10 Things Every American Should Know About Health Care Reform (MoveOn.org)

[DemoTex]

1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.

Sources:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Summary," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/SUMMARY.pdf

3. "Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed March 22, 2010
http://healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html

4. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Revenue Provisions," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/REVENUE.pdf

5. "New Jobs Through Better Health Care," Center for American Progress, January 8, 2010
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/01/new_jobs_health.html

8, 9. "Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill," The New York Times, March 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/19/us/politics/20100319-health-care-reconciliation.html

10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Addressing Health and Health Care Disparities," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 20, 2010
http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/DISPARITIES.pdf

http://pol.moveon.org/healthcare/tenthings/?id=19503-17570388-7HhZerx&t=1

[tomber]

1. wait?

Only 95% will be covered? Who are the other 5% and why aren't they going to be covered?

[berni_mccoy]

6. Those who refuse the mandate

[Malikshah]

9. Here are the answers to the questions of 1) Who are the 5% 2) Why no coverage

1.) The 5% are people who wish to focus on the negative. Alternatively, your family and friends and anyone you know.

2.) Because you touch yourself.


Personally, I believe that is an appropriate response.

[tomber]

12. what?

I was looking for a serious answer.

Why do you feel it was appropriate to tell me people won't have insurance because I touch myself?

[Malikshah]

16. If you are looking for a serious answer, as you admit, then you haven't been paying attention

Nuff said.

[laughingliberal]

29. A good part of them will be people who make more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level

and are older. Those who fall just outside the level where they qualify for a subsidy and are over 50 will find their premiums are unaffordable (often 25% or more of their income). If their premium is over 17% they will receive a waiver in order to avoid being fined for not buying insurance but they will not have coverage.

[Greyhound]

30. Too poor and too sick/old to get any help. If you cannot serve the3 parasites as a profit center

then you get the GOP health plan.

[OneGrassRoot]

20. Gone so soon....

I'm proud to be the very first person he/she responded to.

:eyes:

[SidDithers]

2. K&R...

facts are good.

Sid

[ChoppinBroccoli]

3. I Don't Understand #4

How can it save $138 billion AND $1.2 trillion over the next ten years? I'm assuming it's a misprint, but I can't figure out which word is wrong.

[mac56]

5. read it again

Before the comma is the FIRST ten years. After the comma is the NEXT ten years.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

13. OK, I Didn't Get The Wording

I thought "next ten years" and "following ten years" meant the same thing. I assumed "following ten years" meant the ten years following this one. That could have been worded better, but I least I get it now.

[DemoTex]

7. Saves an estimated $138 billion in the 2010-2020 decade

Saves an estimated $1.2 trillion in the 2020-2030 decade.

[baldguy]

10. $138B from Year 1 to Year 10, and $1.2T from Year 11 to Year 20.

[One_Life_To_Give]

4. 4) Creates Questions

Were going to cut federal spending and subsidize 19million peoples insurance. Seems money is going to have to come from somewhere. If not the Fed then who? States?

[berni_mccoy]

14. Increased taxes on people making 200k+ / year.

Taxes on businesses as well.

[berni_mccoy]

8. Thanks for posting! K&R

[Fumesucker]

11. I liked Moveon a lot better when they were telling us about General Betrayus..

You know, that "speak truth to power thing"..

Now it's more like "speak power's truth".

[gorfle]

15. It doesn't do much for most people.

1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.

This doesn't do anything for everyone who is already insured, except create a new welfare program that taxpayers will have to pay for.

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.

But, as I understand it, there will be no cap on how much insurance companies can charge for people who have pre-existing conditions.

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.

You can do this today.

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.

But not before the next couple of elections.

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.

Translation: If you're poor, the government will take care of you. No change for most of us, though.

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.

From what I understand, will close it eventually. Right now seniors get like a $250 stipend to get them across the hole. Since the hole right now is $896.25-$4,350.25, $250 seems like a token gesture.

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.

But not before the next couple of elections.

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.

Good. But it doesn't do much for your average person.

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.

This is good.

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.

This doesn't do anything for your average person.

The the whole, it seems to me that this bill will not change things for most people. Consequently, most people are going to be outraged at it or at best ambivalent.

