What do you think of the health care reform bill?

I have having a problem with the high premiums and high deductables that I am currently paying. I don't understand how this health care bill will bring these items down. If health care companies are required to provide all the extra services (like pre-existing conditions and no cap on benefits, etc.), they will simply charge more for these services. Right? Or, do you think the CEO's will take a cut in pay and profits?

Cindy, I have heard that since everyone will be required to buy insurance, there will be a pool of young people who will be buying insurance but taking a smaller amount out than we seniors. Also, there is a provision that 80% of the amount insurance companies take in on premiums has to be paid out to health care recipients. I think this means that the insurance companies will have to spend less on other things.

I have no hope the reform will do anything except profit the insurance companies. Since it is not a government run health care, and only forces me to buy insurance from an insurance company, what will keep the premiums reasonable and the coverage actually covering anything. Nothing can fix PartD when the insurance company you are signed up with can change "what they pay" for the drug which is too high.

I quit work to take care of my mother who has Alzheimer's. I have no insurance but am healthy. I saved for years to be able to quit and still pay bills, just barely. How will they force me to pay for this when I don't work? And will it just take down my savings until I'm broke, forced out of my house and on welfare? I have no hope that anything left to be run by profitable insurance companies will do any good. Try and find a doctor here in Florida that will take any of the Medicare HMO (advantage plans) - they just refuse to see you.

I just can't wait to see what happens with this idea. I agree something needs to be done about the cost of drugs and medical care but I can't see this reform doing that.

You are SOOOOOO right. This bill was a fraud from the beginning. Here is an interesting article written by a former head of the CBO, whose figures became a political football during the last few days of so-called "transparent" negotiations with senators/representatives wanting bribes for their votes. (Our tax money was used for those bribes, you know) This man knows how the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) does math, and Obama/Pelosi/Reid used it to their great advantage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/opinion/21holtz-eakin.html?scp=3&sq=CBO&st=Search

My heart goes out to those who think this is going to "help" them. In reality, it only makes us more dependent upon the Democratic party and creates a huge new entitlement (like Social Security - bankrupt - and Medicare - bankrupt - are now) which will ultimately bankrupt the United States of America.

Lets all hope for this to work for the good of the people and our country's budget. If you have ever experienced not being able to get insurance beause of your age or your health you know we need help. Now I am fighting the high cost of medicare supplement and the donut hole. It's a lot to keep up every November to list all your meds and find what drug plan is best for you. So many people are not able to use a computer so they get signed up and just try to pay the high premiums every month. It takes a lot to look at what each drug plan will pay for ,their limits on medications per month and step up programs. I believe when you go to a doctor he should give medications that are in your best interest and we should not be forced to ask for the cheaper brands and be limited on the number you can receive. Until we went on medicare our group insurance was so very expensive plus we had to pay 20% and a yearly deductable that went from $25.00 in 1961 to $5000.00 in 2005. We did not go to the doctor unless absolutely necessary because we could not afford the expense. When my husband went on medicare he was in need of 5 bypasses. I have a friend that does not go for her yearly test because she has such a high deductable. I know that many people are being neglectful of their health because of their high deductable. Lets just hope that some of these problems have been resolved with this new law.

The United States will go bankrupt from fighting needless wars, not from providing its citizens with the right to decent and affordable health care.

Is it that this country OWES you anything, except the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness? Is that what the Constitution says? There are young folks who expect the government to afford them a college education, free child care and a car, once they leave the nest. I think this entitlement mentality has gone a bit too far.

Now, one more thing. Pelosi rails about the insurance company profits, but their profits for one year equal what providing everyone government-paid for (I pay for everyone, in other words) healthcare for 2 DAYS.

Supporters of this fiasco need to understand the true cost of this bill to America. We won't be fighting wars to defend ourselves against attack from without, because we are being destroyed from within.

I fear for my children.

It establishes the toughest patient protections in history.

It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.

And it reduces the cost of care -- cutting over 1 trillion dollars from the federal deficit over the next two decades.

To ensure a successful, stable transition, many of these changes will phase into full effect over the next several years.

But for millions of Americans, many of the benefits of reform will begin this year -- some even taking effect this afternoon. Here are just a few examples:

Small businesses will receive significant tax cuts, this year, to help them afford health coverage for all their employees.

