Wow..great...wonderful..... A healthcare reform bill that, in my opinion, has no hope of actually reforming healthcare. Yes, it does address some issues for people who do not have insurance, but that is not healthcare reform, its health insurance reform - big difference there.
It will still cost you $25 for 2 tylenol when you are hospitalized, its just now the government will be picking up that tab for some people. Want to actually reform healthcare? Let's start by limiting malpractice lawsuits. I have been told by doctors who are friends that malpractice insurance is the single greatest expense for their medical practices. Once the medical practitioners have less overheard, we have a chance of lowering what they charge. I am starting to see Gruss' point, the problem with healthcare is not who is paying for the cost, its who is determining what those costs are. I hope I am wrong, but fear that I am not. On Mon, Mar 22, 2010 at 8:09 AM, Vivec <[email protected]> wrote: > > "The overall $940 billion plan is projected to extend insurance coverage to > roughly 32 million additional Americans. It represents a significant step > toward the goal of universal coverage sought by every Democratic president > since Harry Truman. > > Most Americans will now be required to have health insurance or pay a fine. > Larger employers will be required to provide coverage or risk financial > penalties. Total individual out-of-pocket expenses will be capped and > insurers will be barred from denying coverage based on gender or > pre-existing conditions." > > What the Bill does: > > "The plan, according to CBO projections, will cut budget deficits by more > than $1 trillion in its second decade. > > It will subsidize insurance for a family of four making up to about $88,000 > annually, or 400 percent of the federal poverty level. > > It also creates a series of health insurance exchanges designed to make it > easier for small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed to pool > resources and purchase less expensive coverage. > > Medicaid will be significantly expanded, ensuring coverage to those earning > up to 133 percent of the poverty level, or just over $29,000 for a family of > four. > > The bill cuts projected Medicare spending by roughly $500 billion, in part > through reductions in the Medicare Advantage program. Democratic leaders > have promised the reductions will not affect service to Medicare recipients. > > The bill hikes Medicare payroll taxes on families making more than $250,000. > > Starting in 2013, it also imposes a 40 percent tax on insurance companies > providing "Cadillac" health plans valued at more than $8,500 for individuals > and $23,000 for families." > > Proponents of the tax on high-end plans say it's one of the most effective > ways to curb medical inflation. However, many Democrats oppose taxing such > policies because it would hurt union members who traded higher salaries for > more generous health benefits. > > Ultimately this means less Americans will die due to not being able to > afford health care.I still don't understand why this was such a hard fight > to have passed, the principle seems obvious. It's incredible that not a > single Republican voted for the bill, however. > > A friend of mine was telling me his cousin in the US had to work two jobs, > one of them was just for the health insurance benefits. He's one person who > was probably singing and dancing in his living room on Sunday. > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Want to reach the ColdFusion community with something they want? Let them know on the House of Fusion mailing lists Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:313609 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/unsubscribe.cfm
