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News & ArtsSunday, March 21, 2010
Health "This Is What Change Looks Like"
Posted by Eli Sanders on Sun, Mar 21, 2010 at 9:53 PM
President Obama, speaking tonight after the House passed the historic health care bill he championed:
2
I just drove down to Puyallup and bought 3 cartons of American Spirit.
No pre-existing conditions...Yippee!
4
Can anyone point me to an brief and objective summary of the provisions of the bill?
I'm especially interested to determine whether it stipulates guaranteed issue. More specifically, I'm hoping it will eventually put an end to the incomprehensible "health questionnaire" currently being foisted on anyone who seeks to obtain a policy in the individual market.
For those of you who aren't familiar with this admirable document, one example of its mind-bending absurdity is the fact that, according to its definition of "treatment," a doctor telling you that a condition has resolved on its own without requiring any treatment is itself considered a form of treatment, and that it must be indicated as such, else you will be likely denied coverage for having an "untreated" condition.
"That's some catch, that Catch-22."
I'm especially interested to determine whether it stipulates guaranteed issue. More specifically, I'm hoping it will eventually put an end to the incomprehensible "health questionnaire" currently being foisted on anyone who seeks to obtain a policy in the individual market.
For those of you who aren't familiar with this admirable document, one example of its mind-bending absurdity is the fact that, according to its definition of "treatment," a doctor telling you that a condition has resolved on its own without requiring any treatment is itself considered a form of treatment, and that it must be indicated as such, else you will be likely denied coverage for having an "untreated" condition.
"That's some catch, that Catch-22."
5
In the end, we will look back on this day as the End of the Republicans.
And the rebirth of America, and all that is strong and good in us.
And the rebirth of America, and all that is strong and good in us.
6
Regarding my previous comment on the health questionnaire, I seem now to recall that the particular issue that I described was remedied in a recent version of the document. I still contend, however, that only a confirmed hypochondriac would possess the minute knowledge of their own medical history necessary to rule out the chance of committing a single, fatal error.
7
@5: I wish, but no. Let's not fall victim to the same hyperbole the right did. This is a minor setback for the Republicans. And little more.
8
Krugman had something nice lined up for publication on passage: here's the closer:
Without question, the campaign of fear was effective: health reform went from being highly popular to wide disapproval, although the numbers have been improving lately. But the question was, would it actually be enough to block reform?
And the answer is no. The Democrats have done it. The House has passed the Senate version of health reform, and an improved version will be achieved through reconciliation.
This is, of course, a political victory for President Obama, and a triumph for Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker. But it is also a victory for America’s soul. In the end, a vicious, unprincipled fear offensive failed to block reform. This time, fear struck out.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/opinio…
Without question, the campaign of fear was effective: health reform went from being highly popular to wide disapproval, although the numbers have been improving lately. But the question was, would it actually be enough to block reform?
And the answer is no. The Democrats have done it. The House has passed the Senate version of health reform, and an improved version will be achieved through reconciliation.
This is, of course, a political victory for President Obama, and a triumph for Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker. But it is also a victory for America’s soul. In the end, a vicious, unprincipled fear offensive failed to block reform. This time, fear struck out.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/opinio…
9
@ 7, no, this is a major setback. They're going to bluff and bluster about repealing it, but they won't have a chance unless Obama is turned out of office and their guy (it won't be Palin) is sworn in. That's three years from now, and that's assuming that they get an overwhelming number of 'pubs in both chambers, especially the Senate. (Those of you calling for the end of the filibuster are going to be so glad it's still there when the Senate goes back to a GOP majority, whenever that may occur. It won't be this year, though.)
12
@2: I definitely see what you're alluding to, but you know having cancer really, really sucks, right? Like more than it just being expensive to treat. It's also very, very emotionally and physically painful. Like very painful. And terrifying. You don't want it, even if you can get insurance to help treat it.
So if you're even remotely suggesting (in seriousness, part of me believes you must be joking) that exorbitant monetary cost of treating cancer is the only deterrent from making unhealthy decisions, well, I strongly suggest you learn more about what it's like to actually have cancer.
Nonetheless, it's your body; do what you want.
So if you're even remotely suggesting (in seriousness, part of me believes you must be joking) that exorbitant monetary cost of treating cancer is the only deterrent from making unhealthy decisions, well, I strongly suggest you learn more about what it's like to actually have cancer.
Nonetheless, it's your body; do what you want.
13
@12, John Bailo (@2) doesn't have a brain, so even if he gets cancer it won't trouble him too much.
14
Now my 20-year-old niece with a pre-existing condition (brain tumor) has a hope of getting health insurance when she gets out of college!
16
@5 fat chance - they're like the hydra. Cut one head off and ten more always grow back.
But seriously, I think we need those crazy bigots around to keep us honest. I'm pretty positive that without something to fight against/compare themselves to, Dems would get just as power-hungry, corrupt, and self-righteous.
But seriously, I think we need those crazy bigots around to keep us honest. I'm pretty positive that without something to fight against/compare themselves to, Dems would get just as power-hungry, corrupt, and self-righteous.
17
#14
Take another look ---
THE NEW LAW SAYS YOUR NIECE WILL GET INSURANCE. PERIOD.
