10 Awesome Things That Would Happen If Health Reform Passes

[babylonsister]

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/141916/10_awesome_things_that_would_happen_if_health_reform_passes?page=entire

10 Awesome Things That Would Happen If Health Reform Passes
By Joshua Holland, AlterNet. Posted August 14, 2009.


Forget the fearmongering scare tactics of the right, here's how your life will actually be better.

snip//

The following breakdown is based on the legislation developed by three committees in the House of Representatives (HR 3200) and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. A third piece of legislation is yet to emerge from the Senate Finance Committee. Reports suggest that the legislation coming out of Finance will be much more accommodating to the insurance industry and other corporate stakeholders.

Much of the real legislative fight will come when the two Senate bills are combined and then, later, when the final Senate and House bills are reconciled.

1: The First Thing That Will Happen Is Absolutely Nothing

At least that's the case for a lot of people who now have quality health insurance.

If you have a decent health plan through your job, nothing will change for you in terms of your insurance.

snip//

2. New Protections for Consumers

Regardless of your place of employment or the kind of coverage you have now, new regulations would take effect in 2010 that would go a long way toward curtailing the insurance companies' worst abuses.

* Insurance companies could no longer deny coverage to people because they've had health problems in the past, nor could they charge hugely different rates for different groups of people (premiums could only vary by age, geography, tobacco use and family size).

* The House bill bans recissions -- the insurance industry's habitual practice of collecting premiums until someone gets sick, and then digging through their histories for an excuse to cancel coverage.

* Insurers wouldn't be allowed to cancel an individual's coverage for reasons other than failing to pay the premium.

* Insurers would no longer be permitted to impose annual or lifetime caps on benefits.

* Insurers that sell insufficient, cheapo plans that leave people vulnerable to medical crises would be required to disclose that fact to their customers.

* All insurers would be required to disclose how much of their spending is on health care and how much goes to costs like overhead, advertising, etc.

* The legislation (especially the Senate HELP bill) creates new tools for fighting insurance fraud and abuse.

3. Medical Bankruptcies Would Plummet

One of the most significant of these regulations is in the House bill: a cap on out-of-pocket expenses. If the measure passes, individuals would face a maximum of $5,000 in out-of-pocket expenses a year, and families no more than $10,000. For poorer families, the limits would be much lower: $500 per year, for example, for a family making less than 1.33 times the poverty rate.

more...

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/141916/10_awesome_things_that_would_happen_if_health_reform_passes?page=entire

[Hugin]

1. Sorry, I just can't get worked up about Health Insurance Reform.

The main reason being... The loopholes are already in place and all it takes to vanish is one mal-administration such as the Bush Fiasco.

I bet they're already pre-appointing insurance company flunkies to man the underfunded regulatory apparatus that is to oversee this muddle.

I've seen this picture at least three times already... With Auto Insurance... Mortgages... Credit Cards... The EPA.

[babylonsister]

2. That's too bad. All these improvements are better than what

anyone has now. A lot of people will benefit and I'm sure would be happy with all of these upgrades. The relief that a pre-existing condition won't cancel anyone's insurance and possibly lead to bankruptcy is worth it's weight in gold imo.

[Hugin]

3. All the insurance company has to do to thwart this is to take someone to court.

And drag it out until the poor person is out of money or dies... They win. (Win or lose in court.)

They've already been doing it for years.

This is NOT change.

Edit to add: Oh, and my deductible will go up to this limit... For sure. "$5,000 in out-of-pocket expenses a year, and families no more than $10,000."

[babylonsister]

4. I think you're wrong about that. If Congress rules on this, how do

you figure the insurance companies can overturn it? What would be the point of having any rules?


As my granny would say if she could, you're borrowing trouble.

[Hugin]

5. I've been asking myself that since the Mortgage Relief Amendment failed.

They'll overturn it by using their lobbying power to rent Congress from the Banks and bleed away any oversight.

That is precedent. It is what they've done forever and a day.

I can cite references... If necessary.

[babylonsister]

6. So you're saying this whole thing is a waste of time and nothing

will change. I don't believe that, and don't bother citing anything. I believe you have sources for that amendment, and maybe because it's an amendment people are taking advantage of it?

Example: Roe v. Wade. Abortions are legal and being done. Lots of people don't like that, but it's still the law. Besides the whackadoos who take the law into their own hands, why is this still law, and why are people abiding by it?

Nevermind. I guess we'll see, won't we. I hope you eat your words when the time comes.

And have a great day!

[Hugin]

11. Well, if I thought that I certainly wouldn't have recced this thread.

:)

[gateley]

7. Don't predict such a dire outcome -- We have to do SOMETHING and we won't

know for sure what will happen until/unless it does!

I agree with Babylonsister -- it's an improvement, steps in the right direction. At this point, I'm hopeful we can ensure that scenarios like you present don't happen. We've been calling other industries on the BS, and although it takes time, changes are being made. I'm SO ready for a change, and if our initial attempt doesn't result in what we're hoping for, then we can try again.

As is, the industry will continue to become bigger and bigger and give us even less and less.

Bring it on!

[Hugin]

8. My prediction is based on prior experience.

"As is, the industry will continue to become bigger and bigger and give us even less and less." What about the proposed Health Insurance Reform leads you to believe this will not continue?

As it is, this bill legally requires every citizen to buy Health Denial Services... How is that not bigger and bigger and less and less?

[gateley]

10. Understood -- but in my lifetime (lo, these many years)

I've seen outcomes that WEREN'T predicted -- a surprise.

I'm just hopeful that incremental steps will get the momentum going in the right direction.

I think the proposed Health Insurance Reform (of which we only have a general understanding -- nothing's been decided on yet) would stop the for-profit-only carriers from continuing to raise rates and continuing to deny more and more services and care.

The Health Denial Services -- is that the penalty imposed on those who opt not to have coverage at all?

[urgk]

13. "Good morning, Eeyore," said Pooh.

"Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily. "If it is a good morning, which I doubt," said he.
"Why, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can't all, and some of us don't. That's all there is to it."
"Can't all what?" said Pooh, rubbing his nose.
"Gaiety. Song-and-dance. Here we go round the mulberry bush."

[gateley]

9. K&R - Thanks, babylonsister. I think it's a pretty realistic portrayal, and

it sounds soooooooo much better to me than the way it is now. :headbang:

[Control-Z]

12. Someone who has a freeper account

should post this over there. I don't know how they operate (whether or not it would get deleted) but it would be good for them to have the opportunity to read it. None of them would probably admit to reading it, at least not without protesting its content, but there may be a few who (privately) learn from it.

It might be worth a try. :shrug:

[OneBlueSky]

14. the legislation could be called the . . .

"Assuring Profitability of the Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industries" Act of 2009 . . .

[babylonsister]

15. Sounds like you don't have any pre-existing conditions that you've

been denied coverage because of, or I don't think you'd be so dismissive.