July 29, 2009
Posted by Coonsey in Uncategorized.trackback
Obama: 8 Reasons to Support Health Reform
Obama he will unveil the following, eight-part message, designed to convince the insurance masses that reform will be good for them:
* No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
* No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
* No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
* No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
* No Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
* No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
* Extended Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
* Guaranteed Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won’t be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.
While I agree that all these points are good to know about and have, however, they don’t tell me the downside. There’s always a downside to reform of any kind. What’s going to be take away or allowed?
There’s nothing in here that says the Doctor and the Patient will make the decisions about the health care given — not some group of so-called experts, whether they be from insurance companies or the medical profession. Wouldn’t that be one good reason to support this plan? Why isn’t it mentioned? Could it be because that will not be the case.
Will patients that are obese, that smoke or drink alcohol, drive race cars, fly airplanes, work with dangerous chemicals, do construction on tall buildings, etc… be forced to pay more for their insurance based on their lifestyle? Who decides that?
Will the insurance companies and/or health reform plan that currently offers prescription drug coverage force customers into the Bush prescription drug program instead? In other words, will health, dental, vision and hearing(?) be included in one plan or split up into individual plans?
So many questions, very few answers.
What’s frightening is John Conyers congressman from Michigan brags about the fact that he hasn’t read the bill. It was proposed by his president so thats good enough for him. He is about to vote to take over 10% of the economy that means takes jobs from the private sector and replace them with the largest bureaucracy in the history of America. Google read the bill. John Conyers can’t answer any of your questions he hasn’t read the bill, but he will vote for it.
It is well documented in my blog that I am not 100 % behind the current bills being worked on in Congress, so I cannot be accused of being partisan on this issue.
The BILL was not WRITTEN by Pres Obama or even PROPOSED. He gave Congress what he thinks should be INCLUDED in any bill. It is up to them to decide which if any of those points should be included.
If jobs are taken from the private sector its because that private company didn’t offer a good economical plan to their customers. Having a public offer, gives competition, besides, from what I’ve read, the public one is temp.
Medicare, VA health care, state and federal insurance have worked for decades with minor adjustments — they are PUBLIC ran too. I see no problem with having one to keep private industry honest.
The LARGEST bureaucracy in history was created during the Bush admin with the Homeland Defense dept — remember?
I want insurance companies out of the business of telling my doctor and me what can and cannot be covered or what can or cannot be treated or tested. I’ve been on HMO for years, I love the idea of having NO paper work to fill out; but I don’t like the idea of having to pick THEIR doctors and THEIR hospitals to attend. I’m also for 100%. I’d rather pay a bit more for that then worry about a plan that covers 80 percent and you have to take care of rest or a plan like medicare where they pay a portion of what THEY think the bill should be, instead of paying whatever the bill costs. In other words, if the bill is $100 for an exam. Medicare thinks that exam should only cost $90, so the 80% that medicare pays is only 80% of the $90 — not the $100 bill. It’s really confusing at times for a young person to understand, let alone a senior.
In the long run, the Savings should come to everyone when everyone is covered and has to pay a portion of their own plan (if not living in poverty).
Personally, I think the best and easiest to understand plan would be to have a select few plans avail for EVERYBODY to choose from. RIght now, an employer will offer plans THEY like, another employer will offer other plans THEY like (ins companies make deals with employers).
Instead, let’s say we have 100 different plans (ins companies) to choose from across the nation, employees, of ALL companies (or self employed) choose from one of them. Companies, if they want to brag about offering assistance with health ins (as incentive to be employed with them) can help pay a portion of the plan the EMPLOYEE chooses. If self employed, you pay it all or if company doesn’t want to offer partial payment or even full payment – it doesn’t have to (nor do you have to work for them).
About reading the bill — I would hire others to read the bulk, have them point out things that may or may not bother me and others. They vote on hundreds of bills every year — I really don’t expect them to read everything that comes thru, or nothing would ever get done (voted on).
Do you think even half of the senators and reps read the prescription drug bill THEMSELVES before voting on it? NOPE! Besides, not every politician is a LAWYER that is able to read/comprehend what is said in some bills…..They are just representatives of a town/city/state…common citizens. It takes experts to write and read them.
Well I watched the news conference and and President Obama said the words my healthcare plan multiple times. This bill will create 53 seperate bureaucracies all of which will be larger than the current Social Security Administration in its own right. These bureaucracies will control all the things you fear most. What doctor you can see, what test your doctor is allowed to perform, and what drugs can be prescribed. Do yourself a favor download the bill and read it. Well since you don’t expect your legislator to do the most basic part of his job. Your just mad because President Obama has attached his name to such a horrible bill. And now the passing of this bill is all about politics. Oh yeah in the long run the only way for this bill to save anyone any money at all is to put it in the garbage where it belongs.
And your solution for sky rocketing insurance/medical bills is…..? Just let the ins companies continue down the road they’ve been going —THEY decide who you see, when you see them and IF you see them at all.
Which would you have telling you this? Insurance FOR PROFIT people or a bunch of doctors? Cause either way — somebody else is deciding what is covered and what is done.
As for Obama saying HIS plan….sure he’s given them his points he would LIKE to have in the bill; but he’s leaving it up to congress to get it done. The leadership has even been complaining that Obama’s NOT been more directly involved in negotiations.
I think YOU are reading YOUR favorite commentator/editor’s VIEWS on what THEY see in this bill. I doubt very much that you’ve actually read the whole thing or even know what half of it means. You are smart but you are not a lawyer.
If the GOP gets their way, no bureaucracies will be created — it will be as it is now…..private industry screwing us all.
If the Dems get their way after 55 years old you can just take your pain medication and die like a good little socialist.
Oh McGinness — you’ve really disappointed me with that kind of talk — that’s a lie just like the right wingers telling seniors BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID, Obama Care will make you DIE sooner then you should.
I really thought you a better person than to pass lies around like that.
Instead of giving solutions you give scare tactics.