After a resounding Democratic Presidential election win, a terrible recession, and a bruising year of politics, it would be just like America that a crazy election result torpedoes the health care reform bill. It would be the first Republican Senator win in 43 years in Massachusetts, a state that’s bluer than blue, and the actual seat being elected on Tuesday hasn’t been won by a Republican since 1947!
But it’s becoming more and more possible, and the latest polls are all over the map.
Let’s play out what happens if we go back to a 59–41 Senate. The current Senate rules basically allow the minority to shut down proceedings. Harry Reid has in fact performed miracles to keep Lieberman, Nelson and some of the rest on board. Obama, Reid & Pelosi are now working the deal out with the unions and all the rest to make sure that what’s a pretty slim majority in the House will essentially accept the Senate bill—with some sop to the unions on the “Excise tax”. There are some other technicalities about the Exchange et al, but in the end we have a fair idea of what’s going to be the result.
Unless …
Now the right just don’t care about the uninsured—or least not as much as they believe in protecting the health care industry’s ability to do what it’s been doing for 50 years, combined with their desire to hand Obama a defeat.
Much of the left and a plurality of Americans (polling data bears this out) believe that what’s in the bill is not enough—and because the Senate is not a democratic body, they’re angry enough to sit this out.
Almost inconceivably, but not surprisingly given their records of veracity, via AHIP the major health plans (with the very vocal exception of Kaiser Permanente) have been playing both sides of the street and have given money to the US Chamber of Commerce to oppose reform, while Karen Ignagni has always maintained that AHIP was in favor of reform. And of course several sensible commentators on THCB disagree with me and think that the current bill doesn’t do enough to fix America’s health care delivery crisis to be worth the cost of fixing (some of) its uninsurance crisis.
So there are lots of people who think that the current mealy-mouthed compromise is bad for one reason or another. But if the vote happened right now it’ll pass the Senate with 60 votes.
If, and only if, the 60th is the new Democratic Senator from Massachusetts. If the Republican wins I cannot see a way for a compromise bill that will get Snowe or Collins (the two most liberal Republicans) to be the 60th vote, while keeping the mainstream Democrats in the House on board.
And remember what this means for the health of the health care system and of America.
No bill means we’re not coming back here again until we are forced back. It means that the number of uninsured will go up—way up as states run out of stimulus money and start cutting back on Medicaid (as has been happening in California). And more and more people will continue to lose insurance at work.
There won’t even be any of the pilot programs buried in the Senate bill for reforming the delivery system payment mechanism. I know I’ve derided them, but they’re better than nothing. And of course if the 2010 elections are as bad for the Democrats as many predict, the ability of the Feds to muster the will to change even Medicare alone will be gone.
To sum up: no bill means in 5–10 years a huge rise in uninsurance, no reform of the delivery system, and no prospect for a rationalization of health care spending. That will mean the collapse of large parts of the health care system in a spasmodic unplanned fashion.
After the next serious downturn the health system will crash rather than soft land. The bubble will truly burst and the most likely result will be an austere single payer system.
I’m not sure that’s what the opponents of reform want, but it’s pretty much out of their hands. Unless of course the voters of Massachusetts—who ironically already have a health system much like the Senate bill promises the rest of us—decide that they’re angry enough about, well, everything and nothing to do something crazy.
Categories: Matthew Holt
私は今|ウェブサイト 本当に本当にあなたのデザインとレイアウトを楽しんで。それはなっている目には非常に簡単ですそれがはるかに楽しい楽しい私はここに来て、より頻繁に訪問するために。あなたのテーマを作成するために|開発者、設計者あなたが雇うましたか？ 卓越した働く！
クロムハーツ ネックレス コピー http://colegiocgdlatacunga.com.ar/css/chrome-hearts/20141107172202-80jx.html
Hi to all, it’s actually a fastidious for me to visit this website, it consists of
precious Information.
There is a unity lost between Governing Parties that is needed to help the people feel secure. The moral building block for Health Care.
To see the true Health Care Tax forum you must stop thinking in 3-D,This multi tax forum is against a $100 Trillion Dollar system.. …
To force pay into another system of failures within Health Care Insurance Groups.
This economy will not balance with this concept of a tax forum against the Health Care System. The issue of how to force pay into this system of Health Care may have worked but I am still troubled over the progressive tax forum within this Bill. It covers so many items and Countries that it only forces the system to adjust itself. In some areas, increases against the people and the troubled economy, and in other areas, less effects will be felt.
But this is my big problem, Government Officials seek help and they are to proud to ask us, “the true working force of Government.” It is understandable they have failed the People and within the United States Of America all we ask is to see us as who we are and not try to bring us into this world of the intellectual. I guess our Prime Directive is that of Star Trek, so it must be understood that for millions of people we are just as happy as can be making $13.00 per hour and we have no interest in this world of politics, and how to be a Enstine. Government Officials must understand that there is a level of people within different parts of this Country, that seek to be only that they find to make them happy.
As for this economy well, it is said that the U.S.A. Arms Division has created enough arsenal to destroy every last creature in the world 2 times over,built with tax dollars. This would be funny if not for the irony of it. And now as time has passed Government Officials keep failing. Before 9/11 all the way to today.
As it is in a world of a system, when employees continue to fail, one or two things happen, one; you get fired, two; if you see into a person a good, then it is political correct to implement a penalty or roll back in pay. But this implement of penalty is more favored in the course of action in the Federal Employment World. So how to fix the economy and unite it with the Health Care issue. It would be in the Countries best interest to implement a 10% per cent penalty against every State, County and Government Official within this Matrix of failures. Hey what is that old saying, what is good for the Goose is good for the Gander. I am serous about this, it is past due to show that our Government Officials they have failed, their system failure reaches into this world of warnings that they brush aside as if the information is not worthy noting. From Pearl Harbor to 9/11/2001 to 3/07/2010 of our tax system and Health Care Reform. This 10% per cent penalty should go into the Health Care Forum.
The big problem that Government Officials have is that they have no street credit. President Obama still has some but if he does not take his family and step away from these dueling Parties, that fight over this Health Care Dollar, and stand with Us he will lose all credit from the streets to the county.
President Obama, I would say to you, you have one last chance to regain the hopes and dreams of the American People. To reach out in a concept that states, if there is 250 million people in trouble because of these failures, I would give all my money to them and then I would say to all that I gave money to, “I have no money left, would you all please give me $1.00 back and then I would have $250. million dollars to start all over again.”
As for this $100,trillion dollar in site………….
Results 1 – 10 of about 685,000 for net worth of medicine development industry
Just to show how deep this Health Care Tax split petition reaches. The term split petition is used because of the Tax factor plan that is not seen because of the intent not to show a capital Taxing of close to a $100 trillion dollar package, a yearly system income, not profit…..
Some have stated that I clam to have spiritual in site or something of the sort. I assure you this is not true, so when I state that I asked God to help, it is my way of saying hey Bobby show me how to work on theses Chevy engines. But I do thank you for the consideration. Consider me a cross of Jethro Bodine from the Beverly Hill Billies with my 10th. Grade education and Vin Diesel from the move Pitch Black.
So drop on by and see page 100 at our site and follow the blue pill link
Health Care within a moral value, is to ,
{ GIVE LIFE TO HOPE WHERE THERE IS NONE }
Henry Massingale
FASC Concepts in and for Pay It Forward
http://www.fascmovement.mysite.com on google. yahoo, and Aol.com
please take the time and visit all my new friends on the net and if you wish to post with FASC Concepts you will be most welcomed. So join us and share your ideas as one in one voice.
3/08/2010
To force pay into another system of failures within Health Care Insurance Groups.
This economy will not balance with this concept of a tax forum against the Health Care System. The issue of how to force pay into this system of Health Care may have worked but I am still troubled over the progressive tax forum within this Bill. It covers so many items and Countries that it only forces the system to adjust itself. In some areas, increases against the people and the troubled economy, and in other areas, less effects will be felt.
