[soprofaxel]

The cost of health care is growing more than two times faster than wages, making it harder for families to buy insurance and for employers to sponsor a health benefit for their workers, Bush said.

One way to tackle rising premiums is to treat health insurance more like owning a home, he said.

"The current tax code encourages home ownership by allowing you to deduct the interest on your mortgage from your taxes," Bush said. "We can provide a similar incentive for you to buy health insurance."

....


Bush said he believes the federal government has a responsibility to provide health care for the most vulnerable members of society -- the elderly, disabled and poor. The country is meeting that responsibility through entitlement programs, such as Medicare, which covers the elderly and disabled, and Medicaid, which covers the very poor.

"We must strengthen these vital programs so that they are around when future generations need them," Bush said.

Bush proposes tax changes to address health care costs - CNN.com I think this is a good idea for citizens, but may be bad news for hospitals and healthcare providers. What do you think about requiring everyone to have health insurance like we have to have car insurance?

I know personally health care for the wife and I went up about $100/month this year. Co-pay went up 25% and perscription drugs went up a few dollars. We can't go without insurance because my wife is a lemon. It would be nice if we could write part of it off.

Also could someone maybe elaborate a little bit on what the end of this article touched on. I'm not sure if I fully understand why this would hurt the healthcare providers.

[homerdienru]

George Bush is a Hypocrate!!! Why didnt he pass this idea while republicans were in control? But nooooo he rather gives the wealthy tax breaks instead giving the middle class anything while repubicans were in control. He knew damn well the democrats will reject this.Thats the only reason he bought this up cause he knew the democrats will reject this so he can make a political speech at the RNC convention for their own political gain.

[soprofaxel]

George Bush is a Hypocrate!!! Why didnt he pass this idea while republicans were in control? But nooooo he rather gives the wealthy tax breaks instead giving the middle class anything while repubicans were in control. He knew damn the democrats will reject this.Thats the only reason he bought this up cause he knew the democrats will reject this so he can make a political speech at the RNC convention for their own political gain.

Why would democrats reject this idea? It seems like a good way to reduce the rising healthcare costs for everyone.

[MzTT]

Why would democrats reject this idea? It seems like a good way to reduce the rising healthcare costs for everyone.

They'd reject it on principle because it involves reducing taxes.

In a way, this is one of those kinds of moves that backs the opposition into the corner. Ideologically they have to fight it, but in doing so they'll make themselves look like complete assholes to their constituency. Essentially it forces them to put up or shut up.

[soprofaxel]

Yeah I guess so...it sucks when principles get in the way of good ideas. I think if the dems reject this they need to come up with a solution of their own to reduce the healthcare costs.

[homerdienru]

I know how democrats do business. Like racial issues as well. Why you think democrats allow free child safety seats for people who cant afford them but other people dont quilfy for it? Like goverment grants who people who cant afford college but other people dont quilfy for it. And free cheese programs who people who cant afford college but other people dont quilfy for it. Democrats dont speak for everyone and they dont speak for all middle class people nether.

[homerdienru]

And get this,,Why is it ok for certain people like blacks can get into a university on an LOW SAT score but whites who have an HIGH SAT score cant get into that same university that black student went? Its all about affirmin action and reversed discrimination that democrats support. Like i said democrats dont speak for everybody.

[soprofaxel]

What? Don't hijack the thread please. I'd like to keep it on the tax breaks for healthcare costs and the pros and cons of that.

[MzTT]

I know how democrats do business. Like racial issues as well. Why you think democrats allow free child safety seats for people who cant afford them but other people dont quilfy for it?

How do you figure they are free?

They have to be paid for by someone.

Oh wait, you mean, "Like forcing other people at gunpoint to pay for the child seats to be used by those who didnt plan ahead". You mean THAT kind of "free"?

Like goverment grants who people who cant afford college but other people dont quilfy for it.

MORE money taken at gunpoint from those who are financially successful to fund the lives of those who are not.

And free cheese programs who people who cant afford college but other people dont quilfy for it.

See those comments about stolen money? Yeah - same thing again.

Democrats dont speak for everyone and they dont speak for all middle class people nether.

They speak only for themselves and for power.

