New health care bill

[susang]

Honestly not sure where I weigh in on this.
To start with although it was a long time ago I worked as an RN in a busy ER, step one (or whatever they called them) workers in the school cafeterias made more then I did. Around here given patient load, the nursed are fairly paid. This from a person who is very critical of nursing care vs patient load...

My husband was hurt on the job, added to an old motorcycle accident was declared permanent and stationary, BUT unable to work. Soooo they offered him COBRA, don't think so as that was about 2/3 of his pay. Then they offered him something that was maybe afforable $250.00 a month, he had to accept when offered. Because his long term disability insurance hadn't kicked in yet (it took about 2.5 months, one check for $360.00 that whole time). So that didn't work. He will get Medicare in Jan of 2011. For now we pay cash to docs, which I must say they give us a break. WalMart meds for $4.00 are a lifesaver. We still put out about $50.00 a month as some aren't covered.
Does this whole health plan thing scare me YES and I like Obama. What scares me more is the worry that hubby will have to go to hosp, what will we do. They say he could declare indigentcy, for a man who worked his whole life that is a kick in the nads

 

[wade]

I agree Susan, it's a kick in the nads. The idea scares the hell out of me. I am an employer. That means nobody pays for my insurance unless I do. And I do. I have had enough health problems that there is no way I would be without insurance. I worry all the time about my kids. My son is insured but my daughter is not. What if she got really sick? I don't have any good answers. Lots of questions.

But you know what really makes me sick. Obama ran a campaign of openness and honesty. He said the Health Care Plan discussions would be on CNN. He said it would be right out in the open for all to see. Did you see it? Neither did I. Not one word. Do you know what it says? Neither does anyone else, but it just got voted in by the people that represent us.

None, not one, of the Republicans voted for it. Well that was to be expected, right? You might think a few would have liked it, but no matter. But the Democrats were not behind it either. Why did it take so long to come to a vote. The Dems had the numbers. Why didn't they just pass it? Because they had to be bought. The had to be bribed to vote for it. They didn't like it either. What were the bribes? We'll never know but you can be sure we, you and I, paid for it.

I think Obama wants so bad to go down in history as the man with the plan that he would compromise anything to get it. I think what took place in Washington this last year exemplifies everything that is wrong with our political system.

I have never been active in politics. I am so fed up with politicians I am now actively campaigning to get rid of all of them. Let's elect people with no political affiliation. Lets get term limits, it is not supposed to be a career. Our government is a big business. Lets vote in people who know how to run a successful business. Did you know that Obama has never had a job?


Edit to add: yes I am pissed. I feel like I have been kicked in the nads.

 

[susang]

I agree Susan, it's a kick in the nads. The idea scares the hell out of me. I am an employer. That means nobody pays for my insurance unless I do. And I do. I have had enough health problems that there is no way I would be without insurance. I worry all the time about my kids. My son is insured but my daughter is not. What if she got really sick? I don't have any good answers. Lots of questions.

But you know what really makes me sick. Obama ran a campaign of openness and honesty. He said the Health Care Plan discussions would be on CNN. He said it would be right out in the open for all to see. Did you see it? Neither did I. Not one word. Do you know what it says? Neither does anyone else, but it just got voted in by the people that represent us.

None, not one, of the Republicans voted for it. Well that was to be expected, right? You might think a few would have liked it, but no matter. But the Democrats were not behind it either. Why did it take so long to come to a vote. The Dems had the numbers. Why didn't they just pass it? Because they had to be bought. The had to be bribed to vote for it. They didn't like it either. What were the bribes? We'll never know but you can be sure we, you and I, paid for it.

I think Obama wants so bad to go down in history as the man with the plan that he would compromise anything to get it. I think what took place in Washington this last year exemplifies everything that is wrong with our political system.

I have never been active in politics. I am so fed up with politicians I am now actively campaigning to get rid of all of them. Let's elect people with no political affiliation. Lets get term limits, it is not supposed to be a career. Our government is a big business. Lets vote in people who know how to run a successful business. Did you know that Obama has never had a job?


Edit to add: yes I am pissed. I feel like I have been kicked in the nads.

