President Obama signs the Health Insurance Reform Bill to law (Video, Transcript)

This morning the President made it official: things are going to change a bit between Americans and their health insurance companies. The President signed health reform into law, with a package of fixes not far behind, and in the process created a future for the country in which Americans and small businesses are in control of their own health care, not the insurance industry.


Transcript

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David Frum has a point on the Republicans and their "Waterloo" (Video)

Finally, an interesting take by a former Bush speech writer. We don't know how this health insurance bill will turn out, but November will be very interesting. It will be about campaigning for health insurance reform vs. keeping the status quo. We will see which message will win.



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Assurant Health Care don't give a MICKEY-FICKEY (Video)

From Countdown with Keith Olbermann, sitting in Lawrence O'Donnell



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President Obama's pitch and ask for health care insurance reform in Pennsylvania (Video)

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Are the White House and Democrats dumber than a box of rocks on this excise tax?

At this point, yes, dumber than a box of rocks.

We now are arguing about the excise tax which will shaft middle class workers while the White House and congress will attempt to put lipstick on a nasty pig and make us believe that we must do this.

Who is buying this and if so, what are you smoking or even drinking?

I heard from 2 people recently.

One a friend whose brother is a member of the Teamsters and asked his sister directly, "Is Barack really going to try to tax my health care plan? He said he would not do that. If so, I am done with him."

The other, my brother a RN who is also a member of a union who called me in the wee hours of the morning chomping on the bits about congress taxing his health care plan and he heard this in the break room at his job.

I could not say anything to him because those in the bubble at 1600 PA AVE think they can get away with this and they probably will.

Hell, they have gotten away with watering down this health care bill, no health insurance bill, to practically nothing. Our president said that he did not campaign on the public option, when all his statements, speeches pointed that he did but we are looking at selective memory here. Our President said he would get cheaper drugs to us in this country and chastised the Bush Administration for the Medicare D sweetheart deal to the pharmaceutical companies when now the White House did the same damn thing, no cheaper drugs for us, American citizens. To even be more direct, remember this about the pharmaceutical companies?



And the icing on the cake is when the White House put that pressure down on the Byron Dorgan's Drug Importation Amendment and Democrats, yes, Democrats voted no for cheaper drugs to protect the White House sweetheart deal.

Sigh, Turkana is right, we have crumbled down to nothing with this health care bill, no health care insurance bill.

Now the Labor Unions have stepped in. The very same tax the White House is talking about will have direct affect to members of unions across this country. It will tax their health care plans. But do the White House or even Democrats in congress get it?

Union leaders, who are fighting a proposal to tax high-end health care plans (which would hit many union and non-union workers), have been working closely with House Democratic leadership to fight the provision and are slated to go to the Hill to talk strategy soon. (Updated Below)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.), along with Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), have both stressed their opposition to the so-called Cadillac Tax, on both policy and political grounds. In its place, they want to finance reform by issuing a tax on the wealthy -- a provision that labor supports.

But the deck seems stacked against them -- both the Senate and the White House are committed to including the excise tax in the final health care bill, citing the benefit it has in reeling in health care costs. In an hour-long meeting on Monday, the president did his best to present the benefits of the proposal in an effort to alleviate some of labor's concerns.

Details of the White House meeting are scant, with union sources staying uncharacteristically mum. But sources tell the Huffington Post that Obama re-affirmed his support of the excise tax while also signaling that he would try and find ways to dull its affect on working families. Several compromises were broached, including the possibility of raising the tax threshold from family health care plans valued at $23,000 to those valued at $25,000.

Whether this is enough of a concession to win labor's support, which seems unlikely, or at least mollify their opposition remains to be seen. But, at this juncture, the impasse over the excise tax seems quite vast -- to the point where it is no longer unreasonable to wonder if it could trip up the broader reform effort.

President Obama re-affirming his support of the excise tax.

Let me tell you what will happen. Or more importantly, do you remember President Bush (41) and how he got out of office? The Democrats used his own words to vote him out, "Read my lips, no new taxes..." And what did President Bush (41) do? He raised new taxes.

Barack Obama is on video during the campaign promising not to raise taxes on the middle class in this country. If the congress does this, expect videos out after the bill is signed, the next day. And you think we can explain this away? When many Americans are hurting, don't have jobs, hours cut on jobs, wages reduced, families struggling? Do you think the public will take this? I don't think so.

