# Politicians consider adding a 'copper' plan to the affordable care act **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 23, 2017, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604 "2017-10-23T03:16:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/1 "2017-10-23T03:16:34Z")
Platinum plans cover 90% of medical costs. Gold 80%, silver 70%, bronze 60%. Now they want to add a copper plan that’ll cover 50%. > **[Momentum Builds To Add Catastrophic Coverage To Obamacare Choices](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2017/10/22/momentum-builds-to-add-skimpier-copper-plan-to-obamacare-menu/#3b74a6be47df)** > > A cheaper "catastrophic coverage" tier of individual plan may be offered along side existing Obamacare policies if a bipartisan group of Senators gets their way. Why is this pitworthy? Because we spend [2x more](https://www.mercatus.org/sites/default/files/Chart%201%20small_1.png) on health care than any other nation and have less to show for it. And if politicians truly wanted to, they could reform the health care system to make it cost effective. Rather than encouraging people to buy shittier and shittier insurance, reform the health care system to make it cost effective. But they don’t want to step on the toes of the medical device industry, pharma, insurance industry, AMA, hospital industry, etc., all of whom would lose business under genuine reform. So instead of reforming our health care system to make it affordable, just make insurance shittier. Maybe in 2025 when health care costs 20% of GDP they can create a ‘lead’ plan that covers 40% of medical expenses. Then ‘aluminum’ which covers 30% in 2034 when health care costs $8 trillion a year and is inferior to care that costs a fraction of that in the UK or Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/2 "2017-10-23T04:09:37Z")
I’m on the wood plan. Twice a year I pay a doctor of literature $65 to sodomize me for 20 minutes. I haven’t died yet! ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/3 "2017-10-23T04:18:32Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Because we spend [2x more](https://www.mercatus.org/sites/default/files/Chart%201%20small_1.png) on health care than any other nation and have less to show for it. That’s not really fair. We pay a lot more than 2x compared to most of them. I’ve heard it argued that the Canadians (who at half our cost are the “worst” of the “universal” plans) only have it so expensive because of proximity effects from the horrific US market. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/4 "2017-10-23T09:33:16Z")
Any proposals for a Particle Board plan? That’s about all I can afford at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/5 "2017-10-23T13:15:55Z")
In keeping with the rest of the Trump agenda, maybe “The Coal Plan” would be a better moniker. Although copper does evoke a return to a simpler time-- The Copper Age. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/6 "2017-10-23T13:16:35Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Any proposals for a Particle Board plan? That’s about all I can afford at the moment. Even cheaper is the Sheets of Cardboard plan. Can Japanese companies offer a Paper Wall plan? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/7 "2017-10-23T13:22:26Z")
Can’t wait for them to float the Lead Balloon Plan. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/8 "2017-10-23T13:29:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Can’t wait for them to float the Lead Balloon Plan. [Mythbusters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZSkM-QEeUg) did that. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/9 "2017-10-23T14:27:13Z")
Yes this addition of another option for consumers is despicable. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/10 "2017-10-23T14:40:13Z")
Your sarcasm is penetrating and valuable and makes you sound smart. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/11 "2017-10-23T14:53:01Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Your sarcasm is penetrating and valuable and makes you sound smart. Your subtle dig will be totally lost on the idiot. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/12 "2017-10-23T14:54:44Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Mythbusters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZSkM-QEeUg) did that. So did the GOP. Twice this year alone. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/13 "2017-10-23T14:56:07Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Your subtle dig will be totally lost on the idiot. Careful or you’re going to hurt the idiot’s feelings. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/14 "2017-10-23T14:57:10Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Careful or you’re going to hurt the idiot’s feelings. He has those? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/15 "2017-10-23T15:06:57Z")
I was going to ask what they do when they run out of cheap metals, but I see this has already been covered. But some thinking outside the box may be needed here. Everyone is still focused on comparing plans to actual materials. Even cardboard costs money, you know. I propose the ultimate in consumer choice: the “imaginary plan”. It covers nothing at all, but consumers will be very pleased with the low, low cost. > [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Yes this addition of another option for consumers is despicable. I think you have health care confused with cars. What is truly despicable is to limit a human being to only the health care that they can scrape together the money to pay for, and if they can’t, well, it sucks to be them. And if their life depends on it, well, I guess it _really_ sucks to be them. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/16 "2017-10-23T15:15:55Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Careful or you’re going to hurt the idiot’s feelings. Not even if Dr. Seuss tried to explain it to him. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/17 "2017-10-23T16:57:22Z")
I’ve got the Teflon plan. No health costs forwarded to it stick to it. I fork over half a grand every month for the privilege of still paying 100% of all my incurred health care costs from my own pocket. It counts towards a deductible that I’ve never met. (Even in two consecutive years each involving knee surgery). ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/18 "2017-10-23T17:15:02Z")
About 5-6 years ago I used to joke about there being two plans below our company’s miserable “Bronze Plan”. The Lead Plan; Here’s your bullet. You’ll need to borrow a gun. The Wood Plan: Here’s your plywood coffin. Just hop in already. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/19 "2017-10-23T17:31:36Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Yes this addition of another option for consumers is despicable. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Your sarcasm is penetrating and valuable and makes you sound smart. To be fair, apart from the comfort of being able to buy useless cover for your health needs when things go wrong — although admittedly as a foreigner I have no experience in the field of buying such health insurance, there _must_ be people who actually enjoy scanning plans and deciding which selections are most important to them, just like some mathematically inclined persons enjoy tax return filling up. For such folk, yeah, more and more ‘options’ are very heaven. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604/20 "2017-10-23T18:38:17Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I’ve got the Teflon plan. No health costs forwarded to it stick to it. I fork over half a grand every month for the privilege of still paying 100% of all my incurred health care costs from my own pocket. It counts towards a deductible that I’ve never met. (Even in two consecutive years each involving knee surgery). Sounds like the bastards stole my Imaginary Plan™ idea! I knew it was a good one! A plan that covers nothing can frequently be offered under very consumer-friendly terms. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-consider-adding-a-copper-plan-to-the-affordable-care-act/799604.md?page=2)