Elizabeth Edwards: McCain’s health care plan ‘keeps the costs low by cutting benefits.’
Elizabeth Edwards: McCain’s health care plan ‘keeps the costs low by cutting benefits.’
This morning, Elizabeth Edwards appeared on both the NBC Today Show and MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss her views on John McCain’s health care proposals. McCain’s plan “keeps the costs low by by cutting benefits to people,” Edwards told Joe Scarborough. On his campaign website, McCain argues that “bringing costs under control is the only way to stop the erosion of affordable health insurance.” Edwards responded, “We’re not interested in health care insurance. We’re interested in health care. And there’s a real difference between the two. Maybe he keeps the price of the insurance down but not the cost of the health care itself.”
Watch it:
Transcript:
BRZEZINSKI: So you’re saying Senator McCain wouldn’t get coverage under his own plan?
EDWARDS: Well, he’s the beneficiary of some great government programs, but in terms of private insurance, he would not be guaranteed coverage under his own plan.
BRZEZINSKI: Oh, OK.
EDWARDS: Neither would I or anybody with a pre-existing condition. Imagine how many families that involves across this country.
BRZEZINSKI: We’ll have to ask him about that, because his campaign actually tells us that he’s the only candidate with serious plans to control health care costs. So we’ll (inaudible) at him tomorrow.
SCARBOROUGH: Yes, he suggests, Elizabeth, that it’s costs that matter the most and he’s the only one that’s addressing those costs. What would you say to that?
EDWARDS: Well, first of all, he’s not the only one addressing it. In fact, every candidate is addressing it. But his particular plan to address it keeps the costs low by avoiding coverage of — by cutting benefits to people.
We’ll end up having these bare bones policies with high deductibles and lots of exclusions, including a really important exclusion in real people’s lives for pre-existing conditions.
And it’s really truly important that we make certain that our health care coverage provides the health care we need. We don’t care about having a piece of paper. We care about having our costs be something that we can afford.
A high deductible cost policy or — which is one of the ways in which he keeps health care costs down — or one that limits our benefits is not the way Americans want to see us go. We need actual coverage.
We’re not interested in health care insurance. We’re interested in health care. And there’s a real difference between the two. Maybe he keeps the price of the insurance down but not the cost of the health care itself.
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And to think that she could have been our next First Lady…
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 amWhen any republican talks about health care, be assured he intends to cut benefits for you.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:06 amWhen any republican talks about keeping costs of health care down, be assured he is going to cut benefits for you.
When any republican talks about privatizing Medicare, be assured he intends to cut benefits for you.
When any Republican talks about health care at all, be assured he has the insurance companies welfare at heart.
The horseshit GOP should have thought about making Lizzy Edwards their nominee ; she’s way more accomplished than the group of wrinkled old farts they paraded around , and 1,000 times manifestly more qualified and intelligent than McShitstain……..
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 amThis should be shouted from the rooftops. Anyone who claims otherwise is more concerned about looking out for the interests of the insurance companies and not the American citizens.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:12 amSimply stated there is no good plan for our collected health that is profit driven. Bean counters ruined the media, the arts, and health care. The decision is: spiral into a Spartan world where once you get sick you are tossed over the cliff; or to nurture and care for our people, all our people as a nation.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:12 amMcCain has spent 50+ years on free, government healthcare.
He doesn’t know jack about the real world of insurance dominated coverage.
Eliminate the middle man.
Eliminate the ‘non-negotiated’ pharmaceutical price fixing.
Eliminate ‘network only’ coverage.
Eliminate Bush & McCan’t
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:23 amGod bless and keep Elizabeth Edwards.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:23 amI’m a huge John Edwards supporter. I find it odd, yet exciting, to see Mrs. Edwards in the news two days straight. John never officially dropped out of the race did he? I think he just “postponed” it, or something like that.
Not that I think John will jump back into the race, but it seems like something is up. Maybe he’s pushing for the VP slot???
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 amWe want total healthcare as a way of life. “Insurance” comes at the end of life in the form of Social Security. If you get that far.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:28 amUnder a profit-driven system the provider has a financial incentive to provide (and bill for) as many services as possible (e.g., surgeries, tests, etc.) and the insurer has a vested financial interest in denying any and all procedures (e.g., so-called “experimental” treatments).
As a case in point, a few years ago, the elderly father of a good friend, who was in poor health and was eighty years of age, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He underwent numerous painful tests, surgery and radioactive “seed” implants, presumably a very expensive procedure, only to die of other pre-existing causes a few months later.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:29 amDr. Hussein Matt Says:
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 am
“Once you’re out of the womb, you’re on your own”
~RNC Motto
‘But until you leave the womb, we own your ass’
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 am~RNC Principle
Elizabeth is exactly right, Health Care. We need Universal Health Care that will cover everyone.
My son is Autistic, I have been on 8 different plans. Not a one will cover any of the therapies that are needed. They have a No Child Left behind in Education. They need a No Person Left Behind Health Care.
England’s and Canada’s work great. If they have been successful at it all these years, including preventive health care, there is no reason why the USA can’t. Maybe I wouldn’t have to wait 6 months to 9 months for my son to see a Specialist that only works 2 1/2 days a week.
The solution has to be easier than the surmounting problem we are having and facing in this country. No one should be denied health care for any reason.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 amThere’s been some speculation of the Dems turning to Al Gore should the convention become deadlocked. He continues to plead non-interest. How about they turn to John Edwards? In my opinion he was/is exactly what this country needs. And Elizabeth would be the greatest first lady of all time. That woman rocks.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:54 amVet Says:
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
I’m a huge John Edwards supporter. I find it odd, yet exciting, to see Mrs. Edwards in the news two days straight. John never officially dropped out of the race did he? I think he just “postponed” it, or something like that.