Sure, the Republicans are gas bags and ass hats. The public knows this. But if you want to really suppress voting, don't have boots on the ground, evaporated GOTV, then Democrats tax the shit out of the very public that put your asses in charge.

People that have union health plans, most have given major concessions to have this one luxury. It is called decent health insurance which most Americans DON'T have.

Finally, what happened about repealing the Bush Tax Cuts? We are too afraid to do this, but don't give a damn about taxing the shit out of folks who are barely making it out here?

I am sorry, but none of this makes any damn sense to me. What are the Democrats thinking!!

Update [2010-1-12 14:59:49 by icebergslim]:

Bush Tax Cuts Expiring the end of 2010

Update [2010-1-12 15:2:18 by icebergslim]:

inclusive heart makes a very valid point, it is not just union households that this will affect, but anyone will get clipped by this tax, which will force you to buy a plan at a cheaper cost and less coverage. Good point.

Update [2010-1-12 16:38:52 by icebergslim]:

This from the federal and postal employees union:

The letter from the federal and postal employees frames the tax as both inequitable and potentially damaging to the prospects of recruiting future government employees. The groups write:

"While the excise tax is slated to be imposed on the insurers on so-called high cost plans, the tax will be passed on to enrollees in the form of higher premiums, co-pays or reduced benefits. [Blue Cross blue Shield] plans cover approximately 48 % of [Federal Employees Health Benefits Program] enrollees, or nearly 3.8 million Americans. Single enrollees would be subject to the effects of the tax in 2013, while families are hit in the third year. Including other, non-BC/BS plans, more than one-half of active and retired enrollees will face the effects of these taxes that accumulate to thousands of dollars in the middle to out years of the Senate-passed bill. Because we understand the value of all health care is counted towards the threshold amounts, enrollees with dental or vision coverage, or a Flexible Spending account, could reach the thresholds even sooner and feel the effects of this tax earlier.

Characterizing this tax proposal as a "Cadillac tax" is a misnomer. It hits the average blue collar and white collar employee or annuitant. FEHBP insurers will simply reduce coverage and, as the taxes increase, a downward spiral towards less coverage will ensue, which is antithetical to health care reform's states purpose. Penalizing FEHBP enrollees with this tax is a huge disincentive to qualified applicants seeking federal or postal employment. It is bad for the government and bad policy overall.

People around here forget that Barack Obama told Hillary Clinton that words matter. Well, words do matter, the words matter more so from our president. When you continue to go back on what you said, you deserve to get blasted and many have the right to become suspect. That means we have the right to question every step made by this administration and as the unions have reminded our president, he needs to remember what he said during the campaign.



Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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Senate passes health insurance reform and President Obama's statement (Video)

President Barack Obama (R) delivers remarks next to Vice President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington after the Senate passed the health care reform bill December 24, 2009. The U.S. Senate approved Obama's healthcare overhaul on Thursday, backing sweeping changes in the medical insurance market and new coverage for tens of millions of uninsured Americans.



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Change we can believe in. Really? (pictures)

I know, I know, I am about to be attacked, but before you do, let's stroll down memory lane.


This sign was downtown Chicago, I actually went downtown just to view this. Being African-American, I can not explain, how proud I was, many of us were.


The NIGHT, at Grant Park in Chicago. Barack Obama won, he is the next POTUS. Before there was Blackwaterdog, Muzikial203, there was me and before ME, there was Al Rodgers. A very happy, jubilant and shocking time. See all the pics, here.


Remember when Barack did Denver? 100K came out. What a memory.


Remember when Barack did the Philly Sprint? The pictures and more important the people, with HOPE in their eyes, came out from everywhere in Philadelphia. This diary, as I remember, I received more personal emails about.

And my weekly, This Week With Barack Obama.

And the CHANGE PLANE:



I wrote a weekly diary following and capitalizing on Barack Obama and his phenomenal campaign. I did this from 2007 through the end of the campaign. I raised over 12K through the Obama Campaign's grassroots fundraiser. Most of the money, from these diaries and the hard fight that was fought, came from people right here on this website, the money came from you. I can not tell you HOW MANY people contacted me, actually gave their max donation through my little link. People telling me to keep going, keep writing, loving the pictures. Many know my story, how I grew up in politics, it was interwoven throughout my life. Yes, me.

Now, I am directly against what the Democrats in congress has done to health care for the people of this nation.

While I am happy that Medicare is now starting for those at 55, what about everyone else? Because I am no where near 55, as many reading this. And the public option?

I am mad, angry at Barack Obama and the Democrats. Why? Because for 2 years Barack Obama campaigned on "Health Care like Congress", but once in office Obama became a cricket. I am angry because if a campaign, YES, campaign was run with this slogan, who in their right mind would DENY IT. This would have been difficult for even the Republicans to deny. Do you think they will actually say, "We don't want the American people to have health care like us!!!"

This issue was too easy to win, but was not used.

I am mad because I watched the leaders in the White House do very little over the summer against the lies and repeated noise that was on television about the public option. Yes, it was utter bullshit, but when you are limited in response, that disinformation just sits. That is what happened. Oh, don't forget we had to listen to President Obama say wonderful things about the Republicans, especially Chuck Grassley, while Grassley continued to turn the knife in our President's back. That was hard to watch, swallow and many became angry that we have a President that continues to PRAISE the very party that will NEVER vote on ANYTHING with his name on it. Sad.

Now we have a public option or bullshit, that will be given to the very entity (health insurance companies) that have destroyed many families, killed many by denying their claims, and will rescission you to your grave. We are suppose to trust a non-profit organization to protect us? Remember, everyone how Blue Cross Blue Shield started, as a non-profit insurance company. We are supposed to trust this? And let us not forget how the Obama White House made secret deals to various health care industries before A BILL was even out there. That deal with pharmaceutical industries was a very bad deal, especially when you try to LIE yourself out of it, but then must come clean. Whatever happened to "know when to hold em' and know when to fold em'?" Because they did not even TRY to negotiate with this industry, especially when Barack Obama ran around this country talking about "heat of the night deals" with this very industry in regards to the Bush Administration. This White House did the same damn thing, as Bush.

Finally, the public option is not recognized any longer. It is a watered down provision that covers about 2-6M people in this country. Which is real bullshit. That is not change anyone can believe in. In fact, expect the insurance companies to laugh themselves to the bank. Yes, bank, because through all of this, we the American Public, MUST purchase health care, while we have gotten screwed (as some believe) through this process.

I worked very hard for Barack Obama and the Democrats. I worked my ass off, many on here KNOW THAT. So, to write I am disappointed is being nice. So, from here on out, I will not give a dime to OFA, DNC, Democrats. I will OPT OUT and choose candidates that I believe will fight for change. I will PICK and CHOOSE who I will support.

I am a Democrat and will DIE one, but Barack Obama and the Democrats in D.C. got in with a mandate vote. The very many, millions, who are young, voted for the first time, disenfranchise voters, cross-over voters, what about them? Because right now, many of these voters feel it is still business as usual in Washington, D.C. and certainly don't represent them. Not for this, not for this watered down health care package.

OK, flame away.

Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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This is not making United Health Care shake in their boots....(Video)

Again, Wyden stated, "...United Health Care has 70M subscribers, now how in the world are you going to hold the United Health people accountable with 6M subscribers, United Health is not going to exactly be quakin' in there boots...."

He is right. The public option needs to be opened to EVERYONE to compete with the insurance companies. Again, this is why the insurance companies do not what the public option for fear that opening it to everyone, will FORCE them to CHANGE.

This is real reform, not the shaky stuff that is coming out of congress. Why even have a public option if it is only for 6M people? Does that make any sense to anyone? Because for me, 6M subscribers for the public option is a joke. That is not even a challenge to the insurance companies, but a laugh and business as usual for a very corrupt industry.

Lastly, everyone should be concerned at the date. Today is November 18, 2009. The longer this drags out, the harder it will be for any real reform in the final senate bill. These congress critters are not going to embrace any progressive platform once January 1, 2010 hits. Why? Because too much money is being paid for NO votes in congress, that is the truth. And because the Obama White House has a much larger task on their plate, the continued rising unemployment numbers in this country and the perceived perception that he is not doing enough. This White House needs to focus on unemployment and job creation in this country, this issue is how you lose in 2010. And health care? It has been dragged out too long, yes there will be a bill but don't expect any huge amount of change but a slap on the hand to these corrupt insurance companies, especially if the public option is designed for only 6M people.



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Why is anyone surprised at this? Wall Street, "No Health Care Reform At All Is Best"

Well, specifically, Goldman Sachs. This is the same organization or BAILOUT BANK, that got preferential treatment by getting the H1N1 vaccine (or swine flu) before millions of AT RISK AMERICANS.

I mean, how low down is that? And Washington, DC does not understand the angst out here, especially on Main Street?

So, why are we surprised that Wall Street, of all places, do not want any health care reform. It is not in their best interest, monetarily.

A Goldman Sachs analysis of health care legislation has concluded that, as far as the bottom line for insurance companies is concerned, the best thing to do is nothing. A close second would be passing a watered-down version of the Senate Finance Committee's bill.

A study put together by Goldman in mid-October looks at the estimated stock performance of the private insurance industry under four variations of reform legislation. The study focused on the five biggest insurers whose shares are traded on Wall Street: Aetna, UnitedHealth, WellPoint, CIGNA and Humana.

The Senate Finance Committee bill, which Goldman's analysts conclude is the version most likely to survive the legislative process, is described as the "base" scenario. Under that legislation (which did not include a public plan) the earnings per share for the top five insurers would grow an estimated five percent from 2010 through 2019. And yet, the "variance with current valuation" -- essentially, what the value of the stock is on the market -- is projected to drop four percent. read more here...

If the Democrats screw health care reform and give us a watered down bill to say, "Reform", they are in a lot of trouble this time next year.

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The real Republican health care plan is all about you dying, seriously

For those who get sick, major sick and we all know friends and family members who have walked down that road, don't depend on ANYTHING from the Republican health care plan to help you, at all.

Republicans are preparing to unveil their own health bill in the next few days. Minority Leader John Boehner (R., Ohio) said Monday that the plan wouldn't seek to prevent health-insurance companies from denying sick people insurance -- a key plank of the Democrats' legislation.

Folks, that is all you need to know, no matter what side of the aisle you are on, just keep moving PAST this Republican plan.

Too many people have DIED due to being recission to their deaths. Too many people in this country have gone bankrupt thinking they had health insurance that would take care of them, only to find out the insurance they had never intended, too.

Just laugh this crap off and keep walking on by. The public option needs to be opened for every single citizen in this country, period. The Republicans plan is a slap in the face of every American and welfare insurance to the very insurance industry that is fighting any change. Get sick if you want to on this plan, it is truly at your own risk.

Source

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Blanche Lincoln, you can be stupid if you want to

Senator Blanche Lincoln, another person in the senate who is bought and sold by the insurance lobbyists has just been told reality by her STATE OF ARKANSAS.

In other words, she can vote against the public option if she dares, it will be political suicide for her.

Voters in Arkansas Support a Public Option

56% of all voters favor a public option, while 37% oppose it. Among Democrats, an overwhelming 83% favor a public option, while 12% oppose it. 57% of Independents favor a public option.

73% of all voters think that private health insurance companies care more about profit than about the health of the patients that they cover. Among Democrats and Independents, that number skyrockets to 86% and 72% respectively.

2010 Political Vulnerability Linked to Voting Against Health Care Bill

43% of Democrats are less likely to vote for Blanche Lincoln in 2010 if she votes against the public option--and 49% of Democrats and 35% of Independents are less likely to vote for her if she helps filibuster a bill.

If the 2010 election were held today, Blanche Lincoln receives 41% of the vote and Republican Gilbert Baker receives 39% of the vote--with 20% of voters undecided. Blanche Lincoln has suffered a net drop of 5% support since last month’s Research 2000 poll.

46% of Democrats are less likely to vote for her in the 2010 primary if she votes against the public option, and 48% are less likely to vote for her in the 2010 primary if she helps filibuster a bill.

Among Democrats, 43% think Blanche Lincoln should be the Democratic nominee again in 2010. 57% are not sure, or think it should be someone new.

Blanche Lincoln Seen as Out-Of-Touch With Arkansas Voters.

Overall, 47% say she is out-of-touch with Arkansas voters. 51% of overall voters think she is ineffective, 35% effective. 36% of Democrats and 50% of Independents think she is ineffective.

Out of touch. That is the sentiment with MOST of those gas bags in the senate, OUT OF TOUCH.

The sentiment out here is ANGER. I hope these Democrats and President Obama understand this. People feel they have been taken advantage of and that free rides are always for the rich. People also feel that their voices and desires are not being heard, taken seriously because we continue to see the ones with power and money buy up the political system.

We want a public option and we want one to expand, eventually, to ALL AMERICANS. Now the Democrats can play around with this if they want to, if they do, that alone will be enough to anger voters at the ballot box.