I predict a massive backlash come election time.

[olegramps]

21. Why do you say the average person, the average person...?

I can only suppose that you view yourself as an above average person and that by assisting your fellow citizen you will be penalized. Seems very close to the argument that has been launched by Limbaugh and his minions.

[gorfle]

22. Yes, I am an above average citizen.

And you are right about Limbaugh and his minions - as well as the rest of my family who are very conservative. I understand their mindset. They hate welfare projects that they pay for but can never use themselves.

That's why I so much wanted to see a single-payer system where EVERYONE benefits, including the people who pay for it. It would have been a much easier sell to conservatives to create a plan that yes, they have to pay for, and yes, they will be a little more to cover those who can't afford it, but EVERYONE gets to use it.

Just like schools, or fire services, or military services, or police services - all things that conservative people use and don't mind paying for - even though poor people benefit from having them, too.

But what they hate are programs like food stamps, or welfare housing, or, now, health services, that they pay for but receive no direct benefit from themselves and will probably never use themselves.

Yes, I understand and agree with the fact that we have these safety nets because ANYONE could be struck down and need them, and also it is better to have a safety net that people can fall back on than the more costly-to-society alternative which is for them to turn to lawlessness out of desperation.

What I'm trying to say, though, is that this current "reform" bill will be seen as nothing but giant welfare project that does nothing directly nor immediately to do anything for your average person, and consequently, they will hate it. They already hate it.

You combine this with the legions of liberals like myself who are pissed because the reform did not go far enough and provide some kind of public option or single-payer system to provide an alternative to for-profit health insurance, and come November the Democrats are going to face a firestorm of opposition.

Mark my words. If the Assault Weapons Bill was the undoing of the Democratic Congress in 1994, this health care bill is going to be absolutely devastating. It was not good enough to secure the support of their allies, but it was plenty bad enough to totally inflame their opposition. That's not a good place to be.

[olegramps]

24. If you think that the Republicans were going to vote for anything sponsored by Obama you are nuts.

Sounds like you are looking forward to the Democrats taking a blood bath and are actively rooting for it and will be sorely disappointed if your prediction doesn't come true. You and your conservative family members that only support that which will benefit yourself will find the return to Republican control much to your liking.

Look up the definition of Liberal, you are in for a shock.

That the conservative assholes hate the present bill isn't surprising given their brand of Christianity. They probably would have kicked the shit out of the Good Samaritan for wanting to stop and help the poor guy that was robbed and beaten by thugs. "You mean that you want to spend our time and money on this guy who didn't provide for his own protection, let him rot. Anything that you do for him won't benefit us and we are sick of you being so generous with our money. It's our money, our money, our money, our money...." "You damn fool, do want to inflame the Pharisees against us?"

[gorfle]

25. Look, I get this a lot.

Look, I know you guys put up with a bunch of Republican trolls here, but I assure you, that is not me. I have voted Democrat since the 2006 elections. I am anti-Iraq war, anti-Afghanistan war, anti-torture, anti-Patriot Act, anti-religion, pro-choice, and pro-environment and pro-firearm. I am pro-single-payer, and I am all for removing the profit motive out of health insurance.

As I have freely said many times before, I am not as progressive as many of you here are. One of the major ideological difference between myself and many people I have spoken with here is that I believe that where we end up in life in this country is largely due to our own personal choices and not luck. I'm also a staunch supporter of the second amendment which is a rarity in Democratic circles.

I fully agree with you that most of what passes for "Christianity" in this country is complete hypocrisy, and the people most likely to call themselves "Christian" are the ones least likely to help people when they are down.

Sounds like you are looking forward to the Democrats taking a blood bath and are actively rooting for it and will be sorely disappointed if your prediction doesn't come true. You and your conservative family members that only support that which will benefit yourself will find the return to Republican control much to your liking.

My family members are absolutely looking forward to the Democrats taking a blood bath and are actively rooting for it.

I, however, am not. I have not been impressed with the "change" we were promised to date but but it is certain that the Republicans will, inevitably, put us on a faster road to the erosion of civil liberties in the name of the "war on terror", and it is for certain that we will have more military spending and not less.

