8 FACTS AND 8 MYTHS ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM -- let's help this go viral, DU

[EarlG]

David Axelrod sent out this information today and wants it to go viral. Let's get this spread far and wide. Send it out to your email lists.

--------------------

8 WAYS HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM PROVIDES SECURITY AND STABILITY TO ALL AMERICANS

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.

Learn more and get details:
http://tinyurl.com/nbn5fg


8 COMMON MYTHS ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Learn more and get details:
http://tinyurl.com/lyxel4

[EarlG]

1. Additional information

I didn't include this in the original post because it's a bit wordy, but here it is for people who you think would benefit from having even more information.

--------------------------------------------

8 REASONS WE NEED HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM NOW

1. Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults - 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market - were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill.

Learn more:
http://tinyurl.com/mlmr8p

2. Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage.

Learn more:
http://tinyurl.com/na9nyo

3. Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women's reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care.

Learn more:
http://tinyurl.com/rcfjdq

4. Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities.

Learn more:
http://tinyurl.com/ltzpn9

5. Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly one-third of the uninsured - 13 million people - are employees of firms with less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse.

Learn more:
http://tinyurl.com/m6oar4

6. The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone.

Learn more:
http://tinyurl.com/lepyfh

7. Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the age of 65 - were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families.

Learn more:
http://tinyurl.com/nuwk9b

8. The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance - projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform.

Learn more:
http://tinyurl.com/mmsrce

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

44. Thanks!

Distributed to my network of family, friends etc.

[66 dmhlt]

69. Gotta believe that Faux News' Major Garrett deserves a few emails

Email for Major Garrett:
[e-mail]

FOX News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

And if you missed it, here's why:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Hutzpa]

46. Bookmarked

& Rec

[PSzymeczek]

49. Saved for future reference.

Thanks!

[jasi2006]

66. You may want to send this over to

www.justicefornone.com . They will format "Handbills" for distribution and they have a huge activist following.

[jumptheshadow]

87. Grabbing this to send to my family

My mother voted "don't know" if she's for the bill on a Facebook poll.

[Douglas Carpenter]

2. kick and recommend, of course!!!

[redqueen]

3. Sweet!

Thank you!

[lies and propaganda]

4. I just Stumbled it... its going to get a LOT of traffic

StumbleUpon is an amazing site geared toward what your personal interest are..

so anyone who has politics, news, insurance as a tag will now get this article..

(plus, its fun as hell)

[G_j]

5. K&R

well done

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. I just sent it to everyone on my address book - please do the same

and post EVERYWHERE!!!

[madinmaryland]

7. Elad. Can you pin this thread to the top of GD? THIS IS IMPORTANT!

Thanks!

[titoresque]

8. I just forwarded it along. nt.

[Turborama]

9. K&R & Posted as a note in Facebook

Thanks, Earl!

[mnhtnbb]

13. Good idea. I'm doing the same.

[BlueGirlRedState]

63. Speaking of Facebook....

I just voted "in favor" of health care on a poll and 66 percent voted against. What is wrong with these people?

[Lifelong Protester]

76. I did the same a few weeks ago, and was surprised.

What are the demographics of Facebook? I know it is popular with (my) older demographic, is that the problem??

[druidity33]

10. Forwarded. K&R. nt.

[Toucano]

11. k&R

[Kaleko]

12. Needs some dirty pics.

Who's gonna read so many elitist words like 'absurd'?

[RobertSeattle]

31. Put in on a t-shirt

And have women with "large eyes" wear it.

[guruoo]

14. I was just reading this on whitehouse.gov, and thinking the same thing, Earlg...

I'm going to also print out some copies to pass out to the neysayers at work.

[verges]

41. That picture is hysterical!!!

Did he manage to get out uninjured?

[PSzymeczek]

50. I like that guy in the middle

whose sign says "We have no idea what we're talking about".

[KCsun]

74. Hyporcitics

What was this not so funny when it was about the Iraq war???? Ye without sin cast the first stone. Not of this helps.

[The Wielding Truth]

79. "Abolish the Fed gov" next sign "We are the Gov" Hahahaha!

[MrM2]

86. HAHA

LOL! I caught that one too. Too funny!

[MichiganGal]

88. Beware the really gullible

I had someone tell me that I was part of the government attempt to get their email because I forwarded that 8 points email to them. Honestly some of these people are... There is not word for someone who is falling for such lame fear/hate mongering propaganda.

[mimitabby]

15. i just posted this to a women's forum

[AuntPatsy]

16. K & R and I am printing this out, thank you...

[Blue Diadem]

17. Just got it in my inbox from Axelrod. It's a great way to spread the truth!

Keep on forwarding!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. K&R for a very worthy cause!

