Just a health care question? (Barack Obama, how much, insurance, companies)

[Bette]

First of all, I feel this health care issue is being crammed down people's throats.

Why don't they just concentrate on those with pre-existing issues and those without coverage rather than hurting those who have coverage and are OK with it?

I personally think the government is trying to do too much too fast. Sometimes when this happens, details get swept under the rug and we all will lose in the long run.

I think the government should be trying to create real jobs and energize the economy and encourage companies to come here by giving them tax breaks.

I sense fear in people over this, real fear.

I am not saying we do not need health care reform but what's the hurry? I understand it would not take effect until 2013.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by Bette

First of all, I feel this health care issue is being crammed down people's throats.

Why don't they just concentrate on those with pre-existing issues and those without coverage rather than hurting those who have coverage and are OK with it?

I personally think the government is trying to do too much too fast. Sometimes when this happens, details get swept under the rug and we all will lose in the long run.

I think the government should be trying to create real jobs and energize the economy and encourage companies to come here by giving them tax breaks.

I sense fear in people over this, real fear.

I am not saying we do not need health care reform but what's the hurry? I understand it would not take effect until 2013.

Is 2013 too soon?

[Art123]

These issues have been debated round and round since the early 90's. It's not like people just started brainstorming this January and wrote it down. These reforms have been thought out, debated and modified for years and years. They have, in parcels and in whole in 1994, been introduced as bills and amendments for more than 20 years in some instances. They just have been blocked, usually in committee by Republicans. How much more time do you need? Is 20 years not enough?

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by Bette

First of all, I feel this health care issue is being crammed down people's throats.

Why don't they just concentrate on those with pre-existing issues and those without coverage rather than hurting those who have coverage and are OK with it?

I personally think the government is trying to do too much too fast. Sometimes when this happens, details get swept under the rug and we all will lose in the long run.

I think the government should be trying to create real jobs and energize the economy and encourage companies to come here by giving them tax breaks.

I sense fear in people over this, real fear.

I am not saying we do not need health care reform but what's the hurry? I understand it would not take effect until 2013.

I guess you didn't hear Obama when he said you wouldn't be forced to change insurance companies, you wouldn't have to change doctors, etc.

Of course with some insurance companies you may have to change doctors. I've seen it happen. "Oh we can't go to Dr. so and so because our plan won't allow us to see her."

Companies already get tax breaks for providing health insurance to their employers. Why not offer tax breaks/tax credits to those who buy their own health insurance?

I'd be happy if at the VERY LEAST insurance companies are banned from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions and cannot retroactively rescind coverage from people who are still paying that company every month for health insurance coverage.

At the same time, even if those with pre-existing conditions get covered, whose to say they can AFFORD the insurance and if the insurance company won't deny every single time they need to get a procedure done?

The hurry I see is people having to file bankruptcy because of medical bills, people who cannot afford to go to the doctor to get a serious or chronic disease/illness treated, people who are literally dying because they don't have health insurance...

I mean, if you were one of these people, would 2013 be too soon? Please answer HONESTLY.

[Bette]

Actually, the way they are pushing this health care, it seems that 2013 is too far away.

I have nothing against those with pre-existing or not with insurance. Let the government have something for those.

I do not believe when they say we can keep our own insurance. One by one, I see things like - oh, you can't go to that doctor or you already received a diagnosis.

I happen to have a disability and am one of those with a pre-existing condition that won't go away. I am blind in 1 eye and poor vision in the other but I need to go to specialists and I have always paid for those visits and operations myself.

I do not believe anyone should be denied care but I also do not believe in paying for someone like Octo-mom and her children. People like that make a joke out of the system.

I also believe in wellness and trying to live better. I think that's a lifelong event for me but I'm trying.

[Jill61]

Originally Posted by Bette

First of all, I feel this health care issue is being crammed down people's throats.