But this is my big problem, Government Officials seek help and they are to proud to ask us, “the true working force of Government.” It is understandable they have failed the People and within the United States Of America all we ask is to see us as who we are and not try to bring us into this world of the intellectual. I guess our Prime Directive is that of Star Trek, so it must be understood that for millions of people we are just as happy as can be making $13.00 per hour and we have no interest in this world of politics, and how to be a Enstine. Government Officials must understand that there is a level of people within different parts of this Country, that seek to be only that they find to make them happy.
As for this economy well, it is said that the U.S.A. Arms Division has created enough arsenal to destroy every last creature in the world 2 times over,built with tax dollars. This would be funny if not for the irony of it. And now as time has passed Government Officials keep failing. Before 9/11 all the way to today.
1.As it is in a world of a system, when employees continue to fail, one or two things happen, one; you get fired, two; if you see into a person a good, then it is political correct to implement a penalty or roll back in pay. But this implement of penalty is more favored in the course of action in the Federal Employment World. So how to fix the economy and unite it with the Health Care issue. It would be in the Countries best interest to implement a 10% per cent penalty against every State, County and Government Official within this Matrix of failures. Hey what is that old saying, what is good for the Goose is good for the Gander. I am serous about this, it is past due to show that our Government Officials they have failed, their system failure reaches into this world of warnings that they brush aside as if the information is not worthy noting. From Pearl Harbor to 9/11/2001 to 3/07/2010 of our tax system and Health Care Reform. This 10% per cent penalty should go into the Health Care Forum.
2. The big problem that Government Officials have is that they have no street credit. President Obama still has some but if he does not take his family and step away from these dueling Parties, that fight over this Health Care Dollar, and stand with Us he will lose all credit from the streets to the county.
3. President Obama, I would say to you, you have one last chance to regain the hopes and dreams of the American People. To reach out in a concept that states, if there is 250 million people in trouble because of these failures, I would give all my money to them and then I would say to all that I gave money to, “I have no money left, would you all please give me $1.00 back and then I would have $250. million dollars to start all over again.”
4. Some have stated that I clam to have spiritual in site or something of the sort. I assure you this is not true, so when I state that I asked God to help, it is my way of saying hey Bobby show me how to work on theses Chevy engines. But I do thank you for the consideration. Consider me a cross of Jethro Bodine from the Beverly Hill Billies with my 10th. Grade education and Vin Diesel from the move Pitch Black.
Henry Massingale
FASC Concepts in and for Pay It Forward
http://www.fascmovement.mysite.com on google, look for page 1 american dream official site
1.2/25/1010
Now somebody is not telling the truth, on both sides. So I did a little number check with my friends on the net and I was right, so enjoy the truth, of force pay through the Bill and the freedom of choice offered By me and my friends in and for FASC Concepts .This Prime Directive on page 100 at our site will not be completed until 3/1/2010, but hey please drop on by and see what the fuss is about……..
A Prime Directive
For Health Care
In all things there must be a guideline in order to prevent diversity within that issue. As it would seem, after 50 years or more this Health Care issue is still without a moral value and it is not in the best interest of man kind. This word Man Kind, should be the building block for Health Care.
Health Care Insurance Companies;
The merger of HCIC = Health Care Insurance Co., to show that when these companies put 95% of the intake of funds into a United Health Care Forum The balance left over could be all most tax free, but in our view should be tax free, for their income because of this 95% is considered a donation to the Rebuilding the National Security Of The United States Of America.
This statement of rebuild the National Security Of The United States, it is because of the tax forum in place that has failed because the tax dollar was calculated as a constant figure. The economy reports is in support of this statement….
The early released reports that this Health Care Bill would not increase the National Debt, as 6 months have past the new reports are stated at a $1.2 trillion dollars, plus a extra 6.2 billion dollars for economic recovery. And at the same a new tax forum against the Health Care System. The balancing is not shown because of over lapping reports and concepts for Bill to Law.
{report from page 89.New Taxes in the Senate Health-Care Bill }
Tax on high-end health insurance plans: $149.1 billion
Capping flexible spending accounts at $2,500: $14.6 billion
Fees for drug makers: $22.2 billion
Fees for medical device makers: $19.3 billion
Fees for health insurance companies: $60.4 billion
Higher floor for deducting medical expenses: $15.2 billion
Higher payroll tax for top earners: $53.8 billion
Tax on cosmetic surgery: $5.8 billion
page 87.The President’s Proposal for Health Reform
It puts our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years – and about $1 trillion over the second decade – by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse.
page 92.17 Tax Increases in Senate Health Care Bill
1.40% excise tax on health coverage in excess of $8,500/$23,000 ($149.1 billion)
2.Employer W-2 reporting of value of health (negligible revenue effect)
3.Conform definition of medical expenses ($5.0 billion)
4.Increase penalty for non qualified health savings account distributions to 20% ($1.3 billion)
5.Limit health flexible spending arrangements in cafeteria plans to $2,500 ($14.6 billion)
6.Require information reporting on payments to corporations ($17.1 billion)
7.Additional requirements for section 501(c)(3) hospitals (negligible revenue effects)
8.Impose annual fee on manufacturers & importers of branded drugs ($22.2 billion)
9.Impose annual fee on manufacturers & importers of medical devices ($19.3 billion)
10.Impose annual fee on health insurance providers ($60.4 billion)
11.Study and report of effect on veterans health care (no revenue effect)
12.Eliminate deduction for expenses allocable to Medicare Part D subsidy ($5.4 billion)
13.Raise 7.5% AGI floor on medical expenses deduction to 10% ($15.2 billion)
14.$500,000 deduction limitation on taxable year remuneration to health insurance officials ($0.6 billion)
15.Additional 0.5% hospital insurance tax on wages > $200,000 ($250,000 joint) ($53.8 billion)
16.Modification of section 833 treatment of certain health organizations ($0.4 billion)
17.Impose 5% excise tax on cosmetic surgery ($5.8 billion)
See CCH’s Special Report.
As stated By President Obama, this reform will not increase the National Debt, but it looks a lot like borrowing from Petter to pay Paul.
Now lets look at this, my input of a dollar vs. Health Care ……
Lets Use The 10 Largest Health Insurers
(by revenue)
AARP was not on the list for top ten,
1.UnitedHealth Group
2.WellPoint
3.CIGNA Corp.
4.Aetna
5.Anthem, Inc.
6.Humana
7.Health Net
8.PacifiCare Health Systems
9.Oxford Health Plans
10.WellChoice
Just with the top ten Health Care Insurance Companies we can show a income of around 100 million people x $100.00 per month at a low ball figure = $ 10,000 000 000 { $10 Billion Dollars.} To show a basic scale below In the US the progression is:
Hundred – 100
Thousand – 1,000
Million – 1,000,000
Billion – 1,000,000,000 as a low ball figure $10 billion per week at 100,000000 people
Trillion – 1,000,000,000,000
Quadrillion – 1,000,000,000,000,000
I a sure you that this $10 billion dollars is chump change even at $10 billion x 12 months. This does not even cover .5% of the revenue. This Health Care system is all most a $100 Trillion dollar package per year.
As a part of Law when a Company is built , as HCIC and people invest money into that system and the amendments of Laws allow the continue lack of representation then the failure falls on Law Makes for the United States. One further failure is according to Law, that when Laws are written and the lack of a people to read this Law, is further supported by the conman need of the Peoples Right To Understand that Law. “In other words it must be in English.”
