Health Care Reform Passed!
Thread started by
goosegoose at 03.22.10 - 11:45 am
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is preparing to sign a transformative health care bill ushering in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the nation's history — and then hit the road to sell it to a reluctant public.
Obama will travel to Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday, the White House said, as he now turns to seeing a companion bill through the Senate and selling the health care overhaul's benefits on behalf of House members who cast risky votes. It is most likely that he will sign the bill on Tuesday, but plans are not yet final, said a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an as-yet-unannounced strategy.
Republicans also planned their next steps to harness public "anger" about the process and the substance of the sweeping overhaul bill.
Sen. John McCain said Monday morning that Democrats have not heard the last of the health care debate, and said he was repulsed by "all this euphoria going on."
Appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America," McCain, who was Obama's GOP rival in the 2008 presidential campaign, said that "outside the Beltway, the American people are very angry. They don't like it, and we're going to repeal this."
Republican Mitt Romney, who challenged McCain for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, also called for repeal of the reform bill Monday. In a statement, Romney called the passage of the legislation "an historic usurpation of the legislative process."
Also, Virginia's attorney general said he plans to go forward with a suit against the federal government after the president signs the legislation, saying that Congress lacks authority under its constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce to force people to buy insurance. Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli, a Republican, said the bill also conflicts with a state law that says Virginians cannot be required to buy insurance.
"This is what change looks like"
House Democrats voted 219-212 late Sunday to send the landmark legislation to Obama. The 10-year, $938 billion bill would extend coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, reduce deficits and ban insurance company practices such as charging more to women and denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions.
"This is what change looks like," Obama said later in televised remarks that stirred memories of his 2008 campaign promise of "change we can believe in."
"We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people."
Obama's young presidency received a much needed boost from passage of the legislation, which would touch the lives of nearly every American. The battle for the future of the health insurance system — affecting one-sixth of the economy — galvanized Republicans and conservative activists looking ahead to November's midterm elections.
A companion package making a series of changes sought by House Democrats to the larger bill, which already passed the Senate, was approved 220-211. The fix-it bill will now go to the Senate, where debate is expected to begin as early as Tuesday. Senate Democrats hope to approve it unchanged and send it directly to Obama, though Republicans intend to attempt parliamentary objections that could change the bill and require it to go back to the House.
Such a great day for America. It's about fucking time!
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A great thing that this passed. HUGE!
I think they need to work on the bill as well. It is a good thing, The wording in it, is still fucked to all hell.
But this is the first step.
revolution03.22.10 - 12:02 pm
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I thought the OBAMA troll would be all over this thread by now. Taking credit and whatnot. OTF - Obama troll FAIL
Foldie03.22.10 - 12:09 pm
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Great first step. I feel badly for all those stuck in dead-end jobs to keep benefits. Now you can work any place and start your own business and not have to worry about benefits. Yay!
Girl Power03.22.10 - 2:55 pm
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We'll see how long this will actually last with that section in the bill stating that any individual who choose not to have any coverage will be fined and subsequently imprisoned, for not paying fine.
This bill promises too much in too little time.
The tax-base to support this is not there due to most of the "easy industry" being overseas.
Current medical infrastructure has been too overburdened as it is.
This will essentially become an even bigger problem due to the current bottlenecks existing in the training and lengthy certification requirements of doctors, nurses and techs.
Anywho, we'll see where this goes and progresses in the next couple of years.
Whether everything will stay the same, or if any of us will be stuck in some federal "poor-house" for refusing government assistance.
bentstrider03.22.10 - 3:11 pm
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Yeah that's some bullshit. FIne people for not having health insurance? WTF
braydon responding to a
comment by bentstrider
03.22.10 - 3:13 pm
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I could have cared less for this bill passing and paid no attention to it if this wasn't included.
