Health Care- the bill

[PessOptimist]

To everyone

I am very curious, what kind of health insurance plan you have and how do you feel this bill may change it?

I am enrolled in FEHBP and use Tri-Care prime as a secondary. Both are increasing the rates.

Why this bizarre arrangement? Keeps peace in the family.

There is so much information, non-information and dis-information about this bill (H.R. 3962) and seemingly contradictory language in the different sections after trying to read it, that I wonder if the enthusiastic supporters have any opinions on how it will change their personal situations.

And please, no replies about how much any administration has wasted on anything other than health care. Read the title of the thread.

[James48843]

I have an HMO family plan. I will not be eligible for Tri-Care until I start collecting Guard retirement ten years from now.

In January, my rates will rise. Again. Like they do every January.

After reading the bill - I don't think really anything will change for me at all.

My HMO pretty much covers exactly what is in the definition of a qualified plan already- so any tweaks will be minor. I do about a grand a year in FSA account too- but nothing in this bill affects that either. I'm lucky I have no large health bills in store that I am expecting. No prescriptions, etc.

So for people like me, not much changes under this bill.

I would expect to see something different out of whatever the Senate comes up with, so it is pretty much too early to get a good handle on whatever the final product is going to be.

The House bill raises tax marginal rates on those over $500K in income (single, $1 million for married filing joint) . I won't EVER come close to that.

But the Senate bills passed out of committee so far don't have the same financing mechanisms. So we'll just have to see what the Senate comes up with for financing it.

[PessOptimist]

Thanks, james

Exactly the kind of reply I'm hoping for.

[phil]

Okay. Okay. I note your objection. I'll try to do better. I'm not completely dense.
At least it's not a personal attack, okay?

Originally Posted by PessOptimist

To everyone

I am very curious, what kind of health insurance plan you have and how do you feel this bill may change it?

I am enrolled in FEHBP and use Tri-Care prime as a secondary. Both are increasing the rates.

Why this bizarre arrangement? Keeps peace in the family.

There is so much information, non-information and dis-information about this bill (H.R. 3962) and seemingly contradictory language in the different sections after trying to read it, that I wonder if the enthusiastic supporters have any opinions on how it will change their personal situations.

And please, no replies about how much any administration has wasted on anything other than health care. Read the title of the thread.

[coolhand]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29393.html

[grandma]

This is the e-mail letter I have just received from my local Arkansas Senator, Sen. Blanche Lincoln - in case anyone would like to read it at her website :

Earlier today, I announced that I will post the complete text of the proposed Senate health care reform legislation online as soon as it is available. The text will be posted on my existing Health Care Resources Page at www.lincoln.senate.gov/arkansas/healthcare.
I’m looking forward to reviewing the bill when it becomes available, and I want to ensure that my constituents have the same opportunity. Over the past months, I have heard from many Arkansans who are frustrated and lack accurate information on the health care proposals in Congress. In response to their comments, I created my ‘Health Resources Page’ to streamline materials from my own website and other Congressional resources. I will continue to update this page with any materials relevant to the ongoing health reform proposals before Congress.
Last month, I also led a group of Democratic Senators in pressuring Senate leaders for greater transparency in the health insurance reform debate. Senate leaders have yet to guarantee my request that the bill be posted on a public website at least 72 hours prior to the first vote to proceed to health reform.
In addition to posting the original bill, I requested that:
• The legislative text and complete costs of the health care bill as amended are made available to the public for 72 hours prior to the vote on final passage of the Senate bill;
• The legislative text of all amendments filed and offered for debate on the Senate floor are posted on a public website prior to beginning debate on the amendment;
• The final agreement between the House of Representatives and the Senate and complete costs of the final bill are made available to the public for 72 hours prior to the vote on final passage in the Senate.
As always, please feel free to contact me via my website or by phone. I look forward to hearing from you.
With Arkansas Pride,
Blanche L. Lincoln

[nnuut]

Did they mention the Price? From what I heard on TV tonight it will cost somewhat more than people are paying for private insurance like BCBS. Man O Man!

[tsptalk]

Taxpayers' money at work...

The $100 Million Health Care Vote?

On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for “certain states recovering from a major disaster.”

The section spends two pages defining which “states” would qualify, saying, among other things, that it would be states that “during the preceding 7 fiscal years” have been declared a “major disaster area.”

I am told the section applies to exactly one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democrat Mary Landrieu, who has been playing hard to get on the health care bill.

In other words, the bill spends two pages describing would could be written with a single world: Louisiana. (This may also help explain why the bill is long.)
Senator Harry Reid, who drafted the bill, cannot pass it without the support of Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu.