Do the right thing, Democrats.

Poll and more information, here.

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Democrats moving to strip insurance industry of their coveted anti-trust exemption

This is hard ball being played here.

President Obama was so incensed by the insurance companies, 24th hour bogus report on any change in health care insurance reform will bring increased premiums, that the President warned this industry that removal of the anti-trust exemption should happen.

Well, movement is happening that it DOES HAPPEN.

A House committee has voted to strip the health insurance industry of its exemption from federal antitrust laws as senators announced plans to take the same step.

The moves Wednesday signaled a growing determination by Democrats to punish the insurance industry for its criticism of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul agenda. The House Judiciary Committee voted 20 to 9 to repeal a 1940s law that exempted the health insurance industry from federal controls over certain antitrust violations including price-fixing.

Lawmakers said they wanted to include the legislation in a larger health care overhaul bill taking shape in the House. In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced plans to repeal the antitrust exemption as part of its health care legislation.

bold emphasis is mine

Good to see Leader Reid making the an integral part of the health care overhaul. About damn time.

Source

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Parents of child denied health insurance because she is underweight on the Today Show (Video)

Again, we are supposed to continue to deal with insurance companies who can deny you because they WANT TO? REFORM is needed and coming soon.

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Toddler denied health insurance because she is underweight

Totally, ridiculous and the insurance companies wants us not to have competition for shit like this? Last week, the 4 month old baby was too fat, this week a toddler is too small, WTF????

The parents of a two-year-old girl in Colorado are unable to attain health insurance for their daughter because the insurer, United Healthcare Golden Rule, claims she is too small. In a letter sent to the family of the child, Aislin Bates, United Healthcare Golden Rule writes, "we are unable to provide coverage for Aislin because her height and weight do not meet our company standards." According to a Colorado news station, Aislin weighed six pounds, six ounces at birth, and now weighs 22 pounds.

When Robert Bates, the girl's father, left his former job to start his own business, he was forced to seek out his own health insurance, and enrolled his family in an insurance plan with United Healthcare Golden Rule. "It took me by surprise," Bates told ABC 7 in Denver. "I didn't think that her size was that abnormal and that it was something that you'd consider to be unhealthy." As ABC 7 reports:

A spokeswoman for United Healthcare Golden Rule said 89 percent of the people who apply for insurance get it. Ellen Laden, the company's public relations director, told the station that most insurers have their own propriety height and weight guidelines.

"Ours are based on several medical sources, including the Centers for Disease Control, and are well within industry standards," she said. read more here...

And both cases the fat baby and skinny toddler are in Colorado. Lastly, these insurance companies denying people based on WHAT FACTS? The ones grabbed out of their @$$es???

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President Obama brings the HEAT to the insurance industry

I mean the THREAT heat.

In unusually harsh terms, Mr. Obama cast insurance companies as obstacles to change interested only in preserving their own “profits and bonuses” and willing to “bend the truth or break it” to stop his drive to remake the nation’s health care system. The president used his weekly radio and Internet address to push back against industry assertions that legislation will drive up premiums.

“It’s smoke and mirrors,” Mr. Obama said. “It’s bogus. And it’s all too familiar. Every time we get close to passing reform, the insurance companies produce these phony studies as a prescription and say, ‘Take one of these, and call us in a decade.’ Well, not this time.”

Rather than trying to curb costs and help patients, he said, the industry is busy “figuring out how to avoid covering people.”

“And they’re earning these profits and bonuses while enjoying a privileged exemption from our antitrust laws,” he said, “a matter that Congress is rightfully reviewing.”

Anyone defending these pariahs called the "health care insurance industries" are only doing it because they are too embedded with this corrupt group.

It does not take a rocket scientist to know that this industry's main focus is profits, not care for the insurer, profits. Health care in this country is a right not a damn privilege. If we, yes we, taxpayers are going to continue to spend in the billions and have wasted in the trillions on two wars which brought this country NOTHING to show for it; you mean to tell me we can not insure the people in this country? Folks are dying, daily, by the horrible rescission practices of the health care industry. The stories of this industry are NOT GOOD. Finally, the camel that broke the back for President Obama was the DISHONEST AHIP report released by the health care lobbyists on Monday. (Also note, Pricewaterhouse Cooper has come out with a statement clarifying that the cost savings was omitted from the report that was delivered on Monday. In other words, criticism was warranted and the report can be called bogus.) The only thing that was accurate was the THREAT that this industry was going to raise our premiums. Do they think we are dumb or something? They do this every year ANYWAY. And the ill timing release of this report just may have backfired on the health care industry and RIGHTLY SO.

