The GOP is in a world of hurt...

[WCGreen]

You can see the desperation in their eyes as the realization that HCR is going to pass and become law. They are facing a summer of trying to explain, once the bill becomes a law, why they fought so hard against basic consumer rights when it comes to protection of citizens assets and health.

The louder they scream and rant, the more you should take it that realization on the part of the party of no that they haven't a prayer of winning anything after the votes are counted and the democrats head back home to show the immediate benefits that will come from the bill...

Here are the top ten...

1) Eliminating lifetime limits, and cap annual limits, on health-care benefits. In other words, if you get an aggressive cancer and your treatment costs an extraordinary amount, your insurer can't suddenly remind you that subparagraph 15 limited your yearly expenses to $30,000, and they're not responsible for anything above that.

2) No more rescissions.

3) Some interim help for people who have preexisting conditions, though the bill does not instantly ban discrimination on preexisting conditions.

4) Requiring insurers to cover preventive care and immunizations.

5) Allowing young adults to stay on their parent's insurance plan until age 26.

6) Developing uniform coverage documents so people can compare different insurance policies in an apples-to-apples fashion.

7) Forcing insurers to spend 80 percent of all premium dollars on medical care (75 percent in the individual market), thus capping the money that can go toward administration, profits, etc.

8) Creating an appeals process and consumer advocate for insurance customers.

9) Developing a temporary re-insurance program to help early retirees (folks over 55) afford coverage.

10) Creating an internet portal to help people shop for and compare coverage.


http://mediamatters.org/research/201003090020


Of course they aren't all sexy and flashy but let me tell you this is a major headache off of the heads of people up to their eyeballs in the US Health Care System.

[Statistical]

1. You forget the spin.

While I don't disagree on any points this is how it will be portrayed in ads this November.

$xxx billions in new taxes today, benefits don't begin until 2016.
Obama lied. Taxes on middle class.
Govt taking away your right to choose (forced mandates of health-care).
Cant afford it then you pay a fine.
Congress "forced" through a bill that was not wanted by American people.

Insert some sarcastic catch phrase about change.

[WCGreen]

2. But nothing will happen and that will make them look foolish to all

but the kool-aide drinkers.

[Statistical]

5. Nothing will happen is the point.

For most of the uninsured they won't get coverage until 2016.

However taxes will start immediately. Except GOP to make a "clock" showing by exactly how much Obama broke his promise on no new taxes for middle class.

IIRC the "Cadillac tax" is part of Senate plan right? Members of middle class have "cadillac plans" (good healthcare). Thus they will be taxed. If you don't think the GOP can spin this you are kidding yourself.

Now the 2020 election. That will be different. HCR will be mainstream. Most of benefits are in effect. There will be proof it won't explode the budget. However by 2020 HCR will be old news.

[Winterblues]

8. What taxes will the uninsured have to pay?

You say taxes will start immediately...What taxes? :shrug:

[Statistical]

13. It was right in my post. Here is quote:

"IRC the "Cadillac tax" is part of Senate plan right? Members of middle class have "cadillac plans" (which is simply a term to demonize good coverage). Thus they will be taxed. If you don't think the GOP can spin this you are kidding yourself."

[Winterblues]

14. The cadillac plan is for insured people with superior plans

Your post suggested uninsured people would begin paying taxes immediately. Your words
"For most of the uninsured they won't get coverage until 2016.

However taxes will start immediately."

[Statistical]

15. Sorry if I was unclear it wasn't my intention.

The reality is taxes (in general) will start immediately. As will cuts on Medicare. Premiums will continue to skyrocket (not related to HCR but HCR will be blamed). The uninsured won't even see relief until 2016.

So by 2012:
Healthcare premiums will be higher
Cadillac plans will be taxed
30 million still will have no insurance

If nobody thinks the GOP can't spin and run on that well they haven't been following politics in this country for last 3 decades.

In hindsight I can see how my statement was unclear.

[Edweird]

17. The GOP doesn't have to 'spin' it. The reality alone will turn unions against Dems.

The IBEW - the union in my trade - does NOT support the tax on benefits.

[Fumesucker]

3. One side has the IRS to enforce their mandate..

The other side gets a "consumer advocate" for their problems..

One side has billions of dollars, Madison Avenue and thousands of lobbyists.

The other side is voiceless.

California has already given up on trying to regulate Anthem Blue Cross, the company is just too large and powerful for a weak little state government like the one in California to deal with.

[NightWatcher]

4. The GOP is licking their chops (for several reasons)

If HCR is passed, they will get to run this year and again in 2012 against "Obamacare". Since most of the provisions of the HCR will not go into effect for years, most middle-of-the-roaders' will not see a big change and think that HCR was a failure and will vote the GOP into the majority.

If HCR is not passed, the Dems will appear to have been completely ineffectual and the same Independents will vote for a change from the Dems in an effort to save this failing economy (regardless of the fact that the Repukes caused this economy, going back to Reagan and the Bushes).

