Health Care

[wolven7]

I'm still pretty pissed about this whole "Forced Coverage" thing, and I want to know what it actually does to costs, etc. So, wacko1138 has answered my call for links and sent me this interactive thing, from the Washington Post: http://bit.ly/cz1hcf

No Matter what House Speaker Pellosi says, we haven't guaranteed coverage as a right. We've more demanded it, as a responsibility, which means that this bill is toothless, compared to working out an actual universal health care system. I'm more than a bit angry about the crowing, and preening, from Democrats, who couldn't get their heads out of their asses long enough to do something that would seriously benefit a ridiculous number of people and who instead chose to water down and muddle the majority of their supposed stances and efforts.

In addition to that, there's the doomsaying, from Republicans who keep trying to convince people that this is the end of the fucking world, and the gay ageist abortionists are going to be entitled to come for our wallets, in the night.

More people have the opportunity to obtain health care. Most people are now required by law to obtain health care.

But I think it's a Start toward something better.

Comments

[unknownbinaries.livejournal.com]

I Don't think it is any kind of a start to better things. I'm not currently sure what it is, but the Requiring makes me unfathomably angry. The (so far) lack of knocking the prices of healthcare itself down, even more so.

Do away with the instated system that makes insurance a requirement to do anything. Make it fucking affordable to just go to the doctor. Then talk to me. This seems akin to 'I only hit you because I love you, baby.' style tactics, wrongheaded at best.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can see that, but there are definitely some fixes, in there, that Could be good, if done correctly. But it can't be allowed to be the end of the road for the bill, with more dithering, and hand-wringing, and bullshit.

[momentai.livejournal.com]

I think it is a start to better things, but only technically, and in theory. It all depends on if this will lead to actual reform and/or universal care later (within 5 years), if the requirement to get the insurance will not be enforced or if avoiding the insurance will not result in any meaningful losses to people, and if the insurance those who are required to buy is actually worth buying.

I hate the idea of any type of forced coverage, but at least this seems to be very much like Medicare where you don;t pay as long as you can prove you are poor. But regardless of that, I need to know who I get this insurance from and what will be covered. Are there going to be actual medical procedures paid in full or am I now just allowed to go get a check up for free and maybe some shots? That's what needs to be explained everywhere and often.

As to the meaningful losses I mentioned, I mean what will these so called penalties be? I can't avoid required car insurance b/c I cannot get or renew a licsence plate w/o it. So, with forced medical insurance, what happens?

Will I be denied other welfare? Doesn;t matter to me since I don;t use any welfare. Will I be denied federal financial aid? Doesn;t matter b/c I am alrwady denied for other reasons? Will my taxes be garnished? Doesn;t matter cos I am not required to file taxes at my "income" level anyway. So, unless these so called fines are actually billed to me and I can be arrested for letting them pile up, I dont really care if this is "required".

I am elliglble for the free coverage anyway, so I am talking about the principle here, and others who might not be poor enough for the free stuff.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Exactly

[opalblack.livejournal.com]

I would probably be dead a dozen times over without public health care. The system that we currently have is a bit less than ideal, but it works. People who are on very low income have health insurance provided by the government. Everyone gets this other thing called bulk billing, which providers aren't required to offer, where the bill is sent essentially straight to the tax department. How much bulk billing you use for the year affects the amount of tax that you pay, so you bear a portion of the total personally and the rest comes out of the federal coffers. There is of course also a thriving private insurance and care industry (so all the doomsayers can get fucked).

I agree that this is a Step. I also think it *is* a big deal, even if it's not the revolution you need. This has broken the skin, which is often the hardest part. Possibility has to be allowed to exist before actuality can manifest. It was 53 years from Rosa Parks to Barack Obama. Let's hope this doesn't take as long.

When my little cat Bast had her bits out, she had to go back and get restitched and have an Elizabethan collar because she licked her stitches out. Teeth are not always required.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

When my little cat Bast had her bits out, she had to go back and get restitched and have an Elizabethan collar because she licked her stitches out. Teeth are not always required.

Well-said. Thank you for that reminder. Here's hoping that people take the impetus and run with it.

[opalblack.livejournal.com]

lick lick lick!

[wolven.livejournal.com]

KITTEN SNAKE!

[photogirl630.livejournal.com]

I don't like the forced part but the rest of it seems pretty good.