But some bumfuckers like "Baucus from Montanucky" just have this hurting desire to make everyone feel the pinch.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by braydon
03.22.10 - 3:17 pm
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I need to travel soon...
braydon responding to a
comment by bentstrider
03.22.10 - 3:24 pm
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Passport office, here I come! :D
braydon03.22.10 - 3:27 pm
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Is it a good or bad thing?..I think is good because now people could take care of themselves, but I heard that is gonna affect the economy..idk..hopefully it turns out alright
4:20_R1DDA03.22.10 - 3:31 pm
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Start your own business ?
as long as you work by yourself and don't hire anyone legaly.
One more reason to keep employing undocumented workers
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by Girl Power
03.22.10 - 3:46 pm
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It wouldn't be as bad of a thing if they kept it "VOLUNTARY".
But, those that wrote up the bill were not stupid and knew there would be plenty of resistance from major portions of the general public who looked past the glitz and glamor.
Seriously, if your law or series of bills can't stand up on their own, then you're not really serving the people when you throw in penalty clauses like the one mentioned earlier.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by 4:20_R1DDA
03.22.10 - 3:56 pm
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this is a
funny comic about the new healthcare reform bill.
coldcut03.22.10 - 3:58 pm
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forgot to add: you have be unbiased to enjoy it.
coldcut responding to a
comment by braydon
03.22.10 - 4:09 pm
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no i think you forgot to add, "turn off javascript"
braydon responding to a
comment by coldcut
03.22.10 - 4:11 pm
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Medicaid Expansion — The biggest government expansion in the bill would be in Medicaid. All individuals earning less than 133 percent of FPL would get free insurance through Medicaid. The CBO has estimated that this expansion will cover 16 million Americans by 2019.
http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/1751-House-Gives-Final-Approval-to-Historic-Health-Care-Bill
braydon03.22.10 - 4:31 pm
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I think it's making sure everyone is insured. This way, if you end up in an ER and you're uninsured and can't pay your bill, the cost of treating you doesn't get passed on to other ER patients who can pay or have insurance.
mk4524 responding to a
comment by braydon
03.22.10 - 4:31 pm
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I usually avoid hospitals and care as it is, lick my wounds.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by mk4524
03.22.10 - 4:38 pm
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If the can't afford it, why wouldn't the government cover this instead? That's essentially what they are doing with the Medicaid expansion. Fining people who don't have insurance seems like an ass backwards way of handling it.
braydon responding to a
comment by mk4524
03.22.10 - 4:40 pm
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Contrary to the attacks of some conservatives, this bill is in no way a “government take-over” of the health care system (citation: Politifact’s “Top Five Lies About Reform”). It keeps the fundamental system of private insurance in place and, in fact, will strengthen the already-enormous health care industry by delivering them millions of new customers.
http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/1751-House-Gives-Final-Approval-to-Historic-Health-Care-Bill
braydon03.22.10 - 4:43 pm
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I don't know whether to be excited or worried. I will decide when I see what it will cost me to get insured once the law goes into effect, and then when I see what it's like to actually get health care under the new system.
outerspace03.22.10 - 11:45 pm
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Well, if my 18wheeled career wish is allowed to become reality on the 3 yr mark come November, then I'll eventually worry less.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by outerspace
03.22.10 - 11:59 pm
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Sounds to me like their way of making 'universal' health-care is to give people a fine if they don't have it..... and somehow that will solve the problem. But then again I really don't pay much attention to US politics.
braydon03.23.10 - 12:01 am
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You know a nurse in Switzerland is paid 8 times the amount as a nurse in Germany.
braydon03.23.10 - 12:02 am
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i wonder which republican vote yes
Huey55503.23.10 - 2:28 am
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check out page 296 (sec. 501) to read about SEC. 59B. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
sexy03.23.10 - 2:36 am
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Just one Republican, Representative Joseph Cao of Louisiana, backed the plan, and 39 Democrats broke ranks to oppose it.
sexy responding to a
comment by Huey555
03.23.10 - 2:38 am
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There is a religious exception, so if all this ends up a bad idea.... that appears to be the way to go.
braydon responding to a
comment by sexy
03.23.10 - 2:47 am
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I don't know about you guys, but when bills have religious exceptions, i think it's going a bit too far......
braydon03.23.10 - 2:52 am
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You can have religious and personnel exemptions for vaccines in many states. It is actually a great loophole for non-compliance.
sexy responding to a
comment by braydon
03.23.10 - 3:01 am
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Bills can always be repealed though.
