Major health-care reforms take effect today.

[Cal33]

So the day has finally arrived. It will take some time before we see the larger picture, of course,
but, beginning today the following benefits are in effect:

http://www.readersupportednews.org/off-site-news-section/50-50/4451-major-health-care-reforms-take-effect-today

[Cleita]

1. Somehow I fail to see how this helps me.

"Seniors will also now receive free annual checkups, screenings and other preventive care." Between Medicare and my private Medigap insurance I get a annual checkup and screenings anyway. My Medigap and prescription coverage have gone up this year. So why am I not getting the savings passed to me in my premiums? It appears that the insurance company will benefit from this not the individual senior citizen.

[Cal33]

2. Well, there is an article which says that Rep.Dennis Kucinich will try to

revive the single-payer system, if the Repubs. should carry out their threat of repealing
this new health-care law. I am a senior citizen, too. I'd much prefer the single-payer system,
which I think is far more beneficial for the whole country. But it will be a tough battle.
In the mean time, a little something is better than nothing for many people -- especially for the
younger ones.

[still_one]

4. I will be paying 150 dollars a month more in premiums with less coverage this year. If I lose my

Job I will have to wait 6 months without insurance to be covered for pre-existing conditions, at least that is how I understand it, and the cost may not be affordable

Insurance companies are supposed to use 80% of what they receive in premiums for healthcare benefits. Who is going to oversee that to insure that is the case?

And why am I so cynical? Because, most of the benefits that HCR is supposed to provide will not take effect until 2012. Why?

Why are flexible spending accounts being reduced from 5000 dollars to 2500 dollars?

Why can't you carry over flexible spending amounts you don't use in a single year?

[Cleita]

5. Great questions and

I hope there are some good answers.

[Cal33]

7. Put most of the blame on the corporations and the Repubs. They

have been fighting against and succeeded in watering down HCR right from the
beginning. And when the new Congress begins, expect them to try to repeal
HCR altogether. I sure hope Obama will fight them harder this time --
for a change. And if Kucinich really does revive the single-payer system,
I hope he will win, although I don't know what his chances of winning are.

As someone wrote a couple of months ago, today it's no longer Dem. vs. Repub.
or blue vs. red. Today it's corporations vs. you and me.

[Skink]

3. The Republican noise machine is way in front on this.

Premium plan dollars to actually be spent on HC intead of salaries and bonuses.

[Warpy]

6. STILL no help for people like me with pre existing conditions

because, although there has been a state plan in place for years, it remains overly restrictive and no one has given the Feds any teeth to force them to open it up.

I wish I'd been uninsured for six months. It's now twenty four YEARS and counting.