Democrats, White House close in on health bill

[CountAllVotes]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – House Democratic leaders on Thursday worked to rally their rank-and-file members around last-minute agreements on insurance taxes and prescription drug coverage that could move President Barack Obama's overhaul of the nation's health care system a step closer to reality.

Although some issues remained unresolved — including a divisive battle over restricting taxpayer funding of abortion — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said: "We have enough to move forward."

She asked Democrats at a two-hour, closed-door briefing whether they wanted to vote sooner rather than later on the legislation. They responded with a broad shout of "Yes!" according to lawmakers coming out of the session.

White House officials and congressional Democratic leaders met Wednesday evening in Pelosi's office. Aides said they agreed on scaling back a health insurance tax that unions object to, and on gradually closing the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap. They were not far apart on other major issues, including Medicaid funding for states that already provide above-average benefits, and on improving subsidies that would be available under the plan to help individuals and families pay their premiums.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

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I am keeping my fingers crossed that HCR will happen soon! It is needed in any form whatsoever as it is at the very least a start.

[zipplewrath]

1. Well, if that's all ya want....

"It is needed in any form whatsoever as it is at the very least a start."

The GOP have some ideas for HCR that will allow this bill to be passed quite easily.
For that matter, this is already basically a GOP bill of Dole and Bakers from 15 years ago according to Obama. So if you just wants something "whatsoever", just call up McConnell.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Ugh. If this monstrosity passes, it will be a bloodbath for the Democrats in the November Election.

:(

[CountAllVotes]

3. it is a start

we have to keep that in mind - it is a start.

It means a lot for those with no insurance.

[zipplewrath]

4. I'm curious what you think it means?

I know alot of folks that HAVE insurance and it doesn't mean much. They can't afford to use it. There are alot of folks right now who don't have insurance because they can't afford it. They use what money they have to pay retail for healthcare. They won't have that money now. They'll be forced to use it to buy insurance. What are they suppose to do then? Nothing in this bill ensures access to the required health CARE. The CHC's won't do dialysis. They won't be doing biopsies.

[CountAllVotes]

6. reality check did it for me

I had two surgeries since Nov. I was in the hospital for a total of about 20 days. I damn near died.

I have insurance and it is costly. I've been paying for it since 2000.

I finally got all of the bills the other day and the total cost, without insurance adjustments was over $200,000.00!

If I had NO insurance at all what would I do? I'd be selling the house and filing for bankruptcy, that is what I'd be doing as I have no way to pay $200,000.00 out to a damned hospital/doctor.

That woke me the fuck up real fast!

I do have an older brother that I am admittedly not close to but he was born with a heart condition and is pushing 60 years old, thus un-insurable. He got laid off a few years ago and lost his insurance and he now has none. His wife that is older than him has never worked a job (the stay at home mother hatching out the babies has been her role in life), thus has never paid into Medicare nor Social Security. For him to get coverage, he'd have to sell his house and many of his possessions and go on MediCal at this point. He doesn't want to do this needless to say so he lies in wait for something to go wrong. At his age it could be very wrong, perhaps his death dare I suggest?

This is why we need health care reform. If he had to pay for it, the amount suggested in the reform (see what I posted), I am certain he would do it in a heart beat! I also am sure there are many others in this exact same position and yes it sucks and yes, the HCR bill is not nearly as good as it needs to be but IT IS A START!

:dem: :kick:

[zipplewrath]

12. False numbers

Don't be too impressed by that bill. When you pay "retail" that's all negotiable. You might be surprised how low that bill would have been. And what you are describing is "catastrophic" insurance. That isn't what is being made mandatory. Comprehensive care is what is being mandated. That comes with alot of co-pays, and potentially "donut holes".

I'd a been on board with a mandatory catastrophic policy. We could probably give those away.

[WriteDown]

10. Like TARP was a start. Thank gawd it passed!!! nt

[CountAllVotes]

5. here is the bill - read it for yourself

It needs help, yes. However, it is better than not having anything at all! How many people do you know that don't have anything at all and own homes, have jobs, families depending on them, etc.?

I know of too many people like this and perhaps this bill will help get things moving in the right direction I can only hope.

http://dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill49.pdf

:dem:

[daa]

8. If you think that will sell in November good luck

A 7-11 clerk now will have to pay what 8% of her income and go buy insurance and then fill out
BS paperwork so some subsidiary?????? I don't think they have the time or desire to do that and oh yeah, that 8% was her care payment. And after they have insurance and can't afford to use it anymore than the rest of us, and the insurance fat cats are still pulling millions, this will not fly.


As a diabetic, I need health care and prescriptions, not some stupid, expensive, worthless insurance. 2/3 of the American people want a public option and I am not sure what part of that is NOT being heard.

[CountAllVotes]

11. well what about the Medicare for All idea?

do you think Medicare is free? It costs money too and it has something called deductibles and it does not cover a lot of things (like routine health exams for example!) either.

Is that clerk at 7/11 going to buy into Medicare given the above facts?

It seems to me what people seem to want is FREE MEDICAL CARE. It is not going to happen, not in America anyway.

:kick:

[Winterblues]

13. The Public Option will still cost you the same amount of money..

It is not "Single Payer" not by a long shot. If you make less than fifty thousand dollars you will probalby not have to pay very much at all. The Government will subsidize the rest...Also 7-11 will pretty much have to start providing Insurance for it's employees or face huge fines...

[happygoluckytoyou]

7. TIME FOR DU TO RALLY THE DEMOCRATS

the gop is waiting to unseat us in 2010... and more in 2012

and much of this comes from the dialog of each move obama makes, each error, each attempt at working with the republicans

------ and obama is JUST LEARNING that the right way.... IS USING THE MIGHT

but if we do not GET OUT THE VOTE to support obama ----> we go back to REPUBLICAN POWER....

..........please send notes and letters to your family and friends..........

NOW IS THE TIME TO REGISTER AND VOTE.... THIS TOO IS OUR YEAR....

[CountAllVotes]

9. you are right

We need to get behind the President! If we don't we'll be back to the likes of 2001-2008. Was that a great time or not?

REMEMBER WHAT GEORGE W. BUSH DID TO RUIN AMERICA!

If you cannot get behind the party than go away is what I say.

I thought this was the Democratic Underground or am I wrong?

:dem: :dem: :dem: :dem: :dem: