New Health Care Bill Pros and Cons: Obama Health Care Plan Explained
March 22, 2010 by Tracy Edenloft · 152 Comments
With the recent passage of the proposed Health Care Reform Bill in the House of Representatives, a lot of Americans are now looking for the explanation of the pros and cons of this new health care bill. They are asking themselves: “What does the health care bill mean to me?”
How can you explain the Obama Health Care Plan? Well, we all know that most Democrats agreed and voted “yes” to this new health care bill on the ground that it will help a lot of Americans with their health insurance costs.
In contrast, Republicans voted for a “no” simply because they claim that this Health Care Reform Bill is so expensive that it may hinder the growth of the US economy given that the total expenses of the US Government is pegged at $940 billion.
So given the contrasting ideas of both Democrats and Republicans in this Health Care Reform Bill, what are the pros and cons of this new health care bill to the millions of ordinary Americans? Let’s enumerate some of them.
Health Care Bill PROS:
1. Discrimination of health insurance companies will be eliminated. No more pre-existing conditions clauses in health insurance contracts.
2. Given the fact that millions of Americans will be insured by this new health care bill, the US Government can negotiate among health insurance firms to lower the premiums of their health insurance. This would mean less health insurance costs for a lot of Americans.
3. Tax credit will be given to those Americans who still cannot afford to avail health insurance to help them to have one.
4. Stiff competition among health insurance firms will possibly result to much lower insurance costs and more quality health insurance products and services.
5. Aside from the elimination of pre-existing conditions stated above, the coverage amount or sum insured will also be waived by health insurers.
Health Care Bill CONS:
1. Given the huge amount of expenses pegged at $940 billion in a spread of about 10 years, it might slow down the growth of heavily burdened US economy.
2. Insurance Availment Mandate. You have no choice but to get a health insurance. Otherwise, you will be subjected to a 2% tax increase which will be used to subsidize the insurance costs of other Americans. Healthy people who take care of themselves will have to pay for the burden of those who smoke, are obese, etc.
3. There will be a tax increase on people with very high income. If you are making more than half a million per annum, you will have about a 1% tax increase.
4. The US Government will have more control in the health insurance industry causing patients’ confidentiality to be more likely compromised since centralized health information will likely be maintained by the government.
5. Chances of bribery may possibly increase as health care equipment, drugs, and services may end up being rationed by the government.
Federal Law trumps State law?
What if that law is unconstitutional???
Read the 10th Amendment!
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
all smokers are fat. All fat people all smokers. bothe die early.
Cheers bitter smokers/fat people!
1) There are NOT 46 million “uninsured” because 9 million on Medicaid are counted as uninsured, 5.4 million kids eligible already for SCHIP are counted. 12 million illegal aliens ARE ALREADY covered under Medicare Section 1011 that pays any provider treating illegal alien! and finally there are 18 million under age 29 that DON’T want to but could buy already health insurance.. called “uninsured”!
2) This bill will cause existing health insurance companies to quit because currently under states regulations at least 65% must be paid in claims leaving 45% for insurance reserves for future claims, administration costs, salaries..etc. This bill requires 80% to be paid! In fact currently the average insurance company is NOW paying 80% of premiums for claims!
3) Finally, I am going to lose Medicare benefits! Before this bill I did not
have $96.40 deducted from my SS check.. now I’ll have $96.40/month deducted!
Now I don’t have to pay ANY co-payments because I have Medicare Advantage. But with this bill instead of paying $2,000 for a 90 day hospital stay with Obamacare I’ll have to pay $9,000 if I have a 90 day stay! Plus now I get $35/month in OTC benefits, aspirin, blood pressure meter, etc. no cost! With Obama cutting my Advantage PLAN GONE!!!
It’s funny to see people complaining who have never had to deal with insurance companies. This bill, as it appears to me, looks to mostly be attacking the health insurance companies, which is fine by me. I have worked my entire life, struggling to provide for my family, yet still providing. I pay $250 a month for my medical “benefits”, yet it’s like I have none at all.
I have had to seek medical help once in the last 10 years for a serious ear infection. They placed a wick in my ear, gave me prescription ear drops, then 2 days later removed the wick. WITH my health insurance, my cost was $190 for the visit to have the wick put in, $190 for the visit to have it removed and $30 co-pay for my prescription. Isn’t $420 a bit much, for a procedure as such, especially when I have health care coverage.
My kids are required by law, in Chautauqua County in NY state, to receive a physical before they can attend school EACH year, however, my insurance will only allow them 1 well child visit EVERY TWO YEARS. To them, the well child visits include things such as MANDATORY immunizations and MANDATORY physicals. One such physical, which brought out an immunization my daughter was due for, costed $380 plus $205 for the immunization.
Coupled with the fact that dental and optical aren’t even an option for me, how can anybody even begin to believe that this is just? Reform is definitely a necessity.
Besides, if everybody in this country can help those in other countries, why can’t we help each other?
Read this and weep:
You are young and don’t want health insurance? You are starting up a small business and need to minimize expenses, and one way to do that is to forego health insurance? Tough. You have to pay $750 annually for the “privilege.” (Section 1501)
2. You are young and healthy and want to pay for insurance that reflects that status? Tough. You’ll have to pay for premiums that cover not only you, but also the guy who smokes three packs a day, drink a gallon of whiskey and eats chicken fat off the floor. That’s because insurance companies will no longer be able to underwrite on the basis of a person’s health status. (Section 2701).
3. You would like to pay less in premiums by buying insurance with lifetime or annual limits on coverage? Tough. Health insurers will no longer be able to offer such policies, even if that is what customers prefer. (Section 2711).