And with the likes of fining and imprisoning "non-compliant" persons, that will be one of the major straws that breaks the camels back.
I wouldn't blame Obama for placing those penalties into the bill.
Blowhard Baucus takes the cake for that foolish train of thought.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by braydon
03.23.10 - 3:41 am
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http://www.slate.com/id/2248560/
Say I have a pre-existing condition. Can I get affordable insurance now?
Wait three months. The requirement that insurance companies take any and all comers—known as "guaranteed issue"—doesn't kick in until Jan. 1, 2014. But the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allocates $5 billion for the establishment of "high risk pools" within 90 days across the country. These group insurance plans will provide coverage only for people with pre-existing conditions who can't find insurance through normal avenues. By law, they must take all eligible applicants and can't charge more than the standard rates.
There's a fine for not having insurance. How does the government know whether you have insurance or not?
Through the tax system. The legislation doesn't explicitly say how the individual mandate for health insurance will be enforced, but taxpayers will probably be required to prove that they own insurance when filing their taxes each year. (If you get insurance through your employer, they'll help take care of it. If you're self-employed, your insurer will probably send you a document to submit with your other tax forms.) If a taxpayer doesn't have insurance, the IRS will notify him of his nonenrollment and show him how to sign up through their state's insurance exchange. If he still refuses to enroll, the IRS will levy a fine that shows up on his tax forms. The fee starts small in 2014—$95 or 1 percent of income—but edges up incrementally until 2016, when uninsured individuals will have to pay $695 a year, with a family maximum of $2,085 or 2.5 percent of household income.
markd responding to a
comment by shotgunBOOMBOOM
03.23.10 - 10:14 am
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Hanging out in /b/?
braydon responding to a
comment by shotgunBOOMBOOM
03.23.10 - 10:24 am
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Yeah, people are really going to be storming the castle to repeal a bill that:
-prevents people from getting dropped for pre-existing conditions
-eliminates lifetime benefit caps
-closes the Medicare D gap ("donut hole")
-drastically reduces prescription drug co-pays.
-gives tax breaks to small businesses that offer coverage to their empolyees
-lets dependent children stay on their parents' insurance until they're 27
Uh huh. Now that the law's been signed, people aren't going to give those benefits up easily, let alone riot in the streets to have them taken away.
The fact that there are senators out there arguing for repeal makes me think that they are either a) utterly clueless about the implications of the bill, b) pandering to mouthbreathers who get all their news from AM radio, or c) both.
nathansnider responding to a
comment by bentstrider
03.23.10 - 10:40 am
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As I keep saying, these provisions are fine and dandy for
THOSE WHO WANT AND NEED IT.
As for someone like myself who does not utilize hospitals, takes care of my own wounds, and sits it out if I do get sick, why the fuck should I be required to participate?
I'm much more willing to either pay the fine, rot in a cell, or flee the country on a boat if they get any more serious about this than they already are.
Sad part about all of this is the fact that this is just another way to make it much more easier for a person to be incarcerated.
In the old days, it was murdering someone or defiantly not paying income taxes after many years.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by nathansnider
03.23.10 - 12:24 pm
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nah someone cross posted it to reddit.
I have long been skeptical of this bill --- if you ask me it didn't go far enough. (I'm for single payer)
I would have been ineligible to be covered on my father's insurance at the end of this year. Considering how much bikes I ride and the fact that I cannot afford insurance, I was a bit scared about not being covered after I turn 24. But now I can be covered until I am 26.
I'll finally be entering the workforce in about a year and half and most likely be getting my own insurance then, but you know what, +1 Obama anyway for the fact that I'll never have a gap in coverage like I would have without this bill.
It's not single payer, but it's a step forward.
shotgunBOOMBOOM responding to a
comment by braydon
03.23.10 - 1:15 pm
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Wasn't one of the campaign for change promises
for bills to be posted online for 5 days after going through the house,
before the President would sign them ? Transparency ?