Seniors will receive a rebate to reduce drug costs not yet covered under Medicare.

Young people will be allowed coverage under their parents' plan until the age of 26.

Early retirees will receive help to reduce premium costs.

Children will be protected against discrimination on the basis of medical history.

Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions can join a special high-risk pool to get the coverage they need, starting in just 90 days.

Insured Americans will be protected from seeing their insurance revoked when they get sick, or facing restrictive annual limits on the care they receive.

All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights. Especially older Americans!!!!!!! Our medication will be cheaper! Mis-information has taken it's toll on seniors and we should help educate them.

I fear that we have let the fear monguls poison our view of a plan that is definitely in our (Seniors) interest. This law will ensure the following and will be improved over time. More could not be done now because the nay-sayers wouldn't approve more.

Don't be afraid for your children, unless it's the negative attitude that you are seeing from the right wing. This improvement is good for us.

It establishes the toughest patient protections in history.

It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.

And it reduces the cost of care -- cutting over 1 trillion dollars from the federal deficit over the next two decades.

To ensure a successful, stable transition, many of these changes will phase into full effect over the next several years.

But for millions of Americans, many of the benefits of reform will begin this year -- some even taking effect this afternoon. Here are just a few examples:

Small businesses will receive significant tax cuts, this year, to help them afford health coverage for all their employees.

Seniors will receive a rebate to reduce drug costs not yet covered under Medicare.

Young people will be allowed coverage under their parents' plan until the age of 26.

Early retirees will receive help to reduce premium costs.

Children will be protected against discrimination on the basis of medical history.

Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions can join a special high-risk pool to get the coverage they need, starting in just 90 days.

Insured Americans will be protected from seeing their insurance revoked when they get sick, or facing restrictive annual limits on the care they receive.

All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights.

I too am having a problem with paying the insurance payments in addition to my medicine, not to mention that I will be reaching the doughnut hole sooner because my health is declining. Even though I have new prescriptions from my primary care physican, my insurance company is needing prior approval...and then it is almost too expensive to buy. But I have followed this new plan and to the best of my knowledge I am being assured that it will do the following and as time goes on it will be more improved.

Let's be happy that this is a beginning to a better America even while we are living.

Please read and know the following to be true.

It establishes the toughest patient protections in history.

It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.

And it reduces the cost of care -- cutting over 1 trillion dollars from the federal deficit over the next two decades.

To ensure a successful, stable transition, many of these changes will phase into full effect over the next several years.

But for millions of Americans, many of the benefits of reform will begin this year -- some even taking effect this afternoon. Here are just a few examples:

Small businesses will receive significant tax cuts, this year, to help them afford health coverage for all their employees.

Seniors will receive a rebate to reduce drug costs not yet covered under Medicare.

Young people will be allowed coverage under their parents' plan until the age of 26.

Early retirees will receive help to reduce premium costs.

Children will be protected against discrimination on the basis of medical history.

Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions can join a special high-risk pool to get the coverage they need, starting in just 90 days.

Insured Americans will be protected from seeing their insurance revoked when they get sick, or facing restrictive annual limits on the care they receive.

All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights.

I do have hope that the reform is a start in the right direction. More couldn't be done at once because the right wing would not allow it but it will do the following and I for one look forward to these improvements. I also believe that as time goes on it will be more improved.

Let's be happy that this is a beginning to a better America even while we are living.

Please read and know the following to be true. Be encouraged...things are going to be better for us seniors.

It establishes the toughest patient protections in history.

It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.

And it reduces the cost of care -- cutting over 1 trillion dollars from the federal deficit over the next two decades.

To ensure a successful, stable transition, many of these changes will phase into full effect over the next several years.

But for millions of Americans, many of the benefits of reform will begin this year -- some even taking effect this afternoon. Here are just a few examples:

Small businesses will receive significant tax cuts, this year, to help them afford health coverage for all their employees.

Seniors will receive a rebate to reduce drug costs not yet covered under Medicare.

Young people will be allowed coverage under their parents' plan until the age of 26.

Early retirees will receive help to reduce premium costs.

Children will be protected against discrimination on the basis of medical history.

Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions can join a special high-risk pool to get the coverage they need, starting in just 90 days.

Insured Americans will be protected from seeing their insurance revoked when they get sick, or facing restrictive annual limits on the care they receive.

All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights.

Are you really letting Rush govern your attitude about a plan that will help more people than hurt them? This fear monguring is really sad.

This reform will do the following and if you are a senior like me will a moderate income and insurance payments that do not fully cover the cost and medicine that cost more than you should have to pay out of a fixed income, then you should be happy about a new beginning.

This plan will do the following and I for one am pleased that we have finally started moving in the right directionI too am having a problem with paying the insurance payments in addition to my medicine, not to mention that I will be reaching the doughnut hole sooner because my health is declining. Even though I have new prescriptions from my primary care physican, my insurance company is needing prior approval...and then it is almost too expensive to buy. But I have followed this new plan and to the best of my knowledge I am being assured that it will do the following and as time goes on it will be more improved.

Let's be happy that this is a beginning to a better America even while we are living.

Please read and know the following to be true.

It establishes the toughest patient protections in history.

It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.

And it reduces the cost of care -- cutting over 1 trillion dollars from the federal deficit over the next two decades.

To ensure a successful, stable transition, many of these changes will phase into full effect over the next several years.

But for millions of Americans, many of the benefits of reform will begin this year -- some even taking effect this afternoon. Here are just a few examples:

Small businesses will receive significant tax cuts, this year, to help them afford health coverage for all their employees.

Seniors will receive a rebate to reduce drug costs not yet covered under Medicare.

Young people will be allowed coverage under their parents' plan until the age of 26.

Early retirees will receive help to reduce premium costs.

Children will be protected against discrimination on the basis of medical history.

Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions can join a special high-risk pool to get the coverage they need, starting in just 90 days.

Insured Americans will be protected from seeing their insurance revoked when they get sick, or facing restrictive annual limits on the care they receive.

All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights.

Now does that sound like a bad thing? How can you not trust it when you haven't had an opportunity to see it in action?

Please don't waste our time with transcripts of Rush Limbaugh. His OPINIONS reflect the same as his right-wing followers. Quoting blatant bias extremest banter doesn't HELP anyone understand anything unless they just want to hear a far-right bunch of slanted mis-information.

New roses Oh well I guess 2 1/2 trillion is also okay with you? And all the taxes your will have to pay you see soon enough what your hope and change will bring you.. And forget about our care with doctors they are all retiring or not going to except medicare... Cant talk to a bunch of know it all you must walk on water too

I guess obama will be right about health care like the stimulus and the bailout of GM

You must know what a budget is. You must know how a budget works. When you are short on money, you have to stop spending that month.

This country is running 4 times the debt NOW that Bush accumulated his whole presidency. This president promises everyone everything.

How do you think you can cover MORE people and reduce the deficit? It's a fantasy, folks!

We have to run the government printing presses day and night now to print more money that is going to be just worthless. We are watching our country put itself into bankruptcy, and you all are thinking it's wonderful and great. Well, those of us who are "fearmongering" are more afraid of what is going to happen when we become like Cuba or any other third world country.

Even the doctors are not onboard. Obama likes to crow about the AMA being behind him but GUESS WHAT??? Only 20% of American doctors belong to the AMA. Look it up.

Doctors are already not taking NEW medicare patients, and Walgreens just announced that it is not going to take on new Medicare scripts because they just can't make any money. THEY are smart enough not to operate at a loss. Wish Walgreens was running Washington.

Check these things out. Don't just promise folks things that WILL happen. it's just fantasy. You all have had to stretch a paycheck, you know that you can't pull money out of thin air.

Whew.

Oh, and not to mention - haven't you read anything about WHEN this starts? It's all political - it won't even start until after the election of 2012. That's so people are still delusional and worshipping Obama, and haven't found out what it WON'T do for them. He's afraid he won't be reelected if people find out now that it's all smoke and mirrors.

The benefits for the average person won't start till 2014. BUT the taxes that are going to be raised on you working stiffs will kick in right away, so that the government can start accumulating money to pay for all this utopia.

READ folks. Don't go like blind sheep over the cliff.