4. Think you’d like a policy that is cheaper because it doesn’t cover preventive care or requires cost-sharing for such care? Tough. Health insurers will no longer be able to offer policies that do not cover preventive services or offer them with cost-sharing, even if that’s what the customer wants. (Section 2712).
5. You are an employer and you would like to offer coverage that doesn’t allow your employers’ slacker children to stay on the policy until age 26? Tough. (Section 2714).
6. You must buy a policy that covers ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment; prescription drugs; rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; laboratory services; preventive and wellness services; chronic disease management; and pediatric services, including oral and vision care.
You’re a single guy without children? Tough, your policy must cover pediatric services. You’re a woman who can’t have children? Tough, your policy must cover maternity services. You’re a teetotaler? Tough, your policy must cover substance abuse treatment. (Add your own violation of personal freedom here.) (Section 1302).
7. Do you want a plan with lots of cost-sharing and low premiums? Well, the best you can do is a “Bronze plan,” which has benefits that provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 60% of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan. Anything lower than that, tough. (Section 1302 (d)(1)(A))
8. You are an employer in the small-group insurance market and you’d like to offer policies with deductibles higher than $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for families? Tough. (Section 1302 (c) (2) (A).
9. If you are a large employer (defined as at least 101 employees) and you do not want to provide health insurance to your employee, then you will pay a $750 fine per employee (It could be $2,000 to $3,000 under the reconciliation changes). Think you know how to better spend that money? Tough. (Section 1513).
10. You are an employer who offers health flexible spending arrangements and your employees want to deduct more than $2,500 from their salaries for it? Sorry, can’t do that. (Section 9005 (i)).
11. If you are a physician and you don’t want the government looking over your shoulder? Tough. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to use your claims data to issue you reports that measure the resources you use, provide information on the quality of care you provide, and compare the resources you use to those used by other physicians. Of course, this will all be just for informational purposes. It’s not like the government will ever use it to intervene in your practice and patients’ care. Of course not. (Section 3003 (i))
12. If you are a physician and you want to own your own hospital, you must be an owner and have a “Medicare provider agreement” by Feb. 1, 2010. (Dec. 31, 2010 in the reconciliation changes.) If you didn’t have those by then, you are out of luck. (Section 6001 (i) (1) (A)).
13. If you are a physician owner and you want to expand your hospital? Well, you can’t (Section 6001 (i) (1) (B). Unless, it is located in a country where, over the last five years, population growth has been 150% of what it has been in the state (Section 6601 (i) (3) ( E)). And then you cannot increase your capacity by more than 200% (Section 6001 (i) (3) (C)).
14. You are a health insurer and you want to raise premiums to meet costs? Well, if that increase is deemed “unreasonable” by the Secretary of Health and Human Services it will be subject to review and can be denied. (Section 1003)
15. The government will extract a fee of $2.3 billion annually from the pharmaceutical industry. If you are a pharmaceutical company what you will pay depends on the ratio of the number of brand-name drugs you sell to the total number of brand-name drugs sold in the U.S. So, if you sell 10% of the brand-name drugs in the U.S., what you pay will be 10% multiplied by $2.3 billion, or $230,000,000. (Under reconciliation, it starts at $2.55 billion, jumps to $3 billion in 2012, then to $3.5 billion in 2017 and $4.2 billion in 2018, before settling at $2.8 billion in 2019 (Section 1404)). Think you, as a pharmaceutical executive, know how to better use that money, say for research and development? Tough. (Section 9008 (b)).
16. The government will extract a fee of $2 billion annually from medical device makers. If you are a medical device maker what you will pay depends on your share of medical device sales in the U.S. So, if you sell 10% of the medical devices in the U.S., what you pay will be 10% multiplied by $2 billion, or $200,000,000. Think you, as a medical device maker, know how to better use that money, say for R&D? Tough. (Section 9009 (b)).
The reconciliation package turns that into a 2.9% excise tax for medical device makers. Think you, as a medical device maker, know how to better use that money, say for research and development? Tough. (Section 1405).
17. The government will extract a fee of $6.7 billion annually from insurance companies. If you are an insurer, what you will pay depends on your share of net premiums plus 200% of your administrative costs. So, if your net premiums and administrative costs are equal to 10% of the total, you will pay 10% of $6.7 billion, or $670,000,000. In the reconciliation bill, the fee will start at $8 billion in 2014, $11.3 billion in 2015, $1.9 billion in 2017, and $14.3 billion in 2018 (Section 1406).Think you, as an insurance executive, know how to better spend that money? Tough.(Section 9010 (b) (1) (A and B).)
18. If an insurance company board or its stockholders think the CEO is worth more than $500,000 in deferred compensation? Tough.(Section 9014).
19. You will have to pay an additional 0.5% payroll tax on any dollar you make over $250,000 if you file a joint return and $200,000 if you file an individual return. What? You think you know how to spend the money you earned better than the government? Tough. (Section 9015).
That amount will rise to a 3.8% tax if reconciliation passes. It will also apply to investment income, estates, and trusts. You think you know how to spend the money you earned better than the government? Like you need to ask. (Section 1402).
20. If you go for cosmetic surgery, you will pay an additional 5% tax on the cost of the procedure. Think you know how to spend that money you earned better than the government? Tough. (Section 9017).
heather,
I’m sure it is very sad that you and your family are having to see your baby go through open heart surgery and obviously it is very costly. Those people you said helped you, donated money while you took off from work, gave the money to you by their own choice…not forced by the government. I would be more than willing to help someone I was close to if they needed it, but never in my life would I want to be forced to do it. That’s what most people opposed to the health care bill are saying when they dont think they should have to help pay insurance costs for people who cant afford it. Not that they think helping people is bad (I’m actually an avid philanthropist on my own time), it just shouldn’t be forced by the federal government.
