Health Care Bill Passes

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_overhaul

What will come of this (hopefully good stuff)? What are your thoughts?

Wasn't this thing gutted several times before actually being passed?

Originally Posted by Avalanchemike

Wasn't this thing gutted several times before actually being passed?

Probably, but I stopped following it a short while ago so I'm not sure where it stands now.

If it does some good (lord I hope so) then maybe we can finally stop hearing about it so often. I get kind of tired of people telling me how great it was (I'm talking health care before the bill), but hearing about how bad it was can get kind of annoying as well.

And off we go to the Senate!

It might not pass Senate, unfortunately.

I was so tense watching when they were counting the votes. When it finally hit 218, it was all let out. During the following minute of euphoria, I thought favorly of Obama, which I do anyway but more so at the time. I felt like stuff was actually getting done, like America was finally advancing. Although I've never used heroin, it was probably something like that, only shorter.

Personally I think this is the biggest thing since the election/Psuedo-Crash of the market. Only if it passes Senate, though, and I will totally shoot kids at my school if it doesn't pass.

That or complain constantly over the internet.

I was watching the vote on CNN. it was getting tense near the end I was sweating. I Couldn't help but cheer and clap as I saw it passed. 220 with one Republican vote...That's bi-partisan right?

I really do think this will help the American health Care system, I really want you guys to get some quality care. The stuff you're getting now and it's exciting to know my American friends may be one step closer to getting something that resembles universal coverage. Cheers my American friends, your hope is not in vain.

Originally Posted by Avalanchemike

Wasn't this thing gutted several times before actually being passed?

It does apparently have the Public Option though, which means it's still is a pretty good bill.

Originally Posted by DarKnite92

It might not pass Senate, unfortunately.

Especially because that dickhead of dickheads Lieberman wants to join a Republican filibuster. I have been somewhat pleasantly surprised by the Democrats as of late though. I was stunned when Reid came out and said he supported the Public Option. Let's cross our fingers and hope they keep it up.

Time to see how well this sucker works.

The best ****ing thing to happen in the United States since Barack Obama was elected. Here's the change, kids.

This made me so happy that I went out and got drunk. And i get drunk about as often as I cut my hair, which is to say, never. hopefully the senate will get it's ass in gear on this and come to a vote sometime within the next few months.

So what do we get to complain about fix next?

Pardon the stupid question, but can someone quickly summarize exactly what are the arguments for and against this health care plan? I've heard of many arguments and complaints (and famous incidents of opposition against Obama), but I haven't been keeping up with this as well as I should have. ^_^;

so, it mandates that ALL americans must have coverage and if you do not, you are fined roughly 2.5% of your income as a tax penalty. however, the public option does not become available until 2013.

does this mean we are all forced to buy private insurance in the meantime, or does this particular portion of the law not go in effect until the public option is available? (assuming it passes the senate, of course)

and if we do have to get private insurance while waiting for the public option, are premium caps part of this bill, or basically does it sell the entire country to the health insurance industry under the guise of "hope and change" ?


SOMEBODY ANSWER THIS FOR ME.

Wait so what this law is, essentially, is a law that forces Americans to buy private health care insurance? You know those people who've been screwing them over for how many years? Am I the only one who could see that going wrong?

It doesn't force people to buy private insurance, it forces them to buy insurance. But I can't imagine that it'll come into effect before the public option is available.

avalanche: I personally am leery of the whole thing. SOme stuff I want answered though:

1) Do tax payers have to pay for abortions?
2) Will this lower, raise, or not affect the deficit?
3) How high is this cap on profits and premiums or whatever they're capping for the private insurers?
4) Will this bill include tort reform?
5) This isn't about the bill but It's just something i've been wondering. Is it true that the profits for insurance companies are ridiculously low and the fact that they need so much money to operate coming from the methods used to treat the sick in this country?

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

avalanche: I personally am leery of the whole thing. SOme stuff I want answered though:

1) Do tax payers have to pay for abortions?
2) Will this lower, raise, or not affect the deficit?
3) How high is this cap on profits and premiums or whatever they're capping for the private insurers?
4) Will this bill include tort reform?
5) This isn't about the bill but It's just something i've been wondering. Is it true that the profits for insurance companies are ridiculously low and the fact that they need so much money to operate coming from the methods used to treat the sick in this country?

1. No, the bill didn't explicitly do that in the first place but it left some concerns with pro-life legislators. with the passage of the stupak Amendment to the bill, there will be absolutely no funding for abortions in the bill.
2. That remains to be seen, if the pland does indeed pay for itself as the democrats say it does, then it won't affect the deficit. if it does, then we need to come up with a way to pay for everything.
3. Not sure
4. Not that I know of, this may appear in the senate version though.
i'm not sure I understand your last question.

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

avalanche: I personally am leery of the whole thing. SOme stuff I want answered though:

1) Do tax payers have to pay for abortions?
2) Will this lower, raise, or not affect the deficit?

Originally Posted by Tyras

1. No, the bill didn't explicitly do that in the first place but it left some concerns with pro-life legislators. with the passage of the stupak Amendment to the bill, there will be absolutely no funding for abortions in the bill.
2. That remains to be seen, if the pland does indeed pay for itself as the democrats say it does, then it won't affect the deficit. if it does, then we need to come up with a way to pay for everything.

1) The bill allows federal funding for abortions only if it meets the conditions of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits said funding unless:

• The mother was impregnated by rape.
• The mother was impregnated by incest.
• The mother's life will be in danger unless an abortion is not conducted for medical reasons.

2) Nothing is ever certain until it actually happens, but several non-partisan government boards have expressed optimism in terms of the plan helping with bringing the States out of the deficit. Honestly, though, this plan has less to do about health care and more about trying to work out the wrench the economy.

Honestly, though, despite the fact that the plan is geared more towards the economy than it is an actual health plan, I must add that many democratic, industrialized nations, including Western Europe, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand, have utilized similar plans to great effect. I do hope that it works out well for the United States as well.

here are the key points of the bill for anyone who isn't sure of what it does:

* prohibit health insurers from charging different rates based on patients' medical histories or gender.
* prohibit health insurers from refusing coverage based on patients' medical histories.
* repeal of the exemption for insurance companies from anti-trust laws.
* requiring most employers to provide coverage for their workers or pay a surtax on the worker's wages up to 8%.
* new restrictions on abortion coverage in private insurance plans (note: Medicare is already prohibited from covering abortions by law.).
* an expansion of Medicare to all low income Americans.
* provide a subsidy to low to middle income Americans to help buy insurance.
* a central insurance exchange where the public can compare policies and rates.
* a government run insurance plan (public option).
* requiring most Americans to obtain health insurance or face penalties.
* a 5.4% tax on personal income over $500,000 (individuals) or $1,000,000 (families).
* reductions in projected spending on Medicare by $400 million per year.

That's good; more taxes and bigger bureaucracy. Just keep taxing the crap out of everybody. That will solve all the world's problems. =/