The inability to see past their own noses is the most chronic condition of those in Washington whose loftiest goals become pale compared to the pursuit of pet projects, singular viewpoints and self-centered actions that betray the trust of those who put them in office. Let's talk the "temporary COBRA subsidy", the newest stupidity offered up by Congress after lopping off the features of the proposal that best offered hope of making a real dent in the "crisis" such as giving the option of permanent COBRA with federal and individual contribution to those unable to obtain re employment or new insurance after being laid off at an older age (55).
The COBRA subsidy promises to be a ridiculous stop gap that offers a 65% discount on COBRA rates (which now are 102% of the premium cost) for up to nine months for workers who are laid off from September 2008 onward. This is a ridiculous proposal because it covers only nine months, only those who have been laid off since September and offers a huge discount 65% of premium payment rather than offering a lesser discount and covering a broader range of people for a longer period of time. The self-centered approach of lawmakers that takes the valid notion of expanding programs already in place to choosing who to help and leaving out huge numbers of our population while depleting federal resources is frustrating for consumers who listen to our self-centered leaders cry for patience and volunteer service while they preserve their own pet projects and comfortable life styles.
Health Insurance: Keep it Simple Today: Why does the federal government ignore the millions of Americans who work part time and those who volunteer their time in their tweaking of the health insurance provisions of federal law.
Part time employees have increased as corporations exploited the opportunity NOT TO PROVIDE BENEFITS TO PART TIME WORKERS. Access, affordability and quality require that we consider conditions that are affecting millions of Americans so why the refusal to expand Medicaid options to cover those who work part time or in the alternative to come up with some hybrid insurance option that combines government funding and employee contribution for insurance coverage? Further, such coverage should be made available to the millions of Americans who volunteer and are eligible for nothing but a transportation/expense reimbursement. Volunteers can currently, in many jurisdictions, can seek workman's compensation if they are injured "on the job." So why not health insurance?
Keep it Simple Today: Encourage your representatives to put aside their self-centered and unrealistic busy work such as the COBRA subsidy program in its current watered down state. Bad action is worse than inaction.