Where have you been since late 2007, all the way through 2008 and into early 2009? Did you think Barack Obama was kidding when he said his number one Domestic priority when he took office would be sweeping health care reform? He couldn't have been more open and honest about his intentions, so if nearly 2 years of campaigning for this is "cramming it down your throat", sorry, but you'll have to find your own sugar to get it to go down easier, because it is going down, just as our President promised us.

Originally Posted by Bette

Why don't they just concentrate on those with pre-existing issues and those without coverage rather than hurting those who have coverage and are OK with it?

I'm curious why you don't understand that this is exactly what they're doing. EXACTLY. If you're happy with your current coverage, you can keep it.

Originally Posted by Bette

I sense fear in people over this, real fear.

Gee, I wonder who ginned that up.

Originally Posted by Bette

I am not saying we do not need health care reform but what's the hurry? I understand it would not take effect until 2013.

Why don't you ask the families who will file bankruptcy, lose their homes, or DIE, today alone, let alone over the next several years, waiting for this legislation to pass, what the hurry is?

Originally Posted by PurpleLove08

Of course with some insurance companies you may have to change doctors. I've seen it happen. "Oh we can't go to Dr. so and so because our plan won't allow us to see her."

Doctors and facilities go in and out of different insurance company plans all the time. The United Healthcare list of doctors on their website is utterly unusable, as many, many, many of those listed aren't even practicing in the city anymore!

[Ceece]

Gotta love how people feel the current system is somehow their right without acknowledging the current system constantly changes.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by Bette

Actually, the way they are pushing this health care, it seems that 2013 is too far away.

I have nothing against those with pre-existing or not with insurance. Let the government have something for those.

I do not believe when they say we can keep our own insurance. One by one, I see things like - oh, you can't go to that doctor or you already received a diagnosis.

I happen to have a disability and am one of those with a pre-existing condition that won't go away. I am blind in 1 eye and poor vision in the other but I need to go to specialists and I have always paid for those visits and operations myself.

I do not believe anyone should be denied care but I also do not believe in paying for someone like Octo-mom and her children. People like that make a joke out of the system.

I also believe in wellness and trying to live better. I think that's a lifelong event for me but I'm trying.

Bette, try this - it sorts out the details of the proposed House bill and what we know of the Senate bill so far. (This was published before the provision re end-of-life counseling was removed.)

How Health-Care Reform Will Affect Your Coverage - WSJ.com

Also, the information in Jill61's post above is absolutely true.

[sanrene]

Why don't they just concentrate on those with pre-existing issues and those without coverage rather than hurting those who have coverage and are OK with it?

Because a public option is the road to single payer, their ultimate goal.

Obama has admitted this, Frank has admitted it, others have admitted it.

They made the mistake of admitting it over the public airwaves.

Were they lying then or now?

[Cyber Queen]

Originally Posted by PurpleLove08

I guess you didn't hear Obama when he said you wouldn't be forced to change insurance companies, you wouldn't have to change doctors, etc.

This is only true if the company you are with falls under the HIE if they do not you will not be able to keep them.

Companies already get tax breaks for providing health insurance to their employers. Why not offer tax breaks/tax credits to those who buy their own health insurance?

Why penalize people with a 2.5% fine if they do not have what the Government thinks is good insurance?

I'd be happy if at the VERY LEAST insurance companies are banned from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions and cannot retroactively rescind coverage from people who are still paying that company every month for health insurance coverage.

I agree and this could be done right now with a one page bill

At the same time, even if those with pre-existing conditions get covered, whose to say they can AFFORD the insurance and if the insurance company won't deny every single time they need to get a procedure done?

This is the problem. What some consider medically necessary others do not. Who will decide what procedure is medically necessary?

The hurry I see is people having to file bankruptcy because of medical bills, people who cannot afford to go to the doctor to get a serious or chronic disease/illness treated, people who are literally dying because they don't have health insurance...

People are filing for bankruptcy for many reasons. Including buying houses they could not afford in the first place.

I mean, if you were one of these people, would 2013 be too soon? Please answer HONESTLY.

I think there are many things that can be done right now that would improve the situation right away I don't know why they are not even talking about them.