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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsArkansas Lawmaker Admits He Just Wants Fewer Uninsured People To Sign Up For Health Care
From Think Progress
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/02/18/3303871/arkansas-lawmaker-medicaid/
During a political fight over Medicaid expansion in Arkansas on Tuesday, one Republican lawmaker admitted that he doesnt want to educate uninsured residents about their new health care options because its simply too expensive to provide them with insurance.
State Rep. Nate Bell (R), who offered an amendment to Arkansas proposed Medicaid expansion bill that would prevent the state from using federal funds to promote Obamacare, acknowledged that his policy would result in fewer people signing up for health care. He noted that without active marketing, you probably get declining enrollment. But in his mind, thats not a problem thats the whole point.
Were trying to create a barrier to enrollment, Bell explained, noting that lower enrollment ultimately translates to lower costs. In general, as a conservative, if I have the opportunity to reduce government spending in a program from whats projected
Im probably going to take that deal.
Bells amendment would prohibit Arkansas from advertising Obamacare plans through television, radio, print, or online ads. It also prevents the state from using federal funds to conduct direct mailing campaigns which, as the Arkansas Times David Ramsey notes, has been critical in getting out the word about the states Medicaid expansion. Since Arkansas is pursuing a private option for Medicaid, which essentially gives residents a subsidy to purchase private insurance, the process for enrolling in a Medicaid plan is very similar to the process for signing up for a plan on Obamacares new state-level exchange.
More at link
LiberalArkie
(15,731 posts)okaawhatever
(9,478 posts)option insurance. Basically a voucher for medicaid people to get private insurance. That is so he can get a kickback from the insurance industry and they can make money. The insurance company will then solicit certain people. Some of the will qualify for a higher plan, but they won't waste their time if they're poor because they'll just flip them over to medicaid.
Besides making the insurance people rich he also wants to make sure "certain people" get medicaid. You know, poor people who aren't "takers" so he'll probably place a few calls to pastors he knows and those types to put the word out that there's a private option if they have any good Christian folk who need it.
As for me, if they do pass it, i'll buy a mailing list of all the poor voters registered Democrat and send it to OFA, NAACP, and anyone else who would never vote for this moron.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)K&R