As stated before the Age of Health Care Insurance Companies have ended, they had their chance and now nature have selected them to be no more. In order not to further burden a troubled economy I did change my mind 3 months ago and offer a way out in the best interest of the People and employees Of Insurance Companies.{ A Merger}
The Prime Directive Of HCIC has become as a Factor of profit and the calculus of the birth of a child by sophisticated testing for their A.I. So as these Officials Of HCIC fixed a system by their Artificial Intelligence, within a Health Care Matrix and now all they can do is see us as variables in a equation as dollar numbers, I do not believe they try to see any more, because without that Mathematical A.I. They can not insure just anybody. Our Health Care Insurance Companies,watch as A.I. shows the way for D.N.A testing and other inventive forms of how to calculate the dollar as a human input. {This is all so documented}
Henry Massingale
FASC Concepts in and for Pay It Forward
http://www.fascmovement.mysite.com on google and see all of our friend…
The How to;
President Obama, asked for the help, of a way to cover the sick. And it is a simple concept that is presented before all to see. Health Care Insurance Companies will not cover the sick, {This will not make dollars for them.} Our tax failure within our system will not be able to carry the load because of cost.
Within this United Forum, as Health Care Insurance Companies do join and earn money by helping the pay in form and the Health Care Tax Forum within our Medicare Tax system all ready in place, the concept of the dollar is like this in a low ball figure, { $10.00 x 250 million people, per week x 1 month} as stated before you do the math.
Now this is the part that Government Officials do not like, because of the constant failures before 9/11/2001 to 2/15/2010, all government Officials should be penalized
10% off of their pay. And that money should go to the Health Care Account. It is a recorded fact of history that our Officials we elected / hired to do a job have failed to do their jobs. The lives of the people have become in dangered and lives lost. They fight over this Health Care Dollar as if it is to be split up between 52 States. Our goal is to Unite The 52 States Of the United States Of America, as it should be.
Health Care Companies have also failed, and it is also a part of documented history, of their failures. This concept of profit under a Health Care Responsibility is the biggest lie before the people and we offer one last chance to theses Insurance Companies to Unite with the Peoples Government and earn money. Fact; 0ne Insurance Company can not maintain the dollar cost of a few people, so what happens when a Nation Wide Out Break takes Place ?
Some how Government Officials failed to understand that the American People have a common sense about them to see that around 173 Million people still jobs out of 373 million legal American People and there are around 125 million Illegal People in the U.S.A. It would only confirm the failure of Government Officials if they admitted this information.
Some have asked how I know that this is a $100 Trillion Dollar Health Care Package that Officials fight over, I called and asked Insurance Companies. And to my surprise 70% of those I talked to stated that this concept of a United Health Care Forum Built By The People in our Government System hold a honest approach of how to cover the sick that cant be covered. And Laws built to protect this money from miss use.
I wanted to Save this for page 100 but I will only show part of the building block of a Health Care Reform Stimulus Package. It is of a interest to many people to see the ideas that will come forward.
So again I ask all to Help President Obama to get this Job concept under way, and at the same time build this Health Care reform. Do not set it into action and not keep track of it, I am talking about a 10 year month to month data read out to see if scams are in the works.
Henry Massingale
FASC Concepts in and for Pay It Forward
http://www.fascmovement.mysite.com
I believe in true, meaningful, health care reform. I do not believe that government should run healthcare or act as a provider, but should engage in its role as a facilitator of needed reform and change. Socialized, government run healthcare has been proven to be costly to taxpayers, results in lower quality care, long lines and waiting periods and essentially equates to healthcare rationing in order to control the costs. Rather than throw out the current system, why can’t we start from the beginning and work our way back? First, government should partner with insurance companies, hospitals and physicians to get at the heart of the issues and work with the healthcare industry to figure out what the problems are, where the bottlenecks are, what the causes of the high and ever increasing costs are. It can’t be the government telling the industry what to do. Businesses know how to run businesses. After making careful determinations with the industry as a whole, the needed changes should be implemented.
One place to start would be the creation of a single, nationally adopted, electronic claim processing system that all insurance carriers and healthcare providers would be required to use. Such a system would reduce the amount of time providers are forced to waste on knowing and processing claims within the various forms and methods used by different carriers. The creation of such a system would need to involve the input and guidance of the insurance companies themselves and also the providers as their involvement would promulgate a system that would be more efficient at both ends.
We need to open up the purchase of healthcare across state lines. This would create greater competition among the almost 1,300 carriers out there. We should give the same tax breaks to people who purchase healthcare coverage on their own as are given to those who have it provided through their employer. We should give greater, dollar for dollar tax deductions for healthcare coverage plan premiums paid by an individual or family paying for their own coverage. These larger deductions should also go to businesses who are paying for healthcare coverage for their employees, regardless of the size of the business.
I believe in promoting catastrophe only insurance plans for those who wish to purchase coverage at a lower cost. The plan would provide coverage only for large cost, serious illness claims. Plans could have various tiers with varying dollar amounts set to determine at which point coverage goes into effect (i.e. tier $10,000 – anything under would not be covered, anything over would be covered, including anything paid up to the $10,000 tier once it went over). This would also provide people with more choice to purchase only the coverage they wish and only that which they feel they need.
Let’s START here.
You all should check Costs . over my years in the medical Billing field we see Pay for Billing triple…another “Cost of doing Business” and more of these Higher paid workers are needed for the tiniest of practices…..Who pays for that tripling of employees?
Every time Government puts a program into action…it costs the average person MORE..and The Average Person can track that FACT by checking Costs over the years… When I worked in the field..for several years as a PA I was amazed to see that a Visit for an ear infection REFUNDED the Doctor at $1.00 and the patient had to be paid for a Cab to the Docs thru another Government program…or an ambulance trip… We the Patients were paying $20/ now how much is it?
People who are too young to remember will get a Rude Awakening ..
Social security payouts should be checked for the population accessing Social Security..and All of its benefits. I do not want to sound mean and nasty..BUT JUST HOW OLD IS OLD.
I have weighed this issue Health Care Bill vs. Constitution, and if a Political Party Gains control over a people because if the Health Care Tax Dollars, then it is laws with out moral value.
You see when tobacco companies became under fire the laws were based on a moral value because of the issues within.
The moral building blocks from Bill to Law is not supported because these Laws are for increase taxes and force pay against the people and a increase tax forum in a wide coverage stated to be in the best interest of the Country.
exmp.,
So this is Health Care Reform at its best, please allow me to share a concept that will open your mind in a way never thought of for a United Forum Concept. At first I stood alone and I wrote my first blog and little did I know that thousands of people and companies stood by it,
I have waited to see the issues of tax increase and health care, something that may be wrote by President Obama,
You see a lot of what I write, is in fact that, I do not seek Political support because I do not belong to any party. As for President Obama and theses 60 people that hold seat of Government who wish to build 1900 page of law to Govern this system because of this Health Care dollar. I watch them stumble about without a clue of how to fix this failed system. To see into this failure, you must allow this system to be seen as a forum for dollars of taxes created as a constant as a yearly figure. This prediction of dollar for the future, is in fact what I call Artificial Intelligence built on the hope that taxes will stay a constant figure.
To state it simple if Health Care Insurance Companies Unite and hand over this issue then the Officials of Government then they will have have no choice but to turn their eye to the companies of medication and medical supplies and hospitals and Doctors who charge cost that is the cause and effect of this failure within this system.
This Health Care Forum we offer is built on a moral value, a strategic forum to place issues to work ,that offers freedom to be a part of it or not. This force pay against companies, force pay against VETS, and so on shows the lack of a moral building block within this Health Care Reform.
What we offer is that, will, Lets use the AARP Health Care Insurance Company, and lets say that they have 30 million members. To show that this company can earn $150 million dollars per month and be released from the burden of medical cost, by what we wish to show as health care tax forum and a freedom of choice for a pay in to a forum to a Insurance Company for people who do not trust this system within The United States Government. A tax forum forces the Government system to work for the people and at the same time forces Government Officials to work for the people within this forum.
To reach out to a company and sit down with them to build something never attempted in order to rebuild lives and the National Security of The United States as a moral building block without laws to Govern, but to protect this system from crime is what a moral law use to stand for.
To show a $100 trillion dollar strategic building block by companies of freewill that step forward to help rebuild America. To build the most powerful anti war / crime forum ever conceived by such as I a nobody that only seek to only go back to work as a painter and rebuild his little company dream.
