Health Care Bill Passed!

General
21

These are a couple of the things that are allegedly being enacted within the first year...there's a lot more so just click the link to find the rest (Source: Reuters):

"WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF ENACTMENT

*Insurance companies will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated and annual limits are to be restricted.

*Insurers will be barred from excluding children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

*Young adults will be able to stay on their parents' health plans until the age of 26. Many health plans currently drop dependents from coverage when they turn 19 or finish college.

*Uninsured adults with a pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health coverage through a new program that will expire once new insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014.

*A temporary reinsurance program is created to help companies maintain health coverage for early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. This also expires in 2014.

*Medicare drug beneficiaries who fall into the "doughnut hole" coverage gap will get a $250 rebate. The bill eventually closes that gap which currently begins after $2,700 is spent on drugs. Coverage starts again after $6,154 is spent.

*A tax credit becomes available for some small businesses to help provide coverage for workers.

*A 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services that use ultraviolet lamps goes into effect on July 1"

22

I'm just curious how affordable you believe it will be for a diabetic to purchase their own private healthcare? If the minimum is offered by the government then I would think private insurance companies will either deny coverage or make preminums simply outrageous.  I anticpicate that private health insurance policies will evolve using similar criteria as life insurance policies (which we all know is almost impossible to get/afford).  We all can get the minimum but any more than that ........I just don't see it happening.

23

Pat,

Thanks for the bullet points. There is so much info out there, it is hard to find it organized in a concise manner with just the facts!

24

I'm really happy! My dad is about to loose his job and we wouldn't have any insurance to cover the costs of any of my supplies! I think that they should work on the bill though and improve some of the things that need to be improved. There are a lot of good things in it and a lot of bad things too. I'm just happy that they passed it though. :)

25

Health care is expensive.  Who is going to pay for it?  Our supplies, needles, insulin, pumps, infusion sets, test strips, sensors,etc, at this time are not taxed but will be now when this law takes effect.  Who is going to pay the increase in taxes that are indicated in this new law.

What government agency works great at this time?  Medicare? Medicaid? Social Security?  They are all on the road to bankruptcy.  Where are they going to get more money for those programs and still keep costs down for health care.

Without tort reform and the ability to have competition in purchasing coverage, supplies, etc., costs will not go down. 

We are loosing are ability to choose. 

26

Now we celebrate, while watching those in charge to make sure they follow-up just as strongly and that the delivery is what was promised.  Now we watch who voted for what, and take this into account the next time elections come around.  Now we eagerly await being able to shed the fear associated with "qualifying events" or losing business healthcare.

27

We have been paying for the health care of the sick and starving for a long long time. They show up at hospitals and default their bills, the PEOPLE buy corn filled pop and Gogurt because corn and milk (made from corn fed cows) look "cheap" because they are pre-paid for by our taxes ($5 billion in subsidies a year just for corn! Poor farmers still make the same wages that they did in the 1970 too) Then people show up on the uninsured list because they then acquire type 2 diabetes or some other disease brought on by malnutrition continuing the circle of the sick and starving. =(

This is NOT socialism. This is capitalism and our republic at work. Changing only one part in this equation we will NEVER see a healthy people. However even as I am embedded with pessimism towards this bill,  I am glad to see this change. Now we the people must push into solving the rest of this equation. Make healthy people. We must look at the Farm (food) Bill and rebuild education from the ground up.

 

28

I'm guessing you have health insurance. Try being diabetic without it. :P

29

I'm celebrating on behalf of my 8-year old son, who has no idea what his life would be like if we had no medical coverage.  I'm breathing a sigh of relief that he will have fair access to medical coverage when he becomes an adult, rather than being kicked off our family plan as soon as he turns 18.  He won't be denied coverage because of his pre-existing condition, and won't be kicked of our plan because he's too expensive.  It's not perfect, but it's definitely better than what he was facing before the reform.

Here's a pretty straight-forward article on the final bill:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/your-money/health-insurance/22consumer.html?hp

Doing a little happy dance...

Mo

 

30

Rich wrote the following post at Mon, Mar 22 2010 1:16 PM: 

				                                            </p>

Health care is expensive.  Who is going to pay for it?  Our supplies, needles, insulin, pumps, infusion sets, test strips, sensors,etc, at this time are not taxed but will be now when this law takes effect.  Who is going to pay the increase in taxes that are indicated in this new law.