HCR without a public option that immediately helps millions of people save millions of dollars is lose- lose for the Democrats.

I do not have any idea who the Repukes will be running in 2012, but I know that they are getting ready to run a vigorous fight against the Dems (Black President!). Most repukes were not excited about McSame, but they are damn sure going to be excited by the idea of voting Obama (Black President!) out of office and will be more than ready to latch onto whichever (WHITE!) repuke is running in 2012.

The repukes have been great at framing the debates this past year (See the Tea Party and Townhall HCR Shoutdowns) while the Dems sat back and let things happen to them instead of utilizing their political capital.

Another reason the GOP is licking their chops is because the Progressive Base (that put Obama in office, regardless of what you may think), has felt jilted by Obama because of an apparent lack of respect since he took office. Gay civil rights, repeal of DADT, repeal of Patriot Act, WarS, and all of the other positions that the rest of us fucking retards hold important have been pushed aside.

[no limit]

6. The GOP needs no help. the democrats are screwing millions of middle class americans with this bill

the GOP will be able to use that against them in the November elections.

[Jester Messiah]

9. You must own a farm...

...to have access to that much bullshit.

[no limit]

12. You must not give a shit about people that live pay check to pay check

You can read numerous strories here of people that will be hurt by this bill. I posted my story. I saw another one today from a person with pre-existing conditions who can't afford insurance now being told they will have to buy insurance that is even more expensive because of the 300% the insurance companies will be able to charge.

If there are this many stories just here on DU there are millions more. You can dismiss it as bullshit because it doesn't fit your rosy picture of what this bill is, but that doesn't change the facts.

[WCGreen]

16. well, what's in it for anyone now...

I just don't understand what you are saying.

Someone living pay check to Paycheck probably doesn't have insurance as it is and if they do and it is through the employer, nothing will change...

I guess you are an all or nothing person.

well I'm more of a grab what we can get and live to fight for another day.

The political reality of all of this is that if nothing is done with the current bill (s), the voters will bludgeon democrats up and down the ticket. They will blame the democrats not the republicans no matter what we say.

So you score a few political points. Great for you. But at least that person who is working pay check to pay check can look toward a time a few years down the road where they can buy insurance and probably get a subsidy.

Free cradle to grave health care is never going to pass no matter how much we all want it.

Personally, I am probably going to have to get a divorce in order to safe guard my Medicare and how it will pay for a lung transplant. Nothing in the bill is going to make that situation go away. I don't want to get divorced and yet I still see a lot of good in this bill and that my personal situation does not preclude me from supporting a step in the right direction.

Beside that, I was making a political statement as to why the republicans are going all out to kill this bill and why the political fervor would die down as soon as the bill sinks in.

How you and others extrapolated that I was really gung ho about this bill tells me you read something and then put your own spin on it.

Good for you.

[WCGreen]

19. I'm not going to change your mind and you certainly aren't going to change

my mind.

If I were in congress I would vote for this far less than ideal bill because I know that if this doesn't pass now, you can kiss any kind of health care reform good bye for at least a generation, maybe two.

I also know, from a quick glance at history, that medicare and social security started out with a far less reaching mandate and far from universal population inclusion.

So, your idea is to throw it all out because it isn't what you would consider ideal. Just toss it all out and damn the political ramifications.

Taking this tack would embolden the GOP and those Wacky Tea Bagger who are at their beck and call. And how do you think the press will treat the democrats and president Obama if nothing is done about an issue both Obama and the party have made the focal point of this term?

I can tell you the country will shift toward the right even more.

So go ahead, sulk and piss and moan because the bill doesn't live up to your expectations.

I'm going to give you a bit of life advice my dad gave to me forty years ago...

Lower your expectation. That way you won't be so angry all the time...

[unblock]

7. not everything that happens going forward will be good; and, of course, they can always lie.

premiums are skyrocketing and that is unlikely to change.
by campaign season 2012, they'll be blaming obamacare for doubling premiums across the board.

nevermind that the public option or medicare for all would have prevented that, things that republicans absolutely loathe. doesn't matter. they find bad things, bad words, bad images, and tie them to their opponents through mindless repetition.

they'll find a way to do it no matter how well reform actually plays out.


on the other hand, they'll do that no matter what, so we shouldn't let that stop us.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. Thank you for this.

It's all too easy to forget the actual benefits, what with all the hue and cry going on.

The simple facts are there...

Sometimes you have to dig a little, but they're there.

[Catshrink]

11. I wonder how my sister will take this.

She's a Palin lover. But her husband took early retirement and found out that his insurance will cost them $3800/month with a very high deductible. It's that or nothing for a few years. So now there will be something for them at a more reasonable price, I would hope. I have to let her bring up the subject though -- we aren't allowed to talk politics in my family as part of a truce agreement.

[Edweird]

18. The reality of this bill will generate a lot of ill will from blue collar workers

that benefit from unions and collective bargaining agreements. The GOP is NOT in a 'world of hurt', if anything, they are poised to regain control.