Babesy Thank you so nice to see I am not alone, people just think Obama signed in to law and it goes into effective in a snap of a finger.. Just read that the part of insurance companies taking you if you have preconditions for adults and children dosent start til 2014 either... Guess Obama will have to do another executive order. Sad day for all of us in America

Babesy and Blacky1 - When I hear something that shows you to not be followers of Rush or Beck or Hanity or any of the other FauxNews followers, then I might give more consideration to your demeaning form of replying to ANYONE who disagrees with you. Then again, I don't give much credit to those who must demean and name-call those who disagree with them. I already know the crying points you continue to pander but I have looked-up and read from more sources than far-right, or conservative libertarians and the like. If you want to know the 'real' specifics of HCR, then go to factcheck.org. THEY will give you the facts and fiction of all these claims. (unless you just are too closed minded)And, YES,there are a few of these claims that are at least partially right. I, for one, do not want to be a fatalist, pessimist, or nay-sayer about every attempt by anyone who supports something that is so needed by so many, whether it is health reform, civil rights, or whatever. Many of you have complained the lack of a public option is why this is soooo bad, but this is a START, and if you can't see that, then you are either total pessimist or or really more concerned about yourself than the good of all. PS Blacky1 - YOU appear to be the one who 'knows it all' I am not the one making statements as 'facts' Babesy - if you would bother checking, you would know that SOME of this begins right away for those most in need of it and the rest will transition into place over the next few years, and it is a START. I, nor others who support this are not Obama 'worshipers' as you snidely remarked, nor are we 'delusional' or 'blind sheep'. I HAVE read,(more than slanted rantings) how about you?

Factcheck.org was started by the Annenberg Foundation, and guess who sat on the board of directors of Annenberg? I'll let you look that one up.

Tentacles go everywhere.

I stand by my statements, every one of them.

I have no quibble with you saying it was needed - it was. Hell, I pay my own insurance every month - over $600 because I am not in a group. I don't like it but I control my own health care. I make my own decisions. I choose my own doctors. No one tells me "no". You are going to be experiencing that someday.

Some of this doesn't even go into effect till 2019. Oh, how they railed and carried on about how it was needed NOW!!! People are dying NOW!!!

Look this quote up: David Dingle yesterday, saying the reason things don't take effect right away. "It takes time to get things in order to control the people." That may not be word for word, except for the "in order to control the people" part. That came through loud and clear. I challenge you to look that one up.

Blind sheep. You all drank the Pelosi/Reid/Obama Koolaid. I fear for this nation.

It was all political, and I am not a Rush follower. Rush gets irritating after a while when you try to listen to him. I read and I follow the money trail. That is the name of the game in politics anymore, and politics and healthcare (pharm and insurance) are all in bed together.

So read this from a doctor guess she is stupid too

Fact check is for people that REALLY LOOKING FOR INFO.. they have been discredited for over the past year. See where your coming from blind to the truth 1% of the trillion dollars gets spent in the 1st 4 years not much kicks in but you know best

GO to your search and put in fact check and you will see a bunch of websites that tell you just how unreliable they are. CNN GOT IN TROUBLE USING THEM AND THE STOPPED USING THEM FOR INFO.

I didn't say I KNOW EVERYTHING (YOU DID) BUT I AM NOT GOING TO LET PEOPLE LIKE YOU Scare ME, I plan to go to Tea Party's and fight to keep my rights and keep America like it was when I grew up..

You should move to Canada if you looking forward to Obamacare you wouldny have to wait for your care.

An M.D. in family practice passed along this letter she sent to her patients after Obamacare became law. She relates that, so far, "100% of those who have contacted me about it have supported me and accepted the new conditions."