You got it that is what scares me the most no one knows what is going on, not that that is so different. Oregon has Oregon health plan, so kids under 21 can qualify if they aren't working, food stamps too. Someone who sat and watched tv for ten years and didn't work get OHP and food stamps. People who didn't work much in their life get OHP some get it as a back-up to Medicare because they were low wage earners. This is what really pisses me off. I worked like a dog, my husband was a sheet metal mechanic, we squeeked by, but we squeeked. Now he would be called indigent if needs hosp. before 2011. Really don't get me started on this whole thing health plan, food stamps...makes me want to puke chunks. UUUGGGHHHH:fullauto:

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Is the added cost to your taxes REALLY worth more to you all than thousands of Americans dying yearly because they can't afford to see a doctor? How incredibly selfish and short-sighted. I hope everyone feels the exact same way for all of you should you ever lose your jobs and be without insurance. "Oh, you've broken a leg? Well you better step gently, because I don't want to pay a couple more dollars every month so you can fix it."

 

[LBoz]

Is the added cost to your taxes REALLY worth more to you all than thousands of Americans dying yearly because they can't afford to see a doctor? How incredibly selfish and short-sighted. I hope everyone feels the exact same way for all of you should you ever lose your jobs and be without insurance. "Oh, you've broken a leg? Well you better step gently, because I don't want to pay a couple more dollars every month so you can fix it."

There's a LOT more to it than that, Pepper, so do a little homework before you start calling us selfish and short sighted, will ya?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers its acts are unauthoritative void and of no force” –Thomas Jefferson

 

[starsevol]

Is the added cost to your taxes REALLY worth more to you all than thousands of Americans dying yearly because they can't afford to see a doctor? How incredibly selfish and short-sighted. I hope everyone feels the exact same way for all of you should you ever lose your jobs and be without insurance. "Oh, you've broken a leg? Well you better step gently, because I don't want to pay a couple more dollars every month so you can fix it."

Sorry Lexie, but i have to agree with Lori. There is ALOT more to this than you realize.

I love summer, but November can't come quick enough......

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

Here is one man's opinion.

The ironic and hypocritical thing of course is that this bill is very similar to what Romney championed and got passed in MA when he was governor. He's just playing to the base and gunning for '12.

 

[bekers71]

I am on the side of some thing being done even if I do have to pay more in taxes to do it. My husband and I have a total of 7 kids. Take a wild guess how much insurance would cost us a month through a private company. Roughly $1200+ a month and that's not counting co-pays and deductibles that we'd have to fork out. That's almost half of our income. Another push for me is my parents.

They are both disabled. My mom draws her social security, which is barely enough for them to pay utilities on. My dad was getting a disability check but when my sister became legally an adult, they stopped his check and his medical card. His medicines cost $600 a month. We have been helping them buy their meds due to the fact that with out them, my father is in constant pain and could stroke out or have a heart attack. My sister has an IQ of a 6th grader and is 19 yrs old. She has severe fetal alcohol syndrom, adhd, ocd and odd. She had to be in special education her whole life. Hell she never spoke a word or made a sound, other than cry, until she was 3 yrs old, but the state feels as though she's perfectly normal. ( All of her conditions were due to her biological mother doing drugs and drinking while pregnant.) So there's no help there for her. But I can point you to a neighbor that him and his wife are barely 30 yrs old and neither one work. Perfectly healthy adults. They chose not to work. But the state gives them food stamps and now that their nephew is staying there they will get medical cards. Maybe if every one had to pay some thing for the care they received we'd have less people like that.

If my parents could afford some kind of health care they would be more than happy to pay for it. As Matthew pointed out, because they don't have coverage they must utilize the ER when they are sick. This in turn results in far higher cost than if they could pay low premiums to be seen by a local doctor.

Nothing is ever perfect. No one can please every one. Some thing new will need adjustments as does every new plan. The way the system is now down right sucks. But what do we really have to lose? We are already losing so much now. Maybe, and I'm not directing this at any one particular so please no one take offense, if some people could get past their predigests views and open their eyes they might see things a bit different. Just my .02.

 

[Outcast]

I don't like the new health care bill, I don't like how it was passed, but since it was passed I hope it works out like it should... Though I thought the same thing about when Obama became president, and I haven't seen anything change for the better yet. So, I don't have much faith in this.

 

[Kanchii]

I'm happy I'm going to have health care now... :X That's all I'm going to say on the subject.

 

[susang]

I'm happy I'm going to have health care now... :X That's all I'm going to say on the subject.

I dont' disagree with you, I am simply scared that all the abuse of the system will go even further. Since no one seems to know exactly what this bill is and what it covers. As older persons like Lori's parents, whom I am sure would agree with me, I don't want a kid to be uninusred. On the other hand braces for a marginal bad bite, come-on.
This isn't the fault of the system or the government but the people who find ways to abuse it, the dentist who puts in braces for a kid on Medical, because it puts something in his pocket. I am on Medicare I can't even get my teeth cleaned, my eyes checked and went for two years without meds, begging the docs for smples.
I don't know what will fix our health care system and this is a step I just hope it isn't off the cliff. I guess time will tell.