Dedicated81803.24.10 - 10:36 am
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"When you have the state require you to buy a corporate product, I think they call it called fascism."
Who is "they?"
Will they send help? I think the spanish owe us a little support after we sent them the Lincoln Brigade.
Maybe this is "Friendly Fascism" since people with religious objections can opt out as can Native Americans and prisoners the starting out there is small symbolic fines.
I mean what self respecting fascist would craft a law with special exemptions for ethnic and religious minorities as well a convicted prisoners.
I think if they want to do the fascist thing they are gonna have to sac up a bit.
The fine will eventually be $700 per person added to your taxes.
Think of it as your taxes just went up $700 a year but you get a $700 write off if you buy insurance. The $700 a year goes to pay for people who go to the ER without insurance, bleed all over the floor and expect to get patched up for free. Now we can deride it as a quazi-socialist plan HOORAY.
Any
ism left over from the 20th century will work just fine if you just tilt the prism a little bit.
trickmilla responding to a
comment by sexy
03.24.10 - 12:17 pm
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The "bleed all over the floor" thing only happens due to the ongoing understaffing problem with most hospitals.
Education problems and backlogs should've been taken care of long in advance before this bill was even signed.
So instead of having an adequate amount of nurses and doctors completing an apprenticeship program to apply their knowledge, they're stuck on school waiting lists due to there not being many instructors and training facilities to meet the high enrollment rate.
Then there's the endless list of electives courses required to be met as well in the name of being "well-rounded".
bentstrider responding to a
comment by trickmilla
03.24.10 - 12:27 pm
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Are the FEMA camps for the people who cannot afford to pay for health care
and then the fines that follow ?
If you are unable to pay your fine ?
will you be put into the civilian inmate work program to pay off your debt ?
or will they just harvest some of your organs like in Communist China ?
Don't forget we all need a RFID chip so accurate records can be kept,
and you will need to keep all of your vaccinations current.
Dedicated81803.24.10 - 1:24 pm
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get one of these. you'll be fine.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by Dedicated818
03.24.10 - 1:30 pm
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Scared of the future ?
Things are easier to deal with when you can polk fun
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
03.24.10 - 1:37 pm
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Destroying US sovereignty so UN blue-helmets will be allowed in to take the place of "reassigned" US troops who question any round-up orders.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by Dedicated818
03.24.10 - 1:38 pm
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Who will rounded up 1st ?
illegal aliens
Muslims
Christians
2nd amendment activist
Patriots
Veterans
Political dissidents
Ridazz
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by bentstrider
03.24.10 - 1:48 pm
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My guess is that "an accident" will be staged.
It will then lead to a premeditated "civil disturbance" which will lead to "evacuation orders" under the guise of "public safety".
bentstrider responding to a
comment by Dedicated818
03.24.10 - 1:53 pm
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More likely scenario is a economic collapse which leads to civil unrest
by those who are not prepared.
After weeks of rioting in major cities the public demands martial law.
UN troops are used to enforce gun confiscation and eliminate resistors.
Totalitarian regime takes control
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by bentstrider
03.24.10 - 3:17 pm
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From then on, it's only the "yes-men" and the blind-followers of establishment that will go on thinking everything's alright.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by Dedicated818
03.24.10 - 3:20 pm
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I don't pay attention to that LDS blow-hard.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
03.24.10 - 3:41 pm
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Wednesday is a good day for listing to Patriot news on
FreedomizerRadio on blogtalkradio.com
the BunkerReport and
Hardtail news Malitia Wednesdays
Check it out you may learn something
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
03.24.10 - 8:37 pm
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"I would have been ineligible to be covered on my father's insurance at the end of this year. "
Yup. Happened to me. I believe the current rule is if you're in college you still can be in your parents plan, but that might vary. I got a job with health benefits, just when I was dropped, but quit it after 8 months, been 3 years without health insurance, luckily no problems.
I'm down with single payer, seems logical, and uncomplicated.
