Health Care Reform Facts for the Educate Person

August 15, 2009

Who pays for your health insurance and what does it cost?

Ron

8 ways

> >

> > 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without

> > coverage

> >

> > 1.. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance

> > companies

> > will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical

> > history.

> > 2.. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays:

> > Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much

> > they can charge

> > for out-of-pocket expenses.

> > 3.. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must

> > fully

> > cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you

> > prevent

> > illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.

> > 4.. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies

> > will

> > be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for

> > those

> > who become seriously ill.

> > 5.. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited

> > from charging you more because of your gender.

> > 6.. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies

> > will be

> > prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you

> > receive.

> > 7.. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be

> > eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

> > 8.. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be

> > required to

> > renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in

> > full.

> > Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because

> > someone became

> > sick.

> >

> > 8 common myths about health insurance reform

> >

> > 1.. Reform will stop " rationing " - not increase it: It's a myth that

> > reform will mean a " government takeover " of health care or lead to

> > " rationing. "

> > To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are

> > currently being used by insurance companies.

> > 2.. We can't afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford.

> > It's a

> > myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the

> > President has

> > identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs

> > by cutting

> > waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs;

> > ending

> > big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with

> > such

> > steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long

> > term,

> > reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a

> > fiscal crisis.

> > 3.. Reform would encourage " euthanasia " : It does not. It's a

> > malicious

> > myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for

> > seniors. For

> > seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about

> > end-of

> > life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private

> > consultations for those who want help with these personal and

> > difficult family

> > decisions.

> > 4.. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It's a myth that health

> > insurance

> > reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the

> > contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage

> > under the VA,

> > extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously

> > excluded. The VA

> > Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible

> > veterans.

> > 5.. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It's a myth

> > that

> > health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary,

> > reform

> > will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to

> > help them

> > pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big

> > firms

> > who pay much less to cover their employees on average.

> > 6.. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It's myth that

> > Health

> > Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To

> > the

> > contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of

> > Medicare,

> > ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary

> > subsidies to

> > insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare " doughnut " hole

> > to make

> > prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.

> > 7.. You can keep your own insurance: It's myth that reform will

> > force you

> > out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors.

> > To the

> > contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.

> > 8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is

> > an

> > absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts.

> > Health

> > insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and

> > more

> > convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just

> > like paying

> > a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or

> > by a

> > direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they

> > will be

> > easier to understand. The choice is up to you - and the same rules

> > of privacy

> > will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people

> > make.

> >

August 15, 2009

How about getting rid of Pre-existing condition clauses, and denial of

coverage for catastrophic injury/illness, if you pay for the coverage

you should not worry about if they are going to cover you in the event

of the " unthinkable "

-Chris

>

> Oh yeah...

>

> My ideas for health care reform...

>

> 1.? Tort reform.? Limit the amount of non-economic damages people

> can get on all cases except gross negligence...much like city,

> county and the state has today.

>

> 2.? Remove state laws that both require all insurance to cover

> EVERYTHING a politician thinks should be covered and prevents

> insurance from being sold across state lines. Why can't I buy a

> policy like a friend of mine has in Wyoming while in Texas??? Also,

> it help promote competition which will drive down costs.? I heard a

> Pennsylvania congress person the other night say that 2 insurance

> companies provide over 80% of the insurance in Pennsylvania...no

> wonder the rates are going up...there is no competition to bring it

> down.

>

> 3.? Allow REAL healthcare savings accounts.? Where you can save a

> nice large sum of money to provide both day-to-day expenses as well

> as the deductible of a catastrophic health insurance policy.? Not an

> account you have to empty every year...but one where you can truly

> save a good amount of money PRE-tax.? My idea is you can keep up to

> 3 times your deductible and if you go over that, then you can put

> 1/2 of your overage into a retirement account with no tax penalty

> and if you don't spend the rest on healthcare activities...then it

> gets taxed down to the limit to help offset the cost of the private

> insurance we are buying those who cannot afford to get it on their

> own.? This provides incentive to spend some of your savings on

> preventative things to make you healthier.

