People with pre-existing conditions that oppose this HCR bill check in..

[mdmc]

I already have (employer provided) health insurance that is too expensive for me to utilize.
What does this bill do for me?
Anyone else feel the same way?
I want Obama to get a victory as much as the next guy..but.. is this really the best we can do?

Perhaps we should scrap the bill and just pass a regulation banning pre-existing condition discrimination. No mandates. No corporate health care bail out. Just good old fashion government regulation.

Thoughts?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. This bill bans pre-existing condition discrimination.

Health insurance companies cannot raise their premiums in order to deny service, because that is the equivalent of just denying service, the premiums have to be affordable.

[mdmc]

4. but my current health insurance (employer based) is not "affordable"

Or at least it is not affordable for me.

My insurance is un-affordable due to co-payments. It has nothing to do with my "pre-existing condition". Why would private (non-employer based) purchased health insurance have "affordable premiums" but my employer based insurance is not affordable?

I guess I am saying that my current insurance is not affordable - what will change with the passage of this bill?

Peace and low stress and thank you kindly for your reply..

[doc03]

6. Well from what I have been hearing you may be taxed on your

employer provided health insurance premiums. That's the problem the majority of the people in the US are satisfied with their insurance and don't want to give up what they already have. This is a instant replay of 1994, I think we will regret ever opening up that can of worms.

[Johonny]

13. I don't thinks it's a replay of 1994

in 1994 there was some pull back from the insurance companies. What's amazing is this year it has been business as usual for insurance companies. That tells me there is a far greater detachment of these companies to reality than there was in 1994. I think the average American understands the center can't hold much longer. Yes I like my insurance I got right now. But the insurance I got right now can't last at the rate the price and co-pay is increasing. The system is going to collapse. I think far more Americans understand this which is why far more Americans now support things like public options than they did in 1994. Now is the reform they are going to pass enough... doesn't sound like it.

[madfloridian]

7. The bill does not keep them from raising prices on pre-existing...

they can be charged twice as much

[Generator]

20. Yes as I pointed out to one of the endless Obama apologists

in GD:P if you have to pay twice as much and can't afford it-dropping pre-existing conditions is useless. (YEAH if you are wealthy you can get all the health care you want) I'm sure he will tout this over and over. But it reminds me of phrases like "clear skies" when they were polluting twice as much during Bush. Obama is as even better at the propaganda than Bush.It's like Obama closing Guantanamo and torturing them in Baghram. Everything is a fucking sham. And people wonder why I"m angry, Because I'm actually paying attention to what they are doing. Not looking for excuses to cover up for these weasels.

[mike_c]

2. I'm in the same boat as you, pretty much....

I'm about to cancel a needed diagnostic biopsy because my employer provided insurance will STILL leave me with a steep bill to pay. It is ridiculous.

The HCR bill will do little or nothing to help me or most Americans. It will be a godsend to the insurance companies and their share holders.

I want real reform. Single payer, universal health CARE rather than forced consumption of expensive and ineffective health INSURANCE.

[frazzled]

3. If you were hoping that the public option insurance would be cheaper for you ...

That is definitely not the case. Under no one's scenario would the premiums for the public option be anything less than about 10% cheaper, and in some versions of this bill, it would be more expensive.
Employer provided insurance is usually always a better buy than individual insurance. The HCR bill wants to even that out, so that people buying in the open market will have greater leverage through the exchange, whether they pick the private or public (looks like that's dying fast) plan, or the proposed nonprofit versions.

As for the preexisting conditions: eliminating them as a basis for denying coverage is a provision of all versions of this bill. If nothing else, that is what you will get.

[mdmc]

5. thanks for the info..

So this reform bill would do nothing for me and my current situation..

peace and low stress and thanks for the discussion..

[frazzled]

12. Well yes, it could do a fair amount for you

If your employer offers insurance, I don't think you'd be eligible for the exchange.
But there are important reforms that would put caps on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses your employer's policy would be allowed to charge you each year. And lifetime caps would be removed. That might mean lower deductibles for you ... and thus your ability to get the health care you need. I think those caps are currently stronger in the House than the Senate bill ... but since it's not done yet, it's hard to say.

Also, even for those with access to employer-based insurance, I think there are going to be some hardship exemptions. Don't give up hope till you see the final bill. The only bad thing is that I don't think some of the provisions kick in for a few years, which is really not a good thing. Especially in your case.

[SandWalker1984]

16. We have an insurance exchange in FL and it doesn't work.

The private insurance corporations have made sure that it cannot compete, cannot get lower rates than they offer.

I repeat -- if you cannot afford the insurance premiums, the co-pays, the out of pocket expenses -- what good is the insurance?????

[Ms. Toad]

8. If yo uhave employer provided health insurance - nothing

If you don't, AND are uninsurable the premium for insurance should be considerably lower than is available to you now - if there is any available. The premiums are expected to be in the ball park of $5000-8000 - because everyone is in the pool. High risk insurance in Ohio for a 19 year old in Ohio is $14,400.

There will be no caps on lifetime coverage - don't know if you are in danger of reaching your caps - but my daughter will far exceed any currently available caps.

Finally - you can't pass a regulation without a law authorizing it. Regulations cannot exceed the authority granted to them by the enabling statute. You get enabling statutes by bills.

[mdmc]

11. thank you for the reply

And thanks for the civics info..

also thanks for checking in on this thread.. I appreciate it..

peace..

[bread_and_roses]

9. I have two MAJOR pre-existings and I oppose this bill as an utter give-away to big Ins/Pharma

I just cannot support a Bill because it has one provision that might just barely concievably help me down the road will do endless and untold harm to millions. (no doubt including me, despite that one provision)

[Schema Thing]

10. If your insurance is 'too expensive" then it seems you'd probably

get help to pay for it in these bills.

[mdmc]

14. If the HRC bill was beneficial to me, yes

I now think that I will publically support this awful bill as Obama wants a victory.
It sucks, but I will not part with Obama over it.

peace and low stress..

[SandWalker1984]

15. My spouse has a pre-existing condition and we do not support the HCR bill as currently written....

....because it does nothing to address the COST of premiums charged to people with pre-existing conditions, co-pays and out of pocket expenses.

If you cannot afford to keep your insurance, if you cannot afford the premiums, the end result is you will not have insurance.

What difference is it if the insurance company cancels you or you cancel yourself because of cost???

We would be worse off under this legislation if we cannot afford the insurance premiums because not only would we still not have insurance, we would have to pay a fine to the government.


I fought hard to put Democrats in office last election so we could get some things done, like health care reform. If I had known then what I know now, I would have stayed home and spent my campaign donations on other things.

[Waiting For Everyman]

17. That would be better, yes!

Like the doctors' oath... first, do no harm.

Regulate, as you said, and include letting state insurance commissioners cap/roll back costs. Simple, yet effective. THAT would be a good outcome at this point.

[PassingFair]

18. Me me me me me me....

Maybe it's NOT all about YOU.

Expanded Medicare will be the thin
end of the wedge that our country
needs to move to a National Health
Program.

[mdmc]

19. That would be great

peace out..