I have to ask... and think about this.... If GEORGE BUSH and the Republicans pushed this exact identical plan 3 years ago... would YOU SUPPORT IT? Think about that, the Bush plan calls for everyone to HAVE to buy insurance from an insurance company..... OR get fined or go to jail! Cutting Medicare to pay for it.... Doing backroom deals and bribes to get the votes... YOU ALL WOULD BE GOING FREEKING CRAZY and what's worse, you know it but won't admit it.

That is what I really don't get from you guys... A Bill is a Bill, doesn't matter if a R or a D is pushing it... crap is crap.



Anyway, Before I begin to explain why this bill is SO BAD, let me give you a summary of a BETTER solution.

OK, every medical procedure that you have to pay for the price goes down DRAMATICALLY as competition grows.

Lasik Eye Surgery is a great example of this. When Doctors, Hospitals, and Imaging Centers post prices and advertise, prices go down. It is a fact and would easily work. Problem is with Insurance that pays 80%, 90%, ALL etc. there is no incentive to shop around. If Insurance, Medicare, etc all had posted "payout" per procedure (this is for common procedures not emergency medicine which we should keep on a % basis with max out of pocket) and make all healthcare providers post their prices, then you as the consumer can choose where to get your medical procedures based on what you would have to pay over and above the "coverage" for the procedure.

Anyway, as all states have different standards and we MUST have all insurance providers that want to complete. We simply set a minimum standard across the board that should be the average to above average what the states are today otherwise all insurance companies move to the most "lax" standard state. Now, instead of having your company choose an insurer. ALL U.S. citizens are able to choose any provider and their plan based on the allocated amount your company pays. So for example if your company currently pays $8,000 per employee for X company. You have $8000 to use to choose the company and plan that is right for you. This is very similar to the "Federal Employee Insurance Program". If you select a plan that cost more than that $8,000 then you pay the difference just as you do today with your employer.


All Heathcare providers must take all insurance (otherwise you get what we have today with special referrals, etc.) Remainder is billed to you. So if your insurance pays out $85 for an office visit and you see some Doctors charging $150.00, then you would be stuck with the rest. Watch how fast you see competition, newspaper adds, etc. The Free Market will bring down cost exactly as we have seen in Lazik and Optometrist. When you get stuck with the difference you take responsibility and don't allow yourself to get overcharged.

Now every plan has standard payouts per standard procedures... office visit, MRI, Catscans, etc. And YOU can choose where to get that service. This will force competition.

OK, very simplistic, not a complete explanation but I think you get the point.

What is wrong with this bill.

One, You got to have insurance. This is the first time the Government has mandated that you MUST have a good or service. You don't have to have auto insurance if you don't drive. You don't HAVE to BUY anything in this country by law until now. So, Do you think the Insurance company prices are going to go down? If you say yes your crazy, now you must have them, Medical facilities still do not have to complete, they can charge whatever they want and insurance will pay for it minus your deductible and prices will continue to soar. Only now, we (the people that work) will get taxed more to pay for it and pay more for my damned own... Who does this help? Only people who don't pay freeking taxes.... Joy, why work in this country, it is becoming easier to just kick back on social programs. It is ridiculous.

Now, what have we achieved with this bill? Why not just have the uninsured buy into Medicare? Oh, I forget... now we the taxpayer get to Buy them into Blue cross.... and not solving a single damned problem with cost and competition or tort reform, or negotiating with the drug companies.

I have to ask again If GEORGE BUSH and the Republicans pushed this exact identical plan 3 years ago... would YOU SUPPORT IT?








[edit on 21-3-2010 by infolurker]

It's about time...I can't wait until this passes and all the fear mongers have nothing to complain about.


I have to go to sleep early tonight...they better pass it before I have to sleep.

Originally posted by OutKast Searcher
It's about time...I can't wait until this passes and all the fear mongers have nothing to complain about.


I have to go to sleep early tonight...they better pass it before I have to sleep.