Not that I think John will jump back into the race, but it seems like something is up. Maybe he’s pushing for the VP slot???
I prefer to see him as AG or a SCOTUS appointee………..
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 pmExit Stage Left Says:
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Great album ; 3rd best live album of all time , IMHO …….
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 pmcan we replace hillary with her?
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pmFreedom Rebel
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 am
We have something in common. My 25 year old son has autism.
All treatments are “experimental,” and even if they aren’t, they’re not covered.
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 pmI just want to say that I am very proud of Elizabeth Edwards for continuing to push this even after her husband has dropped out of the Presidential race. It is great that she is able to use his candidacy as a soapbox to get the word out about this important issue. Kudos to her.
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:55 pmEvery time I see her I think of what could have been and probably never will.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 pmMarie (#2) nailed it completely.
I’d do some serious rallying for Edwards to be named Obama’s vice. It would be a marvelous two-for-one. Michelle and Elizabeth could go further to turn the First/Second Lady offices into more than “know your place” positions.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm#19 Zooey
That’s exactly right. Now if he had been in an accident that would be a different story.
Everything is experimental, but it helps them progress in speech and fine motor skills. Insurance companies, anything to deny the claim.
My son is turning 17 years old this month.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:26 pmFreedom Rebel
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Oh hell yeah — mangled in an accident, they’re all over it. A glitch in the genetics — forget it.
My best to you and your family.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:38 pmBased on what I have heard and read, the wish list for health care in this country can be distilled down to the following three desires.
1. Universal coverage of people, meaning ALL persons are
participating and covered by the plan.
2. Universal coverage of all diseases, illnesses, and
conditions, including pre-existing.
3. Contain costs of the program.
Unfortunately we can have only two of the above at any one time. The solution will remain illusive until we can honestly address the issue framed in the reality that we will have to make some compromises with one or more of the above desires if we are to have a health care program which is sustainable.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:50 pmDeep Thinker
Bullshit, we are done compromising….time to get this job done.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:54 pmVet Says:
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
I’m a huge John Edwards supporter. I find it odd, yet exciting, to see Mrs. Edwards in the news two days straight. John never officially dropped out of the race did he? I think he just “postponed” it, or something like that.
Not that I think John will jump back into the race, but it seems like something is up. Maybe he’s pushing for the VP slot???
_______________________________________________
No, that was Mitt Romney who made a big deal out of “suspending” his campaign — Edwards actually did drop out.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he was wangling for the veep slot with whichever candidate gets the nod, but here’s another possibility: Edwards never gave his endorsement to either Clinton or Obama. And the closer the race gets, the more weight his 26 delegates carry. Furthermore, there are a lot of people in states who hadn’t voted by the time he dropped out, and who respect him, so his endorsement could mean something.
He may be getting ready to endorse one of the candidates, or perhaps he’s just priming the visibility pump so people will pay attention when he does so. So who would Edwards endorse? His favorite issue is Americans living with poverty. Any candidate offering him some sort of platform to continue his work in this area would be attractive.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:56 pmFunny how everyone wants the patient to sacrifice more. Maybe you didn’t read the posts above but there are at least two parents posting here that have insurance but it doesn’t cover autism……why?
are the insurance companies losing money? No….you mean they are making record profits….no way…
for good to excellent coverage, my wife and I in our 50’s with one of us having a pre-existing condition are paying 1300/month. Now if you are making 25K/year that is over half of your income……yet that is the plight of many hundreds of thousands of Americans.
I feel like the government has turned taxation over to the private sector. That I am being taxed by the insurance company.
Where is this competitive pricing that is lauded by the republicans when the free market is allowed to operate without regulation?
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:05 pmGood job ignoring the trolls people.
Using the troll logic, then why should we issue a driver’s license to someone who is just going to die anyway?
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:08 pmProblem = Insurance Companies
Problem = What to do with all the employees of these parasite companies.
Problem = Do you really think any politician is going to put these companies out of business when they donate to said politicians?
Solution = Fck it, put them out of business, time to stop the thieves.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:34 pmIm Canadian, I wish all Americans could feel the sence of security knowing that no matters what happens to me today, my health care will be covered without worry. This is freedom!!! HR 676 is the only bill in congress that will provide single payer system. TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO GET BEHIND THE BILL. This is, if you wish to have the same sence of security every Canadian has.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:42 pmDeepthinker – your tax dollars could be spent building bullits or curing people. Which one is nessessary? Which one is more important ? We have enough nuclear weapons to distroy this earth 10 times over. Where you spend the money is what counts.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:46 pmI love Elizabeth Edwards! She would have made a wonderful first lady. She’s right on McSame’s healthcare plan which will run on basically one cost-saving premise: “Don’t get sick.”
Which kind of stinks for people who, you know, end up getting sick.
I cringe at the thought of this bozo in the White House!
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:19 pmSimilar to the Republican plan to reduce your tax payments by having you earn less to begin with.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:26 pmYou are my hero, Elizabeth.
America spends 16% of its GNP on health care yet does not cover one-eighth of its people. Other First World countries cover ALL their people for much less of their much smaller GNP. How do they do this? Hint: Medicare spends 2% of its costs on administration; private insurers spend up to 15% of their costs on administration.
This country should go to universal health care and retrain those private insurance bureaucrats to become nurses.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 am