A capacity crowd of 1,700, many of whom waited hours to get in, filled the gym at North Point High School in Waldorf. The crowd at the two-hour town hall was by far the largest of his career, said Hoyer, now in his 29th year in the House.
"What a wonderful celebration of democracy," he said, before the event turned increasingly cacophonous, particularly after the congressman devoted nearly half the allotted time to promoting the Democratic plan, rather than to answering audience questions.
Under Democratic health proposals, "we keep what works and fix what doesn't," Hoyer said. "If you've got it, you like it, you keep it."
He said the Democrats want "a more efficient Medicare, with stronger benefits," while cutting the Medicare Advantage program that Democrats call a needless and unfair subsidy to private insurers. About one in five Medicare patients is covered by the program.
Hoyer outlined elements of a health care deal that have received substantial support from lawmakers in both parties and are likely to be part of any final overhaul. They include: requiring all Americans to purchase health insurance; making the insurance "portable," so individuals can keep their coverage if they lose or leave their job; and requiring insurance carriers to cover those with existing medical conditions.
Congress is also expected to provide subsidies that would help the poor and those from moderate-income families pay for health insurance.
Hoyer also sought to puncture what he described as myths about the Democratic plan, such as claims that illegal immigrants would be given health insurance. They are not included in the legislative proposals, but that did not stop several skeptical questioners from challenging Hoyer on that point.
Hoyer asserted that the Democratic proposal would not ration care. However, independent analysts have concluded that medical care would continue to be rationed - insurance companies do it now - and Obama has acknowledged that it would not be possible to devise a system that would allow individuals to get care from any doctor in the world, regardless of the cost.
Maryland families will continue to face skyrocketing insurance premiums if nothing is done, Hoyer said. The average family would see its health care premiums more than double by 2016, from $12,600 now to nearly $25,000 a year, he said.