[MrsBrady]

19. k&r

[mzmolly]

20. Well done!

[onestepforward]

21. K&R!

[keepCAblue]

22. I suggest everyone post the two WH links to facebook, etc....

Facebook's poll today on whether you support healthcare reform is an indicator of how urgent it is to get the FACTS about reform out to the American public, and not let the RNC and insurance lobbyists ride shotgun over this issue. Facebook's poll, with nearly 60,000 weighing in: 33% support while 63% OPPOSE healthcare reform. The rethuglican lies, intimidation and mob tactics are winning. We need to turn these numbers around!

[titoresque]

23. kick

[Wednesdays]

24. K&R

[2Design]

25. thanks for consolidation n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

26. Excellent!

[npk]

27. K & R n/t

[Ignis]

28. K&R. Back up to the top with you! (nt)

[progressoid]

29. Correction: 8 facts and 8 LIES about health care reform.

[ambientbuzz]

30. help with a wingnut nativist on health coverage for immigrants

(Hi. I'm brand new here and not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but anyway...)

I’m in a listserv snit with a rightwing nativist about coverage for undocumented immigrants – whom he calls "illegals." He’s making a distinction between whether their health care could be subsidized and whether more undocumented immigrants would receive health care coverage as a result of the bill’s passage – something he considers a travesty.

I’ve shown him the sections in the House tri committee and Senate HELP versions that say no Federal payments or affordability credits will be allowed for "individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States." He concedes that they would not receive federal money, but replies:

"Low income people could still get coverage by making payments of some nominal amount. The coverage is essentially free anyway. Consider the 150% Federal Poverty Level caps on premiums for the private plan insurance. That’s a subsidy, that’s not even federally provided. It's mandated, and the cost would be borne by higher income people. It’s not a federal subsidy. It’s a government regulation putting a cap on the private plan premium. Also, who knows what the public option will cost. It doesn’t say in the bill. In 1000+ pages they could mention cost, or what will be covered by the public option."

While I understand very well that I shouldn't be wasting my time arguing with this guy, it would still be fun to rattle his cage somehow, so any thoughts would be appreciated.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

32. Emailed this to my doctor

who is scheduled to be on a health forum with our Congressman. She's also my employer, and asked for a synopsis of the health care situation--yours is great, and exactly what she needs. Thanks!

[woundedkarma]

33. where's our humorous viral email?

I love my father but he has some nutty friends. Every day he receives republican emails spouting lie after lie but always in some humorous way. I can't block my father, I've asked him not to send me that crap but he still does it. While I'd love to copy and paste this story into an email and reverse forward it to all his friends and relatives, they'd never read it because it's not catchy, not funny and would just plain lose them after the first line.

So, where are all the truthful viral emails that are funny, tell a good story and hit home with some real information to combat all the republican lies?

You have to talk to these people in a language they understand. Watch Idiocracy for more information.

[politicswhatever]

34. Palin Hypocrisy Much?

Make this go viral.

http://gov.state.ak.us/print_news.php?id=1094



WHEREAS, Healthcare Decisions Day is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for healthcare decisions, related to end of life care and medical decision-making whenever patients are unable to speak for themselves and to encourage the specific use of advance directives to communicate these important healthcare decisions. WHEREAS, in Alaska, Alaska Statute 13.52 provides the specifics of the advance directives law and offers a model form for patient use.

WHEREAS, it is estimated that only about 20 percent of people in Alaska have executed an advance directive. Moreover, it is estimated that less than 50 percent of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive.


WHEREAS, it is likely that a significant reason for these low percentages is that there is both a lack of knowledge and considerable confusion in the public about Advance Directives.

WHEREAS, one of the principal goals of Healthcare Decisions Day is to encourage hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and hospices to participate in a statewide effort to provide clear and consistent information to the public about advance directives, as well as to encourage medical professionals and lawyers to volunteer their time and efforts to improve public knowledge and increase the number of Alaska’s citizens with advance directives.

WHEREAS, the Foundation for End of Life Care in Juneau, Alaska, and other organizations throughout the United States have endorsed this event and are committed to educating the public about the importance of discussing healthcare choices and executing advance directives.

WHEREAS, as a result of April 16, 2008, being recognized as Healthcare Decisions Day in Alaska, more citizens will have conversations about their healthcare decisions; more citizens will execute advance directives to make their wishes known; and fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the state of Alaska, do hereby proclaim April 16, 2008, as:

Healthcare Decisions Day in Alaska, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Dated: April 16, 2008

[Ikonoklast]

35. This should be on every radio, tv, and magazine in this country.

How can anyone in their right mind be against any one of these points?

Big K&R.

[yellowdogintexas]

36. LOL just received this from a friend in my email this afternoon nt

[DeepBlueC]

37. done

excellent stuff

[ihavenobias]

38. K & R n/t

[babylonsister]

39. Thanks and bookmarked. nt

[ms liberty]

40. K&R n/t

[Blue_Roses]

42. k&r

this needs to be pinned.

