--as of right now.
In his home state, "affordable" health insurance is worthless garbage that puts people not quite poor enough for subsidies in the hole to the tune of 10 or 20 thousand dollars before they pay a single bill.
From Dr. Rachel Nardin of Massachusetts--
I will close with the story of one Massachusetts patient who has suffered as a result of the reform. Kathryn is a young diabetic who needs twelve prescriptions a month to stay healthy. She told us “Under Free Care I saw doctors at Mass. General and Brigham and Women's hospital. I had no co-payments for medications, appointments, lab tests or hospitalization. Under my Commonwealth Care Plan my routine monthly medical costs include the $110 premium, $200 for medications, a $10 appointment with my primary care doctor, and $20 for a specialist appointment. That's $340 per month, provided I stay well.” Now that she's “insured,” Kathryn's medical expenses consume almost one-quarter of her take home pay, and she wonders whether she'll be able to continue taking her life saving medications.
This is apparently what Kennedy wants to inflict on the entire country. This is far worse than the status quo. Right now, the useless shitstain intermediaries have the legal right to kill us and/or make us bankrupt and homeless to enhance their bottom lines. And I'm supposed to line up and support a proposal that would force me to PAY them to continue doing it? NO FUCKING WAY!
I will NOT be forced to pay for my own death or impoverishment! NO FUCKING WAY, Senator!!
This bill effectively ends health care "reform." There will be no Repub votes for any Democratic proposal, ever, from either the house or the Senate, even with a totally crappy "public option" written by insurance companies. Without the Progressive Caucus, reform is going nowhere in the House. If you think the Baucus hearings were rowdy, you ain't seen nothing yet.