What government agency works great at this time?  Medicare? Medicaid? Social Security?  They are all on the road to bankruptcy.  Where are they going to get more money for those programs and still keep costs down for health care.

Without tort reform and the ability to have competition in purchasing coverage, supplies, etc., costs will not go down. 

We are loosing are ability to choose. 

 

"We are loosing are ability to choose"??  Ever wonder why people who think such absurd things spell so atrociously?  Why do people who are so ill informed believe themselves to be smart enough to offer up their opinion as though they HAVE anything to offer?  What were you even TALKING about with this reference to losing our ability to choose?  Choose what?

Sorry, Rich, to go after you.  I'm really trying not to be angry at all these brainwashed, under-educated, health-care haters.  But, you know, in this day and age, it is no longer enough to just want to be or even to TRY to be a good person.  Now, in order to do right by the world, you have a moral responsibility to actually research and educate yourself so you know what it MEANS to do the right thing.  Please read about tort reform here:http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2009/11/docs_case_for_tort_reform_gets.html.  I could go over the inaccuracies of everything you wrote, but I'm honestly exhausted by the banality of evil.  It really makes me want to take a nap.  Diabetics against taking away the right of health insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing condition... What is up with THAT?

31

I also think it's really important to think about who has the right to choose in our current system. People with enough money to try different options, people with jobs that provide multiple options, etc. 

People working minimum wage don't have a choice right now, which is why they end up in the ER in need of much more expensive care than the preventative care people with insurance have the choice to get. 

In addition, there will still be multiple options for those who do have money - they will just have new standards (like can't kick people off for being sick, have to cover children until they're 26, etc.). They are still welcome to be "luxury" providers, with extras and different levels of coverage above the minimum. The market will still have competition, it will just also have the competition of a public option (which will encourage other companies to lower their costs)!

I'd like to hear some researched opinions on the negatives of this bill. I haven't done a whole lot of research, but everything i've learned sounds pretty good. 

32

I don't even care what you doubters are saying. You are free to feel it's a bad thing even if you haven't done any research.

For me, I'm so happy and relieved that if my husband ever lost his job we might be able to afford private insurance that I'm doing a HAPPY DANCE!!! WHOOOOHOOOOO..........

33

Here are some information resources:

http://www.rules.house.gov/bills_details.aspx?NewsID=4606

Bill: http://docs.house.gov/rules/hr4872/111_hr3590_engrossed.pdf

CBO: http://www.c-span.org/pdf/cbo031810.pdf

34

Thanks for posting this info Travis. These can be had to track down for everyone.

http://www.rules.house.gov/bills_details.aspx?NewsID=4606

Bill: http://docs.house.gov/rules/hr4872/111_hr3590_engrossed.pdf

CBO: http://www.c-span.org/pdf/cbo031810.pdf

35

[quote user="Melissa"]

"We are loosing are ability to choose"??  Ever wonder why people who think such absurd things spell so atrociously?  Why do people who are so ill informed believe themselves to be smart enough to offer up their opinion as though they HAVE anything to offer?  What were you even TALKING about with this reference to losing our ability to choose?  Choose what?

Sorry, Rich, to go after you.  I'm really trying not to be angry at all these brainwashed, under-educated, health-care haters.  But, you know, in this day and age, it is no longer enough to just want to be or even to TRY to be a good person.  Now, in order to do right by the world, you have a moral responsibility to actually research and educate yourself so you know what it MEANS to do the right thing.  Please read about tort reform here:http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2009/11/docs_case_for_tort_reform_gets.html.  I could go over the inaccuracies of everything you wrote, but I'm honestly exhausted by the banality of evil.  It really makes me want to take a nap.  Diabetics against taking away the right of health insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing condition... What is up with THAT?

[/quote]

 

 

Melissa I think you are the rude and uneducated person here. Educated people are able to understand and empathize with another point of view regardless of if they agree with it. I AM educated, and I CAN spell. And I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE NEW HEALTH CARE BILL. Although I can see where it may benefit some, I do not think it will benefit the majority in the end. Stop attacking others opinions instead of discussing them like a well educated adult.