As stated at first I stood alone against so many and I have found the uniting of people of different faith that seeks the same as I do. What makes FASC Concepts different, we do not ask for money and we opened a door for people to put their faith into themselves as a person and not what we say, to build on this and protect it under the concepts of law such as the Patriot Act. {A Moral Concept}
There is a day coming that Officials of Government will see that the Laws built against God and Country was the first steps of the United States Of America headed for failure because it lacks moral value. This is what our enemies see, a Country of Laws that should of never been created by few against so many people of the USA.
Is it so hard to see a concept for a Health Care Stimulus Package that builds jobs and life within a anti / crime forum ?
Henry Massingale
FASC Concepts in and for Pay It Forward
found on google.com. And yahoo look for page 1 american dream offical site.
“If the government wanted to cut costs, maybe they should focus on malpractice and start to passing legislation limiting these premiums and liabilities.”
Welcome, many states have already done this – what more do you want?
The best place for freelance projects is freelancing sites. Freelancing sites are the best option for part time home based business and freelance jobs. There are many types of work available at freelancing sites
http://www.onlineuniversalwork.com
I am satisfied with the direction of the healthcare bill. Early on it was looking like Doctors were going to be heavily affected, especially in their wallets. As an owner of a medical marketing company, <a href=" http://www.welcometomypractice.com, I was very concerned that my business would be affected from Doctors cutting back on marketing and spending.
My hope is that the government listens to the public. We want those who can not afford healthcare to be covered, but not at the cost of losing the smartest and best due to their inability to make enough money to continue practicing medicine.
If the government wanted to cut costs, maybe they should focus on malpractice and start to passing legislation limiting these premiums and liabilities. If government cuts the pay of doctors and insurance companies continue to raise premiums, they will force the doctors out of the trade. Healthcare is still a business and the best and brightest need to stay financially motivated, unless we as patients will all be negatively affected.
“If any of you know of a Private Health Insurance plan that follows Medicares lead on Never Events. I certainly would like to know.”
Hundreds of them, now that there is legal cover it is common plan language to exclude never events.
I want you to know that the term Death Panels is not just a governmental Theme. We have Death Panels in Health Insurance Today. Your Contract determines what is to be covered and more Importantly. What is not covered.Terms like preexisting,Experimental,exclusions,max lifetime benefits etc.
Then there are the financial decisions for exorbitant life saving Procedures that requires a large Down Payment. The Growing Conservative movement has it right,If you cannot $$$(afford)$$$ to live than Die Quickly.However,this does not reflect my sentiments on the matter.
Government is not always the bad Guy! If the President had not BAILED OUT the BANKS and AIG. This Recession would had been a Depression. Also, the Government has a responsibility to our citizens and the health of the economy to prevent future incidents by enacting Laws and regulations. After all it was the reckless and sometimes Amoral behavior that caused the House of Cards to fall.
Medicare a government Run;privately managed program has done something totally unimaginable in Private Health Insurance.They have decided NOT to pay for (never events)preventable events that cause patients and Medicares expenses to rise exponentially. These are events that Never Should Happen. Hospital Acquired Infections, Bed Sores, Falls etc When all reasonable measures are ignored by the Health Industry. I’m Glad that there is Governmental Intervention. Certainly, peer review has failed to produce a safe environment.
If any of you know of a Private Health Insurance plan that follows Medicares lead on Never Events. I certainly would like to know.
Health care blog
please introduce — health care reform in one page
is it not true that congress wants a health reform bill that costs the USA treasury little and is affordable to all?
USA population over 300,000,000.
multiplied by $20.00 monthly payment for each person in a family. equals over 6,000,000,000.00 (6 billion) a month for national health care.
A NON PROFIT COMPANY CONTROLLS THE MONEY not insurance companies. that means more for health care services.
Tell me where I am wrong?
JOHN age62 finance degree
Now this is a change i can believe in.
“who would like nothing better than to see all Americans at Stalin’s feet!”
Or the corporations feet.
The last time Republicans held the majority which the Democrats just relinquished, was in the 1920’s. They have had no problem what-so-ever forcing poor legislation down our throats. I think that this election will inspire the Democrats to start force feeding us their own poor legislation. Something written by the insurance companies, fed to us by their bought politicians; will eventually become law.
Message was pretty clear- KEEP THE CHANGE.
I’m confused Matt, I read your polls and by your tortured logic we should have given the seat to Coakley, after all THE POLL said 49% preferred her. So according to you the “Democratic” thing to do would be to ignore the actual vote or just skip it all together and award her the seat?
2 points for the reading public;
There is a reason we have elections and don’t govern by polls and Like most elections in Liberal districts you can’t trust the results anyways.
ALL DEM REP IND
Coakley 49 82 7 36
Brown 41 12 85 49
Kennedy 5 1 2 11
I’ve been a healthcare professional for 30 years and this bill before Congress is nothing but “progressive” oppression of American healthcare. We need true healthcare reform that speaks to the real issues of healthcare in this country, while perserving the technology and research that we have to diagnose and treat, not the sleezy back office corrupt deals of the “progressives” who would like nothing better than to see all Americans at Stalin’s feet!
wow Matt pick 2 years out of 100 and build a society on that…and people wonder why everything the left comes up with fails? Can you look up average unemployement for the past 50 years and GDP growth on your own or should I post it here for everyone to see then point and laugh at you?
So if I asked a bunch of uninformed people vague questions then twist the results that is enough for the left to support legislation? Funny Matt why doen’t this apply to abortion? Gun control? I could go on but you get the point. Like elections your selective memory and applciation of law nd rules is intelectually dishonest. Now that you got your ass kicked in MA are you going to change the elections laws a third, or is it fourth, time to accomodate your needs de jaur?
Look what the public thought when Democrats lied to them to pass Medicare. Look how that turned out. Some of us are smart enough to learn from history. The rest of you are doomed to repeat it.
…and we end this post with Nate being in favor of Medicare. Oh well, its existence keeps him in business, in that it stops seniors campaigning for real universal single payer. So I guess his position makes sense.
But if he or the rest of those on the right READ THE DAMN POLLS I linked to you’d see that the numbers show that 60% of Americans think that this bill is either OK, or doesnt go far enough to the left.
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/poll-more-think-health-care-reform-isnt-ambitious-enough/
The problem is, as ever, that a) the Senate is not democratic, and b) that this country is ungovernable.
Of course Nate will tell us that the Europeans are overtaxed, welfare staters who have worse economies than we do to pay for their free health care. Checked the unemployment stats lately, Nate?
“the far right media is peddling in conjunction with this bill, with the sole purpose of subverting the democratic process.”
Wow that takes some gumption for a bleeding heart liberal to claim that. And the remaining 90% of the media that is far left reporting the bill was deficit neutral? Has a liberal ever once honestly discussed pre-ex and why it exist instead of calling insurance companies evil? How about the 10 million times the lefty media has told us how smart Obama is when the clown is only capable of reading a teleprompter and often struggles with that. I can only assume you strongly advocate for the repeal of Medicare since Democrats admittedly hoodwinked the public when passing it.
Nice to see the sore losers hold off for all of 5 minutes. Get use to it, your ideology has officially been rejected and in 3 years most of you are gone.
Vicram C,
Show me the bill! You can’t!
You and the other mind-numbed socialists just don’t get it. This bill is not about healthcare. It is about government becoming bigger than the people.
“The people have spoken, the bastards.”
The majority of Americans oppose death panels, socialized medicine, government take over, bureaucrats interference with their doctors, Marxism, Communism and a host of other preposterous notions that the far right media is peddling in conjunction with this bill, with the sole purpose of subverting the democratic process.
Sherry-
RE: “Last time I checked we lived in a country where a simple majority is supposed to win …”
Last time I checked, the majority of Americans OPPOSED this bill.