I would love to see where all of you work and how much money you make. It would help us better understand why you are SO opposed.
Lynae, I am so sorry about your situation. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I really hope this bill works for your husband in time. I totally understand that you aren’t asking for a handout and even if you were, I would help you as much as I could if I could.
I just wish they would of involved the American people more, versus just going overboard. Why couldn’t we of have a national vote for a yes or no, then everyone would just get what they want, fair game right?
Ups ups ups i am not sure if it is what i expected…In Poland we have National Health Insurance with Pension Founds…it is paid by employer and cost is 40% YES 40% of yours wages.If you are self employer you pay about the same…But…if you need something better or faster you have to pay extra -sometimes under the table;)-cost cheaper and you know when the money goes;) and when a doctor is from your community you can see if he use it good- Bahamas or Mercedes?;) But seriously…I came here 15 years ago legally,working hard ,pay my taxes…still not insured because H-I offered by my employer is to expensive…and i make to much for medicade…i am over fourty i should have cancer screening periodicaly and i can not afford it, i had accident in my work place faited all the time with Workers Comp finaly declined, desibled with no chance for H-I!!!I exspect to pay something from my paycheck i expect to pay co-payments,i expect to feel safe going to doc and knowing that i can afford hoispital bills if i have to stay.(Last bill from ER was10,000 when i make 14,000a year)…And i think we all deserve it…Lets Senators think how to find money for Universal Insurense…Economy???What ebout duty for imports from china pakistan,bangladesh…Where American ‘Patriots’ have factories with cheap labor!And duty is from 0% to 15% only!!!
Well the bill has been passed deal with it.
A lot of you are IDIOTS who probably Googled all your little facts to make you sound intelligent.
And to LYNAE: No one is contending to your post but then again no one cares about you or your sob story.
Can you people read?? Nowhere does it state that you are “required” to have insurance. It simply says its a better choice than paying the 1% tax if you don’t . So if you are not making any kind of money than dont get insurance, and if you are then its still your choice to get insurance.
Get over yourselves with this. nothing is going to change, the rates will be the same the doctors will still take cash and claims will inevitably be denied for one reason or another.
This bill is just giving everyone else who can not get insurance because of pre-existing conditions, to get it. If you are not insured with an employer than there will be pre-ex. This way individuals and the self employed can now get the same coverage as the rest of us with our employers.
I am sure you all have better things to complain about in your lives than the government you can not change.
After reading a few comments left regarding this bill I see that many people aren’t looking at the big picture. It was stated that we will have to pay for people who use the emergency room with no way to pay. Are you aware that you can CURRENTLY get emergancy healthcare that your tax money covers! As far as paying for insurance though you need no medical care is something that I feel should not even be an issue to be discussed. Most states require you to have automobile insurance even though you may never get in a accident. When you purchase a new car you buy a warranty though you may never need anything replaced! Its a precaution. Life is an accident waiting to happen! A few years ago I was tested for ovarian cancer and the Doctor that examined me told me that she examines patients who have never smoked to are diagnosed with Lung Cancer. I know people who have smoked for 30+ years and never had an issue regarding anything linked to smoking. Yet I see perfectly healthy living people who get diagnosed with horrible cancers. I feel that requiring everyone to have healthcare is a great concept. The way that the government is applying is the wrong way to go about making this happen. Great idea, wrong execution.
Lynae,
There are many many Americans that are in your position. You are not alone. I work in the health care industry and see it everyday.
To all of you that think we as Americans do not already pay for the uninsured you are so wrong. When someone goes to the doctor or hospital or ER and doesn’t pay the bill, who do you think does? It is passed on to YOU by the insurance company and the hospital via premiums and the price of care.
I do not agree that the government should direct healthcare. I also do not think they should force Americans to pay for health insurance. What would be a better plan is to force employers to offer health insurance to their employees who work hard.
Also, I can not fathom why someone would “choose” not to be covered by health insurance. It only takes one accident or illness that is serious, to ruin you financially for the rest of your life….and then your fellow Americans will pay for you anyway…..
Only time will tell whether this is gonna help or not. It does address some of the issues as to why I couldn’t get insurance. 1. It was too expensive 2. I have pre-existing conditions. I have done my very best to not go to the emergency room unless I absolutely needed to. Which has only been four times in my whole life. Between bills and taxes I just can’t afford it and don’t think I should be forced to buy or be penalized, if I can’t afford it. If it comes down to whether or not I have a place to live, something to eat or have insurance I won’t be picking the insurance. On the issue of paying for others who can’t afford it, don’t we do that already? All the people that aren’t insured and go to the hospital, the people on welfare, the people in jails who are repeat/habitual offenders. We pay taxes on all of it. We pay for s*** now, tax wise, that doesn’t benefit us. So what are you complaining about. It is what it is. If you’re unhappy about it call your senator.
I am astonished that our government has been given the power to tell me I HAVE to pay for this insurance. If I chose not to that is my right. It is my RIGHT to not see a doctor if I choose. It is my RESPONSIBILITY to pay for my choice to see a doctor. Its not my responsibility to pay for someone else to see a doctor. What “right” does the government have to tell me what I am doing about my health. It is unconstitutional to what is going on here. If you want to be part if this reformed health care, do it knock yourselves out. There should be a choice that the rest of us have not to take this reform bill. Without the choice my rights have been removed as an individual. You can put whip cream and cherries on top this bill but its not going to change that if I dont pay for the insurance I will be fined. What kind of horse apples is this?
something has to be done about health care in this country. doing nothing is worse than trying something. good job pres obama. a president that goes to work everyday!!!!!
