Increasing Medicaid expansion to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) provides the unique opportunity for Gov. Brewer and the Republican-led legislature to take positive steps in improving Arizona’s economy. This can be done while taking the moral high ground by reinstating the voter-approved AHCCCS benefits for childless adults. The benefit that our Arizona economy receives from this expansion is very important for our recovery. By investing $1 billion in expanding Medicaid, the return on investment for Arizona is $8 billion. Uncompensated medical and hospital care create a hidden tax on everyone else through an increase to their insurance premiums. It should be noted that there are uninsured adults that have untreated mental illnesses. This is a tragic situation which, as history shows, potentially results in a public-safety catastrophe. Arizona legislators have the opportunity to lead as conservatives by containing costs, cutting the hidden tax that is placed on insurance premiums to cover the uninsured and making an investment that brings $8 billion into Arizona’s economy.
Bob Klassen
Tempe
Arizona Willie posted at 5:24 pm on Tue, Dec 25, 2012.
chatmandu ... your heros ... the right wing Republicans ... said NO to PRIVATE insurance pools and YES to the government insurance.
So, tell us please, have the right wing Republicans suddenly become socialists in your view?
They are the ones who said NO to PRIVATE insurance companies and thereby asked the Federal Government to come in and set up Medicare Lite.
chatmandu002 posted at 9:26 am on Mon, Dec 24, 2012.
The continued call for bigger government control and the growing socialist state.
Arizona Willie posted at 9:19 am on Sun, Dec 23, 2012.
Brewer rejected the State Insurance pools that would have PRIVATE insurance companies competing for subscribers.
And that opens the door for the big bag horrible Federal Government to set up it's own insurance program.
Which means that Arizonans will have the opportunity to enroll in Medicare Lite.
Brewer did a good thing.
She cut off her nose to spite her face and it is great for the people of Arizona.
Arizonans will get a much greater return on the medical insurance dollar from Medicare Lite than from ANY private insurance company with executive bonuses and milllon dollar salaries and buildings full of lawyers writing exceptions to the policies that let them get out of paying.
bobunf posted at 12:42 am on Sun, Dec 23, 2012.
The US has the most expensive healthcare system in the world, and the worst health outcomes of any developed country.
Compared to other developed countries like Canada we spend an excess of more than a trillion dollars a year - about equal to the budget deficit.
Of 1000 babies born in the US, six die. In the rest of the developed world (like France), four die. That's an extra 8,200 dead babies each year in our country.
Our children keep dying at a much higher rate. Five year olds die 27% more often in the US.
Our teenagers keep dying at a much higher rate. Fifteen year olds die 51% more often in the US.
Our young adults keep dying at much higher rates: Twenty-five year olds die 42% more often.
Our middle aged keep dying at much higher rates: Fifty year olds die 31% more often.
But our old people, after they've been on Medicare for awhile, do as well as people in other developed countries.
Something needs to change if we want our kids not to die a lot more often than kids in other countries. Obamacare is that change. The Arizona legislature and our Governor should support this effort to save our children from dying.
With the morons occupying these positions, it seems that they will act as obstacles, and do the people of Arizona, and the country, a great disservice.
Ateam1 posted at 9:04 pm on Sat, Dec 22, 2012.
truth; Please!!! Go back to your CESSPOOL,You certainly live their!!! LOL![thumbdown]
Leon Ceniceros posted at 5:44 pm on Sat, Dec 22, 2012.
AS THE GOOD BOOK SAYS......JUST ..."CASTING PEARLS BEFORE SWINE"......LOL
truth posted at 2:51 pm on Sat, Dec 22, 2012.
One thing you can always count on from Leon is the same thing you get from a out- house, Merry Christmas to the Tribune nut house.
[beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam]
Leon Ceniceros posted at 2:03 pm on Sat, Dec 22, 2012.
WHAT DON'T THE DEMOCRATS UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE....DEFICIT ???
WE DO NOT HAVE A ...."SURPLUS"....CAN'T YOU DEM'S GET THROUGH YOUR HEAD....THERE IS NO MORE ..."SOCIAL WELFARE GIVE-AWAY" MONEY LEFT IN THE KITTY.
40 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS SPENT ON THESE DEMOCRAT "GIVE-AWAY'S".......IS BORROWED FROM THE RED CHINESE ARMY'S PENSION FUND.........AND WE NOW OWE THEM ...$4,000,000,000,000.00 = $4 TRILLION DOLLARS.
THIS ....AHCCCS PROGRAM ISN'T FOR CHILDREN...IT'S FOR 20YO'S, 30YO'S, 40YO'S AND 50YO'S.........WHO SHOULD BE GETTING OUT OF THE RECLINER OR OFF THE COUCH AND GETTING A JOB TO FEED THEMSELVES.
WHY SHOULD HARD-WORKING, TAX PAYING "STRANGERS"....BE GIVING THEIR HARD EARNED TAXES TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO WORK, WHO DON'T WNAT TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
IF THE DEMOCRATS IN ARIZONA WANT TO GIVE MONEY TO THESE PEOPLE...GREAT....SET UP AN ACCOUNT AT A LOCAL BANK AND SEND IN YOUR CHECKS......DON'T "REQUIRE" REPUBLICANS TO BE FORCED TO HAND OVER THEIR MONEY THAT THEY EARNED BY THE SWEAT OF THEIR BROWS.......................THIS IS ARIZONA...NOT CUBA, OR SOME OTHER 3RD WORLD ............"SOCIALIST" COUNTRY.