Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Does AR Really Want Hillary Care (Universal Health Care)?

Under the Cigarette tax bill, families with incomes of $55,125 will have access to insurance under ARKids First Medicaid insurance. 1 That income is $17,000 higher than median annual income in Arkansas. 2 See long list of 16 benefits in red font below – better benefits than most of you have!

Liberals and conservatives alike have labeled ARKids the cornerstone of an agenda pushed by an advocacy group founded by Hillary Clinton. 3

Arkansas DHS Tom Dalton stated at the inception of the ARKids program, "This program will put us in a very small group of states that virtually provides a kind of universal coverage for children. Few states will cover children up to 200 % of the poverty level. I don't know of any in the South." 4

Private insurance is covering 55,000 fewer children than in 2000. 5

Can't we get some legislators on board to oppose the necessary Appropriation bill to expand this ARKids program?

According to the Democrat Gazette, no one is opposing the expansion. 6

And according to an article in the Jonesboro Sun, "The intense focus [on children's insurance] is driven by Democrats' effort to incrementally expand access to health insurance. " 7

I believe the majority of Arkansans would disagree with giving free (or with minimum co-pay) insurance to families making $17,000 higher than the median annual income in Arkansas.

As of Sunday, Feb. 16, 09 "The bill to change the ARKids eligibility from 200 percent of the federal poverty limit to 250 percent has yet to be filed, said Department of Human Services spokesman Julie Munsell." 8

ARKids is the Arkansas version of the SCHIP program. President Bush vetoed the SCHIP program in 2007 because he disagreed with the expansion of the program, and every Republican candidate in 2008 took a stand agreeing with his decision. 9

More Details

ARKIDS First Medicaid insurance is one of the health programs to be expanded under the cigarette tax. The present eligibility requirement allows family up to 200% of federal poverty level to receive benefits, which is $42,4000 for a family of four. Governor Beebe's plan using the cigarette tax increase would expand the income level to 250% of poverty level (or $55,125 annual income). An income of $55,125 is approximately $17,000 higher than median annual income in Arkansas) 6

There is a push in Arkansas to fund ARKIDS at 300% by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (this is the organization founded by Hillary Clinton and one of the main liberal groups who threatened suit against the implementation of the ban on homosexuals the state adopted as a result of a ballot initiative). 7 This would essentially be universal health care for children and a major step toward universal health care for the nation. And what would that do to private insurance companies and the economy?

And what will that do to health care in our nation. When a doctor of one large group in our city was asked what Obama's looming health care plan will do to our medical care, he responded that we are already suffering the consequences. He said the number of internal medicine doctors and general practitioners in their group had already dropped from nine to three doctors. He said if he were to die, it would take at least a year to replace him in the group. What will it be like when health care becomes universal?

ARKids coverage includes the following according to ARKids pamphlets given out in school systems. Do your children have health coverage this good? And if so, at what cost?

Physician Office Visit
Immunizations
Inpatient Hospital
Dental Care
Home Health
Chiropractors
Laboratory and /x-ray
Durable Medical Equipment
Prescription Drugs
Outpatient Hospital
Vision Care
Outpatient Mental and Behavioral Health
Speech Therapy
Podiatry
Medical Supplies
Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner


To view documentation and read this article online see this link: http://www.wpaag.org/Leg%2009%20-%20ARKids%20Do%20we%20want%20to%20support%20Hillary%20care.htm

For another related article entitled, "Arkansans Paying Higher Percent of Their Income For Welfare Health Programs than Other States, see this link: http://www.wpaag.org/Leg%20-%2009%20AR%20paying%20more%20in%20health%20care%20than%20other%20states.htm

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

A plea to Republicans: Republicans, please help us stop this incremental socialization of our country like the following article points out. Allowing these things step by step at the state and the national level is how we wound up with the socialist stimulus bill by Washington Democrats that will destroy our economy if we don't turn it around. The only way we can turn it around is step by step, saying No to these socialist programs. I believe I read that ARKids is supported by federal taxes at 90%. The 90% is still taxpayers' money. And just why does Washington fund ARKids at such a high level. They use it as a carrot to get all the states to sign up so they can get their nationalized, universal health care program. Somehow the Republicans are going to have to wake up. You are our only real hope of turning it around. You have the pulpit to outline the problems with such programs. President George Bush vetoed the expansion of ARKids at the national level last year. Can't the Republicans at least vote against it at the state level?

2:56 PM, February 18, 2009  
Blogger Mark Moore (Moderator) said...

Bush was the biggest spender since FDR. He was way to spendthrift for his party, and HE vetoed against medical welfare for people from 43K to 52K a year, which is what this is.

I am amazed that some of them can't even be as fiscally conservative as the biggest spender of the last 70 years.

4:39 AM, February 19, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I make over the poverty income level and live in Arknasas. I am also a teacher who cannot afford the $800.00 a MONTH insurance coverage for my family of five. I will be greatful if they pass this. My children will finally have health care coverage.

5:05 PM, March 11, 2009  

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