 

[starsevol]

My husband and I own a small business, a bicycle shop.
The shop pays for our health insurance.

Last year (2009) the shop took in a total of $130,401.56. (did I mention that we are a SMALL business? LOL)

We are the only 2 employees. No other people work here, either full or part time.

The shop paid out a total of $11,504.66 for our health insurance. Just for the 2 of us.

That left us $118,896.90 for inventory, utilities, payroll, rent and taxes.

What are the chances that this bill will help us? I'm thinking 0%........

 

[Outcast]

My husband and I own a small business, a bicycle shop.
The shop pays for our health insurance.

Last year (2009) the shop took in a total of $130,401.56. (did I mention that we are a SMALL business? LOL)

We are the only 2 employees. No other people work here, either full or part time.

The shop paid out a total of $11,504.66 for our health insurance. Just for the 2 of us.

That left us $118,896.90 for inventory, utilities, payroll, rent and taxes.

What are the chances that this bill will help us? I'm thinking 0%........

I'm thinking probably in the negatives. Though like I stated earlier, I don't have much faith in this stuff. My outlook on people as a species has dropped dramatically, there aren't enough people that just want to help anymore. Most are too focused on making a name for themselves or earning the almighty dollar to worry about anyone else..
Though I do know that there are a few people out there that love to help others. I just see this as Obama trying to make himself go down in history as someone who was more than just the "First African-American President."

 

[Kokopelli]

Well, here in Israel it's an existing reality... and to be perfectly honest, I think it's a good thing.
Though I am not aware of how much taxes you have to pay, but as far as I know, we pay more out of our paychecks than over there...

 

[Outcast]

Well, here in Israel it's an existing reality... and to be perfectly honest, I think it's a good thing.
Though I am not aware of how much taxes you have to pay, but as far as I know, we pay more out of our paychecks than over there...

How is the cost of living over there?

I'm not sure about other places in the world, but with fuel prices pushing up the price of everything else we use, I don't see how taking more taxes out of my already small enough paycheck is going to help in the long run.

 

[ForkedTung]

Just an FYI: ( click the source links they work)

10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM

1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.2

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.3

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.4

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.5

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.6

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.7

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.8

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.9

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.10

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.11


Sources:

1. Final vote results on motion to concur in Senate amendments to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, March 21, 2010
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11. "Affordable Health Care for America: Summary," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/SUMMARY.pdf

4. "Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed March 22, 2010
http://healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html

5. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Revenue Provisions," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/REVENUE.pdf

8. "New Jobs Through Better Health Care," Center for American Progress, January 8, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87402&id=19504-17574520-eY3gqjx&t=2

9, 10. "Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill," The New York Times, March 22, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87403&id=19504-17574520-eY3gqjx&t=3

11. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Addressing Health and Health Care Disparities," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 20, 2010
http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/DISPARITIES.pdf

http://pol.moveon.org/healthcare/tenthings/?id=19504-17574520-eY3gqjx&t=1

 

[tsst]

I may be dumb but for the life of me can't figure out how the numbers add up. They add 30+ million to insured status, they remove caps, they remove pre-existing condition restrictions, they remove denial of benefits, they add medical charge maximums, they add trillions in cost structure but somehow insurance company consumer fee structure is suppose to go down?!?! Is the insurance industry just gonna pick up the tab and be nice guys?

But then I got to thinking what happened when similar decisions were made in other industries. Say banks and autos for example. Are we being setup for another gov bailout and thus takeover completely? Will we be able to afford a decade from now to bailout a failed multi-trillion dollar health insurance industry when at the same time the population will be higher but the GDP and job market will be lower?

I feel like I am in the back seat with Thelma and Louise headed for the cliff and the gov has cut the break lines so there is no stopping! And my kids and grand kids and great grand kids will left to clean up the mess at the bottom of the canyon. :shrugs: Just my $.02 cents which will soon be worth $.000000000000002.

 

[medusacoils]

Just an FYI, too!

Ten inconvenient truths about Obamacare
By: Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
March 23, 2010

President Obama is promising a massive campaign to sell the health care plan just approved by Congress -- starting with his signature on the Senate version of the legislation on Tuesday. The sales pitch begins even as the Senate considers a raft of modifications to the plan already approved by the House. But as the president makes his pitch, critics will be looking to knock down many of the central claims he and other Democratic leaders have made. Here are 10 inconvenient truths that could dog the president:

1. The cost of coverage will rise for the middle class.

According to Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a health care scholar at the free-market American Enterprise Institute, the new bill will actually make it more costly for middle class families to buy health insurance by forcing those who shop on the individual market to buy generous, but expensive plans mandated under the new law. Middle class families earning $88,000 or more a year won't qualify for health care subsidies. A family earning $100,000 would end up spending nearly a quarter of their net income on health care.

