Healthcare bill versus Healthcare reform?

There is nothing in either bill that "reforms" health insurance. Your premiums are going to still increase whether you like it or not.

We are now mandated to pony up an additional $500,000,000,000 over the next 10 years all the while, witnessing an additional $523,000,000,000 cuts in Medicare (which takes care of Grandma, Grandpa and our retired military's promised health care). All, so that we can get 6 years of "coverage." You pay for 10 and get 6. What a bargain! *sarcasm*

The bill was passed primarily for 3 reasons:

1) To end the "Obama must fail" attitude of Republicans in Congress.

2) To get a health care bill through so that the people will get used to the idea that reform IS possible.

3) To get the provisions that start immediately in place because they are badly needed.

I know you are thinking "the Republicans have not given up on trying to make Obama fail".

But the dynamic has change (and the Republicans seem oblivious to the fact). The Republicans are cocooning themselves in their popularity with the Teabaggers, i.e. courting a minority.

Most people were sick of the do nothing Congress long before Obama was elected.

Polls confirmed it.

Now... the Republicans are not only being obstructionist, they have already lost and are trying to move backwards.

They WILL be replaced in November and replaced either by Democrats or moderates.

THEN we can begin getting the fourth year bugs out of the bill... when we have some sane people to work with , instead of the rejects they have now.

One problem with this "good" - it provides life and health to the rich. Health and life is not something that goes to the highest bidder. It is something that should be provided to anyone that needs it. Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath, which basically promises they will provide their services to anyone in need. It isn't one that they say they will provide, but only if the patient can pay the bill. So Dr. Ron Paul's ideal is in direct contrast with that very oath. I would have no issue with health care being an industry for profit if there was something for those that couldn't afford it. Example is if one can't afford a car, there is public transportation. You can take a bus to work or hop on a subway or commuter train. But in health care, you can't afford insurance, that is it - you are f**ked right up the ol' wazoo. That is wrong. And until someone can come up with a way for health care to be available to EVERYONE no matter what level of income, then I am going to continue to support this proposed health care bill. Sorry, but until someone can make this straight across the board acceptable, this is the best option this nation has. Too many are dying because they can't afford to get the treatment to live. THAT is UNACCEPTABLE!!

I completely agree with you. I have a similar question regarding this and I believe that the president needs to wake up and understand that this is the time for him to start listening to the American people. You're right-- many Americans are unemployed and can't find jobs, yet this nationwide health care bill would impose more taxes on people who can barely afford to keep up with their current expenses, even after making their own cuts.

People were correct in their observations during election time to say that Obama is extremely left. This is an example of the influence from the extreme left, as they are so determined to get something forced on the entire country, when people make it obvious they don't care for it-- hell, Tea Parties anyone?

And so much for transparency-- not having the deliberations aired, but instead having a select few individuals in a room to determine what could be the fate of the country? One thing I have learned so far is to really not trust abstract promises like "change". McCain would have been so much better right now!

There are a number of things in this bill that could be considered "reform". Reform would be transforming the way we currently do thing, make them better. Included in the healthcare bill are the following that I would say are "reform":

- Getting rid of the "donut hole" for seniors/disabled that are on Medicare (that's a 1400.00 per person savings) - that will truly reform the way these people are able to get/stay on their medications, presumably bettering their outcomes

- Children will be able to stay on their parents policies until 26 years old - another case of reform. Many young adults don't make dr's visits or let things go because they are uninsured. Same result as above, catching things early leads to major reform.

- Reform of the insurance industry includes some major things - Starting this year, insurers would be forbidden from placing lifetime dollar limits on policies and from denying coverage to children because of pre-existing medical problems. Parents would be able to keep older kids on their policies up to age 26. A new high-risk pool would offer coverage to uninsured people with medical problems until 2014, when the coverage expansion goes into high gear. Right now the regulations are very limited, after the bill passes the regulations become quite a bit tighter (not as much as I personally would like but it's a step). Another major thing - no more higher premiums for women!!

-A major piece of this legislation is that 32 million people will now have access to health insurance - if you were one of the uninsured you would consider that reform wouldn't you? Another thing I'm not happy about is the timeline, this won't kick in until 2014.

Lots more in there, but those are the things that I think qualify as reform. At any rate I think it's a start...

The current bill is actually health insurance reform.

It will do nothing to reduce the cost of medical services.

Doctors in the US will still make 3 to 5 times what doctors in other western nations make, Hospitals will still charge more, Doctors will still order unneeded test to protect themselves from malpractice lawsuits.

Medical cost will continue to increase every year.

Insurance rates will continue to increase, to keep pace with the increasing cost of medical care.

What the bill does, is shift part of the burden for paying those increased insurance rates, from the people, to the federal government.

You hear people say it will stop the insurance companies from making excessive profits

But since they only average around 3% profit margins, it will be impossible for the government to limit rate increases because of excessive profits.

Excessive profits are 20 to 40% profit margins, not 3% profit margins.

2. Then you have the unfunded mandates on the States, where they will add 16 million new patients to the medicaid rolls, and States must pay half that cost.

The health care reform bill, does not include that trillion dollars in additional cost to the states at all.

You are too logical in your thinking and the supporters of this destructive piece of legislation will label you as they do me and everyone else who oppose it as a "stupid republican" or defending the "evil insurance companies" or as "selfish"

They cannot understand that we have empathy for those in need and opposition to this legislation is not about not "covering" them but what is in the best interest for the country and everyone in it.

The only response I receive from the supporters is either one of the above labels or even more.

I have presented facts straight from the legislation and they are dismissed out of hand with no opposing proof of fact.

The have been blinded by their emotions and have not rationally and logically approached the situation, yet they accuse us of being "anti science".

They accuse us of being "selfish" yet we want to protect the liberties of all Americans, to attempt to protect the country from fiscal disaster.

Very good observations. Your insight into this issue is better than most I've heard or read.

Is this a question/