Is this bill flawed? yes of course it is but what bill wouldn’t be and it is a start? How many people remember that when SS was passed it originally excluded nearly all jobs that were done by African Americans? Does the doughnut hole in the Medicare RX bill make sense? Should we cancel it?
Should we be concerned about the election in Mass? Yes of course but I would expect that the bill will be passed before anyone new is seated who might vote against it.
Last time I checked we lived in a country where a simple majority is supposed to win so even if Mass goes Red that doesn’t mean that we won’t see or some rogue Congressman (McDermott) introduce a measure to change the filibuster majority to 55 from 60. (He announced he would this past Sunday at a community forum in Seattle)
Focus on community and state based solutions that work in tandem with the private sector and we all just might end up with something that works.
Margalit Gur-Arie:
Many doctors are near retirement. About 1/3rd of practicing docs in several parts of the country are at a point where they could leave the field if it becomes problematic. I am sure you will recall that Socialism is defined as “social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.” The bills presented all are currently void of what the coverage (benefits) and limits will be, leaving it to the government (under HHS) to “develop” the structure within the following year. Every panel described in the structure of the “advisors” to the HHS secretary includes labor, politicians, and usually one or maybe two medical people (which the government will pick).
I am seeing colleagues already attempt to move out of practice and into other areas like managed health care (work for the insurance people), to pharmaceutical companies, move to para-medical areas, moving to Australia and New Zealand, etc. I think it not unlikely that a lot of the experienced doctors out there will think twice before staying in a system that is set up by the government, ruled by the government, and structured like the post-office or DMV.
Some docs will stick around – the majority for a while anyway – to see how it plays out if it passes. But I can promise you a lot won’t if the patient-doctor relationship is interfered with too much.
While its likely that House will pass Senate version of bill just in case it doesn’t happen, then let’s look at consequent scenario. We are then likely to see next a Republican President. We would have a tort reform bill passed by 2014 and some other sundry things. Next time healthcare will be an election issue would be 2016, assuming economy and war allow it to be an issue.
Around that year, 30 million uninsured would be 60 million. High deductible plans will be very much in vogue with average deductible around $10K at that point. Average family annual premium could be around $20K. % of folks with pre-existing conditions such as obesity, asthma, diabetes, pneumonia etc would be around 30%. Medical tourism would be a rage.
Hard to say if that would be enough to motivate another large scale reform but somewhere rubber has to meet the road.
It is a shame most of the people fall into a non educated group who don’t have any idea of what health really is for the human body. If our politicians hadn’t taken bribes to make laws prohibiting the things of GOD that heal. To give an example my wife was healed of arthritis and colitis which our doctor still says is impossible. Even doctors can’t believe with there eyes because there trained to believe in drugs. Drugs don’t heal they just cause side effects and cancer in lab animals
Wendell, you are right there can be no free market with the government “Sticking its paws in it.” You probably realize the government directly pays for roughly 50% of health care. It is nearly impossible to calculate all the money paid in subsidies, but you can easily add another 10%. With government paying for at least 60% of health care in this country and with the the costs escalating much faster than inflation, the health care bubble is destined to bankrupt the country and explode.
The financial impacts will hit all aspects of life: Health & well-being, Banking & finance, National defense and energy will be the hardest hit. The Government itself could collapse.
Corporate stakeholders have become thoroughly entrenched in our government. They use the government as one of their tools to stifle the free markets. We need to yank them out of government and eliminate laws and regulations that stifle markets and restrain trade. For example, Patent & copyright laws are designed to protect corporate interests by eliminating competition. Pharmaceutical stakeholders feast on these laws.
The greatest fear of our founding fathers is being realized: “We the People”, who were given the reigns of government, are losing our grip on the government.
We do not yet have to resort to violence as our “Founding Fathers” did, but we are walking down the same path. If we don’t learn from history we are doomed to repeat it.
“Yes we can!”
Let us create a universal system of health care, which uses free markets to deliver real value for our health care dollar.
“…loss of literally thousands of docs who will change carreers to escape the socialist structure…”
RMichael, would you please explain what part of this bill is creating a socialist structure as far as doctors are concerned?
Also, just out of curiosity, what sort of career changes are you envisioning for these doctors?
Right on!
Read the bill. It does nothing to give anyone better coverage. Passing an imperfect bill is idiocy, because we will all be stuck with the higher costs ($3-trillion extimated over 10 years after it goes into full effect), rationing of care, and loss of literally thousands of docs who will change carreers to escape the socialist structure. You think health care is expensive now? Wait until it’s “free” and see where we are with theis bill. We need to go back to the start and actually have people sit down, rationalize what needs repairs and why, then get to work with appropriate, well thought-out, intelligent fixes, not accept a flawed set of rules which only give more power to Congress and the President.
This bill is very important to me because it makes better coverage of chronic illnesses more likely, though I will believe it when the bill has passed into law and regulations. I think the situation is analogous to the 1965 Voting Rights Act passed after a big effort from Johnson. The bill itself didn’t change all that much, but it laid the groundwork for better voting rights for many citizens. I’m hoping this imperfect bill will change the foundation of how we do insurance in a similar (positive) way.
If the bill fails it will be sad event. So many champagne bottles will be opened in so many rooms. If only they knew what they achieved.
As long as there is human misery the reform bill will keep coming back and everyone is going to have an instance in their life where they will wish they did not oppose the bill.
This is a terrible bill. The issue is cost reduction, and until that is tackled costs will be out of control. Covering more people etc is a pipe dream until you control costs. Where is tort reform, the democrats are in the trial lawyers pocket, where are the drives towards efficiency in terms of automated medical record sharing and access. Congress just passed reforms to HIPPA making it far easier to sue and for larger amounts. How does this help? How about competition across state lines and forcing states to adopt cnsistent policies and regulations regarding medications, treatments, paperwork etc.
Everyone agree we need healthcare reform. All the current bill does is attempt to stick a finger in a swiss cheese dike.
I continue to be amazed that anyone can call this Health Control Bill a Health Reform Bill. It does nothing to reform but only to disguise taxes and government control of WE THE PEOPLE. A real reform would fix the alleged fraud in Medicare, clean up Medicaid, enact a strong tort reform, guarantee portability, allow people to opt out, and a myriad of other useful things. I stand with MD as HELL. I work ER, and anyone can get care any time they need it already. What ever happened to personal responsibility!?
Matthew’s “better than nothing” statement is the crux of the issue, on all sides of the argument.
The “get your gov’t hands off my Medicare” crowd (who obviously are low on their irony supplements) doesn’t get it, the insurance industry doesn’t WANT it, and those of us who are uninsured due to a previous trip thru the medical-care car wash (in my case, breast cancer, which either results in being flat-out declined, or quoted at $2,000/month with a $6,000 non-HSA-compatible deductible) aren’t GONNA get it.
It, this instance, being the opportunity to regain health care coverage.
States-rights rears its ugly head in this discussion, too, since most states regulate which health insurers can operate within their borders.
Peter hits the nail squarely on the head when he says that the only real beneficiaries of the current health care insurance rules are the lobbyists who fight on the side of the big guys, the ones with the big lobbying budgets – Wellpoint, UHC, Cigna, et al.
Real health care reform will only happen when we, the patients, wake up and realize WE ARE THE CUSTOMER. Act accordingly by shopping for health care the same way you buy a car, or a house.
And please, for pity’s sake, separate health insurance from employment. Small business owners can’t afford their OWN policies once they’ve paid the premiums on their employees’ coverage.
Pass the damn bill, which will put something on the books that can at least get the system moving toward some kind of REAL reform. Doing nothing, letting the bill die, just keeps the insurance lobby in charge.
Wendell Murray
There can be no free market in anything with the government sticking its paws in it. The guvmint needs to butt out of health care. Period. In fact, it needs to butt out of matters rightly left to the states.
“Ad nauseam repetition.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.
“Worry about Health care reform, the auto industry, the housing bubble; well, these are issues, but what about the foundation of the culture that supports these businesses/professions/industries?”
