Pres. Obama's healthcare plan - Where do you stand??

Ayy yo,

In a letter to Seniors from America's healtchare industry telling them what they can do to reduce the Nation's healthcare costs - the solution suggested was simply, "Drop Dead!"

Surely that was a joke but as you well know, behind every joke is a slight hint of truth. 

The GOP is now pushing the notion that Government run healthcare will put them to death.  Not true, if done right.  Anytime a suggestion is made in Wash. that the "so-called peons and lesser-beings" somehow get better healthcare coverage, the powers that be flood the airwaves and print media as to how the sky will fall and how it will be the end of the world as we know it if we reform healthcare.  Why is it that when the government tries to make healthcare better the GOP acts as if it's a sin against God and all that's holy?  Why do we (Blacks, Hispanics, the elderly, WLS survivors, etc...) just sit back, watch, and then complain later when we are forced to take it up the pooper when something so important goes on?

You can probably tell how I feel about it.  How do you feel about it, BAF?  Holla atcha boy.

Hmmm Well too bad my mother is not on this post/site.  This is one of her favorite topics right now, oh and her all time favortie Immigration.  Please don't mention around her anything to with immigration, borders, the county...she goes crazy.  So anyway she and I were discussing, or better yet she was schooling me and tryn to bring me to her side.  She is not to fond of Obama and swears he has no clue what he is doing.  I of course differ.  But, while listening to her then to Rush L. I gained some insigth from their point of view. Of course my mother is a republican.  My mother is one of those whom thinks the healtcare plan proposed will be the beg. of the end in a nutshell. Rush L. stated also that the program has so many stipulations.  Example, the healthcare plan will have age limitaion with regards to what it covers.  If your over a certain age it won't covers certain surgeries, won't approve certain medications, etc.  That I percieve as a problem.  Then you have to view this as well, majority of these companies will stop offering health care options.  Why would they.  That I don't like either.  I like having an option.  Sure it's expensive but I like having the ability to choose.  If this plan goes through how many providers will be put out of business.  It just think it gives the government complete and total control.  I sencerly think we are over populated and that tis in itself is a way get rid of a lot folks. Deny coverage and they eventualy die.  Sounds brutal but hey.  I think it will effect the seniors more than anything. 
-Here's the plus, everybody is covered.  Everybody has insurance.  But again to what extent.  How good will the coverage be. How is it determined whom gets what level insurance.  Lot of questions?  Will coverage be given to illegal immigrants?

Again, I'm probably not as versed on this topic as you are my motherr, but I def got some concerns.  Not sure which side I'm but seems like I'm leaning on the, 'this crap ain't gonna work" side.

My sista, I'm just happy that you are at least looking at the issues.  Most people don't even do that.

It seems to me that most of those against the idea of changing healthcare in America tend to give the same well-worn arguments everytime the issues:

1.  It won't work - well what we currently have now doesn't exactly work and America is now 39th in terms of healthcare coverage for it's citizens and that's worst than a few Third World countries.

2.  Beginning of the end - What end?  The American Insurance industry is currently spend about $3 to $4 million a week to "not provide us certain services; deny us coverage for pre-existing conditions; and to continue to raise rates when and however they feel like it."  Seems to me like the end has already been in effect - Now we all need a late pass!
 

I understand the need for this initiative for the masses, I just hope I don't get the short end of the stick. With my union job I have a choice of 5 differnt health care plans and its FREE, not to mention free for my husband too!! As SOON as we got married he got on the phone and cancelled his $75 every 2 weeks insurance plan with his job. These are good health care plans too. Most have low co-pays, no referrels needed, low prescription costs, shoot almost everything under the sun is covered. Last year we almost went on strike and health care was a sticking issue. Next contract time, especially if there is a gov't plan, I would be nervious that we would lose our good benefits.

I hear ya, Shani.  

