At a rally this morning, President Obama said that is health care reform package is going to make history. He added, “This is a patients bill of rights on steroids.”
In addition to invoking the names of Teddy Roosevelt and Ted Kennedy regarding the moral correctness of expanding health care coverage to more Americans, he also said, “We’re making sure this thing is paid for.”
Obama criticized the Bush Administration for adding Medicare part D prescription coverage without funding it, which added to government deficit spending.
The Obama plan provides for system-wide savings through more efficient communication between health care providers to avoid duplication of tests. Other measures will reduce premiums for people buying private insurance in the marketplace by 14% to 20%.
The eight key points the Obama plan will address are:
1. Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government.
2. Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs.
3. Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans.
4. Invest in prevention and wellness.
5. Improve patient safety and quality care.
6. Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans.
7. Maintain coverage when you change or lose your job.
8. End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions.
“Not only can we afford to do this – we can’t afford not to do this,” Obama said, adding that it will save Americans over a trillion dollars.
A fiscal and moral wave has been sweeping through congress over the past few days, as democrats line up to add their names to the yes vote column.
The president said, “This legislation will give millions the opportunity for the first time in a very long time, the opportunity to get health insurance.”
The insurance companies will not like this bill. However as President Obama pointed out, this is a battle between special interests and the American people, and he assured his audience that this time, the people would win.
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For more info: Congressional Budget Office , GOP sends anti-deficit reduction message with health insurance reform vote (Video)
Comments
The eight key points the Obama plan will address are:
1. "Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government." If you think adding 33 million people and a trillion dollars is going to save money, you're nuts.
2. "Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs." How does mandating that every American purchase healthcare insurance regardless of their situation protect them? And to face jail or fines from the IRS??
3. "Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans." It does no such thing. As a matter of fact Dr.'s are going to drop out of Medicare as an example by the droves. Plus, companies will drop employees to save the fees.
4. "Invest in prevention and wellness." We already do that.
5. "Improve patient safety and quality care." How?? There is zero evidence that this can or will be done. ZERO.
6. "Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans."
No, what this does is mandate what everybody will have to buy under penalty of fine or jail, based on what insurance the government decides you should have.
7. "Maintain coverage when you change or lose your job." Yes, but we don't need this monstrosity to accomplish this.
8. "End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions" Yes, they get coverage, but you fail to mention that the cost will be 3x times the price. What happened to "affordable"???
It's all a big sham.
Boy, those are some huge and sweeping standards being set forth. What a pipe dream! David Copperfield couldn't come up with a better show! Just heard tonight that once this bill gets passed, all Americans are going to be happy go-lucky human beings and we will all be free from the fear-mongering! Uhhh, maybe not so much because as long as this group is "in control" we are going to be living lives of fear every day!
Obama's self admitted goal is to eradicate the health insurance companies.
Kool-Aid stock just shot up!
has it occurred to you - Mr exam reader- that what we fear are the crazy radical republicans - who have no respect for anyone and want to force their brand of- my way or the highway - fascism down everyone else s throat.
You people don't want democracy - you want a dictatorship run by Rush the idiot.
Actually, Ms. PMS, I am more fearful of your type than any other because you don't even realize that this idiot is doing exactly what you accuse the Republicans of doing -- creating a dictatorship. It is HIS way or no way and he loves the celebrity! You guys can't even think for yourselves! Talk to me next year when you have to file your tax return and declare that you have the correct government-approved health insurance required by "law!" How much more dictator-ish can you get?
well Our country is broke our debts are huge so will healthcare lower debt or not? i want actual math/ stats and all that jazz not some tentative examples. I am serious i don't want to live in a bankrupt state where dollars become monopoly money.
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