How much does it cost? According to the Congressional Budget Office: $100 million.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/11/the-100-million-health-care-vote.html

[nnuut]

Originally Posted by tsptalk

Taxpayers' money at work...

The $100 Million Health Care Vote?

On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for “certain states recovering from a major disaster.”

The section spends two pages defining which “states” would qualify, saying, among other things, that it would be states that “during the preceding 7 fiscal years” have been declared a “major disaster area.”

I am told the section applies to exactly one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democrat Mary Landrieu, who has been playing hard to get on the health care bill.

In other words, the bill spends two pages describing would could be written with a single world: Louisiana. (This may also help explain why the bill is long.)
Senator Harry Reid, who drafted the bill, cannot pass it without the support of Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu.

How much does it cost? According to the Congressional Budget Office: $100 million.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/11/the-100-million-health-care-vote.html

If I was her I would turn it down and denounce Reid for his trickery, There were other states that had Major Disasters!!

[2EASY]

Originally Posted by PessOptimist

To everyone

I am very curious, what kind of health insurance plan you have and how do you feel this bill may change it?

I am enrolled in FEHBP and use Tri-Care prime as a secondary. Both are increasing the rates.

Why this bizarre arrangement? Keeps peace in the family.

There is so much information, non-information and dis-information about this bill (H.R. 3962) and seemingly contradictory language in the different sections after trying to read it, that I wonder if the enthusiastic supporters have any opinions on how it will change their personal situations.

And please, no replies about how much any administration has wasted on anything other than health care. Read the title of the thread.

Tricare prime for Retired Military - it's great! Pay less than $500 a year. Who says govt health plan ca't work

[Show-me]

Wow, a $100 million taxpayer funded bribe to the Great State of Louisiana.

[James48843]

Originally Posted by tsptalk

Taxpayers' money at work...

The $100 Million Health Care Vote?

On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for “certain states recovering from a major disaster.”

The section spends two pages defining which “states” would qualify, saying, among other things, that it would be states that “during the preceding 7 fiscal years” have been declared a “major disaster area.”

I am told the section applies to exactly one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democrat Mary Landrieu, who has been playing hard to get on the health care bill.

In other words, the bill spends two pages describing would could be written with a single world: Louisiana. (This may also help explain why the bill is long.)
Senator Harry Reid, who drafted the bill, cannot pass it without the support of Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu.

How much does it cost? According to the Congressional Budget Office: $100 million.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/200...care-vote.html

I checked.

(page 432)

‘‘(A) In the case of the first fiscal year (or part of a fiscal year) for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y),

increased by 50 percent of the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage deter mined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less
than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year after the application of only subsection (a) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5 (if applicable to the preceding fiscal year) and without regard to this subsection, subsection (y), and subsections (b) and (c)
of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5.

Yep. it looks like that is the case.

I can just see that phone call now..between Senator Harry Reid, and Senator Mary Landrieu...

Harry: Mary, hi. This is Harry.

Mary: Hi.

Harry: Mary, I'm a little concerned. I heard your interview on TV, saying that you were hesitating to support the bill. Now, Mary, you know I need every single one of our Democrats in order to get this thing passed. What will it take to get you to come on board?

Mary: We'll Gee, Harry. You know we're pretty poor down here, and ...

Harry: Now hang on Mary, we've already funneled a gazillion taxpayer dollars down to you.

Mary: And we really appreciate it, Harry, to be sure. But we're still now back to our old New Orleans jazz days yet.

Harry: What? What do you mean?

Mary: Well, during Mardi Gras our business is still down. My guys really enjoy partying in the streets. What can you do for me to get them all partying in the streets in New Orleans?

Harry: Well, maybe we can do something...how about we fix the levies?

Mary: Oh Harry, you already gave us money to fix the levies, but nobody is partying yet.

Harry: Well, Mary, what can you think of?

Mary: How about we throw cash out of the second story windows of the French Quarter?

Harry: Hmmm... that would be good. How much do you think that will cost?

Mary: Oh, let's make it some nice round number. How about a Hundred Million?

Harry: A HUNDRED MILLION??? No way. There is NO WAY we can slip a Hundred Million into this bill, and no one know what it is for. How could we hide that?

Mary: Oh, come on Harry. Your staff and mine can get together, we'll come up with some good words, and we'll just slip it in somewhere in the middle of the bill. Your guys are great with words. No one will be able to tell it's for throwing cash out the second story window in teh French Quarter.

Harry- Well, maybe you are right. We'll call it something else. Like, hey, I know. We'll say it's for doctors and things. We won't tell them it's for the party favors at the AMA convention that week. Do you think that will work?

Mary: Sure, that sounds great. And I'll tell the AMA we were able to get their party favors for the Mardi Gras convention. Count me in.

Harry: Thanks Mary, I knew I could count on you.

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