Amy,
You are a complete idiot. Obviously you are not a nurse or doctor or health care professional and if you are God help us if you are out there taking care of people, because obviously you know nothing about CHF. Yes, people do live with CHF everyday, however, if you read Lynae posts, CHF after 3 heart attacks is a complication that can and will kill you. It can be a complication that occurs after only one heart attack. And as she said, because they could not afford to pay for his cardiac medications his condition worsened. Get your facts straight before you post please.
For those of you who think that people who smoke don’t pay more in premiums some do. At my last job those employees who smoked paid higher premiums. And that health insurance totally sucked.
I am a health care professional, by my own choice, and proud of it! My employer is one of the largest health care corporations in the country and the insurance they offer is crap! I chose to have my husbands insurance and he works for a small family owned business and we have awesome coverage, we had to choose a higher cost plan because of pre-exsisting conditions and that is ridiculous. If you pay a premium you should be covered.
For those of you who think people want a cap on coverage, think again. Most policies have a $1 to $3 million cap. One serious illness,ie heart attack with major complications, some types of cancer and treatment and possibly a bone marrow transplant will eat your $1 million cap in no time. Those caps are for a LIFETIME!!! Are you going to quit your job to get new health insurance? Good luck, because if you do, you will be denied for a pre-exsisting condition.
Amy, I am not expecting sympathy. I am doing nothing more than stating facts. I said I lost a job, but I didn’t say that I’m not currently working. I only said I now have a job with no insurance benefits. I work 10+ hours a day with an hour and a half commute each way. I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clear.
It’s true, people do live every day with CHF. People also die every day because of CHF. He has had 3 confirmed heart attacks in the last 2 years and the subsequent damage done to his heart is part of what’s killing him. Approximately 1/3 of his heart is dead and all of his arteries have some degree of clogging, 2 of them 100%, even after stents. The stents that have been put in have clogged and he had one of his heart attacks during the surgery, requiring the doctor to not insert one that he had planned to. He is now in end stage CHF. His whole body is bloated and he has fluid in his lungs. He will essentially drown or his organs will shut down. He’s 40 years old. He is not a smoker and thought he was in good health before this. There is a family history of heart disease so he took every precaution he could to prevent it. Sometimes that’s not enough though. His cardiologist told him that without a heart translplant, this WILL kill him. I do have my facts straight…straight from the doctor’s mouth. This is the same doctor that treated him right from the start. Unfortunately, the doctor now will not treat him now without insurance.
Yes my kids are in school. Yes, I work my butt off. And no matter how old I am, I HAVE worked my entire life. It doesn’t matter how long “comparatively.” I am not a “typical sleazeball” trying to get anything for free. I am a mother who is doing her best to provide for her family. I support and care for them all, including my live in mother in law who has alzheimer’s. I don’t see my kids very often because I put in all the hours I can to make ends meet. I am not complaining about any of this because I’d take on all this stress and more if it means my children have what they need and they grow up seeing what it is to be a responsible parent. I am not on welfare. That is not how I want to raise my kids. The only thing I was trying to convey is that although there are a lot of people who may take advantage of so-called free programs, that doesn’t mean everyone does. I have always worked and paid taxes, and continue to do so. So before you start judging people, maybe you should get all of your facts straight.
I’d give the shirt off my back for a total stranger in need and I see this as being no different. Like I said in my very first post, I’d gladly double the taxes I pay if it means hard working people who can’t afford insurance have it provided to them. If that means the deadbeats benefit from it, so be it. Nothing is perfect.
This is a fantastic thing.. For all the individuals bickering about their own selfish ends you need to stop thinking only about your own situation and look at the greater good.. If you apply that selfish attitude to everything, then the natural evolution of that ideology very quickly becomes a total dictatorship society..
Simply saying the fat smokers are being subsidised by the healthy is very cynical.. This is a huge step towards fundamental living equality.. Providing for the good of the group is how you improve the world, not just worrying about how much one or two companies might loose off their bottom line or what your own selfish situation immediately calls for.. fact is, business will always kick and scream about anything that ever costs them a cent but then will always restructure very quickly in order to keep making money if a situation changes. Well done Obama!!
Why don’t they regulate the doctors. Why does it cost 10k for a Pet Scan. Herman, above, states that the cost after insurance paid was high.. Why do doctors charge so much money. I see a dermatologist for eczema every 6 weeks. Every six weeks is per doctors orders..Why? Thats where the regulation needs to be.
Oh yeah.. an aspirin at the hospital cost 10 dollars. Really!
What’s on your mind? Let me get this straight. The new health care plan will be written by a committee whose Chairman says he doesn’t understand it, passed by a Congress which hasn’t read it, signed by a President who smokes, funded by a Treasury Secretary who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a Surgeon General who is…… obese, and financed by a country that is nearly broke. What could go wrong?
I USED TO LIKE OBAMA!!!!!! WTF!!!!! WHAT A DUMB ASS!!!!!
Uh, federal law does not trump state law and it certainly doesn’t state that in the American Constitution. This lawsuit will have success if the elements consistent with a cause of action are present. Mainly, the complaining party (America) will have to prove injury as a result of the Bureaucrat’s negligent actions. We all suffer tremendous injury at the loss of our civil liberties and inherent rights. America is up in arms over this crap – don’t be fooled by the liberal-corporate controlled media. Time to WAKE UP!!