If this is not convincing enough for you as to my position, I have private-messaged you a response to my uncle concerning health care reform.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. Elaborate

"As I have freely said many times before, I am not as progressive as many of you here are. One of the major ideological difference between myself and many people I have spoken with here is that I believe that where we end up in life in this country is largely due to our own personal choices and not luck. I'm also a staunch supporter of the second amendment which is a rarity in Democratic circles."


So a kid who grows up in a project has the same life chances as a kid who grows up in a mansion.

So a kid who is raised by a single mother has the same life chances as a kid who grows up in an intact family.

So a kid whose psrents make $15,000.00 a year had the same life chance as a kid whose parents make $150,00.00 a year.

Sometimes where you start affects where you end up in life and ideology.

[gorfle]

40. No doubt.

Sometimes where you start affects where you end up in life and ideology.

No doubt. But the fact is, we all have equal access to a free education. If you make good choices to stay in school, don't use drugs, and don't get pregnant, odds are very good that you can become a reasonably successful person in this country.

There is no disputing that some people start from advantaged positions in life. But I believe personal choices in life have a far more significant impact on the courses of our lives than luck. It's harder for some people to make the right choices, do to the luck of the circumstances they were born into, but even those circumstances were the result of the choices their parents made.

My father was poor. He was in a family of 7 kids. They did not have running water and had to go get a bucket of water from the neighbor's house every day to flush their toilet. He worked in a machine shop as a child.

But he left home, worked to put himself through college, and became an engineer. This all happened because of the choices he made, in spite of the circumstances he was born into.

[olegramps]

53. I was going to respond, but you have saved me the effort. Thanks.

I can't imagine someone being so damn naive that they believe that some kid whose parents can afford to send them to a private prep-school doesn't have an advantage over a kid raised in slum lord housing poverty.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. From The Acts Of The Apostles

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things in common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

[Mojorabbit]

52. the poster does have a legitimate point

I have some very conservative relatives and there is a certain lack of what I will define as empathy for those outside the immediate family. It would have been better if everyone was going to see benefits equally given in health care legislation ala single payor. However we got what we got. I am happy insurance companies will finally now be forced to sell my husband insurance after denying him for over a decade but I am a subset who can afford the coverage and will directly benefit.

[gorfle]

48. What the health care reform means to me.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/?hpid=topnews

As I suspected, the results it gives for me are "you get to keep your insurance" and "no increased taxes".

[laughingliberal]

32. Your # 2 is incorrect. I'm no fan of this bill but your statement is inaccurate

Insurance companies will not be able to charge whatever they want for people with preexisting conditions. They are allowed a 3 X multiplier for age and 1.5 X for smokers. Preexisting conditions will not be charged more. If you have employer sponsored health care they may force you into a wellness program and pass on more of the premiums to you if you fail to meet certain goals but those buying their own insurance can not be charged a higher premium on the basis of a preexisting condition.

[Lance_Boyle]

56. That's not necessarily good news - it encouragers "free riders"

to ride out their no-insurance (and $$$ savings attributed to that choice) until they develop a condition necessitating treatment, at which point they will be able to buy a policy at the same premium as if they had been part of the system and paying into it all along. There needs to be a penalty to discourage this behavior, which rewards free riders at the expense of everyone else.

[sabrina 1]

50. Moveon is now speaking about this?

They obediently shut their mouths when Rahm told them not to criticize Blue Dogs who were fighting against a Public Option.

Don't know why they always think they can remain silent when it is most necessary to speak out, as they did after the 2004 election was stolen, and then hope that when things calm down, they can go back to work for DLC and no one will notice.

Can't say I trust their judgement much on anything as they sold out long ago.

I would prefer other sources at this point ~

[tekisui]

51. It does a lot for many people.

That was the point of the bill. There was a significant population without any access to health insurance. THis bill helps the working poor.

It also does a lot for those who were one illness away from bankruptcy, a lot of them are average people.

[Winterblues]

17. 4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whoppin

So we are going to plan on having deficits for the next twenty years at least??????????Clinton was able to turn the economy around in just a few years, why shouldn't Democrats be able to follow suit?

[MilesColtrane]

47. Two Wars

Skyrocketing medical costs

Borrowing to prop up the national economy after it nearly collapsed

Baby Boomers hitting retirement

Political unwillingness to reinstate much higher taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations

Just to name a few reasons...