Was curious what Switzerland has, and it seems similar **now** to the US:
http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/health-care-abroad-switzerland/
Found out from a swiss nurse friend of mine that she gets paid 5 times more being a nurse in Switzerland that if she worked in Germany. Which seemed pretty weird there was such a huge jump.
braydon responding to a
comment by shotgunBOOMBOOM
03.25.10 - 9:57 am
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... but I quit after 8 months ...
braydon03.25.10 - 9:58 am
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if I hadn't stayed in school, I would have been dropped from my dad's insurance at 19. They were going to drop me at 24 whether or not I was in school.
shotgunBOOMBOOM responding to a
comment by braydon
03.25.10 - 10:05 am
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I'm guessing lower population and different sets of territorial laws.
They're all EU states, but they still maintain some level of sovereignty.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by braydon
03.25.10 - 10:07 am
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Yeah, that is unnecessary. Raising the age to 26 was a good idea.
braydon responding to a
comment by shotgunBOOMBOOM
03.25.10 - 10:11 am
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Not sure exactly the EU status of Switzerland. But they maintain there own currency still. Which of the 10+ years I've been visiting, has remained very stable. The US dollar on the other hand has dropped ALOT in comparison. I could always account for the fact that things *seemed* more expensive because the Franc had less value than a US dollar, but now they are pretty much equal. Even street food seemed expensive.
braydon responding to a
comment by bentstrider
03.25.10 - 10:15 am
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They're actually still independent, but tend to side with the EU on most issues.
As to where most of their economy comes from, one could say they're the "brokers" for the rest of that continent.
I mean, they're not exactly a manufacturing powerhouse.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by braydon
03.25.10 - 10:24 am
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I've yet to meet a swiss that didn't know at least 3 languages. Makes a lot of sense.
braydon responding to a
comment by bentstrider
03.25.10 - 10:28 am
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok1EllhHgoU
imbedding disabled.
ruinedbyidiots03.25.10 - 2:24 pm
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Not to mention a smaller population tends to make things like country-wide healthcare quite easy to distribute.
And for a European country, they're pretty lax about personal firearms laws like the Czech Republic.
Nothing like being in the armed forces there and being allowed to keep your weapon at home.
Hell, aside from healthcare, they even subsidize certain ammunition for its citizenry!!!
Yeah, Switzerland is sounding more like the key European country each day.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by braydon
03.25.10 - 3:06 pm
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It's just really expensive there. Who wouldn't want to get paid in SFR, hahaha
braydon responding to a
comment by bentstrider
03.25.10 - 5:04 pm
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Still though, it just goes to show that there's something in Europe for everyone.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by braydon
03.25.10 - 5:07 pm
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For all the hours RBI tolls on youtube he mines and brings us back these gems.
A big
THANK YOU!
I declare this thread now become a RBI appreciate posting.
sexy responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
03.26.10 - 11:42 am
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Oh hey, check it out, it's home-skool rap!
But seriously, that poor, poor child...
nathansnider responding to a
comment by sexy
03.26.10 - 12:22 pm
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that girl kinda reminds me of the girl who was on the Sunset Limited train with us to and fro nawlins
sexy responding to a
comment by nathansnider
03.26.10 - 12:41 pm
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from
http://www.financialsense.com/editorials/quinn/2010/0405.html
Company 26-Mar-09 26-Mar-10 % Change
S&P 500 $833.00 $1,167.00 40.1%
Aetna $24.39 $34.32 40.7%
CIGNA $18.62 $35.90 92.8%
United Health $21.59 $32.63 51.1%
Wellpoint $36.42 $63.05 73.1%
Humana $25.06 $47.20 88.3%
Already the health reform bill has proven to be good for these folks.
Numbers don't lie!
sexy04.9.10 - 3:34 pm
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Be careful what you post on this Forum as you may be attacked by the
Obama Hitler youth. Anybody who disagrees with Obama's policies is
labeled as a Glen Beck, Fox News, Teabagger.
a safe bet that Obama has stock in those companies
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by sexy
04.9.10 - 4:05 pm
reply
-->
Ridazz Roulette!
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