36

Melissa

I am sad to read you had trouble with the mispelling that was in my post.  If that makes you feel that I am uneducated, that is a valid point, so I won't tell you about my primary & seconary education, my college degree, and working for over thirty-five years. I should have used "spell-checker."  We may have differences about what is "moral."   You may feel that I that I am a "brainwashed, under-educated, health-care hater," but what I care more about is the intrusion the goverment is having into my ability to choose the best way for my treatment of being a T1. 

Everyone should have healthcare.  Who is going to pay for it?

37

Wow, Melissa is a very angry person...

I, too, am an edumacated person (with Type 1 Diabetes) who does not support this legislation, and I'll go ahead and list just a few of the reasons why here, and look forward to the responses:

-It is the largest increase in spending in the history of our nation...and it passed by 7 votes in the house and did NOT have majority support of the people.

-In order to pay for this increase in spending, there are 14 new taxes (on everyone...so much for the promise not to raise taxes on howevermany percent of the nation), and Social Security monies will be funneled into this bill (another socialistic Gov't program that used a crisis time in our nation to pass). I, for one, do not want to be taxed any more.

-It is Constitutionally illegal. Yes, I know it is amazing to believe, but I still think we should follow things like the 10th amendment, and the power of the Federal Gov't to dictate that ANY citizen purchase ANYTHING does not exist (nor should it).

-In the bill, there are unrestricted funds to entities like community health centers, and I do not believe in tax payer funded abortions (this is not a stance on abortions, as I am not getting political here. Just that one should pay for their own if they choose to have one, because it is a very polarizing issue with VERY strong feelings on both sides.)

-Lastly, I think it is just something at my core that I believe: Everyone should pay their own way...for EVERYTHING. I worked hard and had multiple jobs to pay my own bills when I was getting student loans to pay my own way through a very expensive private university. My mother worked numerous jobs to keep my brother and I living a great life. If you don't get healthcare from your parents or work, get COBRA, I had COBRA for a couple years before I graduated and got a job. I don't ask for hand outs, and I don't want them. For ANYONE that TRULY is having a tough time and can't make it, there are already safety nets in place to help you get out of trouble and get back onto your feet - and that includes health care. It is a Federal Law already, that NO ONE is denied care. Ever. Anywhere in the US.

-Oh, and I almost forgot: The vast majority of the 30-40 million people that they are saying will now be covered...are not citizens or do not want insurance. The latest numbers I've seen are around 12 million Americans legitimately could not get insurance. We don't need this monstrosity to figure out a way to help them afford coverage if they want it.

 

38

[quote user="Rich"]

Everyone should have healthcare.  Who is going to pay for it?

[/quote]

I think the answer to that is we, the tax payers will pay for it. I'm sure that was a rhetorical question though.

That's why I'm not really 100% sold on this concept. I'm all for everyone having health coverage and the ability to live healthy, but it also seems to be going the same route as welfare. Part of the perks of working was that you got health coverage and benefits for your loved ones. Welfare is abused by many who figure they can not work and get paid for sitting on their collective asses. I fear that the health benefits will be "abused" in much the same way.

I'm all for helping people, but I hate the idea of handouts...

Hoping if I get any type of raise this year it accounts for the coming tax hikes.

39

Is it really a handout to decide that insurance companies have to treat human beings like human beings?  The bill doesn't state you get everything your heart desires, only that individuals with medical issues should have more equal access to treatment.  Sounds sort of like the whole "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" stuff.  Concerning the 10th amendment, it is rarely invoked, and the Supreme Court has agreed with the federal government's ability to influence the behavior of states within certain boundaries (like how the federal government can influence states to change their education practices by offering funding).  So as long as the enforcement follows current standards there seems to be no issue.

40

 

[quote user="Eric_Carpenter"]Is it really a handout to decide that insurance companies have to treat human beings like human beings?[/quote]

We can leave the rhetoric out of this and just look at the facts.

Making sure people aren't denied coverage for pre-existing conditions could have been accomplished in a simple one-page bill, and would not have required any additional funding. Instead, we have this gigantic bill, totally thousands of pages, and will cost us trillions of dollars. Not to mention all of the add ons, bribes, and gimmies that were attached to the bill to get the votes. Again, still against the bill that was passed.