Bravo, President Obama the heat is on. Threaten them, keep on threating them and then TAKE AWAY their Anti-Trust Exemption, enough of the lies, deceit, etc. It is time to take this industry to task and I mean the time was 20 years ago.

Read the whole article here and h/t to Daily Kos.

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The boogey man was sent to getcha'!!! Health care insurance companies saying, boldly they will spike rates if any public option in the final bill!!!!

Yep, did we expect anything DIFFERENT? Even though these vipers are getting a mandate, a.k.a., every American in this country must PURCHASE their product, which is insurance, as shitty as it may be for some? Meaning they, a.k.a., insurance companies get billions of dollars in NEW CUSTOMERS and they are playing the scurred card to the senate?

These sorry, mo-fo, insurance companies playing a final card before that Senate Finance Committee vote tomorrow!! And we will see who BLINKS first. A major threat to the American People and this White House needs to push back hard and I expect it tomorrow.

Insurance companies aren't playing nice any more. Their dire message that health care legislation will drive up premiums for people who already have coverage comes as a warning shot at a crucial point in the debate and threatens President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

Democrats and their allies scrambled on Monday to knock down a new industry-funded study forecasting that Senate legislation, over time, will add thousands of dollars to the cost of a typical policy. "Distorted and flawed," said White House spokeswoman Linda Douglass. "Fundamentally dishonest," said AARP's senior policy strategist, John Rother. "A hatchet job," said a spokesman for Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont.

But the health insurance industry's top lobbyist in Washington stood her ground. In a call with reporters, Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, pointedly refused to rule out attack ads on TV featuring the study, though she said she believed the industry's concerns could be amicably addressed.

At the heart of the industry's complaint is a decision by lawmakers to weaken the requirement that millions more Americans get coverage. Since the legislation would ban insurance companies from denying coverage on account of poor health, many people will wait to sign up until they get sick, the industry says. And that will drive up costs for everybody else.

Insurers are now raising possibilities such as higher premiums for people who postpone getting coverage, or waiting periods for those who ignore a proposed government requirement to get insurance and later have a change of heart.

The drama threatened to overshadow Tuesday's scheduled vote by the Senate Finance Committee on a 10-year, $829-billion plan that Baucus has touted as the sensible solution to America's problems of high medical costs and too many uninsured.

The Baucus bill is still expected to win Finance Committee approval. The insurance industry is trying to influence what happens beyond the vote, when legislation goes to the floor of the House and Senate, and, if passed, to a conference committee that would reconcile differences in the bills.

It's at that final stage where many expect the real deal will be cut. read more here....

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Parents of the baby that was DENIED health insurance because he was too fat speak out (Video)

Yes, a baby is denied coverage because his pre-existing condition is being, well fat. The insurance company changed its mind once this story hit the media, but this is another one to throw in the WTF bin, when it comes to health care reform. From The Ed Schultz Show.

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This is not what I voted for.

TomP has a diary up, "Compromise? Robust Public Option w/ State Opt-Out?"

Now, I did not know what that MEANT but after watching Sam Stein from Huffington Post on The Ed Shultz Show, the reality is that to get the 60 votes (that is what President Obama wants so he can raise his bi-partisan flag), the public option can be relegated to state level.

But get this, the state has the CHOICE if they want it or not.

As the Isley Brothers have sung, "...a bunch of bullshit going down...."

OK?

Let's be clear here and I can not type it enough. This is not what we voted for. When I say we, I am talking about Independents and Republicans who joined us to vote the Obama Administration in. This is not what we voted for.

We already saw this show, we saw it this summer, in August, with the health insurance companies backing vapor groups, they took over the health care debate in town halls across this country. We saw this.

So, does anyone expect the insurance companies to do any less than to put pressure on all these states to DENY any public option?

It is time for many of us to realize that these politicians are more crooked that a crack in the ground. And can you IMAGINE these insurance companies, wining, dining and writing checks to our lowly state legislators? They have been bought and sold for the LOVE OF MONEY. Remember the O'Jays tune? Well, it is true.