[EFerrari]

18. These points are squishy. For example, take #2.

If the insurance companies deny you coverage, they will be fined. As Mike Moore says, they will weigh the fine of $100 a day against the cost of the coverage they're denying.

I think #3 is talking about exchanges but it doesn't really point out the difference in quality of coverage

The projection into the second decade in #4 is not reliable per the CBO. In #5, the term should be "health insurance", not "care".

MoveOn overstates the case.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

19. Yes, I was surprised at how "squishy" this listing was --

The Devil is in the details, MoveOn. Shame on you, you should know better. :(

[EFerrari]

23. To be fair, part of this is a communications puzzle

where you have to be clear and brief about a complicated issue where there are still a lot of unknowns.

[Green_Lantern]

31. do you have health insurance?

As much as I don't like private insurance people in this country can't afford medical care without it. This bill helps people get affordable insurance and protects them from insurance walking all over them until we can get a public system in place.

Do you think single-payer would've passed?

No and then we'd have nothing not even the 6% cap on premiums which opponents pretend doesn't exist.

[laughingliberal]

33. A 6% cap on premiums? For who? I think you're dreaming. nt

[Green_Lantern]

36. family of 4 making 44,000

Has a 6% cap.

[laughingliberal]

39. Your post made it sound like everyone would be capped at 6%

Those approaching 400% of FPL (Family of 2 making 50,000) will be capped at 9.8% of their income. No cap at all for that couple making over $58,280 a year. Oh, if it's more that 17% of their income they won't be fined if they don't buy insurance. People over 50 usually are paying a premium that would represent 25% or more of this income level.

[EFerrari]

37. I don't have health insurance and when I did, my family couldn't afford to use it.

Does that answer your question?

And we'll never know if single payer would have passed because Obama ruled it out immediately. :)

And good luck with those caps. The insurance industry has four years to weasel their way through this bill.

[Green_Lantern]

38. by that standard why regulate any industry...

They'll try to weasel their way out of it.

[EFerrari]

41. Well, for one thing, how many industries have been as lethal to the American public as this one?

It's not a matter of not trying but more a matter of knowing who you're up against, imo. Whatever.

[Green_Lantern]

43. the gun industry, car industry, alcohol industry, tobacco industry...

What wouldn't be lethal without trusting in regulation?

[EFerrari]

44. Anyone trusting in regulation in this joint has not been paying attention, imo.

And none of the industries you named could have gotten away with their bs without the collusion of the insurance industry.

[Green_Lantern]

46. ironically libertarians say the same thing...

That regulation just doesn't work. I simply disagree.

We benefit from industry regulation on a daily basis.

[EFerrari]

49. I'm not saying regulation doesn't work. I'm saying we have no effective regulation.

[Green_Lantern]

54. you're right...

I'm always getting rotten meat at the grocery store. ::sarcasm::

[EFerrari]

55. The way Bush gutted FDA, you're lucky you haven't.

That is one thing Obama gets credit for, he's taken some steps to rebuild that agency.

[GreenPartyVoter]

28. +1

[berni_mccoy]

34. dupe.

[berni_mccoy]

35. They won't *just* be fined. They will have their plans yanked from the exchange.

Furthermore, people will be able to choose from other plans in the exchange.

There is no doubt this will reduce the deficit. The CBO puts forth conservative estimates. The actual reduction may be larger.

Health Insurance *is* the only access to Health Care in this country unless you are very, very wealthy.

[EFerrari]

42. Right, bernie. The CBO itself says the projection for the next decade

is extremely unreliable. If you have better information, please call them right away!

And no, health insurance does not equal health care.

[VLC98]

57. #9 is squishy too.

Tricare is exempt from the bill, so my 22 year old unemployed daughter won't be covered after all. I don't know how many young people this will disappoint, but there are 9.4 million Tricare beneficiaries, so quite a few with dependents aged 21-26 I imagine.

[Political Heretic]

45. At this point I'm passed arguing about a bill that is now law. I'm ready to fix it.

Seems to be more fruitful to start advocating fixing it rather than spending any more time trying to explain why this bill as-is will do more long term harm than good.

We could potentially stave off that long term harm if we get to work.