And Jill, thank you. Sometimes it’s just nice to hear a kind word. I appreciate it.
HOOORAYYY!!!!! He did it!!! All ya’ll ignorant MF’s can shut up now, none of the lawsuits make any sense, nothing can stop us!!! PLEASE GOP, get out of the country QUICK! In fact, go straight to hell! You believe in it… : )
FINALLY A REAL, INTELLIGENT PRESIDENT WHO DOES WHAT’S RIGHT IN SPITE OF ALL THE DOLLARS AND BS THAT WANT TO STOP HIM.
HOOOORAYYYY!!!!!
And THanks, Dave Reed – one of the saner voices on this blog – let’s CELEBRATE this PRESIDENT!!!!!
The federal government cannot mandate or force any citizen to purchase anything at all, so with there being a penalty for those that do not buy into this RIDICULOUS program is AGAINST THE LAW!!! The person that we want most to uphold the law would be the president (Barack Hussein Obama). HE was the very one that agreed to sign such an illegal law, and because such he should be impeached for signing such a document that forces people to do such a thing!! I don’t care how many good things this law does if it breaks any previous law it is not sound and should be disregarded. Stop being sheeple and start thinking!!
ACDL clearly you are not listening to what your peers are saying or you are one of the uninformend, ignorant voters that voted for this left, socialist group of so called “Americans” to run our country. This has nothing to do with people being thinking about their “selfish ends.” This is about what the boundaries of the government are and how they have so severely crossed their line. The on only “selfish ideas” being displayed are by those you placed in office. They want to take everything away from the citizens who do work and spread it eaqually among the rest of the population (i.e. those who don’t work because they are lazy, those who have more babies to get more welfare checks and free hand-outs paid by your truely… and the list goes on and on and on). This is called socialism and the next step will be communism which will in fact include the dictator that you are hoping for. You claim that we are all selfish so take a minute and really reflect on what you voted on..
And what in the world is “fundamental living equality.” What ever happened to working hard and getting what one deserves?? What about natural selection?? The weak die and the strong survive? There is no such thing nor should there ever be fundamental living equality espically in this situation because once again the money will be given to those who don’t work as hard and the penalities will be placed greatly on those who fund all of the benefits and thus are already suffering. Those who figure out a way to provide for their families but are crippled by the taxes and implemets of the government.
The point is that the government needs to but out and let the people spend their money in the way they see fit. Even if it is spent in the worst way, it is their money and they earned it!!! It is not the governments money nor is it the people who cannot work for themselves money! It is their money! If the government would quit raising taxes and causing inflation the people would have the funds to buy health care and provide for thier families in the way that they desire and should be able to.
The one thing I pray for next to this law getting completely destroyed is that the law makers and the voters who put the law makers in a position to destroy this country will get all of the “benefits” of this law. I hope they never have enough money to buy the things they wish. I hope that all of you get what you voted for. I did not vote for this…. I would never vote for this. I did not want this bill to become law…. I would never vote infavor of this bill to become law.
History is going to be rewritten by our childrens, children like it was rewritten in the South after the Civil War. They are going to convince themselves that their grandparents and great grandparents would never vote for such a devestating to become law and destroy their futures and their kids futures. The fact is that we just took away the freedoms that we once enjoyed and now we no longer have the hope of freedom for our family and generations to come. Shame on America and American voters and shame on the President of the United States and the Speaker of the House and all who follow them. I am proud to be an American and always will be, but I am ashamed to be included in the same life span with the people who have made this possible.
I pray that God will have mercy on us and this country. And I pray that Obama will change his ways and find God. I want to be proud of him; I want to brag about my country again…..
Id just like to say people you guys should realy watch the Michael Moore movie sicko it will real help you understand the healthcare problem….and also dont complain about having to pay for the person next to you in Canada France Britian CUBA they have free healthcare because they pay for there brothers and sisters that couldnt afford otherswise isnt that what being in a country is about helping out your fellow countrymen. i mean do people in the millitary say you should fight for your own freedom… basically what i am trying to say is ..the reason why youll pay for them is because “they would do the same for you” if they were in the same predicament..i mean its only good humanity
Obama is the Antichrist. The Mark of the Beast is is here.
