The Healthcare Bill

[Elora & Rob 15]

Whats everyones thoughts on this. Seems like a good idea in principle but the bill doesn't actually seem to help anybody other than the poor. Looks like insurance costs are only going to go up now that it is a law to have insuruance.

[kytwell 179]

Come to the P&R section and read the many posts in multiple threads.

[Elora & Rob 15]

have been on there. the threads seem to have just spiraled of into in jokes and conversations about irrelivent things.

[decocker 7,198]

Seems like a good idea in principle but the bill doesn't actually seem to help anybody other than the poor.

I don't know too many specifics about this bill, but I do know that this bill affects my immediate family. My parents who are not poor (also not rich), but work full time and have insurance. My sister is 22, recently graduated from VT and has her first 'real' job as a news reporter for our local paper. She also has type 1 diabetes and is dependent on an insulin pump. Because of one of the provisions in this bill she is able to remain on my father's health insurance plan for a few more years because of obamacare - which is imperative because $2,000 a month out of pocket on top of student loans - well that's just impossible to pull off. Also, when she does apply to start her own policy through her job - the insurance company won't be allowed to deny her coverage because of her 'preexisting condition'.

other than these two things - which are kind of life or death for her - obamacare as a whole is like trying to stop niagra falls with a band-aid. the US healthcare system is irretrievably broken, and there is too much of an attitude in our culture that healthcare is a privilege and not a basic human right.

Edited June 29, 2012 by valerie78

[Cathi 5,784]

I live in New Hampshire, grew up in Massachusetts, where they have had a requirement to have health insurance for about 5 years. All of my family and many of my friends still live there. While I think it's a good idea in theory, for people who are under employed or unemployed it makes it difficult. They state offers "affordable" health care plans, but if you can't afford necessities like food and clothing how can you possibly afford an extra few hundred dollars minimum for health insurance?

[Brian121957 43]

I don't know too many specifics about this bill, but I do know that this bill affects my immediate family. My parents who are not poor (also not rich), but work full time and have insurance. My sister is 22, recently graduated from VT and has her first 'real' job as a news reporter for our local paper. She also has type 1 diabetes and is dependent on an insulin pump. Because of one of the provisions in this bill she is able to remain on my father's health insurance plan for a few more years because of obamacare - which is imperative because $2,000 a month out of pocket on top of student loans - well that's just impossible to pull off. Also, when she does apply to start her own policy through her job - the insurance company won't be allowed to deny her coverage because of her 'preexisting condition'.

other than these two things - which are kind of life or death for her - obamacare as a whole is like trying to stop niagra falls with a band-aid. the US healthcare system is irretrievably broken, and there is too much of an attitude in our culture that healthcare is a privilege and not a basic human right.

As far as quality of care it is hard to find a country that has better care then here in the US. The part of the system that is "broken" is the cost. There are many simple things the government could change that would bring the cost down. But Obama and the socialist did not want to bring the cost down. They wanted to make everyone dependent on the government for health care.

Let the private insurance companies sell insurance across state lines. I just saw a post that someone’s private insurance went from $300 to $1200 just because he moved to a different state.

I feel sorry for your sister, when the government is the ONLY provider. Obama has stated that he wants to reduce the number of hospitals. He wants s to limit the supply of care as a way to limit the money paid out. It will be illegal to pay for your own care because you will be using a limited public resource. They will eventually have to ration the access and she may find her monthly supply of insulin delayed.

[decocker 7,198]

I feel sorry for your sister, when the government is the ONLY provider. Obama has stated that he wants to reduce the number of hospitals. He wants s to limit the supply of care as a way to limit the money paid out. It will be illegal to pay for your own care because you will be using a limited public resource. They will eventually have to ration the access and she may find her monthly supply of insulin delayed.

Honestly, this is blatant fear mongering. You're scared of hugely exaggerated "what ifs" and I understand why, you believe what your political leaders want you to. I'm not arguing that Obamacare is 'good' or 'evil', but it seems silly to say you feel sorry for my sister because her life under Obamacare will be wholly dependent upon the government to supply her with what she needs to survive. Anyway you dice it, her life is wholly dependent upon the amount of money she has at her disposal to pay for the treatment of her disease - be it insurance companies, government, the insulin manufacturers or friggin Fedex. And that is how it has been for her since she was diagnosed as a child, no need to blow it all into Armageddon. Every single one of us will be dependent upon others at some point in our lives when it comes to our health, the question is if we will have the money to pay up when our time comes.

Edited June 29, 2012 by valerie78

[Freighthouse 10]

Helping poor people is cool.

