The Great Risk Shift by Jacob S. Hacker

[Simplepleasures]

jacob s. hacker, one of those brilliant think tank types has written a book ,the great risk shift, spells out what exactly is going on in this country, explains how universal healthcare can give a "leg up" to the ailing middle class. a must read.

here is a link to a page that breaks down his views .

http://www.greatriskshift.com/ideas.html

ideas for reform:

universal insurance enhancing economic security to promote opportunity

the assault on american jobs, families, health care and retirement and how to fight back.

america' leaders say the economy is strong and getting stronger.but ordinary americans aren't buying it. they see what the rosy statisitcs hide:we are stuggling under the weight of terrifying economic instability. no matter how well educated and hard working we are, we know that the bottom can fall out at any moment.

( prophetic, considering whats going on in the stock market the last few days, huh?)

the change should begin with health care, the epicenter of economic insecurity for millions of hardworking americans. health reform doesnt have to be complicated, just effective. let every employer and worker have a choice: buy insurance through the private sector, or buy it through medicare.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

The private insurers need to match the expense ratios of medicare. 5% instead of 15%

[Simplepleasures]

The private insurers need to match the expense ratios of medicare. 5% instead of 15%

You are correct.

[pickledpepperRN]

The health care debate: Affordability of insurance is major concern

Massachusetts, the first state to require its residents to buy health insurance or face tax penalties, released the first details last week on how much individuals will have to pay for coverage if they don't get it through their jobs.

Consumer groups immediately charged that the insurance would be too expensive for some: People over age 56 making as little as $30,000 a year would have to pay at least $347 a month in premiums and could spend thousands of dollars more if they got sick….

…"The way insurance works is that it requires a whole lot of healthy people in a group that are paying for the relatively few folks who are going to be sick at any given time," said Chris Ohman, president of the California Association of Health Plans. "It's a really tough math problem, and that's where these discussions are really challenging. How do you make sure that folks who are healthy stay in the pool?"…

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/135942.html