And her whole life will change with that in her future, whatever the long term outcome. And those who love her can relax a bit.
Send a thank you to Pelosi and Obama. We all owe them big time.
The Republican just dug their grave - there are ten very good things that happen in months. -- In time for Nov.
All their staged and PR orchestrated fear will seem strange in a few months.
Take another look ---
THE NEW LAW SAYS YOUR NIECE WILL GET INSURANCE. PERIOD.
And her whole life will change with that in her future, whatever the long term outcome. And those who love her can relax a bit.
Send a thank you to Pelosi and Obama. We all owe them big time.
The Republican just dug their grave - there are ten very good things that happen in months. -- In time for Nov.
All their staged and PR orchestrated fear will seem strange in a few months.
18
@17 I think he meant that she has student insurance now, and was concerned about getting covered after graduation.
20
"Well, that's one last thing Canada can hold over our heads."
That, and the fact that the CN tower is taller than the Space Needle.....
That, and the fact that the CN tower is taller than the Space Needle.....
22
MINOR setback for the republicans, people. All conservatives have to do to get votes is make stupid people angry, and let me remind you, we have just as many stupid angry people in the country today as yesterday.
23
A huge win. Three cheers for Obama.
Like I said, fight mode, telling stories, working the field, outside the beltway, saying insurers are evil, my god this partisanship thing actually works, duh!
We have crossed the Rubison away from the "let's have responsible, bipartisan reform" (implicitly pro-GOP) nonsense.
Obama and the Democratic Party are now benefitting from tagging the conservadems and stupakians as "Democrats" who must teach their conservative yahoo voters they fucking need govt. or else fucking insurers will fucking eat them for lunch.
That's how you build your electoral strength...force your weak allies to be stronger allies.
Super props to SEIU and supporters of the lefty challenger to stupak, those who called baird, etc.
Let's us keep on Obama in fight mode, you know, just use majority power to pass more shit?
Immigration and finance reform can be huge wins for vote calculus.
In America, having a Democratic Party that stops asking permission to be a party, that stops being the codependent abuse victim who asks the abuser for permission to do things, well for our nation, that IS "change."
Now let's keep it that way.
Like I said, fight mode, telling stories, working the field, outside the beltway, saying insurers are evil, my god this partisanship thing actually works, duh!
We have crossed the Rubison away from the "let's have responsible, bipartisan reform" (implicitly pro-GOP) nonsense.
Obama and the Democratic Party are now benefitting from tagging the conservadems and stupakians as "Democrats" who must teach their conservative yahoo voters they fucking need govt. or else fucking insurers will fucking eat them for lunch.
That's how you build your electoral strength...force your weak allies to be stronger allies.
Super props to SEIU and supporters of the lefty challenger to stupak, those who called baird, etc.
Let's us keep on Obama in fight mode, you know, just use majority power to pass more shit?
Immigration and finance reform can be huge wins for vote calculus.
In America, having a Democratic Party that stops asking permission to be a party, that stops being the codependent abuse victim who asks the abuser for permission to do things, well for our nation, that IS "change."
Now let's keep it that way.
25
@20 That's why I love your posts!
The republicans kept calling this Obama's Waterloo. Well, I guess he was playing the part of Wellington.
The republicans kept calling this Obama's Waterloo. Well, I guess he was playing the part of Wellington.
26
Ok, so I called the representatives of Ohio to either congratulate them for courage or to tell them how ashamed I am for them.
The funny thing happened when I called my stupid senator Voinovich. His staffmember said that he had voted down the bill 'for religious reasons.' Can you believe it? She actually sounded proud of him.
I hate Ohio
The funny thing happened when I called my stupid senator Voinovich. His staffmember said that he had voted down the bill 'for religious reasons.' Can you believe it? She actually sounded proud of him.
I hate Ohio
27
how to find out what this bill really means for you:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/spe…
You're welcome. Gets past all the hue and cry and tells you what you need to know.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/spe…
You're welcome. Gets past all the hue and cry and tells you what you need to know.
28
I support the bill, because I think everyone ought to have to give more money to the government to be redistributed to corporations. I also think that the People have way too much say in how things are run, so logically we need to give corporations more money to buy politicians with.
In addition to that, I think that anyone who opts not to go with "the system" should have to be penalized, because free choice is vastly overrated. Personally, I think we ought to get about 15% of our income, while the rest is taxed for the good of everyone else.
In all seriousness, I don't fucking know. I don't see how anyone who was for the original bill could stomach what it is now, let alone actually support the fucking thing.
In addition to that, I think that anyone who opts not to go with "the system" should have to be penalized, because free choice is vastly overrated. Personally, I think we ought to get about 15% of our income, while the rest is taxed for the good of everyone else.
In all seriousness, I don't fucking know. I don't see how anyone who was for the original bill could stomach what it is now, let alone actually support the fucking thing.
29
Thanks for the replies, everyone. It sounds as if screening of applicants for pre-existing conditions will soon be a thing of the past. For those of us who have to obtain coverage in the uncertain individual market, where new providers come and go seemingly every year, this news comes as an enormous relief.
30
I think that's a real progess. Surely some improvements will have to be made, but the principle are really good.
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