The Health Care Bill Passes!

[Amill]

Originally Posted by enchanted_one1975

The one about health providers ceasing to provide healthcare. Had you clicked the provided link you would have seen that.

Hey I have to get up at 12:45AM so I can provide what I can for my family so I need to step out of this debate for today. For those of you that I offended, I didn't mean to. I did not single anyone out as a bottom feeder. I actually stated that I don't know everyone's situation and some may actually be in need. I just know that many people have no desire to work to get ahead. They will fight for handouts because it is easier than going to work. As an American I am entitled to that opinion. Prove me wrong. I really wish you would.

So we should let the children of the slackers rot?

I personally didn't like the idea of it being mandatory at first, then I thought about the kids that didn't have a choice in the matter. I think it should at least be mandatory to have coverage for them.

[Mr Spinkles]

As a person with severe hemophilia, I require a regular (usually weekly) treatment in which I inject the blood-clotting protein I am missing. I need this to live. It's extraordinarily expensive. The private insurers won't cover it. Small businesses can't afford to pay the premiums. My only option is to be employed by an institution that BOTH (1) has an adequate insurance plan, with no lifetime cap on coverage, and (2) is large enough to absorb the cost. I also have to be very careful with my own money, since as a graduate student making ~$25,000 / year, about 16% of my income will go to pay my premiums alone, as soon as I am dropped from my parents' coverage. It's stressful trying to finagle things so that it will all work out and I will never have a gap in coverage even for ONE DAY, or else I will be doomed to the land of "pre existing conditions".

Getting rid of "pre existing conditions" is something that I am personally thankful for, and it demonstrates the kind of society we want to live in.

A society which, by the way, is going to lower the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars thanks to this legislation.

I'm also happy about the federal insurance exchanges, it sounds like these will give me a way to get insurance in case my employer cannot afford or does not offer adequate coverage, and without having to deal with insurers one-on-one, which is impossible for me because they will reject my application. I hope there is a way for me to get insurance that way with no lifetime cap.

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by Mr Spinkles

As a person with severe hemophilia, I require a regular (usually weekly) treatment in which I inject the blood-clotting protein I am missing. I need this to live. It's extraordinarily expensive. The private insurers won't cover it. Small businesses can't afford to pay the premiums. My only option is to be employed by an institution that BOTH (1) has an adequate insurance plan, with no lifetime cap on coverage, and (2) is large enough to absorb the cost. I also have to be very careful with my own money, since as a graduate student making ~$25,000 / year, about 16% of my income will go to pay my premiums alone, as soon as I am dropped from my parents' coverage. It's stressful trying to finagle things so that it will all work out and I will never have a gap in coverage even for ONE DAY, or else I will be doomed to the land of "pre existing conditions".

Getting rid of "pre existing conditions" is something that I am personally thankful for, and it demonstrates the kind of society we want to live in.

A society which, by the way, is going to lower the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars thanks to this legislation.

I'm also happy about the federal insurance exchanges, it sounds like these will give me a way to get insurance in case my employer cannot afford or does not offer adequate coverage, and without having to deal with insurers one-on-one, which is impossible for me because they will reject my application. I hope there is a way for me to get insurance that way with no lifetime cap.

I've read so much about this plan over the last week that I don't have a link regarding this specific aspect but I'm nearly certain that if you're under 26, you can now continue to be covered on your parent's insurance.

[Mr Spinkles]

Yes, that was my understanding too, I'm happy about that also!

I think it's a step in the right direction. I am just appalled at how pathetic conservatives have been on this issue, for the most part. Huge concessions were made, they axed the public option, a federal exchange where insurers can "compete across state lines" is a bipartisan idea, expanding Medicaid and getting rid of pre-existing conditions is a bipartisan idea. The whining and the delusional paranoia coming from conservatives has just been flabbergasting.

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by Mr Spinkles

Yes, that was my understanding too, I'm happy about that also

Oh! And, I heard it is effective immediately.

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by Mr Spinkles

I am just appalled at how pathetic conservatives have been on this issue, for the most part. Huge concessions were made, they axed the public option, a federal exchange where insurers can "compete across state lines" is a bipartisan idea, expanding Medicaid and getting rid of pre-existing conditions is a bipartisan idea. The whining and the delusional paranoia coming from conservatives has just been flabbergasting.

I've wondered about this, too. The health care bill that was just passed has gone through the ringer in terms of bi-partisan debate.

[Mr Spinkles]

By the way, I just want to point out, society is not going to pay any more for my medicine than it was already paying, before the legislation passed. I am not looking for a handout or charity. It has long been the case in the U.S. that people with bleeding disorders always get their medicine, one way or another. In the previous system, as long as I can get my hands on coverage, and as long as I pay my (expensive, but not ruinous) premiums, the insurance company ends up covering about 99% of the cost of my medicine. Now, if I had any gap in coverage, then I would have a "pre existing condition" and then I might have to sell everything I own and devote all my income to paying my medicine, in order to qualify for Medicaid or some other program. But in that case, I STILL would only be able to pay maybe 8% of the cost, it would pay for my medicine for about 30 days, Medicaid would have to pick it up from then on, and that situation would only last for up to two years, after which the "pre existing condition" would be reset and I could no longer be denied private insurance (if it's available). So, under the old system, I incur the risk and stress of possibly being utterly ruined financially, and society saves a few negligible bucks and basically loses an otherwise productive member of society (and handsome, I might add ). And, I emphasize, the same thing could happen to you if your child is born with a disorder.

Under the new system, I don't risk financial ruin and the only conceivable "cost" to society is that it won't be relieved of its meager burden to pay my medicine for about 30 days out of my whole life. And, people have piece of mind that if THEIR child is born with a disorder, they will get coverage in return for paying their taxes and their insurance.

That's the deal. I think it's not only humane, but smart, especially when we're saving money.

[Mr Spinkles]

Did anyone point out that this bill removes an *exception* that was put in place by the Bush administration, which exempts income earned on capital gains from paying the Medicare (or is it Medicaid) tax?

I suspect this is one of the most important aspects of the bill, which rich conservatives don't want anyone to talk about.

This amounts to a tax increase on capital gains by about 4% if I remember correctly. Working people with taxable wages already pay this tax, so why should Wall Street be exempt? Imagine how many poor or elderly people, who pay their fair share of taxes, could be covered by this. This must amount to billions of dollars. It's a huge increase in taxes on the richest Americans. I believe many people on Wall Street would kill for less, and I think that's the root of all the hysteria. Guys like Steve Forbes are worried they'll have to sell ANOTHER one of their private French chateaus, or perhaps one of their Caribbean islands. Such tyranny! Those are the people spreading the lies and misinformation to whip up the Tea Party - types into an irrational and self-defeating frenzy.

[Mestemia]

Originally Posted by Mr Spinkles

Those are the people spreading the lies and misinformation to whip up the Tea Party - types into an irrational and self-defeating frenzy.

What!?

You mean to say that not all of the tea-party crowd are completely informed with the really real truth?

[Seyorni]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

Standing Alone just reminded me offline about the "death panels" that will come about because of this legislation. Guess we can all sit around and worry about that if we want.

Yes, the real "death panels" -- coverage caps, insurance denial, policy cancellation upon claims. coverage denial for Dr. ordered treatments and tests, &c, are very worrying.
The "death panels" the Republicans railed against as a propaganda point -- living wills, medical power of attourney and advance directives -- are long established policies everyone encounters on admission to hospital.