2. Health insurance premiums will go up for nearly half of Americans.

Health care premiums for those in the individual insurance market will rise 10 percent to 13 percent by 2016 under the plan, according to the Congressional Budget Office. While the cost of premiums will be subsidized with taxpayer dollars for 57 percent of those enrolled in the new government-run insurance exchanges, the 43 percent of enrollees who do not qualify for assistance will have to pay higher costs.

3. Health reform is unlikely to create new jobs.

The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, says that the health care reform bill will create "between 2.5 million to 4 million additional jobs over the next 10 years." But the fiscally conservative Beacon Hill Institute, part of Boston's Suffolk University, conducted its own analysis and found that in response to higher taxes and mandates on companies to provide insurance, "firms would be induced to fire or lay off workers" to the tune of 120,000 to 700,000 employees by 2019. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, found that the new taxes would kill 690,000 jobs per year.

4. Federal funding may cover abortion.

Obama agreed on Sunday to sign an executive order to reaffirm the Senate bill's "consistency with long-standing restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion." But pro-life groups say the executive order does not carry the force of a law and will do nothing to curb the provision in the bill they believe will allow taxpayer dollars to cover the procedure. "The president cannot amend a bill by issuing an order, and the federal courts will enforce what the law says," the National Right to Life Committee said.

5. Four million people will lose their employer-based plans.

The new health care law will impose a list of benefits each health care plan will have to offer if they are to remain in business. The Congressional Budget Office also estimates that about 4 million people would lose their employer-based plan and be forced to buy plans on the new government exchanges.

6. Medicare will cut services along with costs.

The bill makes $528 billion in cuts to Medicare, including a $136 billion reduction for Medicare Advantage. The Medicare Advantage cuts will force 4.8 million seniors off the popular plan by 2019. An additional $23 billion in cuts to Medicare will come from a panel charged with slashing Medicare spending.

7. The bill will not pay for itself.

The CBO found that the bill would reduce the deficit by $138 billion over 10 years, but the savings was achieved by leaving out a $208 billion provision lawmakers will have to enact later to ensure doctors are adequately paid for treating Medicare patients. When the "doc fix" is included in the bill, it runs $59 billion in the red over the next decade. And former CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin said that "if you strip out all the gimmicks and budgetary games" the 10-year deficit would exceed $560 billion.

8. Higher Medicaid costs will gradually shift to the states.

The health care reform bill expands Medicaid to all non-elderly individuals up to 133 percent of the poverty line. The federal government would foot the bill for this expansion, but only until 2016. Beginning in 2017, states would gradually begin paying a portion of it. By 2020, states would cover 10 percent of the cost of Medicaid expansion.

9. Doctor shortages could lead to rationing.

A survey conducted by the Medicus Firm, a medical recruitment company, found that 46 percent of physicians said they would quit or retire if the Democratic health care reform bill becomes law. The survey noted that "even if a much smaller percentage such as ten, 15, or 20 percent are pushed out of practice over several years at a time when the field needs to expand by over 20 percent, this would be severely detrimental to the quality of the health care system."

10. The bill raises taxes for many individuals and businesses.

The bill imposes a 40 percent excise tax on insurance plans costing $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. It also raises revenue by increasing the Medicare payroll tax for those earning more than $200,000, plus a new 3.8 percent tax on unearned income for these earners. The bill also imposes new taxes on drug makers, medical device manufacturers and health insurers that are likely to be passed on to consumers.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Ten-inconvenient-questions-about-Obamacare-88853462.html

Wayne

 

[wade]

Wayne, that is just the thing that makes my blood boil. Your article says the actual cost of medical care will go up for more than half of Americans. Kyles article says it's Christmas and everything is free. That is how it got sold and jammed down our throats. I can't believe people believe this crap. When have you ever, ever seen the government make anything cheaper and more efficient. I is not going to happen.

 

[Outcast]

Ok, while I was in colorado this past weekend, I saw a sign in someones yard. It said, "You think health care is expensive now...... Wait till its free!"

I had to laugh because its true. Everyone hears "Free" just like they heard "Change" they did not take into consideration whether or not free is actually free, or the Change was a good change.