To be fair though, the Republicans suck just as bad, for different reasons

[jinnamys]

I think this is a good idea for citizens, but may be bad news for hospitals and healthcare providers. What do you think about requiring everyone to have health insurance like we have to have car insurance?

I know personally health care for the wife and I went up about $100/month this year. Co-pay went up 25% and perscription drugs went up a few dollars. We can't go without insurance because my wife is a lemon. It would be nice if we could write part of it off.

Also could someone maybe elaborate a little bit on what the end of this article touched on. I'm not sure if I fully understand why this would hurt the healthcare providers.

House passed a rule loosely called, "pay as you go rule" when the Dems took over. I believe that with increase in revenue for helping the uninsured, it still won't be enough for a Democratic Congress to pay all of the costs. Thus, the costs have to come from somewhere else, namely the entitlement programs attributable to the health care facilities.

[Thigmaswams]

I think this is a good idea for citizens, but may be bad news for hospitals and healthcare providers. What do you think about requiring everyone to have health insurance like we have to have car insurance?

I know personally health care for the wife and I went up about $100/month this year. Co-pay went up 25% and perscription drugs went up a few dollars. We can't go without insurance because my wife is a lemon. It would be nice if we could write part of it off.

Also could someone maybe elaborate a little bit on what the end of this article touched on. I'm not sure if I fully understand why this would hurt the healthcare providers.

Well for one, requiring everyone to have health insurance is too much government in our lives. It's none of the Federal Government's business who has health insurance.

Aside from that, I think that if everyone is required to have health insurance the cost of medical care will rise even higher faster than it is now because you'll be completely eliminating the small amount of free market competition that still exists.

So many people having health insurance along with government subsidized care, like Medicare, is why health care is so expensive in the U.S.

Bush said he believes the federal government has a responsibility to provide health care for the most vulnerable members of society -- the elderly, disabled and poor. Which is exactly why he doesn't belong in the White House.

[Thigmaswams]

Yeah I guess so...it sucks when principles get in the way of good ideas. I think if the dems reject this they need to come up with a solution of their own to reduce the healthcare costs.

How will this reduce healthcare costs?

[homerdienru]

They speak only for themselves and for power.

To be fair though, the Republicans suck just as bad, for different reasons

Thats why i think we should give the democrats one final last chance.If they screw up again Its GREEN PARTY REVOLUTION! Ralph Nader for President and Ross Perot vice president.

[MzTT]

Thats why i think we should give the democrats one final last chance.If they screw up again Its GREEN PARTY REVOLUTION! Ralph Nader for President and Ross Perot vice president.

THAT is even more frightening than the Hildebeast...

[soprofaxel]

How will this reduce healthcare costs?

I meant helathcare cost to the citizens. Not lower cost of the actual healthcare.

[Thigmaswams]

I meant helathcare cost to the citizens. Not lower cost of the actual healthcare.

I don't see how it will lower healthcare costs to citizens if it doesn't lower the actual cost of healthcare. If the cost of healthcare were to continue to drastically rise, the cost of insurance premiums would rise right along with it.

[soprofaxel]

I don't see how it will lower healthcare costs to citizens if it doesn't lower the actual cost of healthcare. If the cost of healthcare were to continue to drastically rise, the cost of insurance premiums would rise right along with it.

Well now X amount for health insurance and do not write it off on my taxes. This new plan is proposing I can write it off. Therefore I will be paying less when I write it off. Maybe I should have said insurance instead of healthcare.

I see what you are saying and I think this would only be temporary relief from the rising cost of health insurance. I don't really forsee a slowdown in the cost of healthcare or insurance premiums.

[MzTT]

I meant helathcare cost to the citizens. Not lower cost of the actual healthcare.

Thats why the costs are as high as they are now. The end consumer of the product isnt paying the bill for that product.

[Thigmaswams]

Well now X amount for health insurance and do not write it off on my taxes. This new plan is proposing I can write it off. Therefore I will be paying less when I write it off. Maybe I should have said insurance instead of healthcare.

You are already allowed to write off your health insurance costs if you itemize and my company deducts my share of my health insurance premium pre-tax. What I am getting from this idea is that it will allow people to write them off if they don't itemize, which helps them, yeah, but it will also institute a cap on the amount you can write off so some people would now pay now.

So what this is, is a plan to make the wealthier pay the way of the less wealthy.