I think that this health bill is a huge step forward for the citizens of this country. I am frustrated and embarrassed that many of my conservative Republicans friends and acquaintances think that the bill is terrible. I have considered myself conservative and voted Republican since I turned 18 43 years ago. I was a general surgeon in solo practice who because of financial strain, high malpractice premiums and a growing family let my disability insurance lapse. Five years later, I became disabled myself from fatigue, sleep deprivation, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension and later from a mid-brain bleed complicated with acute hydrocephalus that required an emergency ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Six years later I developed ADD, OCD, depression, anxiety, memory problems and difficulties controlling my emotions resulting in numerous job losses, divorce, and finally in total disability. Thank God for federally funded Social Security Insurance and state funded Disability Medicaid! I am glad that every citizen will have to get health insurance and that the poor, middle income, and wealthy citizens will have soon have greater access to medical care. People without health insurance coverage tend to delay medical care until they need catastrophic care that costs far more than the care they could have had if they had come in for care earlier. Trauma care centers will get the funding they need now that everyone will have to have insurance. Quality control and fraud control measures will become mandatory which will substantially reduce the cost of medical care for every citizen. If a few citizens who have been blessed with higher incomes have to pay a little more in taxes than their poor neighbors to pay for all of this, I am not sad. Our elected representatives and executive leaders have come through for all Americans. We should all rejoice and be proud. I am a descendant of James Otis, Jr. who created the Patriot rallying cry,”Taxation WITHOUT representation is tyranny!” I will not concede to the UNPATRIOTIC perhaps even TREASONOUS idea that “Taxation WITH representation is tyranny!” Where are the TRUE PATRIOTS who will say as our Founding Fathers said, “Not as slaves but as free men OUR MONEY WE WILL GIVE.” Where are the true CHRISTIANS who are willing to help every sick American citizen get medical care. How many more smokers will now be able to afford smoking cessation programs? How many more alcoholics will now be able to afford detox and rehabilitation programs? How many more morbidly obese men, women, and perhaps even teens will now get the surgical procedures now shown to protect them from death, diabetes, heart disease, strokes, hypertension, and cancer? How many more AIDS victims will get the medicines they need and the circumcisions they could use to substantially decrease their risk of spreading this disease to others and helping to control the epidemic and reduce the risk of the innocent getting this infection from tainted blood products and needle sticks from routine blood tests. Turning our backs on the so-called unworthy poor, the foolish, the supposedly wicked and gluttonous only sets up the healthy and supposedly righteous and wise for disaster. Medical care is a human right. Paying our share of the medical bills for EVERYONE is a Christian duty and just plain common sense for anyone who dares to regard themselves as enlightened and responsible to any degree whatsoever. Is the bill perfect? Could it be made better? I’m sure that it could be much better, but it is a step in the right direction–a GIANT STEP FOR AMERICA for which everyone who had anything to do with passing it can be justly–IMMENSELY–PROUD.
Yay!
Omg its about time… and to all of u who are complaining the 940 million dollars…Really I mean bush sent billions a months for the war for no reason really come billions a month ….REALLY … the reason why this country is so messed is because people elected bush but nobody realy made a big deal… oh bush is sending billions a month to iraq… no problem… but wen the negro president spends 940 million to actually help people… everybodys like OMG ..wtf Obama so not cool… lol … I’m goin to school for nursing and I’ve learned and heard some real horrible stories about the insurance companies from the instructors at school and I’m glad that this bill was passed on … my boyfriend and I just bought a condo and he works and I go to school… well I got pregnant and I have no insurance and I’m not getting married just to have it so I signed up for medicaid and they denied me because he makes too much a year by 200 dollars and he’s on salary so they said the only way they could except me is if he starts making less a year… really come on we have bills to pay and mortgage now … then they asked me if I was gonna go back to work anytime soon I’m like helllooooo 6months pregnant over who the hell is gonna hire me for a month …well miss if u can provide that ur boyfriend makes less a year the u can reapply… now I gotta pay 70 dollars at every appointment yay can’t wait untill I have to see the doctor every week that’s 280 dollars a month can’t wait to spend that…. but now thanks to obama shit just got easier GO OBAMA and BOO the HATERS
Yes people wanted change in the health care, but not THIS kind of change! Some of the bill is great, like stopping insurance companies from denying people with pre-existing conditions. Capping health care premiums. But a handful, if that, of good doesn’t out way the enormous amount of BAD this bill is giving us. The IRS being put in charge of who does and does not have health insurance, guess what that means?!? Yep, instead of paying our premiums before tax, they’ll be taxed starting in 2018. Telling the people they will have health insurance or pay $95 fine every year they don’t, sense when did we give the government the right to do that? Oh I know, when people voted in hopey changy for president. Never mind the fact that millions of illegal’s will now get health insurance, who pray tell will be paying for that? You got it, the tax payer. Especially if you make $200,000 or more a year. Once again, making those who pay the most tax pay even more. They say this bill will “regulate” increases, not cap them, just review them and deny the ones they feel are unjustified. Big whoop! Good point is it will do away with the “Cornhusker Kickback and increase all state Medicaid. One of the bad; the HMO style plan will now determine what care and test you can and can’t have. Another bad; a minimum list of benefits on each plan offered. Then there is community rating. In short, a young person who may cost $800 will have to pay $2500, and older person who pays $7500, would pay no more than $5000. Also, it bans insurance companies from rewarding those who live a healthy life style. This bill also endangers the ever growing trend of Health Savings Accounts that make for a more cost-conscious customer who are reimbursed for most of their care. IF the government set extremely low deductibles it would eliminate HSAs. Those who are grandfathered with ERISA, have 5 years before they would only be able to use approved plans. For those who are not under ERISA, well they are only going to have access to only “qualified” plans. For people like me who currently get insurance through my employer, if the coverage is changed in anyway either by changing insurer or a rate change, what have you, then I’ll have to shop through the exchange, and being most companies change rates every year, in 12 months, I could lose who I currently have, so much for keeping your own plan. Any of you know why HMOs failed? Because they were making big money off of denying care, same issue with these new “exchange”. The bill doesn’t rule out free-for service plans either. The flexibility we have now will disappear in 5 years. And this is just a few highlights, out of over 2,000 pages, there is a whole lot more that most people don’t have a clue about!!! Lovely concept isn’t it? I’m proud to say I DID NOT vote for this man!
I want to add this:
Is it true that Reid has slipped through a clause on health care on Page 1000 Sec 3403 that states; “It shall not be in the Senate or House of Reps to consider any bill, resolution, amendment or conference report to change this subsection!”
In effect that would negate any one from repealing this law!
We are sooooo screwed!!!!!
Hate to tell you this Cynthia, but this bill wont go into effect before you have your child! This has nothing to do with the war that both Dems and Repbulicans voted for with the EXACT same information Bush was supplied. Get over it! This country was doing great until Dems took over the house/senate. THAT is when job loss and the deficet hit us hard. THAT is when recession started. Housing market started failing under Clinton. Stop blaming Bush for things Bush had no control over.
