LAF's Healthcare Opinions

[Macready84464]

Well done Obama. You made universal healthcare a reality by forcing everyone to get regular healthcare.

[Uncle_Iroh]

Fifteen states have lawsuites ready to file once Obama has signed the document to make it official.

[Sejame]

Well done Obama. You made universal healthcare a reality by forcing everyone to get regular healthcare.

It's still far from universal healthcare but a step towards it. This is like a cruddier, more annoying version of universal healthcare. Personally they should have just tried going all the way rather than halfway but there's enough of an uproar of lies and false rumors being spread about this bill alone.

Everyone who works will be forced to pay for healthcare. As opposed to becoming ill, being put in hospital and forcing everyone else to pay for their stay and causing hospitals to go out of business from too many people doing this. If they choose the public option it'll be alot cheaper than the insurance that other people are already paying for. There will be less denial of benefits and frankly the money is going to what it is needed for, the healthcare. Right now we pay an insane amount of money to go into the pockets of insurance companies, who sit there and try to deny any and all benefits that they can get away with. I'm not saying none of this money isn't going to go into the wrong pockets but it will be alot less.

Fifteen states have lawsuites ready to file once Obama has signed the document to make it official.

Fifteen states are wasting their time. Maybe if they had a different angle but they are saying it is unconstitutional. Forgetting that some years back the government forced in a bill which made it illegal for states using marijuana for medical purposes, states that had it legalized. They won and managed to get it pushed through because 'the Federal Government can regulate activities that fall within a broader class of economic activity'.
Also not to mention the countless things pushed through in the very same manner such as the war on iraq. I can get a long list but if needs be.
Just saying. Wasting their money, lawsuits won't go anywhere.

The bill is far from perfect but it is a work in progress.

To add some heart to this topic:

My 24-year old son just came off of cancer treatment and was refused healthcare coverage because of his pre-existing condition. The timing of this bill is a blessing for my family and my son. We were fortunate to have coverage for his treatment, but were worried sick what he was going to do to get his own coverage.

Pre-existing conditions being thrown out go into effect immediately. I would like to see someone say this is a bad thing.

[Uncle_Iroh]

The bill does offer amazing things. And I'm glad for that, but one thing really pisses me off about it.

The bill's affects won't be available until 2014. But we start paying taxes now.

[Sejame]

Some things go into effect right away. This year and more each year up till 2014 so it's not a total loss.

Found a list of what's coming this year:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Uncle_Iroh]

Whats your sauce Sejame? I mean this would be great, but I'll only believe it if it came from a reliable source.

[Sejame]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1914020220100319 is where that list came from.

A much better one which actually lists some more changes as well as the ones above, is here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/2 ... tml#s75143

( each pic under the main pic and description is a change just incase anyone gets confused )

[absinthe_spoons]

There's a good Health Reform 411 post on ONTD_P all about what it all means for you.

[Uncle_Iroh]

I've never heard of them before. I'm still shaky on their information. All I know is what my Am. Gov. teacher told us. But we will see if the lifespan of this bill is short like a tealight, or long like a four wick candle.

[Herr_der_Elemente]

It's great that the US gov passed a bill to reform healthcare, but I'm scared about it to. As it has been proven many times, Americans are not big fans of change. Yes, I know we elected Obama, but as US history has shown, there are often conservative backlashes after changes have been made. For example, during the progressive period of the early 20th century, the economy came under unprecedented regulation. But in the 1920's, conservatives were elected and much of the legislation passed under the progressives was cancelled out by the resulting conservative legislation. The economy was once again almost completely unregulated.
Another major worry that I have I about this bill is that the political fight that led up to its passing became factional. So if the republicans gain a majority and a president again, I think one of their first actions will be to somehow inhibit or resend any healthcare reform that has already passed.
Do I think healthcare reform is needed?
Yes, and this bill is a good step towards a wonderful healthcare system. However, I am not sure that this bill will be successful. Since the subject of healthcare reform has become factional, opposition to it will become entrenched and the fight won't be about healthcare anymore, it will about party loyalty. My father votes republican every year because his paycheck depends on continued defense spending and I'm sure hill vote republican again and it won't be because he's against healthcare reform. I don't think the subject of healthcare has been closed. The upcoming elections for the House and Senate will probably revolve around the subject.