The foundation of the present culture is corporate subsidies/deregulation/influence followed by massive corporate bailouts. Too many Americans continue to want to believe that either Republicans or Democrats are the enemy, but the real enemy, that controls the political puppet strings, is a heavily lobbied corporate America. I too would welcome a Republican win in MA that would defeat this “train wreck” of a bill. Democrats forget that if the bill passes then all blame for future healthcare failures/collapse will be placed on them and their bill, rightly or wrongly. But by then the present band of political corporate shills will be comfortably settled into their new lobbying jobs.
ExhaustedMD: I am sympathetic to your argument, but the federal government has to “intervene”, i.e. at least theoretically try to represent society’s interests, in any number of areas of social activity, because the alternative of leaving a presumed “private”, non-governmental set of actors to promote social welfare does the opposite, is injurious to society’s interests, although of course beneficial to the private party’s own interest.
This is most clearly evident in the healthcare system, defined primarily as medical service delivery and its financing.
Ad nauseam repetition of the basic fact, but by and large the market for medical services and the funding for those simply does not satisfy the conditions for a competitively-determined market to function.
Ergo the overwhelming need for governmentally-set entities on both the financing and the delivery sides, not to mention on the promotion of activities that enhance health status of a population outside of the medical sphere. The need for exercise and for healthy, i.e. life-lengthening (as opposed to life-shortening), nutrition, proper hygiene, abstinence from smoking and other activity similar to the “apple a day keeps the doctor away” folk prescription for good health.
Good commentary from Mr. Holt, as is the usual case. Reminder to him that unlike in UK English, USA English treats collective nouns as singular rather than plural.
Accurate prediction of the effects of no healthcare reform bill being enacting into law:
Higher costs, significantly less access to any medical care for the poor, for those without employment and for many with employment where benefits continue to be cut back while ever more of the medical service or insurance cost is borne by the person insured.
archon41: please return to commenting in the WSJ where your commentary fits. This website has by and large escaped your kind of idiocy, so please go away unless you can make comments that are based on facts or exhibit rationale analysis, rather than repeat the stereotypical nonsense from the extreme right-wing.
For me, the irony of Ted Kennedy’s seat being filled by a Republican that could then derail this pending train wreck is wickedly welcome to me. As this farce of alleged representation from Washington has played out, I know now that the system of American is broken, and we foolishly pay attention to just specifics and get lost in examining the whole. Worry about Health care reform, the auto industry, the housing bubble; well, these are issues, but what about the foundation of the culture that supports these businesses/professions/industries? Come on, folks, we are so out of touch living as a connected and concerned culture, I really feel these failures are somewhat deserved. So many of us are just spending most of our time sitting in front of screens, whether it be computer, TV, video games, the term social is archaic!
For a moment of frank, and to me equally some brutal quality as well, honesty to the whole process of being a member of a “free” society, do you support health care reform as now presented because you truly think and feel it will improve care and make it realistically affordable, or are there selfish and ignorant agendas that you won’t admit to others, or just don’t see?
The status quo of where health care stands is unacceptable, no argument to that blatant fact from me. But, I do not and will not accept that politicians are the primary source to turn to in enacting responsible and effective change. Think of it per this analogy: would you want to seek out safe passage through a town that is predominated by the Hatfields and McCoys, each side shooting at anyone not wearing their family colors nor preaching one’s side philosophy to the entrenched debate of hate?
That is what the political process in this country has become. Hatfield/McCoy = Democrat/Republican. And in the end, anything created in the midst of a war is not thinking of the needs of the many, in this case moderation and negotiation.
And it is nothing less than pathetic to read and listen to dogma that is party focused, not people focused. Hence why you aren’t reading many doctors of authority speaking out strongly for this legislation. Because we know better. And as history shows, patients and third parties invested in the health care system seem to show less effort to want to learn and change.
Careful what you wish for, America, because when the train is at full speed, boy is it ugly to watch it wipe out when the tracks have ended!
PaineSense,
You are clueless. You can go to any ER right now, since 1986 in fact, and get a medical screening exam for any complaint you have and get stabilized and treated, without anyone asking for money or insurance.
What do you want? Delivery? Fries with that order?
With 30 million more people at the ER, you will be waiting longer. A lot longer. Bring food and a book.
The cornerstone for health care reform needs to be passed now. If this bill goes down then it’s time for activists to mobilize the Uninsured and bombard the emergency rooms of the most US prestigious hospitals like Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Duke University Medical Center to demand medical treatment now. Only when Congress is shaken out of their comfort zone do they act.
Matthew; Your summary is a little overwrought,
“To sum up: no bill means in 5–10 years a huge rise in uninsurance, no reform of the delivery system, and no prospect for a rationalization of health care spending. That will mean the collapse of large parts of the health care system in a spasmodic unplanned fashion.”
The American people seem to believe the current reform bill would raise premiums for the insured, mandate individuals and employers to march to the beat of the federal drummer, bankrupt state treasuries, ration than rationalize care, saddle their grandchildren with an unpayable debts, drive doctors out the system because of being unable to keep their practice open with low Medicare and Medicaid payments.
I do think there are many good things in the bill, but what I most dislike is the dishonesty in the financing. As Robert Laszewski points out in another post, there are 6 years of benefits but ten years of taxes, and only through this slight-of-hand does it look deficit-neutral. Only politicians can do this with a straight face and call it “reform.”
The nasty comments about the insurance companies really reflect the reality that, unlike the government, they can neither force people to be in the system nor can they deficit finance. For every sick person who gets insurance there have to be 10 healthy people to pay for them. When those healthy people stop buying insurance — as has been happening for years — premiums go up to pay for the remaining (sicker) people, and insurers try to not get stuck with people who come in knowing they will have higher expenses (and want the other insured to subsidize them). This is not evil, this is simply avoiding being a charity.
Some honesty about financing — public and private — is greatly needed but very unlikely to be forthcoming.
My point goes to partisan inflexibility, Paolo, but you knew that.
Good to hear that “defensive medicine” is no longer an issue.
Yes, Senor Senior. That makes a lot sense. Since there aren’t enough healthcare professionals to “service” everyone, let’s make sure the system services only the wealthy and healthy, and not the poor and sick.
archon 41: Tort reform is an insignificant issue and one that has already been adopted by most states. I would be happy to support a health care bill with or without tort reform. I really don’t care. The Democratic leadership would be crazy not to add more tort reform to the current bill if it would to deliver a single Republican Senate vote. But it won’t.
Tort reform is just an excuse to pretend that there is an alternative health care plan when there really isn’t.
One would think that the “plan” you support is like a new automobile, with all the available options which are now being “tweeked” so it is absolutely perfect to fit those who don’t own or have access to a car.
A little bribe here and a little union concession there and a large cut in Medicare [which will explode over the next 9 years since the first “baby boomer” arrive last New Years Day; and every thing is going to be alright!And increasing Medicaid by 13 million more [but not until after the next Presidential Election is a nice touch.]All being done while Medicare and Medicaid fraud are at historic levels and drain $100 to $200 billion a year off funds meant for care to the poor or elderly. Don’t worry be happy since whatever fraud can’t be found or recovered will just be subtracted from Medicare!
Don’t look now, but there are a few details you don’t note, like the lack of wheels, brakes and roads on which to drive yiur “New Ride” as the President would call it.
All Americans will agree to many things on healthcare reform, but most of what is in the current “model” simply won’t work, such as having enough healthcare professionals to service millions more “customers” mainly ones who are sicker due to age and lack of care in the past.
Tax-exempt “not-for-profit” hospitals are paying their execs Wallstreet salaries and percS. Thanks to AHA lobby they are flying well under the radar screen of health care reform. Poor governance, passive oversight and cronyism are rampant. Senators Grassley and Baucus don’t drop your initiative. You are right to expect more accountability. Billions of dollars in tax revenue are lost due to cyncial exploitation of the public trust. What is the real cost of hospital services? Demand greater transparency!
