So...what do you guys think about the health care bill?

MrsKocal

I have to admit, I was not following this debate as much as I should have been.  Like most issues since Obama has taken office, I have taken a very laid back political approach - I voted for him because I agree with his views and values, so I trust his ideas.

Since the bill passed, I've been reading a ton of "what does this mean?" articles, and i have to say - i don't understand what the big fuss was....

The articles i am reading are not "propoganda", not left-wing Obama-praising, not biased at all.  They are just a breakdown of what changes will go into effect now that the bill has passed.

I really don't see anything negative, other than a small increase in taxes for those making over $200K.  Am I missing something horrible?  Did the republicans unanimously vote no just because it was something Obama wanted, or is there something really wrong with this bill?

lawby2005

I don't know the ins and outs of it myself - I think the Republicans were concerned about the financial ramifications in the next couple of years, and also the 'punishment' for individuals who choose not to be insured.

I would like to learn more but I know that all parties will not be pleased because there is no way a decision, a reform as huge as this can make everyone one in this diverse country happy. However, it sounds promising.

Temp663997437501443

I like the idea of having some changes to the insurance industry.  I think excluding for pre-existing conditions is ridiculous.  At some point, we will all have had something or other and will therefore be uninsurable.  I also think that there should be an affordable way to give healthcare to people who are uninsured/underinsured.  Yes, these are all wonderful things. 

But, I don't think this bill was well-thought out.  It was sloppy, actually.  Hence, the reconciliation bill right on its tails.  Everyone knew there were faults with the original but wanted to pass it anyway. I think everyone is so excited for change that they don't care what that change is or who will be held with the burden.

There is just something about all this that makes me nervous.  How will this be executed so that it isn't abused as Medicaid is now?  I see this as being a financial and administrative nightmare. I wish there was a better proposal for me to be on board.

MrsDe2008

I'm with you Danielle...

I was watching the news earlier and they were going over what this new bill means and seems like it will be mostly effecting people who make over $200,000 (like you said), so that leaves DH and I out of that...but, it may effect the cap on your current coverage, depending on who you work for...and if you pay into your coverage...that may be effected as well. =/ Only time will tell on what will really happen...

dnagal

I think it will cost less than the Iraq War and has a chance of actually HELPING somebody.

MrsKocal

Honestly, I'm mostly just happy that it passed so Congress can actual focus on something else now!!  It was getting so frustrating - not to insult anyone who is Republican, but the way the GOP was just unanimously voting no out of principle and refusing to negotiate was killing me. There comes a time when you actually have to do the job you were sent to Washington to do - and that includes negotiating and compromising so things can GET DONE.  So, I'm just happy they can all start talking about other things again.  Sure, there will be challenges to the bill from tons of states and it's not over by a long shot, but at least the voting part is over.

Rachiemoo

I think the reason why a lot of people are upset, is that the government is now forcing everyone to purchase health insurance.  If you don't do it, then they'll fine you.  Many Americans like the idea of being able to make their own decisions and not being told what to do with their own money.  I think it makes sense that people can be bothered by the government getting more involved in our personal lives and telling us how to spend our own hard earned cash.

Like many people mentioned earlier, those making $200,000 or more will be taxed at a higher percentage than those who make less money.  Again, I can see why people would be upset at this, because it punishes those who work hard to make a good salary to support themselves and their families.

 Businesses will now have to pay more money to cover their employee's health insurance, not something good to do when the unemployment rate is already so high imo.

Also, the bill does impose on States' Rights.  For example, Massachusetts already has it's own mandatory health care for all in place, so they're basically going to be taxed twice for the same thing.

I don't agree that the GOP was unanimously voting no out of principle.  They were left out of any negotiations until the very end and the bill was written behind closed doors (even though Obama promised that everything would be out in the open and on CSPAN during his campaign).  

 I guess I've officially come out as the Libertarian member of the NY Knotties

MrsKocal

Rachiemoo:

I think the reason why a lot of people are upset, is that the government is now forcing everyone to purchase health insurance.  If you don't do it, then they'll fine you.  Many Americans like the idea of being able to make their own decisions and not being told what to do with their own money.  I think it makes sense that people can be bothered by the government getting more involved in our personal lives and telling us how to spend our own hard earned cash.

yes, I can see this as being a point of contention for some people.  I guess I don't mind it because I see the reasoning behind it - people without health insurance are more likely to go to the ER for routine care, and also more likely  not be able to pay their medical bills....which in turn increases costs of medical care for everyone else who does have insurance and pay their bills.  Which is not cool.  Of course not everyone without health insurance does that, but that is where the motivation behind this requirement came from.

I understand the argument people make for wanting the gov't to stop interfering with their personal lives and let them do what they want to do.  I just think that some of those people don't realize that many aspects of their "personal" lives actually affect everyone else, so it's not really "personal" anymore.

shelby.ann

I will pretty much ditto everything RachieMoo said.

I agree that something needs to be done about health care.  I don't think this bill accomplishes what needs to be accomplished.  It does nothing to address the basic cause of the "crisis" which is that health care is getting more and more expensive (people are living longer and the senior class is expanding, combined with newer and better technologies).  And those services are expensive; they have to be rationed somehow.  Under the current system there is very little incentive for either the consumers or the providers to do this in an efficient way.

Things that bug me especially:

- The new pre-existing condition rule.  While I agree that is SUCKS to not be able to get coverage based on this, and I agree that something needs to be done about it, you CANNOT just say "well you have to cover everyone, insurance companies" and NOT expect premiums to increase.  Insurance companies have to stay in business somehow, and the way they do that is largely by managing risk by choosing which customer to take on and how much to charge them.  They will now find some other way of doing this, and it likely won't be to the benefit of the customers.

- The "fine."  I don't think it's the federal government's business to charge me for choosing not to purchase something that it thinks I need.  Sorry, I just don't.  Besides, the amount of the fine is rather arbitrary.  For people who truly can't afford insurance to begin with, it's overly burdensome and it seems like that there will at some point be a hardship exemption for this fine.  For people who can afford it, in many cases it might be worth it just to pay the fine and pay your own costs or whatever.  Not to mention that the very idea is arguably unconstitutional.

- The bill does NOTHING, that I've seen, to advance HSA (Health Savings Accounts), which IMO are the #1 way to get health care back in the hands of the consumers (us) and away from government and insurance companies.  It makes me so sad that this idea has fallen by the wayside.  A high-deductible plan for catastrophic coverage + HSA = a wonderful compromise between the goal of making sure no one goes bankrupt from their medical bills and keeping the government out of health care.  But alas, I am not in charge.

This post (which is short, concise, unbiased and well written) also pretty much sums up my thoughts on this bill (and the OA in general, actually). http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2010/03/healthcare-tradeoffs-and-road-ahead.html