NPR: Obama's Health Bill Success Eclipses Presidents Past

[AVID]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121880217

Obama's Health Bill Success Eclipses Presidents Past
December 24, 2009

President BARACK OBAMA: We are now incredibly close to making health insurance reform a reality in this country. Our challenge then is to finish the job. We can't doom another generation of Americans to soaring costs and eroding coverage and exploding deficits.

SIEGEL: The president observed that seven presidents before him, Democrats and Republicans, have pushed for broader access to health care and failed. His effort, while not a done deal, has gone farther than any of his predecessors.

Joining us to talk about what this means for President Obama and what it has cost him is NPR's Mara Liasson. Mara, a big win for the president.

MARA LIASSON: It's a huge win for the president, Robert. He staked a lot on this. This was his top domestic priority. As he said, this was the biggest piece of social legislation passed since Social Security. If he hadn't passed this bill, the damage to him is almost immeasurable.

Listen to this "All Things Considered" program here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121880217

[cliffordu]

1. Under the bus with NPR....Who's left???

(no pun intended...)

:rofl:

[DevonRex]

5. Hey cliffordu! Kuchinich, of course!

You should SEE Dennis in his SuperKuch costume! It's just fab!

:rofl:

[Cha]

2. It has to be fixed for the Economy to have a better chance(he wasn't kidding)

and thanks certain dinos it's not as good as we would want but it's a start and here's to it getting an upgrade when it goes to conference with the House.

[SkyDaddy7]

3. I have a story what the reform debate has already done...

I had spinal cord injury in 2003. There are so many medical issues that come with a SCI besides loss of use of certain extremities. Anyway, 2006 my Insurance Company dropped me right as my medical cost were piling up! I was on some very expensive medicine that I had to take plus I would have to pay enormous penalty to get into Medicare outside of enrollment period. Not only that I would have had to pay higher premiums because I had denied Medicare coverage at the time I qualified for Social Security because I thought I had good insurance. So, my wife and I had to get a divorce so that my income would qualify me for Medicare without the penalties. Well, Medicare does not pay for meds you have to buy Medicare Part D which I did despite not having much money. The help was not near enough! So, I went to the makers of the drug companies to see if they actually do offer help and they did not. Well, one must make less than $10K a year and not have had insurance of any kind for some time. Anyway, my SS Disability was about 13K a year and I had Medicare. So, I did not qualify. Well, as soon as it was clear President Obama was serious about pushing this reform all of a sudden a certain drug company changed their qualifications to $1800 and waived the fact I was on Medicare. So, after some paper work from me, my doctor and proof of income I now get my meds shipped totally free to my house straight from the company. This saves my (ex)Wife and I $300 a month! I seriously doubt this would have never happened if our President did not decide to risk his entire Presidency on helping America.

Anyway, I am so tired of the new fad here on DU to act like Tea Baggers and criticize the President for things he has done, or really for what they think he should have done regardless if it makes any sense at all. So, I began looking around the site which I had never really done before...I am so glad I did because I found this "group" and it seems I am not alone when it comes to knowing President Obama can't wave a wand and change everything bad overnight.

I realize we all need to criticize our elected officials but it needs to be done over issues that deserve criticism. Not because folks think ideology is more important than getting stuff done.

[lamp_shade]

4. Hey... Skydaddy... welcome over to the light side.

[SeattleGirl]

7. Hi SkyDaddy7. I'm so glad things turned around for you.

But damn, having to get a divorce? Yours isn't the first story I've heard where a couple had to divorce in order for one of them to qualify for the help they need. That's some sick stuff right there. But I'm still glad you are getting the meds you need.

Hopefully that will also change eventually. Many folks are already too poor and/or without insurance to get the help they need, but they have to make themselves even poorer in order to qualify for some of the help that's out there. Grr!

[SkyDaddy7]

9. Thank-you!

Yeah, it was complete nightmare! Not only was I trying to adjust to life with a spinal cord injury but then I had to deal with having Insurance dropped right in the middle of the rehab and treatment process. When I was considered permanently disabled and approved for Social Security Disability I was given a chance to enter into Medicare...Well, I had what I thought was good and stable insurance at the time through Principal Group Medical Insurance (Principal Financial) so I declined the chance to enroll in Medicare. Well, about a year later when my cost began to stack up and Principal Financial's Stock was falling they dropped me! So, since I declined the offer to join Medicare at the time I was approved for SS Disability then I would have to pay a big penalty to join plus have to pay an elevated premium. So, there were no insurance companies that would even consider writing me a policy so I had to get into Medicare. The only way for me to do this was to show I lost my insurance and my ability to pay. So, getting divorced was the only way to qualify. IT SUCKED!

Plus, I won't go into detail but I was also lost drug coverage and was forced to withdraw from my medicine! Talk about a pure nightmare! I had no idea what withdrawals were until I went through it! I always thought withdrawal was simply a person wanting a certain drug but could not have it. NO NO NO, I got so very sick! NIGHTMARE!

When doctors found out they would give me tons of sample packs of some of the medicine I was on so that I would not be sick! I have wonderful doctors! Shepherd Center (Spinal Cord & Brain Injury Hospital)



Again, THANK-YOU so much for the kind words!

[Hekate]

8. Welcome over here, SkyDaddy. We seem to be the new underground of DU...

... but we will prevail.

Hope you and your (ex)wife have a much, much, better New Year.

Hekate

[SkyDaddy7]

10. Thank-you! Yes We Will!! ...Take back DU!

I could not believe how "childish" some people are being over this health care debate. I always like to think us on the left are smarter or at least more informed politically than those on the right but I see we on the left have our own Tea Baggers. You would think they had never seen the American Legislative process work before. They are making the GOP claims that we on the left are nothing but cry babies look true! Obama is not a god and he can't change or correct every problem at once! But you can't tell them this because they will get blistering mad!

I could go on and on but I will save it for later as I have to run!

Thank-you again for the kind words and Happy Winter Solstice & New Year to you and your family!

[Fire1]

11. Glad to hear things are looking up. I predict 2010 will be a

good year for many millions of citizens.

[SkyDaddy7]

12. Yes, I agree! 2010 will be a year of much better news!

For most people.

[Peacetrain]

6. that is so true