Your Congressman's Health Plan

" Challenges many town halls in government run health care would be so great will members of congress stepped to the plate and sign up for -- brings up the question. What exactly is a health care plan given the members of congress. The other night right here on the record we asked Republican congressman Peter Cook stretch to tell us and he's a good sport he accepted the assignment and he's -- report cards -- Joins us live good evening got even safer and -- for doing this research on your program and your health says. How it compares but I just wanted to why fix it but first let's -- quick question. I'm very your current plan you have -- health savings account. I'm in the HR 3200 that goes away and it what is and what does that make a difference."

" Well health savings account really puts a lot more decision making on me and my wife has to exactly what procedures what health care. Options are. Accessories -- health care benefits we -- going to access how we're going to access and -- go to the emergency room. Or we gonna go way to go to the doctor so it's a high deductible play -- It puts more decision making in our hands. Under HR 3200 the president's plan. These types of high deductible plans which have lower premiums. Will no longer be available they're not allowed under HR 32 -- I so compare compare HF 3200 in general to the plan that you haven't and that what do you -- prefer for yourself and your life. Well we obviously like the health savings account but you know what every every November. Every federal employee including me every member of congress has the option to go to this large booklet. That outlines all of the different plans that may be available to us. Do we then look at our particular state what plans are available in our state and then for those of us that get health care and our and our districts you know what. Plans are available on our district. We then have the option to pick a plan. We picked from among all private insurance plans there is no public option we. The federal government and providing health -- to its employees. Has decided that we can get competition without inserting a federal plan. High deductible plans are available. We -- we covered no abortions. No abortion procedures are covered and any federal plans. And then the reimbursement rates to health care providers are decided through negotiations between the insurance company. And the health care provider."

" In London true so what can and then what we -- chart three that we got that we received from -- And -- this and -- the chart three we have your plan we have the UAW plan and we have a private company plan. I looked at it I want I want the UAW GM plan that looks I -- cost me a -- Does and you had to land."

" Now the UAW plan is a very good plan. The UAW worker at least with the information that we were able to determine. We asked General Motors for the specifics of the UAW -- they were unwilling to share that information with us. Even though as -- federal government employee -- a major shareholder. Of that company they were unwilling to share that information with us. You know I pay about 30% of the premiums for the value of my program. And so yet the UAW is a great plan. It's and the federal government but it's not a bad plan but it's not as good as the UAW --"

" What's different this certainly -- UAW plants in some ways. More pain for that and of course your state is -- a terrible unemployment rate near interstate. When it's which is -- it's a hugely auto industry's state. But now the federal government we're sort of pick and an up and sat -- we not sort of pain assist taxpayers in directly this great UAW plan."

" The UAW -- workers they ought to be very grateful to the American taxpayers because as we now -- a significant share. General Motors we are providing these workers with this health care package. And the company in the UAW is unwilling to share that information with the American taxpayers. As to exactly what's in that plan capsule it. Actually Greta it's it's pretty outrageous that General Motors was unwilling to share that information with us and to share the specifics. With -- with me tonight."

" Then because especially since they and we have such a huge contribution we Mimi attachment drive up -- in studying your health care plan the one do you have an independent HF 32 part of the plan. -- all these -- what are what's stood out."

" To most of off. Well I think two things that when the federal government decided to offer. Insurance to all of its employees. It said you know what we don't need to put in place -- public option there's plenty of choices out there in the private sector. That is the most effective way to offer health care to. To our employees the other thing is you find very few programs that are available nationwide. You know I've got the plan that I have may not be available on Ohio may not be available somewhere else. And what the federal government wants to do which will be a competitive advantage it will provide the -- public option nationwide. The other thing that is inherently unfair. The HR 3200. We'll reimburse health care providers. At the Medicare rate. The Medicare rate is significantly. Low or. Then what -- insurance company have to pay a health care provider so enough facts. He'll have a private. Insurance companies not going to be able to survive Greta because. They're going to be having to pay for health services they're -- be paying significantly. More with the public than what the public option. Is paying health care providers by definition it means they go out of business."

" Catherine thank you good sport do all that hallmark reported back to appreciate that you --"