I agree, Mark! I also believe that each party will push for more extremes on the issues they stand for/against. I believe the actual outcome will be somewhere in the middle.
Terry
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 29, 2012, at 11:26 PM, "Mark S" <riverat462@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I just wanted to make an observation about this discussion. Personally, I'm not too impressed with "Obamacare", but that's beside the point. I've noticed that this discussion about politics has been a mutual exchange of ideas and opinions and hasn't escalated into a shouting match. It's very refeshing to see the respectful way in which this conversation is taking shape.
>
> Mark S.
>
> --- In epilepsy@yahoogroups.com, elizabeth <equinn76@...> wrote:
> >
> > True,
> >
> > One has to buy your own insurance-we have the same requirement in MA. Unfortunately, no one was willing to give healthcare to everyone (like Medicare from birth). But even in other countries, it's not free-you pay higher taxes for it.
> >
> > The law does provide subsidies for people to buy insurance if you make under a certain income. So yes, in MA some people do go without if it's cheaper. But we all end up paying for it when someone goes through the ER without insurance.
> >
> > Yes, Medicare does charge really low rates. Unfortunately we've let this happen. But if people realized how much care they receive for only $96/mo they would love Medicare more.
> >
> > $400/mo is worth it for me-my neurologist alone charges over $200. And my pills without insurance would be unaffordable.
> >
> > Hate the law/love it, but it is positive.
> >
> > Elizabeth
> >
> > Sent from Samsung mobile
> >
> > Kelly Porter <race_12_1@...> wrote:
> >
> > >If the "positives" are going to be listed, so should the negatives.
> > >
> > >This law does not "give away" health insurance. It mandates you BUY it,
> > >that's right BUY it. You will pay for insurance or pay a tax to the
> > >government for not getting it. Everyone who doesn't have insurance now
> > >will have to pay one or the other. Nothing in it gives you fee
> > >insurance or healthcare.
> > >
> > >Also, the fine is much less then insurance will cost, which means many
> > >who don't have insurance still won't buy it. That means the group most
> > >in need of insurance still won't have it because they won't be able to
> > >pay for it.
> > >
> > >Most of those "positives" you listed could be made law WITHOUT most of
> > >the other stuff in this law. For example, mandating insurance purchase,
> > >creating giant government backed insurance cooperatives, or creating
> > >another governmental bureaucratic nightmare.
> > >
> > >Again, this law does not give anyone health insurance, it requires you
> > >BUY it. Again, the things you listed, such as pre existing condition
> > >laws, no co pay preventive care, and medicare changes, do not require
> > >the rest of the law to put into place.
> > >
> > >Also, the preexisting condition clause will become a nightmare. If you
> > >are paying $400 a month for insurance, and you don't have to in order to
> > >get covered later if you get sick, why would most people do it? Far too
> > >many people will say "I'm healthy, young, and would rather pay to see
> > >the dr. once or twice a year." Then, fit hey get really sick, they will
> > >just sign up for insurance, and it will be paid for. Insurance isn't
> > >something you get WHEN you need it, but before you need it. It is
> > >designed to protect you when something does happen. It is no longer
> > >insurance if you don't have to buy until you already need it.
> > >
> > >The law is full of garbage with a few positives sprinkled in to make
> > >people "feel good" about the law. It's still garbage no matter how it
> > >smells.
> > >
> > >Lastly, the single biggest reason health care costs int he country are
> > >so high is because healthcare provider must over charge private
> > >insurance companies for services to make up for the losses they suffer
> > >by treating medicare patients. That's right, medicare pays such a low
> > >amount to providers that they have to jack up what the "normal and
> > >customary charges" would be to recoup that. The best way to decrease
> > >costs would be if the government actually paid providers enough!
> > >
> > >Kelly
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Jun 29, 2012, at 2:04 PM, "Elizabeth Quinn" <equinn76@...
> > >> <mailto:equinn76%40earthlink.net>> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > As someone who works in healthcare, and deals with Medicare/Medicaid
> > >> daily, here is why everyone should be happy that healthcare reform was
> > >> upheld:
> > >> >
> > >> > 1) People with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied
> > >> coverage beginning 2014--children cannot be denied already
> > >> >
> > >> > 2) Seniors with Medicare Part D receive lower prescription costs
> > >> when they go into the donut hole--it will be essentially closed in
> > >> 2020 (yeah, that's far away)
> > >> >
> > >> > 3) More people joining the insurance pool lower costs for
> > >> everyone--this will add healthy people to even the cost
> > >> >
> > >> > 4) the PCIP plan is already up and running
> > >> >
> > >> > 5) If your insurance company spends less than 80% on your
> > >> healthcare, they owe you a rebate
> > >> >
> > >> > 6) Preventive services!! Have you gone to see your PCP in the last
> > >> year for a check-up? It was free, right? Thanks healthcare reform. If
> > >> you're not on Medicare yet, you may not know that they are receiving a
> > >> lot of free preventive care now--colonoscopies, PCP visits,
> > >> mammograms, etc...
> > >> >
> > >> > 7) If you're in a Medicare advantage plan, they lowered the
> > >> percentage they can charge Medicare to operate--it used to be 14% on
> > >> average, now it's down to 11%, which saves the consumer money in their
> > >> premiums.
> > >> >
> > >> > 8) Expansion of Medicaid!! If States do not accept the expansion,
> > >> they will lose a boatload of money.
> > >> >
> > >> > There are a lot of other things that will start in 2014-but the
> > >> collection of money due to Medicare fraud has already begun. The law
> > >> will keep Medicare solvent, not take away from it. There are a lot of
> > >> other pieces to the law as well. If you want more information, the
> > >> Kaiser Family Foundation is a wealth of knowledge: www.kff.org .
> > >> >
> > >> > Please don't jump to conclusions about the law! It will benefit
> > >> everyone. For those of us with pre-existing conditions, it will
> > >> definitely help us. If you use your local community health center,
> > >> they are receiving more money due to the law.
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
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