Hal Horvath, you are right that people are financially strained, and under such circumstances, they oftentimes look after themselves first. In Massachusetts, this is also true at another level since residents already enjoy the benefits (and costs) of health reform and see no benefit in subsidizing it for the rest of the country.
However, it is not always the case that a society in crisis ends up looking inward. In the 1930s when we faced a much bigger crisis, we did not act like now.
A generational change will be needed before we tackle the health care (and other important) issues in a serious manner.
Nice and interesting article. Liked ur post very much. I have written an article on Benefits of Acidophilus . When you get time make a visit.
Basically, I’m with jd on this one, but I think that even with the bill passing, the loses in November will be bigger and even if there are no loses in November, I don’t see how the President adds anything to the current bill between now and 2012. What we have now is pretty much all that Democrats can do with the current numbers in Senate and I can guarantee that no Republican will be crossing the aisle before 2012 on any legislation.
Considering what’s in the bill and considering the fantastic PR from the far right and considering the outlook on the economy , I think Mr. Obama’s chances for reelection are as bleak as the chances for meaningful health care reform any time soon.
This bill is the typical American splineless political solution for difficult problems – give everyone what they want (especially rich political contributors) despite the cost to the deficit or the taxpayer, and pass the real problem on to future generations. This bill does not solve or reform healthcare, and it will be difficult going forward to not just increase subsidies and access to exisitng free programs when we still have a cost control crisis. An earlier post of mine predicted that Obama will sign whatever pieced of crap is put before him because, as jd says, “or else they are absolutely screwed”. But I think they’re screwed anyway as who’s going to jump to their rescue at the poles; disgruntled non-rabid Republicans who voted Obama when they finally realized they voted for the wrong guy/regime afterall, the left who get nothing substantive from this bill, independents who hoped congress would finally understand fiscal sanity, those getting more access to Medicaid who don’t vote anyway, the young who usually don’t vote but who now will be mandated to buy expensive insurance (real and perceived), people like me who won’t get a subsidy or tax write-off for healthcare but who wanted real reform to cut provider/utilization costs and some semblance of a public option or Medicare buy-in (as an offset to a mandate) but who now get totally screwed from both ends because Demoncrats (sic) think our votes don’t count and we’re an easy source of cash, or those who will come to realize that $8000 a year even after “reform” of health insurance is still outrageous and unaffordable?
My take anyway, if tcoyote is out there I’d appreciate his view.
paolo, your analysis misses on one point. If Mass voters do elect to send in the clown, it won’t be from a greed based disregard of the other. Instead it will be from a fear based on personal finances. Believe it or not, *most* American households are currently on the edge financially. And of course, this includes mostly households that still have their jobs/income. They are on the edge. So when political fabrications or myth-based views tell them reform will cost them in the future, their reaction is literally a fear reaction — possible personal bankruptcy looming on the horizon. The mind then expands the consequences. Can the marriage survive? Will my kids still want to visit when they are 30?
So instead of callous disregard, the actual impetous for Brown is boot-quaking fear.
It is so easy to fabricate illusions against reform. Obama has some serious communicating to do about the real effects of reform.
Greg, do you pay attention to what you say?
“…unfair taxing of high-cost health plans and cuts of $43 billion in Medicare payments, are just too much to bare.[sic] This is not health care “reform.” This is a “private” insurance company hand out!”
So, getting taxed for their most expensive products and reducing the amount of revenue they receive for Medicare are examples for you of insurance company handouts? The handouts are in the subsidies and mandates to get people insured. Period. This other stuff is, you know, the opposite of a handout.
As for Matt’s point, I think right now Democrats in leadership know that they have to pass this or else they are absolutely screwed. You don’t spend 9 months hyping something and making it your top priority, make compromises that turn off half the base and most independents, then fail to get it enacted. If so, those who hated it still will resent the Democratic leadership and the base will not be motivated to turn out. Independents will be left with a bad feeling and gravitate towards Republicans, as lunatic as they are becoming. And Republicans will be energized and optimistic, and will turn out in large numbers in November.
The only way Democrats keep this from being a bloodbath is to pass the bill now. This will end up being more popular than Medicare Part D. And if there is a brain cell alive in the Democratic party they will present this as a step towards the reform we need, not the totality, so that they can agree with those who will be clamoring for cost control reforms and use the sentiment to press the advantage against very powerful lobbies.
If they pass this, Republicans gain 0-2 seats in the Senate and less than 25 in the House. If they don’t pass it, all bets are off.
The accusation of “greed” does not sit well on the lips of those who have become so obsessed by partisanship that the very mention of “tort reform” is perceived as pretextual obstructionism.
EllenR,
I currently don’t have a health problem (and have very good health insurance), but I have had a close encounter with cancer in the past, and as a result, I do understand how predatory the system is on sick people.
I strongly empathize with CF Mother and others in similar situations. Unfortunately, most people are healthy and find it more convenient to believe the ads on television. If their conscience nags them a bit, it’s easier to believe that the uninsured may have some other alternative, or are too lazy to work, or perhaps are here illegal. Maybe they don’t exist.
I would vote in favor of any plan that mandates 1) guaranteed-issue insurance 2) mandatory coverage 3) and subsidies for those who can’t afford premiums. However, it won’t happen this year. We’ll have to wait for another generation.
CF Mother makes very good points.
Despite the fact that my family will be bankrolling subsidies for many, waste and all, I have to hope that something passes. It can be ‘improved’ down the road.
If you don’t have a health problem you don’t fully understand the noose that our current system has around the necks of those that do.
Whatever ends up being passed — and something will be passed — will be much different than the original bill, and for that we can be thankful. It’s just too bad that the Constitution is being circumvented by the “necessary and proper” clause once again. That’s a slippery slope.
CF Mother,
The vast majority of people are either healthy (no pre-existing condition) or over 65. As long as that is the case, there is very little incentive for the majority to pay higher insurance premiums and taxes to subsidize the few who are unfortunate to be unhealthy and under 65.
Perhaps if Medicare did not exist, the over-65 population would be in favor of a bill that protects the sick and guarantees coverage. However, because Medicare already does this for this age group, they are secure with the status quo and simply have no incentive to care. They are in fact the demographic group most strongly opposed to reform.
Unfortunately, this is the character of the majority of people living in this country, and it’s unlikely to change any time soon. Next Tuesday, Massachusetts will confirm this and end any hopes of reform.
The next time we revisit healthcare in 15-20 years with a new generation of less-greedy youngsters, perhaps we might actually be able to get something accomplished.
I’ve got a question for you: what tangled line of reasoning leads you to the conclusion that insurers can be made to insure all comers at standard rates and remain solvent?
Your statement, “Now the right just don’t care about the uninsured,” is way off. At issue here is that most of the legal, unisured citizens already qualify for some sort of government program. For the few that dont, there should probably be a solution. The problem is that everyone thinks this is a “take it or leave it” situation – and it’s not – there are, and must be other options out there that won’t cost us dearly. This is just a back door to taxing us, and if it’s not good enough for the Unions (who have better health care than many of us), then why is it good enough for the rest of us? Sounds like a mini-Congress. Put them all on our plan.
Questions for those who do not support health care reform:
Twenty years ago our cheery toddler was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Afraid, we dug into the medical research to understand the disease that threatened his future. We healed through optimism, roused by the news eight days after his diagnosis that the gene that causes CF had been found, opening the door toward a cure. We knew that our heroes, the researchers and his doctors, would continue to find ways to protect his future. We were no longer afraid of CF.
The fear that woke me in the night was of losing our health insurance because our son was on every insurer’s no-fly list. While my husband’s profession was periodically roiled by layoffs, he decided against the security of opening his own firm because the cost of carrying coverage for our eldest son was too high, the thread on which his health care dangled too slight.