Question? If a 62 year old person has been forced into collecting social security because he/she is jobless and unemployment benefits have run out, will the government deduct the health insurance penalty from the Social Security check if that person refuses to purchase health insurance because he/she cannot afford it? Currently there are no government program that would help a person in this instance.
What happened to the better good for all? Is this a dead concept here in the States? What is wrong with requiring everyone to either purchase insurance or pay a penalty fee each year? Most states require you to have car insurance and I have never heard any loud protests about that. Our government is spending itself to death on programs that are only doing good for a limited number of people (if at all), why is there no outcry over this? We are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on aid to other countries yet when we want to spend some so that every American can be covered by health insurance everyone screams. Where are your priorities here? Why is there no outcry for the gross over spending (paid for by the people) for Congress and Senators for their personal travel and upkeep?
People, get your priorities straight. This country is supposed to be for the good and betterment of all it’s citizens, why such hatred for a bill that will benefit all?
A small step for lower quality healthcare……a giant leap toward socialism in the USA.
I still don’t understand everything about this new health care act.I will continue to read everything i can on it.I lost my job about a year ago.I was injured on the job and had surgery three times.My employer let me go because they did’nt think i could no longer do my job.That left me with no med.insurance.It is very exspensive to get cobra.getting unemployment benefits still could’nt cover med expenses.Under this new bill at least i have a chance to afford to go to the doctor.Shannon..you,and so many people like you seem to always blame the Dems.for the shape that this country is in.Well as soon as you wake up if ever!You will relize that this country was in bad shape well before dems “took over”I for one say Good job Mr.president!!
Honestly, I just got married 6 months ago and my wife and I don’t make a lot of money we really live from pay check to pay check and what money we do save is for emergency only. With this health care reform bill the government will have access to my accounts for real-time or like real-time to deduct funds for payment of a service we don’t want to pay for. Why should I pay for a person to smoke 3 packs a day and get a doctor visit? How is this a good thing? Why do we ( tax paying hardworking middle to lower class citizens) have to be punished for having good health and pay for someones poor choices?
I can’t believe this is actually happening.
Wow! It amazes me of the inconsiderate comments made here. No wonder the world keeps getting worst. The world is made up of people which is the micro level of its existence, and each one of us are valuable to what happens, and everything happens for a reason….including this bill. Nothing happens without God sanctioning it (whoever your higher authority may be)! Obama is here, so get over it. It’s amazing that we all want someone to blame for our own shortcommings and our misery because most of us are self indulgent and thinks that the world revolves around our lives…sad news update! It doesnt! As for Mr. Simms, someone does care about Lynae…may not be u, but someone does. You will have your day too….I promise! Especially with that attitude towards your fellow man kind. You know the poor will always be with us whether poor in spirit or finances…It’s the Word! Get over that too! Your wealth is not for you…it’s to help someone else. This Reform is gonna work maybe not for all, but for those who believe it will. Stop waiting on one person to fix the world’s problems, it’s not gonna happen because none of us are in control. I dont know when we are gonna stop dividing ourselves Republican versus Democrat; Black versus White; we are all human! If you dont have anything nice to say to your fellow bloggers, then stay off blogs! This issue is Health Care Reform…not attacking a person’s circumstance and situation….Stay Focused! Write what helps, not what hurts! If you dont think this HCR is a good solution, then give one that you think will work and watch everyone attack you for being ignorant since everyone else’s idea is so ignorant! But that is what the enemy does, keeps us confused on what the real issues are, and keeps us attacking each other. The real issue is healthcare sucks right now, now what can we do to change that. By the way for statistical purposes….98% of the world’s wealth is laid in the hands of 1% of the world’s population! I guarantee you that no one on this blog is of that 1% so none of us have arrived! You may be able to afford health care now, but who says that you always will be able to? One incident can alter your whole life. Be careful of how you treat and speak to others, you maybe entertaining angels unaware! God Bless!
God is still in control! LOL!
A small step for lower quality healthcare…a giant step towards socialism in the USA.
Rich people like Rush Limbaugh have so much healthcare they use it in their spare time! Don Imus is a walking heart attack, wonder how he stays upright, as frail as he is? Cadillac healthcare? You bet. All those guys and gals bellyaching about healthcare for the uninsured, they have healthcare. The old timey Tea Partiers? Medicare. They “hate” socialism so much that they cash its checks every month!
The reason everyone should pay is that everyone gets sick or hurt. And I have to pay for YOU if you can’t foot the Emergency Room bill anyway.
Pres. Obama has gone and done the most Christian of acts. The Republicans have no ideas. No ideas. The party of No. Where was their solution? Sit by and watch the nation die? Well we have millions and millions of ppl. now unemployed thanks to corporate greed and little gov’t oversight. And in some Republican states, esp. the South, teen pregnancy is rising, a sure path to poverty. So if one set of Christians wants to deny kids sex ed, birth control and choice, then those kids are going to have babies and they are going to be be poor and therefore, they are likely to be fat along with their kids.
Well someone has to help these abandoned Americans. Our kids are the fattest, most diabetic, in the world. We are watching them kill themselves. The diabetes epidemic happened under Bush Admin. and that administration could’ve care less. This administration listens to the middle class. Sorry “industry” and “fat cats”, this is about people. Without your health, you have nothing.
As the only developed nation without “healthcare for all” we have finally joined the 20th century. Winston Churchill ushered it in for Britain and ironically Obama ushered it in for the US. Maybe it is something about great thinkers and orators that makes them partial to equity in healthcare. Maybe it is a bedrock for a stable nation. Otherwise, the US is rollercoasting towards instability.