Why?


I have a feeling it will play out like this:

1. Health care gets passed

2. People freak out

3. Time passes

4. People realize that nothing has really changed

5. Conservatives are disappointed that their fears were exaggerated.
Liberals are disappointed that health care wasn't really reformed.

6. We all find something new to bitch and whine about.

7. Health insurance companies continue to rape us.

[edit on 21-3-2010 by drwizardphd]

Star and flag for the OP's optimism. I hope it goes well for us Americans, and I hope it works.

The Majority of Americans do not want this bill or one to be shoved down our throats like this one and its TAX has. They have declared war on us Americans and thats what they will get.

I am ecstatic that this got passed. I am glowing and am so proud of these people who were brave enough to pass this. I could only be happier if it included the public option. This is long overdue and is a big leap forward for human rights, I'm proud to have seen this happen. Thank you everyone who stood up through all the lies and scare tactics and actually did something to help the American people.

Worst birthday present ever...

While I agree that we need health care reform, this 2,000+ page monstrosity is not the way I wanted to go about it. 111 new bureaucratic departments, mandatory purchase of insurance, 16,000 new IRS agents to make sure you're in compliance. Oh don't forget the federal gov't having direct access to your bank account so when the IRS does it's monthly audit of your insurance status they can directly draw the fines. Not to mention that the CBO estimates that 24 million will still be without insurance and premiums will still increase.

I'm also against the drastically banana republic methods the dems used to pass this bill including the Louisiana purchase (which will also help Hawaiian earthquakes per the One ), $100 million for a Connecticut Hospital and a plane ride for Kucinich. But the worst was the seeming "water for votes" trade where the allocation of water to California's Central Valley was increased the same day the two representatives there agreed to switch to a yes vote.

[edit on 21-3-2010 by Mountainmeg]

All you yanks that were whining about the health care bill made me laugh

Finally you catch up to the rest of the world with a health care bill which has worked in many 1st world countries, yet all these fearmongers who dont understand how it works created thread after thread attacking it.

Congratulations USA, you have finally caught up!!!!!

I think its good that every one will have health care. But you know whos gonna pay for it smokers and fat people. Get ready for anything unhealthy to get taxed to death not to mention what ever else.

Originally posted by VintageEnvy
I am ecstatic that this got passed. I am glowing and am so proud of these people who were brave enough to pass this. I could only be happier if it included the public option. This is long overdue and is a big leap forward for human rights, I'm proud to have seen this happen. Thank you everyone who stood up through all the lies and scare tactics and actually did something to help the American people.

So, you're actually "ecstatic" about paying for something now, that you won't see a benefit from (if you even get the benefit, or know someone who would) for years from now? Really?

Let's see how "ecstatic" you are around this time, next year.

At least all the borderline insane people that post here will now be able to afford psychiatric help

Originally posted by OzWeatherman

Congratulations USA, you have finally caught up!!!!!

"Caught up"? Don't you mean, "stepped down"?

Now, where's everyone gonna go when they need real health care that their government doesn't list on the 'approved' side of their treatment forms?

I seriously never imagined that we'd be swarming to Mexico, for state-of-the-art medical treatments and care. Oh boy!

As far as I am concerned, this is an open act of war on the American people. A war on our checkbooks and bank accounts. Anybody that supported this bill is just plain nuts, and now I see why.

I was up on the fence until I read about all the shady dealings, the fact that the IRS will be involved, the fact that I will have to pay if I cannot afford to buy insurance or go to jail. This is the last straw that broke the camel's back and I sure as hell am not going to sit idly by and watch the disintegration of my country, and I can guarantee that there are enough people out there who won't either.

You think this fixed ANYTHING? It just destroyed our economy in one fell swoop, and with thunderous applause might I add.

Have fun when your insurance premiums go through the roof and when you have to make a choice between paying them, or eating.

I'm through with this garbage.

God Save the United States of America.


-truthseeker