March 23, 2010 My Dear Patient, As you must know, Congress has just passed extensive legislation governing health care delivery and insurance systems. Whether you agree with what it does or not, we are all now subject to this law and its sweeping changes. I have always conducted my medical practice with my patient’s best interests as my first priority. Although not legally obliged to do so, I have routinely provided you with a receipt that has all the codes necessary to bill your own health insurance company for any reimbursement to which you are entitled. Until now, that insurance company was a free enterprise despite the fact that it was heavily regulated by state and federal laws. Now the situation is quite different. Through the new law’s mandates, regulatory powers and reform, health insurance is and will be largely a government activity which will have an ever larger jurisdiction over how doctors practice, make clinical judgments and are paid. The new law provides for about 150 new government agencies, many of which are designed to be ‘oversight’ bureaucracies which will have the right to decide what medical care is legal to provide through insurance. Among other things, they will have the right to review my medical care of you and read your medical record. Now, as soon as you submit our economic transaction to your insurance company for reimbursement, you have involved me in these regulations and put me in the jurisdiction of government for my activities, decisions and behavior as your doctor. No one can have two masters. Either I can serve you as my patient or I can serve the government. Either I can continue to make your welfare and health my only concern, including the protection of your privacy and medical records, or I can abide by ever-increasing amounts of government regulations and dictates to my decisions. I can’t do both. I choose to continue to follow my conscience and practice medicine to serve you. For this reason, I am responding to the situation created by this new law by exercising my right not to participate in any health insurance program. I will still provide you with the same medical services that I always have, but the interaction will be exclusively and privately between you and me. This means that I will provide you only with a receipt for the services you have paid for, but without the additional information that is required to submit your receipt for reimbursement to your health insurance company. That is the only way I can make sure there will be no conflict between following the law and serving you. Because the law is now in effect, so must these changes be to my practice. Sincerely, Linda Johnston, MD

Babesy- OK, per your suggestion, I did look that up and yes Obama WAS (as in, that's right) on the board of directors. I also found more...which tells me that the Addenberg Foundation is pretty un-biased, unlike you would have me 'find out'. So, of course you still "stand by your statements,every one of them" because you only find and read what you WANT to hear.

Walter Addenberg introduced Ronald Reagan to Maggie Thatcher. Ronnie liked Walter's philosophy and philanthropy so much he gave him the Medal of Freedom. Ronnie liked Leonore (Addenberg) so much he made her his State Department's Chief of Protocol. This was after Walter had already served as Richard Nixon's Ambassador to England. Ronnie and his Wife, Nancy, enjoyed Leonore and Walter's company so much they spent holidays and New Year's Eves together. Some of Walter's prized publishing moments included taking on Joe McCarthy and championing support among Americans for the post-World War II Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe.

So, just because he sat on the board, does not mean they are "Obama Worshipers" There are many beloved Republicans that have schmoozed with the Addenbergs. SOMEBODY has to be on boards, and hopefully, a DIVERSE group! If YOU read beyond an argument that supports your slant, you would have known that though. Yes, tentacles DO go everywhere, even into right wing propaganda! So, you keep standing on your statements, refusing to consider ANY other ideas, solutions or opinions for you will ALWAYS be right (oops, an un-intentional play-on-words, but good enough to keep in)

Blacky1 - I NEVER said you were stupid, in fact, I doubt it. I just will not let slanted statements and once again, demeaning types of comments leave me without a voice.

You again, with this comment pointed out your own mis-representation of the facts, look back on the posts.... Blacky-I didn't say I KNOW EVERYTHING (YOU DID) BUT I AM NOT GOING TO LET PEOPLE LIKE YOU Scare ME, I plan to go to Tea Party's and fight to keep my rights and keep America like it was when I grew up..

And prior to that you said (to my FIRST post directly above yours, "Cant talk to a bunch of know it all you must walk on water too" What a NICE guy you are. I never tried to scare you, unless you get scared by someone disagreeing with you (those who are not scared by YOUR snide, intending to demean remarks) I admit, I don't see the attraction to the FAUX crew, but I don't hunt for mean-spirited propoganda to make myself feel better for my self-centered attitude of 'only if it helps me or doesn't cost me a dime' mentality.

I think the American people are doomed. When individual states went to mandatory car insurance, the cost of insurance rose. This will be a double whammy. The insurance will have to be raised to cover the mandatroy 85% for the company, so fewer people will be able to afford insurance. More people will be without health care, more people will be jobless, more smaller companies will go under and the ball keeps rolling to a greater depression. How does that affect home-caregivers? Well I for one will be stung even harder. There is no help (financially) for caregivers. I take care of my disabled brother (Veitnam Veteran) 24/7 with no help but his veterans benifits. This does not include any health nor financial benefits for me. Do not get me wrong - I do this willingly because 1) he is my brother and 2) he did serve our country.