>

> 4.? Provide insurance (private insurance) for those who cannot

> afford insurance.

>

> 5.? Work to eliminate ALL the fraud in our current government

> insurance plans and work to get them up to paying the true cost of

> providing the service.

>

> I think that is a good place to start...in my opinion anyway.

>

> Dudley

>

> Re: Health Care Reform Facts for the Educate

> Person

>

> Based on you response " Capitalism works. where it breaks down is

> when government tries to make it work *better*. If I take that to

> heart in EMS then all the EMS Districts, DSHS, and all the City/

> County/Hospital District services are broken down. That the way I

> interpret it, but am I wrong? If so tell me what you mean.

> Thank you and EVERYONE responding, because this is " not " something

> we can ignore anymore, and it has been far to long. I've seen to

> many Veterans lying on the ground dying, and elderly that have zero

> health care, and if you believe in that then please rethink. Are we

> suppose to through all the 400-800 State School Clients out of the

> Government run system here on the street as threaten to do

> last session? They are all on Medicaid or Medicare. Medicaid and

> Medicare are all government contracted services, so if you want the

> government out of health care them through them on the street " now " !

> Tough talk, but it's a tough world for those without health care.

> Ron

> 8 ways

> > >

> > > 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or

> without

> > > coverage

> > >

> > > 1.. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance

> > > companies

> > > will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your

> medical

> > > history.

> > > 2.. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-

> Pays:

> > > Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much

> > > they can charge

> > > for out-of-pocket expenses.

> > > 3.. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies

> must

> > > fully

> > > cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you

> > > prevent

> > > illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.

> > > 4.. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance

> companies

> > > will

> > > be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage

> for

> > > those

> > > who become seriously ill.

> > > 5.. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be

> prohibited

> > > from charging you more because of your gender.

> > > 6.. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies

> > > will be

> > > prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you

> > > receive.

> > > 7.. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue

> to be

> > > eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

> > > 8.. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be

> > > required to

> > > renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in

> > > full.

> > > Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because

> > > someone became

> > > sick.

> > >

> > > 8 common myths about health insurance reform

> > >

> > > 1.. Reform will stop " rationing " - not increase it: It's a myth

> that

> > > reform will mean a " government takeover " of health care or lead to

> > > " rationing. "

> > > To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that

> are

> > > currently being used by insurance companies.

> > > 2.. We can't afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford.

> > > It's a

> > > myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the

> > > President has

> > > identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs

> > > by cutting

> > > waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health

> programs;

> > > ending

> > > big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency

> with

> > > such

> > > steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long

> > > term,

> > > reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a

> > > fiscal crisis.

> > > 3.. Reform would encourage " euthanasia " : It does not. It's a

> > > malicious

> > > myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for

> > > seniors. For

> > > seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about

> > > end-of

> > > life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private

> > > consultations for those who want help with these personal and

> > > difficult family

> > > decisions.

> > > 4.. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It's a myth that health

> > > insurance

> > > reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To

> the

> > > contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage

> > > under the VA,

> > > extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously

> > > excluded. The VA

> > > Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible

> > > veterans.

> > > 5.. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It's a

> myth

> > > that

> > > health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the

> contrary,

> > > reform

> > > will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to

> > > help them

> > > pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with

> big

> > > firms

> > > who pay much less to cover their employees on average.

> > > 6.. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It's myth

> that

> > > Health

> > > Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits.

> To

> > > the

> > > contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of

> > > Medicare,

> > > ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary

> > > subsidies to

> > > insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare " doughnut "

> hole

> > > to make

> > > prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.

> > > 7.. You can keep your own insurance: It's myth that reform will

> > > force you

> > > out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors.

> > > To the

> > > contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.

> > > 8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account:

> It is

> > > an

> > > absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank

> accounts.

> > > Health

> > > insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier

> and

> > > more

> > > convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just

> > > like paying

> > > a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional

> check, or

> > > by a

> > > direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they

> > > will be

> > > easier to understand. The choice is up to you - and the same rules

> > > of privacy

> > > will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that

> people

> > > make.

> > >

August 15, 2009