[Brian121957 43]

Honestly, this is blatant fear mongering. You're scared of hugely exaggerated "what ifs" and I understand why, you believe what your political leaders want you to. I'm not arguing that Obamacare is 'good' or 'evil', but it seems silly to say you feel sorry for my sister because her life under Obamacare will be wholly dependent upon the government to supply her with what she needs to survive. Anyway you dice it, her life is wholly dependent upon the amount of money she has at her disposal to pay for the treatment of her disease - be it insurance companies, government, the insulin manufacturers or friggin Fedex. And that is how it has been for her since she was diagnosed as a child, no need to blow it all into Armageddon. Every single one of us will be dependent upon others at some point in our lives when it comes to our health, the question is if we will have the money to pay up when our time comes.

The key difference is that now family, friends or complete strangers can be charitable and give her money to buy insulin. Once all health care is controlled by the government you will not be allowed to "pay cash". It will be like gasoline was back in the late 70's with rationing a limited resource. You will get your fair share of health care when it is your turn and not before.

http://www.conservativeactionalerts.com/2012/06/kill-obamacare-while-we-still-live-if-obamacare-were-chocolate-would-there-be-an-unlimited-supply/

The government is already banning the charitable feeding of homeless by individuals. Is it so hard to imagine that government will not allow health care with out government approval.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/03/14/nutter-announces-ban-on-outdoor-feeding-of-homeless/

[decocker 7,198]

The key difference is that now family, friends or complete strangers can be charitable and give her money to buy insulin. Once all health care is controlled by the government you will not be allowed to "pay cash". It will be like gasoline was back in the late 70's with rationing a limited resource. You will get your fair share of health care when it is your turn and not before.

http://www.conservativeactionalerts.com/2012/06/kill-obamacare-while-we-still-live-if-obamacare-were-chocolate-would-there-be-an-unlimited-supply/

The government is already banning the charitable feeding of homeless by individuals. Is it so hard to imagine that government will not allow health care with out government approval.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/03/14/nutter-announces-ban-on-outdoor-feeding-of-homeless/

that would be a key difference if it were the circumstance. no one gives her cash to pay for her insulin. no one has the cash to buy her insulin. would you be able to raise $2,000.00+ dollars a month from friends and family indefinitely? your fears concerning the government rationing health care is in fact a fear that people who are dependent upon medicines/treatment to survive already harbor. it isn't about who is supplying the healthcare - it's about the healthcare being accessible to everyone - regardless of if they have the money to pay for it. what it comes down to is money.

[Brian121957 43]

that would be a key difference if it were the circumstance. no one gives her cash to pay for her insulin. no one has the cash to buy her insulin. would you be able to raise $2,000.00+ dollars a month from friends and family indefinitely? your fears concerning the government rationing health care is in fact a fear that people who are dependent upon medicines/treatment to survive already harbor. it isn't about who is supplying the healthcare - it's about the healthcare being accessible to everyone - regardless of if they have the money to pay for it. what it comes down to is money.

You make a good point that it all comes down to is money. I see all kind of things in this Obama Tax that move the cost from one person to another. I see things that actually raise costs.

Even without thinking outside of the box there are several simple things that government could do to allow the free market to work and lower prices that are not address in the Obama Tax. (Tort reform, Sale of health insurance across state lines)

So what is being done to lower the total cost of medical care? Because if you do not ultimately lower the cost there will still not be enough money to pay for all the medical care that people will demand.

[micmac 6]

A lot of people here talk about being christian and stuff but then when it comes to stuff like this they are horrified. Jesus was all about helping the poor. He practiced the "you can't take it with you" mentality. I see people on comments sections on news articles all the time complaining about the prospect of paying for other people's ailments.

Having looked at my husband's paycheque I wouldn't say he was paying that much of a difference on health insurance v national insurance. And National insurance pays for everyone. So where is the insurance money going? Some rich guy's pocket.

I personally would rather everyone was given affordable care than have to pay co-pays on top of insurance to be seen maybe all of an hour before I would have been on the NHS at instacare. I'd rather wait the extra hour and have money for other things.

When it comes to the insurance mandate it maybe isn't fair to make everyone pay but considering a lot of democrats wanted single payer you have to wonder if it was the republicans influence. Especially considering romneycare is similar.

[Brian121957 43]

A lot of people here talk about being christian and stuff but then when it comes to stuff like this they are horrified. Jesus was all about helping the poor. He practiced the "you can't take it with you" mentality. I see people on comments sections on news articles all the time complaining about the prospect of paying for other people's ailments.

You hit the nail right on the head. Charity is you GIVING freely of your self and possessions, not TAKING from you by the government.