[Dystopian]

43. thank you!

peace~

[keepthemhonest]

45. That is great however

Doesn't starting a sentence with the word "ends or ending" come across as negative.Shouldn't the wording come across as positive instead ofnegative.I just remember a few years ago about the book" the elephant in the Room" or something like that.Sorry I have a horrible memory I it was something about the huge affect of simple rewording of things.I just want to be sure that this comes across as completely positive instead of negative.

the word "end" hit me like a brick wall

Sorry to be a negative(not my style), I don't like to be negative but this could have a big impact.Vey important to get it right.

[Historic NY]

47. pass it along people...I did to those that need it.

[trooperdave1]

48. Hitting Republicans were it hurts

I'm sick to death of these lying Republicans so I made these ads to remind everybody of just what it is they stand for.

Spread them around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Aq4yP-5lZE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMUslY4T6uw

[Cha]

51. Thank you, Earl!

VIRAL it shall GO!

[Canuckistanian]

52. Gladly. n/t

[Scurrilous]

53. K & R

[grahamhgreen]

54. Can they add a public option, bulk drug purchasing & state single payer?

I take it these 8 points are lines in the sand - all good but we need the public option and the state single payer amendment and the ability to purchase drugs in bulk for effective reform - can they tack that on to the 8 points?

Or just give us Medicare for all?

A good start, though! Kudos.

[Bennyboy]

55. K&R'd!

[eridani]

56. Discrimination is STILL allowed for one pre-existing condition

Namely, your age. Older people can pay up to twice as much in premiums. Also, policy recission is still allowed on the grounds of fraud. You think that insurance companies will quit calling failure to mention acned on your application "fraud"? Sure, you can appeal to the government, and just like now, die while your appeal is being considered.

[Heidi]

57. Recommended.

[Christa]

58. K & Highly Rec'd nt

[rcrush]

59. I just hit this thread on stumbleupon.

bumped

[Ichingcarpenter]

60. kick / record.........n/t

[EFerrari]

61. kick

[RandomThoughts]

62. Axelrod has the triple 8

A clip from Postman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7zEryxrsGI

Ride Postman Ride!!!!!!!!!!!!

[timtom]

64. K & R and Bookmarked and thanks very much!

[DailyGrind51]

65. Highly Rec'd, thank you for putting it all in one convenient fact sheet!

And, yes, I already e-mailed it to my contact list with instructions to "read and forward".

[a kennedy]

67. Woohoo, just the info and format I've been looking for.....

will be sending this on to my e-mail buddies....... edit to spell check

[adamuu]

68. Sent out in email, posted to twitter, shared on fb

Trying not to feel discouraged and pessimistic

[grahamhgreen]

70. Where is the PUBLIC OPTION?

[4dsc]

71. We need single payer not public option..

[sandyj999]

72. Kick n/t

[vinylsolution]

73. This is terrific!

Axelrod is 100% on-message, and he needs to go and kick some Blue Dog butt right now!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

75. thank you!! K&R&B n/t

[Yunomi]

77. I sent it to my entire list.

Unfortunately, the local neighborhood assoc. (I am not a member)is also on my list, so it went to THEIR entire list and now they're pissed. I don't care, it's stuff they need to know anyway. One guy pointed out that the NA list is viral too, but I don't think most of them understand. And this is the list that sends me mail about the local Indian and Thai restaurants, lost cats, school plays in the neighboring NA, trying to run over snakes, you name it. Just venting, but this is why I'm not a member. Don't worry, plenty of other people got the message from me too.

[cynatnite]

78. Done. Thanks! n/t

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MrM2]

85. WTF are you trying to say?

I know you're a member of Idiot America, and your us-vs-them mob mentality and paranoia maybe gets the best of you, but by using scare tactics and CRAZY talk like "tyrannical", "hidden secrets" and "Marxist" you're only doing a disservice to the rest of us.

You list all these sections of H.R. 3200, completely misinterpret the language of the bill, and somehow conclude you've found proof of some kooky conspiracy to turn us all into "Marxists". Paranoic much?

Let me ask you a few questions:

1. Do you have health insurance?
2. Have you ever had to use it?
3. How can you spew all these crazy "facts" without acknowledging the corrupt system of for-profit health care we currently have?
4. What will it take to make you see how disgusting and obscene it is to have rationing in place --not a by a government committee-- but by PRIVATE insurance company committees whose only interest is in making a fat profit by denying you coverage?
5. Did you know a top insurer executive makes $800,000? Not a year, A DAY!
6. Did you know the only way he can make that kind of money is by making sure he's denying people the coverage they pay for?

And my final question: What in God's holy name are you talking about??!!

[mvd]

81. K&R

[pinto]

82. Kick

[unpossibles]

83. bravo. thanks for the links! nt

[proud patriot]

84. get back to the front page