kellyj says ...

well now that we have recieved the A-OK from castro on our new health plan i am just so relieved! can't tell you how much it means to me to have his approval now if only we could get hugo and akmanutjob to hold hands with us and sing Kumbya ....

I swear Kelly, I think that's what BO wants! he kisses up to those tyrants while he disses our allies. Wake up America! Can't you see this left wing loon is slowly destroying everything we satnd for? I take healthcare a little more personally since it is my bread and butter. Pretty soon that will be way smaller.

editor says ...

With the recent Senate approval of the sweeping health care overhaul reform bill, we're closing the previous thread on the topic and are interested in what you think about this latest itteration of U.S. government's attempt to reform the industry.

Not sure what this bill means, or confused about what it covers? Here is a brief overview of what the bill is designed to do:

 

• Require that most Americans have health insurance.

Add 15 million people to Medicaid.

• Subsidize private coverage for low and middle income people (at a cost of $871 billion over 10 years).


• Cover 31 million Americans who are not currently covered, but leave 23 million uninsured in 2019.


• Prevent insurers denying coverage because of a person's medical condition.


• Prevent insurers discriminating on the basis of sex or health status.


• Prevent insurers rescinding care when someone becomes sick or disabled.


• Force insurers to include a summary of benefits that "does not exceed four pages in length and does not include print smaller than 12-point font."


• Limit insurance company profits by forcing them to spend between 80 and 85 cents of every dollar on healthcare.


• Set up healthcare exchanges — a marketplace for insurance shoppers which feature tax credits — that are the last remnants of a public option.

Read more here.

Sound off in this thread, but keep posts about the issues and what they mean, and not attacks on people.

and dream on

Already a major insurance company in our town laid off half the workers when the bill past, this is going to make us mainly an unemployed town. A month ago, there was a 10 percent cut from medicare to the nursing homes. I lost a contract from a foster child agency because medicaid because they are sending everyone to the local mental health (government)--which means they do not get appointments, get them changed and treat them minimally because they still prefer clients with regular insurance. It means they will still come to me and I will probably as usual see them free for their emergencies.

We have a very busy doctor that is no longer going to take medicaid and he is going to limit medicare patients.

This is just in my small town. What is happening elsewhere?

My husband sells many types of insurance and he said, no insurance companay can handle taking someone with preexisting conditions, because people will wait until they know something serious is wrong, and the companies will go broke.

I think we cannot think this is over, because the polls do not agree that this bill is wonderful.

Oh and how is it that increasing taxes on medical equipment is beneficial to the health and welfare of anyone.

How crazy is this. I think I am in the twilight zone.

As a government attorney (10 years State, 10 years Federal), here is my opinion:

Auto insurance is a State mandate, not Federal. Also, you do not have to buy it - only if you have a car.

Flood insurance in specified areas is mandated by mortgage companies, and only if you buy a house.

I think we have entered a period where people think of government as government, and don't truly understand the difference between state and federal. States are soverign, and the federal government is constitutionally limited in it's powers (or is SUPPOSED to be!).

The US Constitution does not allow the federal government to force individuals to buy a product or service. Don't bring up the Commerce Clause - this doies not touch interstate commerce to the extent envisioned by the drafters of the Constitution...

I won't argue - the insurance companies suck... My own primary physician gave up private practice (he's only in his 40's) because of the unbelievable bureaucratic burden imposed by insurers and government.

The new law has some god provisions - but honestly, I truly believe Obama's primary agenda is to change our country to a Utopian socialist society. And no, I don't care how you define socialism -  after all, Social Securty and Medicare (and welfare) are "socialist" programs, but there is a need there. Some "socialist" type programs are necessary in a country of 300 million people.

The problem is that we are quickly adding more socialist programs, and are quite likely to be Europeanized. This is NOT good!

Just my humble opinion....

For those of you that think no preexisting conditions is always good then  let me put this as simply as possible.

If i buy insurance from American Family with a high deductible, lets say 300 a month and a 5000 deductible.

I go to the doctor and find out I have cancer. So I change to bluecross, at 600 a month with no deductible so I can save many dollars.

That is what people will do. NO one can be denied with preexisting conditions and we can shop around. So we can buy cheap insurance until we find a better company. Therefore, insurance companies, will go under. They will be assuming large debts initially. I have had blue cross for several years and have hardly used it. Some people buy insurance and unfortunately have to use it right away just by chance. However, if everyone bought insurance just because they knew they needed immediately, insurance companies could not keep up.

then we all go on goverment insurance which is exactly what this administration wants.

If you could buy car insurance that way, have a menial policy, then feasibly you could wreck your car, buy better auto coverage and have your new policy pay for it.

And just think what are we going to do with all the unemployed insurance agents and insurance clerks. More unemployment, no doubt.

I still want to know why medical equipment is being taxed. I don't care about tanning beds  being taxed except that may be a racial thing, because only white people tan.

This bill still stinks and the stency is as bad as gas gangrene.

well when there is a reverse migration to mexico i think i will be going with them

i hear the tequilarias are a great place to set up a clinic!!! hah ha ha