To play devil's advocate for just a second, the healthcare plan put forth by the Obama administration doesn't offer any perks or incentives to those of us that do already have healthcare coverage, except that it would force our current health insurance carriers to "back the truck up; and give us better services for a more competitive rate."  Insurance companies hate the notion of actually having to upset their profit margins, because they need to actually do what they are supposed to be doing in the first place.  Therefore, it's somewhat easy to sell the majority of the people on the notion that only illegal immigrants and other so-called undesirables will only benefit from it and that it will cause us pain and suffering. 

I understand that it's mostly for prople sans coverage now, but everything has a way of trickling down the pipe. I think about my situation first. Say I work for my job till I can retire. I would be 49...and retired. Still got a whole lotta years left. Under our contract now retirees get good medical coverage. Now, the union isn't as strong as it used to be years ago. I can see the union giving up certain benefits for retirees to make the mass of thier dues paying members happy. They can just figure, hey the gov't will pick em up. Just just one thought that comes to mind. Not saying it's gonna happen, just the conspiracy theory portion of my brain working LOL

Hey Double A,

I am not sure if I am for or against the healthcare plan. I haven't heard any concrete details from Obama about what it will or will not entail. But while listening to a podcast at work called No agenda they brought out a few points that concerned me as well. For instance whether you are opting for the government plan or not every citizen will be issued a healthcare id card. Why is this??? Second the government will have access to your bank records for the purpose of this health care plan. Why is this??? Now as a disclaimer the host of this show was reading directly from this bill. It is all very confusing and he is not sure if he is understanding it correctly. Which is another reason why I need some cliff notes or someone to dumb it down for me. I also have concerns about the costs. Where is this money coming from to fund this? We are giving billions to the banking industy, billions to the auto industry, billions to fight a war in Iraq and Afghanstan. Now billions for healthcare. One of Obama's campaign promises was that he was not going to raise taxes for the middle class. (Which by United States standards I am. I personally consider myself working poor but that's a debate for another time). Now I am hearing that this is a promise he may not be able to keep. And to that I say no duh. That money has to come from somewhere. I don't see how he is not going to raise taxes. Short of just printing more money and causing our dollar to inflate even more. What other choice does he have.

Now I am not saying that we shouldn't have a healthcare plan. Healthcare is way too expensive in this country. Until I started working for a healthcare company. I was paying almost half my salary to cover me and my daughter. I finally just dropped her from my insurance all together because it was too expensive to have her on. So she had no insurance and when I took her to her peditrician I paid out of pocket because it was less than carrying her on my insurance. I don't plan to work for Blue Cross Blue Shield forever so I am scared of what is going to happen when I actually have to start paying for my insurance again.

 @ One of Obama's campaign promises was that he was not going to raise taxes for the middle class. (Which by United States standards I am. I personally consider myself working poor but that's a debate for another time). Now I am hearing that this is a promise he may not be able to keep. And to that I say no duh. That money has to come from somewhere.

I don't know...

Back in the 80's The Reagan Admin. sold America on the idea of giving the wealthy more take breaks and incentives so that they can take that money and create jobs, rather than relying on the system. 

Americans never got those jobs promised and the wealthy immediately began moving the few existing jobs overseas, in order to create more wealth for THEMSELVES.  Now in 2009 the Obama Admin. is saying in effect, "Let's tax the wealthy at a higher rate in order to have them pay for some of the damage that they've caused in the past and that we are still feeling now..."  But the working class is still too busy buying into the notion that Reagan first ran his election campaign on and are afraid to move one way or the other.  

 

Ok but I don't get your point. I know that the wealthy taxes are definitely going up. But you can only raise it so high. Where is the rest of the loot coming from. I am saying don't be surprised when the middle America get**** next. Its basic arithmetic.

I feel ya.  Good points. 

My point though is that the GOP markets this whole change in healthcare as the impending doom that will tax the working man and woman's socks off but in reality they just want you to "keep on going along with the go along" and don't want a change of any kind because it means a possible decline in THEIR profits.

Ya gotta be weary of the mofos who keep telling ya to not worry; go ahead and keep drinking the Kool-Aid.  That kinda of thinking keeps us running scared and not dealing with the real issues: healthcare insurance companies only want to make money not provide healthcare coverage for you.