Government run health INSURANCE...

[mirrera]

I do not think it can be said enough. NOT public option health care, public option health INSURANCE. Single payer INSURANCE not CARE!!!
GAAH! Democrats come ON! COME on! COME ON!!!

[gateley]

1. We've come to think "insurance" means "care" -- we've been brainwashed. nt

[mirrera]

2. Insurance means fighting for care, that is why non-profit insurance would be a better frame for Dems

[mrobnoxious1]

5. can I get

government sudsidies for life insurance, home insurance, car insurance, ......

[gateley]

6. What an apt username you have. I'll miss you! nt

[PA Democrat]

7. I hope he leaves some of those "sudsidies" behind. They sound like fun!

[gateley]

8. Ha! Didn't even see that -- good CLEAN fun! nt

[Obamanaut]

3. If you are aware of uninsured people, there are several categories

who may be able to qualify for medicaid. Some of the rules and application procedures may vary from state to state, but some assistance is available

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaideligibility/02_areyoueligible_.asp

In general, you should apply for Medicaid if you have limited income and resources. You must match one of the descriptions below. (Even if you are not sure whether you qualify, if you or someone in your family needs health care, you should apply for Medicaid and have a qualified caseworker in your state evaluate your situation.)

Pregnant Women

Apply for Medicaid if you think you are pregnant. You may be eligible if you are married or single. If you are on Medicaid when your child is born, both you and your child will be covered.

Children and Teenagers

Apply for Medicaid if you are the parent or guardian of a child who is 18 years old or younger and your family's income is limited, or if your child is sick enough to need nursing home care, but could stay home with good quality care at home. If you are a teenager living on your own, the state may allow you to apply for Medicaid on your own behalf or any adult may apply for you. Many states also cover children up to age 21.

Person who is Aged, Blind, and/or Disabled

Apply if you are aged (65 years old or older), blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources. Apply if you are terminally ill and want to get hospice services. Apply if you are aged, blind, or disabled; live in a nursing home; and have limited income and resources. Apply if you are aged, blind, or disabled and need nursing home care, but can stay at home with special community care services. Apply if you are eligible for Medicare and have limited income and resources.

Other Situations

Apply if you are leaving welfare and need health coverage. Apply if you are a family with children under age 18 and have limited income and resources. (You do not need to be receiving a welfare check.) Apply if you have very high medical bills, which you cannot pay (and you are pregnant, under age 18 or over age 65, blind, or disabled).

[dflprincess]

9. Income limits for Medicaid are usually very, very low

and bear absolutely no relation to what a person (or family) needs to get by day to day.

[Obamanaut]

14. Yes, the limits may well be low, as a matter of fact, even the

link suggests that "...In general, you should apply for Medicaid if you have limited income and resources..."

And it is also true that the amounts available may not be enough to meet all the needs. However, wouldn't you agree that SOME assistance is better than NO assistance?

Or, maybe it is better just not to bother at all, since what one receives may not be sufficient to sustain a level of living one may WANT to become accustomed to?

[dflprincess]

15. With Medicaid you can wind up as being ineligible for any help

even though your income is so low you may actually qualify for other forms of assistance (I know in this area the income cap for rent subsidies is higher than it is for medical assistance. Of course the waiting list for rental assistance is awfully long, so you may not get that help even if you qualify).

Certainly, some people getting help is better than no one - but there are lot more people who need the help who aren't getting it and that needs to be addressed.

My point was the government can say there will be subsidies but more often than not what income level disqualifies a person for the subsidy is completely out of touch with reality and a lot of people who need help won't get it because they make "too much" money and they won't be able to get medical care because they don't make enough to pay for private insurance.

[Captain Hilts]

4. CORRECT, yet folks here don't understand why this difference is important in substance and message.

[NYC_SKP]

10. Medicare is officially called "Insurance".

I understand that we want to distinguish it from corporate for profit insurance, but Medicare and Social Security are both called Insurance.

I posted about this earlier.

"The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers Medicare, the nation's
largest health insurance program, which covers nearly 40 million Americans..."

http://www.medicare.gov/MedicareEligibility/home.asp?version=default&browser=Mozilla%7C1%2E8%7CMacOSX&language=English

:kick:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

11. You're right. We should do away with Social Security as well, since that's insurance. n/t

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

12. Oh yes, and we'd better get rid of unemployment compensation as well, since that's insurance, too.

[hansberrym]

13. The distinction is important. But often what is proposed is not exactly insurance

but a means of payment. For example the discussions about covering pre-existing conditions and routine check-ups in an insurance plan demonstrate that what is really being talked about is insurance(hedge against potential future losses) plus a fund for covering routine care.

Social Security as old age "insurance" is a misnomer. The odds of reaching retirement age plus the % of income allocated are such that SS should be viewed primarily as a retirement annuity with a smaller insurance feature(disability, etc.)

Since so many congressman are lawyers, one has to wonder about the rampant misuse of language.