With luck, we made it through our son’s childhood without a gap in coverage. Now 22, he’s kept his health thanks to his medical care and his own glorious determination not to allow CF to cramp his style. He earned his black belt, went to college, joined a fraternity, and drives a 1961 Buick LeSabre. He spent a year in China, learned Mandarin, and discovered that even the drug that enables CF patients to digest food couldn’t help him digest raw sea cucumber. He backpacked through Thailand, had his wallet and passport stolen, but managed to hang on to his meds. This spring he will graduate with a degree in chemical engineering from UMass Amherst’s honors college, with a concentration in biochemistry. His resume includes summers researching the transmembrane conductance regulator, the protein channel in our cells that, when malformed, causes cystic fibrosis.
We can’t wait to see what this kid is going to do next. Next, however, has filled me with that old middle-of-the night fear. Our son will age off our family policy in April. He must shape his future not according to his dreams and ability, but in ways that will ensure that he keeps his health insurance. He must find an employer with health benefits that will hire a new college graduate in a poor economy. Or he must extend his full-time student status until he’s 25, putting off career plans and his desire to support himself. Despite his wanderlust and world-wide opportunities, he must remain a resident of Massachusetts, an isolated island where CF patients are not pariahs to health insurance companies.
I tell our story not because it is unique. Other families have been harmed, rather than merely threatened, by the ruthlessness of American health insurance. I tell it to ask a question. It is for you, the person reading this who does not wish the current effort to reform health care to succeed, who calls it “Obamacare” and “socialized medicine”. Help me understand your position, because I am mystified.
Are you a parent? Do you know that the bill under debate will prevent insurers from dumping people with pre-existing conditions, like my son or, perhaps, someone in your family? Do you believe that anyone who needs health care can get it somehow, or that illness happens only to other families?
Are you a fiscal conservative concerned about cost? Do you realize that the current system discourages small business development and blocks young adults’ opportunities to succeed, the foundations of a growing economy? Do you believe access to health care is not as essential as access to education in preparing our next generation of skilled workers?
Are you are an insurance executive? Do you devise new ways to make it difficult for my son to obtain prescriptions and services as cost-saving measures? Would you prefer to cover the cost of his lung transplant, because he has not been able to get the treatments he needs to stay healthy? Or have you decided that the ultimate cost-saving measure is to let CF patients and other chronic burdens to your bottom line die young?
Help me understand why, rather than reforming the American health insurance system, we should turn our backs on my son and the promise he and other young Americans like him offer all of us.
So the “will of the people” is being thwarted by the Machiavellian intrigues of the insurers? How droll. Do you suppose they are also the “unseen hand” behind the ominous developments in Massachusettes?
So what are we to say of the tens of millions who feel threatened by the legislative monstrosity being crafted? That they have been “brainwashed” into believing that the costs of health care for themselves and their families is going to rise? That “sweetheart deals” are being cut with the Acorn/SEIU/Kosite cabal? That the Rube Goldberg schemes for reducing provider costs is “pie in the sky”?
I once asked, on this site, why we were not focused on providing an adequate level of care for the indigent by means more cost-effective than buying insurance for them. The only response was from a Chavez thinkalike, to the effect that the wealthy had magnanimously decreed that both the poor and the wealthy are permitted so sleep under bridges. This is not “socialism,” as that concept is suspiciously eyed by most Americans? As for “pre-existing conditions,” I suspect that I’m not the only person wondering why the uninsured should not be required to exhaust their own resources, and so qualify for Medicaid, before inserting their hands into my pocket. Life is full of misfortune, most of which has nothing to do with medical expenses. But pay me no mind–I’m just a drug cartel “plant.”
Very true. There’s no guarantee that a health care bill will pass.
I agree with a previous poster that this bill does have a lot of flaws. However, it’s much needed help for Americans struggling to secure coverage.
I’m not in the whole reactionary, frustrated kill the bill vote for Republicans group. I think there have probably been some good fixes in conference and I am looking forward to this bill going into law.
A strong supporter of the public option it was whittled down to nothing. However I do like the national exchanges. The Dems by letting the Senate get out of hand could loose their seat in Mass. That would be something else to hang around Lieberman’s neck.
He of course loving to grab center stage forgot to look at the big picture. The public option was nothing at that point but he made a big stink about it and here we are with voter fatigue, and anger at the sheer stubbornness of those politicians completely sold out to the status quo.
All that being said if this bill brings down cost for the middle class and says to the 1% uber wealthy – you need to contribute to the well being of this Country that has been so good to you – with its military, infrastructure and system of laws, and this bill makes them contribute their fair share – based on the giveaways they have enjoyed the past decade then I can support this bill.
The bottom line is that there is wide agreement across a broad market sector of the public, doctors, and business that the monopolies the insurance companies currently enjoy have abused our economy for decades.
In a Country based on a system of checks and balances we have to restore those checks and balances to the Insurance Industry.
Rolling back the anti-trust exemption and putting the power of the people onto the bargaining table not chopped up into 50 little pieces but through a “national” exchange is one way to do that.
Better times are on the way and more money in our ‘national” pockets will make for a better more vibrant market and Country that can better compete globally than just the 1% getting richer and richer and richer and being the only ones benefiting from our laws.
That we might help single working mothers and those less fortunate than ourselves is the real mandate from above. It will be a better world for all when we all start doing the right thing….right Joe
Paul Burke
Author-Journey Home
Mr. Ballard,
Many pregnancies are aborted. This bill should be cold and dead like an evacuated 12 week fetus.
Abortion is not pregnancy reform and this is not healthcare reform.
This bill is merely political cover for cutting Medicare. Period. And make no mistake, Medicare needs to be cut. It is out of control and cannot survive.
But the politician who guts Medicare also cannot survive unless he has a new base of support. Young people. Cheaper to maintain and can be loyal for generations. With young people in the fold they can kick the old expensive short-timers under the bus. That would be you, baby boomers.
But the sad fact is either this bill is cold and dead or the Constitution and the country it defines is cold and dead.
Reid, Pelosi and Obama even have Blagojevich embarrassed with their corruption.
“Unthinkable” doesn’t begin to describe what you are speculating about. But unthinking is in the fabric of extremists at both ends of the issue. If Barack Obama’s increasingly maligned gift of compromise and reconciliation does nothing more than avert this bleak scenario his election will have been justified.
I listened on C-SPAN to a town hall meeting with Bart Stupak two days ago and was totally impressed with his grasp of the big picture and ability to communicate with a crowd of constituents, many of whom clearly would have been hard to handle by a less competent speaker. He did not rely on any field marshals and was prepared with an excellent power point presentation. He spoke without notes and answered questions in a way the revealed a far better appreciation of details than most drive-by politicians.
But handling the matter of federal money for abortions, the issue with which his name will forever be linked, I had the equally clear impression that he was a man trapped between what he understood and what a core group of single-minded, single-issue constituents could not. And as an elected representative he finds himself on the horns of a dilemma, torn between responding to instant demands and what would better serve a larger constituency in the long run.
As the debate has unfolded a growing number of people have been hit with a creeping sense of dread, knowing that doing nothing is really worse than swallowing one compromise or another. The dilemma faced by Stupak is a microcosm of the larger picture.
One other twist remains. Even Republicans know that universal health care and insurance reform are as inevitable as the end of a pregnancy. The only thing worse than a partisan loss, in this case, would be a partisan win. And since Obama obviously got all the big players on board from the start — the players that any other time would be allied with the GOP — if this effort fails then some future GOP sponsored plan with many of the same provisions (tweaked, of course, but not too much) could be advanced as a big victory for Republicans. In other words, if this pregnancy ends stillborn, the next time it could be alive and well.
I don’t think this outcome is a possibility because those who think the Left is pissed now haven’t seen it really pissed. But the possibility of that catastrophe is alien thinking to single-issue crowds.
The negatives of this bill, individual mandate requiring people buy “private” insurance policies, large government subsidies to “private” insurers, new restrictions on abortion, unfair taxing of high-cost health plans and cuts of $43 billion in Medicare payments, are just too much to bare. This is not health care “reform.” This is a “private” insurance company hand out!