The reliance on Republican policy proposals did nothing to generate Republican support. Instead of showing the falseness of partisan divisions, Obamacare has proven how deeply entrenched they truly are.
Far from introducing innovation and efficiency into the system, the decision to build a complex, 50-state public-private hybrid has introduced towering complexity into the project, and seems, potentially, to be beyond the government's capacity to do well.*
Since the Republicans refuse to support what is, in effect, their health care bill, their fall back plan is the status quo. After all isn't that what conservative means - to preserve the status quo or even regress to what they view was a better time? Isn't this exactly what the recent bill passed by the House of Representatives does - allows anyone to subscribe to any health plan that may have existed?
The chief difference between the plans is that Upton’s would allow insurers to sell the [discontinued] plans to anyone, even new customers.**
Surely a progressive plan would have been single payer. Though conservative politicians hate single payer with a passion hard for me to fathom, there are many single-payer health systems around of considerable size such as Medicare and Federal Employees Health Plan, to name just two. Both allow you to go to any physician that will accept patients on these plans. Medicare B, C and D and the FEHP are all voluntary, i.e. you do not have to subscribe to the plans (though Medicare A is mandatory). You will read things like if you accept Medicare A, you cannot have a private plan*** which is rubbish. I've had Medicare A, B and a private backup plan for 18 years and counting. I have also gone to any physician I wished and hospital I chosen for me.
Before I was medicare eligible, my private plan was my primary plan which I had for decades. Since the private plan has become my secondary plan, there are some differences in that as a secondary plan they will only cover things that Medicare does. The secondary plan just pays the difference between what Medicare covers and the accepted cost by Medicare. They also cover the Medicare deductible and any co-pay.
Medicare is a great convenience in that I don't have to write checks to providers all over the place. I am surprised at some things not covered, however, like shots for shingles. And there are limits on how often you can have certain tests or the number of days/year for which you can have treatment (i.e speech therapy). But overall, I am very satisfied. SINGLE PAYER WORKS! And even conservative columnists like Michael Gerson says the Single Payer is the best way to control medical prices, though he still doesn't like them.
** http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/democrats-obamacare-vote-99915_Page2.html
*** http://www.forhealthfreedom.org/Publications/MedicareMedicaid/MandatoryEnrollment.html
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