a. cannot afford insurance will have an Exchange public option to purchase health insurance rather than not have any health insurance at all;
President went further to explain just what the facts are about the public option Exchange:
1) We will have a market place for people to choose from various plans with doctors. This means that the public option will provide choices of plans and choices of doctors to pick;
2) This public option will help keep private insurance companies honest;
3) Provide a benchmark for costs for services;
4) Make the healthcare industry competitive for decent healthcare;
5) This public option is just ONE component of the Healthcare Reform plan;
6) The public option is voluntary and not mandatory;
7) The public option will expand consumer choices;
In addition, President Obama explained that the government’s involvement will offer consumer protection measures such as to stop:
1) healthcare insurance companies from imposing “pre-existing condition” clauses. This means being denied health insurance due to a so-called “pre-existing condition” will end!;
2) There will be no more life-time caps or yearly caps on how much the health insurance company will pay out per insured, etc.;
3) Protect persons when you change jobs so that you can always have affordable health insurance;
4) Save families, small businesses, and government lots of money; and
5) Close the “donut” hole which leaves Americans without prescription coverage for needed medications. This especially affects seniors citizens in the current MedicareAdvantage programs.
President Obama discussed how 14,000 people lose health insurance every day under such clauses as “pre-existing conditions” or changing jobs, etc. He discussed how healthcare premiums currently are growing 3 times faster than our paychecks. He pointed out that Medicare will runout of money in 8 years if nothing is done about healthcare in America now. He assured everyone that:
1) Senior Citizens’s benefits will not be cut;
2) The government already is Medicare;
3) That Medicare has to be strengthened because costs are exceeding the Medicare Trust Fund.
As President Obama reiterated the significance of acting now, he discussed how Franklin D. Roosevelt faced the same resistence when he proposed Social Security and that he was also called a socialist. The same accusations were launched against Lyndon B. Johnson with Medicare. Unfortunately, President Obama is aware of the attacks, but those programs improved America the same way Healthcare Reform is necessary to improve America today. He expressed sincere sentiment that he understands people are afraid and worried, but it must happen.
Before President Obama opened the floor to questions, he again thanked all his supporters of Healthcare Reform and encouraged them to contiue the push for passage despite remaining debates….”Let’s go get’em!”
Q: (Colorado). What is the most compelling argument for Healthcare Reform?
A: The status quo is unsustainable. This means that if nothing is done with healthcare in America today, people are going to lose what they have because healthcare costs are increasing 3 times faster. This is shrinking your paycheck in premium costs and the costs of health services. Americans will see more and more of their paycheck disappear because of healthcare costs and if you look at what you were paying three years ago, you know this is the truth.
Also, both private and government plans have something to worry about because there will no money!
Nobody is being forced to do this. We are modeling the insurance that congress now receives. Nobody will be forced, but they will have options such as the public option.
Healthcare Reform provides a set of consumer protections (i.e., “pre-existing conditions”); no more exclusions or ability to drop people and leave them uninsured; only 15 percent of healthcare insurance companies money can to profits and this controls costs and focuses on prevention and wellness; and over the long run healthcare costs will be reduced and more you will see more take-home pay.
Other countries pay 5,000 – 6,000 less in healthcare costs for each person! The people in America re just not getting a good deal.
The public option feature is not the only feature, but just one feature of the Healthcare Reform!
Q: (Florida) Are we winning any Republican support in Congress? Are we really making a difference with Healthcare Reform in that regard?
A: Convincing people about Healthcare Reform still makes a difference because Washington, DC is obsessed with snap polls, what’s said negatively at town hall meetings (screaming matches, shouts, etc.), so every citizen you talk to will make a difference and especially seniors who fear change. The emphasis must be made that Medicare will not be taken away! Healthcare Reform will close that donut hole and extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund over time because insurance companies (Medicare Advantage) is draining 17 billion dollars each year! NOBODY will be without healthcare benefits. The future generation will need Medicare as well so this is
[Please read Part 3 of 3]
Posted By: agnes levine
Thursday, August 20th 2009 at 10:04PM
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