuals who have been or will be declared disabled by their government. I wonder whether the number of free clinics -- already inadequate -- will decrease once a health care bill passes, making it even harder for the disabled to obtain health care.
It appears increasingly likely that a major health care bill will be passed and signed by the President this year. Whatever is passed will dramatically reduce the number of uninsured Americans but a very significant part of the remaining uninsured Americans will be individuals who have been or will be declared disabled by their government. I wonder whether the number of free clinics -- already inadequate -- will decrease once a health care bill passes, making it even harder for the disabled to obtain health care.
Hopefully H.R. 1708 takes care of it.
ReplyDeleteI guess one has to assume that the national health insurance that is expected to take effect will cover everyone until they become entitled to Medicare. Oh, by the way, how many people are likely to be hired to administer the new national health insurance plan, when no one is being hired to administer the 70-year old SSA program?
ReplyDelete