Has anyone asked themselves why, just why, it has taken so long for anything to get done in Washington, D.C.? Why just inchworm steps are taken to change anything? These politicians are shady, lost, sellouts to their lobbyists checks. Period.

Every damn poll has shown that the public option, a government run public option is wanted, yet we have the spineless Democrats in congress who will not do the right thing.

I am recovering from abdominal and intestinal surgery. I had similar surgery 15 years ago and it cost me ZERO. Yet, I did have some complications this time around, it was not for FREE. In total I am looking to spend around or over 5,000 and this is cheap for a 65,000+ procedure. Yet, there are many who have insurance which for the same procedure they will pay much more due to their insurance plan and let us not even think about those who don't have it. Lastly on this, my insurance company DID look at my history and pre-existing conditions, but THANKFULLY for Illinois it expires at 10 years. Damn, what about those that are walking around, as I did, in pain and need it but they don't hit that 10 year mark!!!! And we expect the states, which are 1/2 run by Republicans to want a public option for their constituents? No, boo-boo, this is all about money and the pressure that will come down on each and every state to demolish, dissuade any public option.

This is not what I voted for.

Finally, the CBO gives the GREEN LIGHT for Senator Max Baucus plan. Wow, I wonder if this is what the Obama White House was waiting for, more importantly is the line drawn harder in the sand.

I just drew my line, deeper, harder and unmovable on this issue.

Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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Rahm Emanuel negotiating for the White House in Conference for Health Care Insurance Reform, which way will he or the White House go?

Call me SKEPTICAL. Why? Rahm Emanuel is a Blue Dog Democrat, nothing wrong with that and warranted in some cases, but health care INSURANCE reform is not a Blue Dog negotiation issue. Why? The Blue Dogs in the House and Senate has STOOD WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

Now, there are many moving parts in negotiating and I will keep a skeptical open mind, but some things are not negotiating points, as follows:

1) Getting rid of caps on insurance policies
2) Removal of pre-existing insurance clauses
3) The government run public option

The above is non-negotiable. Why? Because people are dying every day from lack of enough insurance or no insurance, insurance coverage has capped out (a dollar amount is on MOST policies), denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, and lack of affordability in the word of competition for these public insurance companies.

If the three items listed are not in the bill, for me it is welfare for insurance companies. If the Obama White House thinks that people are asleep at the wheel, think again, they are not. President Barack Obama campaign against all three items ABOVE and strongly, if he cannot get these Democrats in order to tow the line, what does that say about him? And PLEASE, George W. Bush practically got EVERY DAMN THING pushed through with LESS numbers than Obama from his party. It is time to wield the power and twist arms, if this cannot be done for a CORNER STONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION of the Obama Agenda, it is failure. If those three very important components are not in the final bill it will be used against the Democrats from 2010 going forward.

The Democratic Party is a big tent party, we accept all visions and arguments, but the Democratic Party has been fighting for health care reform since the days of Harry S. Truman when he wanted health care for all covered by the government. Barack Obama's election was a CHANGE ELECTION. Obama did not win by 1 or 2 points but almost 8 points carrying some states that the Democrats have not won in over 40 years, like Indiana and Virginia. If the Democrats cannot understand the continuous polling numbers on what the PEOPLE want and that is a public option and all the above, then whatever happens going forward starting with the 2010 mid-term elections is not good, then they shot themselves and have to work AGAIN to gain confidence.

And if the Obama White House, which they have not rescinded, but demands that people BUY insurance from these corrupt industries, but none of the above, the joke will be on them. How can you force people to PURCHASE insurance but don't have the main components listed above for some type of reform? This is criminal and insurance welfare to these disastrous companies and I am being NICE in writing this.

Don't be dumb, Democrats, this is too easy to win.

And Dr. Paul Hochfeld on Countdown with Keith Olbermann:



h/t MinistryOfTruth

And don't miss Keith Olbermann's HOUR LONG SPECIAL COMMENT on Health Care Reform, targeting the industry, the Congress and Obama White House, tonight on MSNBC, 7PM (CST)

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Dylan Ratigan destroys Betsy McCaughey on MSNBC (Video)

Betsy McCaughey is the one who crafted this whole health care debate, which we saw all summer at heated town hall meetings with misinformation and lies. She has tap danced on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, but when he was done with her, she resigned from her position. He was that effective in exposing her.

Now on MSNBC with Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) the defender of the public option, Betsy was just exposed AGAIN.




MSNBC Video

h/t Daily Kos

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