Paying for Better Healthcare

by Leigh Graham · 2009-08-04 12:00:00 UTC
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Good news! Turns out, we already are!

H/t to Steve Benen at The Washington Monthly, I see in 2008 we taxpayers spent almost $1,800 per federal worker to cover their healthcare:

Among the advantages: a choice of 10 healthcare plans that provide access to a national network of doctors, as well as several HMOs that serve each member's home state. By contrast, 85% of private companies offering health coverage provide their employees one type of plan -- take it or leave it.

Lawmakers also get special treatment at Washington's federal medical facilities and, for a few hundred dollars a month, access to their own pharmacy and doctors, nurses and medical technicians standing by in an office conveniently located between the House and Senate chambers.

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.

There's also no "pre-existing condition" exclusionary cause for federal employees.

Check out the original article to read about Rep. Steve Kagen, a Democrat and former physician from WI who won't accept the federal package until all American's have the same coverage.  No health insurance for Kagen, but he's got principles that clearly the rest of his colleagues lack.

(Photo from the rally for the right to healthcare in DC, June 2009, by NESRI)

Leigh Graham
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