(Mike Rogers has been flooding the Internet with health care-related nonsense over the last week. A nice summary. - promoted by Eric B.)
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (MI-08) is sounding off across the district today -- he's eyeing alternatives on health care reform, taking aim at health reform and falling short on his health care prescriptions. Mr. Rogers is offering all sorts of retreads ideas, like health savings accounts and allowing small business to jointly purchase insurance. That's swell, and as the LSJ notes, Enacted ten years ago, they may have had significant effects. So what is Mr. Rogers' plan? He said he plans on proposing all the aforementioned items as amendments to the health-care reform plan currently before Congress, but he acknowledges they will likely be shot down during committee hearings. Hmmm. Maybe if he spent less time chairing incumbent retention programs for the NRCC and raising money for GOP colleagues, he'd have a little more credibility with his fellow representatives. |
| Then again, this is the guy who fought S-CHIP tooth and nail -- even though S-CHIP isn't a "handout" and helps working parents to afford private health coverage for their children.
This is the guy who makes $174,000 a year, pays only 25% of the cost of his insurance -- and is allowed to pay it in pre-tax dollars.
According to the website of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the FEHB program offers working Members of Congress, retirees, and their survivors the widest selection of health plans in the country. In addition to health insurance benefits, Members of Congress may also receive dental, vision, as well as long-term care benefits. Generally the federal government (funded by the taxpayer) pays up to 75% of the health insurance premiums, and Members of Congress cover the other 25% out of their (taxpayer-funded) salaries.
In 2008 the standard Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan, for example, costs $448.91 per month for one person.
The government pays $314.25 of that and the federal employee pays $134.66.
How does this compare to a Michigan family with an income of $35,200 (S-CHIP eligible at 200% of the poverty level)?
Pay a house call to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood for the details. They'll make you sick. |
