By Jim Acosta and Ed Hornick CNN (CNN) -- If Washington wants health care reform with bipartisan support, experts say consider what former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney accomplished as governor in Democratic Massachusetts. Mitt Romney says the president must have bipartisanship in order to get quality health care reform. "You don't have to have a public option," Romney said. "You don't have to have the government getting into the insurance business to make it work." Three years after enacting its own version of reform, Massachusetts now has near-universal coverage. Taxpayer watchdogs say it's affordable. "There is this widespread assumption, that is treated as fact, that it's breaking the bank in Massachusetts ... it's not breaking the bank at all." said Michael Widmer of Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. And health care experts say it's popular. "Seven in 10 people in the state support the program, and no more than one in 10 would repeal it." said Robert Blendon with the Harvard University School of Public Health. Unlike Democratic proposals that would give Americans the choice of joining a government-run health care plan, Massachusetts has no public option. Instead, people in the state are required to buy private insurance, and the poor get subsidies. The reform created the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, which is similar to a health insurance exchange. . The program reviews "existing health insurance coverage plans in the marketplace" and gives "certain plans the Connector 'seal of approval.' Plans offered through the Connector will not be subject to minimum contribution and participation rules," according to the state government's Web site. And under the 2006 legislation, there are several requirements for insurance companies. According to Brian Rosman of Health Care for All, a nonprofit based in Massachusetts, the requirements include: Minimum benefits, such as preventive care, mental health care and hospitalization A ban on gender discrimination Limits on total out-of-pocket costs A prohibition on pre-existing conditions as a qualifier for health coverage No medical underwriting, so insurers can't ask an individual about his or her health status in order to determine coverage Limits on age restrictions, which means what is charged for an older individual cannot be more than double what is charged the youngest. Analysts say "Romney care" is basically "Obama care" minus the public option.
This is the real reason the GOP is fighting to stop Obama care,because it will be just as popular as Romney care and they will be on the record as trying to stop it Analysts say "Romney care" is basically "Obama care" minus the public option. And health care experts say it's popular. "Seven in 10 people in the state support the program, and no more than one in 10 would repeal it." said Robert Blendon with the Harvard University School of Public Health.
Funny that Romney is also the front runner for the 2012 GOP nomination.Why is Romney not called a socialist by the GOP ?
This has been bought up a few times and everytime they change the subject and never answer the question. Blatant hypocrisy at its best.
Perhaps Romney care isn't as popular as you think. It's the reason he didn't get my vote in the primaries.
What's more curious is how democrats, along with CNN, refuse to discuss the economics of such fairy tales. Carry on...
Why doesn't the GOP in Mass start legislation to end Romney care ?We both know it would be political suicide
Its the hypocrisy of Obama haters.With the public option gone Obama care and Romney care is the same,yet to the GOP Obama is the devil,a socialist,the joker,a African king etc while Romney came in second for the 2008 GOP nomination and is the front runner for 2012
1)Perhaps it has to do with the fact that mass is dominated by brain dead liberals and republicans are known to feign resistance to their BS demands.
Here's a hint, rommy is unlikely to get the taxed enough already vote. If you are saying republicans have participated in the socialist agenda by acquiescence you would be right.