Serious question: If there's no public option, what is the reform exactly?

[StrongBad]

All I can discern is the following:

1) Not allowing insurance companies to deny coverage due to "pre-existing conditions"

2) Requiring all U.S. citizens/families to purchase private health insurance.

Although it's nice that people who used to get denied will be covered, this "reform" does nothing to address the sub-par coverage that even an "insured" person gets here in the U.S.

Am I missing something?

C'mon Mr. President, follow through on this...

[valerief]

1. Demanding people pay for insurance premiums or be fined. And the ins cos can still

reject us like they do.

I think it's just gonna be another sweetheart deal. That's how fucked up this country is run. I hope I'm wrong.

(edited to read in English)

[gateley]

5. I hope you're wrong, too. I can barely wait to hear what he has to say tonight --

but the real deal is what bill we get and what we get passed.

[valerief]

7. Yep! But everything big since Reagan has been giveaways to the wealthy in one form or another.

Why should this be different?

I'm so discouraged. And my heart aches for all the people who've suffered under this third world health policy.

They pollute us and make us sick and then won't help us to get well.

[CrispyQ]

17. While I agree that we have to wait to see what actually gets passed,

I'm reminded of the movie The American President. (Ok, stop laughing, Gateley.)

The president, Michael Douglas, claims that there aren't enough votes to pass a critical environmental bill. The Annette Bening character replies, "How do you know until you've put the full weight of the presidency behind it?"

Since the public option is the compromise, tonight, I want to hear Obama put the full weight of the presidency behind the public option. Anything less will confirm what I suspect - Obama is just a politician, not a leader. For the sake of my 47 million countrymen who are without coverage & care, I hope I'm wrong.

[gateley]

20. Well said, Crispy!

:applause:

I always give these guys (at least Dems and the ones I like) the benefit of the doubt. I even forgave GHW Bush after saying "read my lips, no new taxes" then raising taxes. I gave him props for coming out and saying "I didn't know what we were up against before I actually got in here" I think it's the same with every elected official -- the Prez especially. But I'm getting a bit wary of what Obama will and will not do. He has the perfect opportunity to BE a leader -- look at the millions, here and around the world, who so enthusiastically supported him! He's letting that enthusiasm and hope erode. He CAN put the full weight of the presidency behind it! We would so support him in that!

Sigh. :pals: We'll see...

[polpilot]

15. Ins. Co. will be able to charge more now...pre-existing conditions, etc.

See?

[MNDemNY]

2. it's NO REFORM AT ALL Just a windfall for the insurance industry.

NO PUBLIC OPTION, NO BILL.

[Better Believe It]

4. They can't exclude you for pre-existing conditions. Of course that policy will cost $3,000 a month

[MNDemNY]

6. and only valid at that clinic in Tijuana.

[rollingrock]

12. and have a $5k deductible

chump change we can believe in. lol

[polpilot]

16. And only available from 03-09-09 thru 09-01-09...oops..that's passed.

Too bad.

[Mass]

3. There should be some limitation of what the out of pocket expenses can be, as well as what

part of income to spend on insurance, insurance exchanges, and some minimal standard for insurances. Also, insurances will not be able anymore to drop people or increase their coverage when they get sick, and subventions for people under 300 % poverty, to buy their insurance.

I know, it is not enough, but for those people who will get a coverage this way, it is something.

[Zynx]

8. Even though I maintain a public option is essential, stopping pre-existing discrimination is

essential. That is one of the biggest civil rights issues in the country today.

[StrongBad]

9. I agree, at the very minimum this discrimination should be eliminated.

However, I fear that the Dems. gave up their bargaining stances in such a way that it's all we'll get.

[Wetzelbill]

10. it's slightly better than nothing at all

But the real big problem is it forces people to buy into a bad system, one that many of them can ill afford. That'll really hurt middle-class individuals and families and doesn't make much sense at all.

[MNDemNY]

13. I disagree.

It will make further reform un-doable for decades.

[Wetzelbill]

19. well on that point yes

But as for the actual stand alone bill, it is slightly better than nothing. As for future reform, especially Dem reform, it hurts bad.

[Old Codger]

11. my guess

:sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm:

Would be that they will require all to buy from insurance companies, the reform is that all the deadbeats who refuse to buy insurance now and want to be a drain on all others will be brought to heel, that'll teach em.

[valerief]

14. No, Mini Max wants to fine them up to $3800 for not buying insurance. nt

[bain_sidhe]

18. Serious answer instead of gloom and doom

Look I appreciate that many are feeling betrayed, but honestly, there would be *some* good to a reform bill without a public option, if it follows the bills currently on offer. Almost all of them include

1. No denial for pre-existing conditions AND community rating - meaning everybody pays the same premium whether they have pre-existing conditions or not.

2. No "rescission" after a person has gotten sick.

3. No "lifetime caps" on what an insurance company will pay.

4. Caps on the total amount of out of pocket costs to consumers.

5. Subsidies for people who can't afford to buy insurance.

There's a lot not to like about a bill without a public option. And there's the disgusting possibility that the tax-payer will be stuck paying more and more (in subsidies) to insurers, just so that they can continue to reap out sized profits and pay their C.E.O.s exorbitant amounts of money. But the above reforms are not nothing, and will help some people. I personally doubt that the above reforms are enough to solve the problems, but it's undeniable that some people who cannot now get insurance will be able to.