This healthcare bill could have done more to help more people, but the Republicans and the Tea Party fringe wanted less. If they were serious, they would try and reverse the federal mandate of universal admittance to Emergency Rooms. Who pays for that now? We do.
Emergency Rooms should be for emergencies. With this new improvement in accesibility to services, I hope people can seek treatment for high blood pressure b/4 they visit the Emer. Room with a heart attack. Because I have to pay for that. PLUS, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Now lets get those kids out to play! And if they break their arm, at least they save their life. We can afford to pay to set a broken arm, we can’t afford to reset a broken cardiovascular system.
…now let’s work on smoking cessation and coal plant/auto air pollution. America’s kids deserve it. So do I. So do you.
I love the USA, let’s take care of each other.
I think this bill is terrifying. I’ve read many comments on Republicans not having ideas and the like to cover uninsured people, insurance companies being more expensive than they are worth and talk about the crash being the faults of greedy business people. While I don’t entirely disagree with it I feel like the HSA or Health Savings Account was a great idea that I haven’t heard much about any more. The talk about insurance being more expensive then it is worth I completely agree so I don’t purchase it. With the new bill not only will I be required to purchase it but I will be expected to pay for more than my share because I’ve been making sure to eat healthy and exercise. If I could just get away with getting an HSA I would but that doesn’t come as an independent product I have to purchase a high deductable insurance policy to get it. Now the topic of greed being the problem of the stock market crash, while I am willing to recognize this I will also point out it was a combination of a religion acting as government that caused the Dark Ages which was far worst then any depression/recession that we have had since.
This bill is as terrifying as the concept of mandatory taxes for education. I am 32 years old and I, as a responsible and educated adult, have planned not to get pregnant until I am financially capable of taking care of my offspring… yet I have to pay for the education of Americans who don’t make the responsible decision of using a condom or even Americans who just bring children into this world to collect from the government. Here is the irony. The offspring of those irresponsible Americans are our future and deserve an education because our future depends on it. So why don’t we believe that they deserve to have a healthier future. Why are we so defensive about letting the government control health care, when they already control education, mail, police, libraries etc. and that has worked out very well. It is the greed of many who have and want more. I keep seeing signs of “In God we trust not our government”. Certainly, just because in God we trust, we should help our neighbors, we should act according to our believes. What people don’t understand is that when someone doesn’t have health insurance, because they are “healthy”, and you accidentally break a leg, Who is paying for your care when you can’t afford it. The hospital eventually writes it off as a loss and after calculations, they have to charge more to those people that have insurance or those who can afford to pay in order to stay in business and yes even make profits. At the end, the insurance rates increase causing less and less people to be able to afford it and the cycle continues. This bill offers Low income alternative for low income individuals to be able to afford the coverage. Everyone covered will stabilize the medical budget and help reduce premiums. Not to mention, WE WILL BE HEALTHIER!! as a society. I am with you Rose!!!! It is very refreshing to have some people with common sense. It is not even about Republicans or Democrats, is about common sense. Unfortunately most republicans are in the top 1% of those who make the most money in this country; and since this is not convenient to pay that little extra, they brain washing those americans who are ignorant ad easily persuaded, to think this is a communist act. Why don’t you cry communist when they force our children to attend school until they are 16?
MariP – Thank you for being as judgemental as those you say are against this bill! The fact is that my parents filled BankRupt 8 years ago and are worse off now than they were then. I work pay check to pay check to pay for my school and living expenses. I don’t get hand outs and I don’t have things handed to me. I am very blessed and am so thankful for my life but pardon you for declaring that just because I am against this new law that I must be in the top 1% of those who make the most money in this country. You have no idea why I am not in favor of the law nor does it seem like you want to know.
It is not the right of the government to take from the people when they see a problem. The fact is that we should be able to be directed by God on where and how to spend His money. It is not the governments to take and by making it a law they have now deemed themselves “God.” It is not their right to declare the rights of people; once again that is the responsibility and place of God and God alone.
If the government would butt out of our lives and our pay checks maybe we would have enough money to buy health care and pay our hospital bills. And the only people being brain washed are those who voted for all these backwards socialists….
Again, I pray that God will have mercy on us.
It funny to read all your comments about how you hate the health care bill and how he should have involved the people more. But hey, it is a democracy. You voted for him, and he always said his top priority was health care reform. Why did you vote for him if you didnt want this?
Why are we complaining one way or the other?? It’s our fault that this country is in the condition that it is in. We elect the politicians that lie and steel and then we cry about their behavior. As long as people are handed things for free they will take it. We have made it too easy on those that should pitch in. The government loves the fact that people have to rely on them to survive. I hate to break it to everybody, but things are not going to get better. Our government is NOT for the people, by the people, its special interests groups that control the government.We are a nation of greed and decaying morals. I feel sorry for those honest hard working people that have loved ones suffering because of insurance companies need to make more money than they need. I’m not a very religious person, but I will pray for you. I hate to say it , but this country has dumbed down the system so far that people are looking at politicians as heros.
Mr. Canadian – I DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM!!!!! The founding fathers wrote the constitution with the intention of the United States to be a republic, not a democracy. It’s power-seeking law makers that have taken the US down this path of distruction. We the people need to take back the country that was intended for us. The government only has as much power as we give them so in that aspect this is our fault but there are also a lot of things that we legally cannot do to ensure that all of our Constitutional, GOD given rights are granted… I don’t have the answers but I know that this is NOT the answer America needs..