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House Approves Health Care
FamilyHost_Meredith - 2 weeks ago
On Saturday, the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 220-215, passed legislation that would change the current health care system.

The 1990-page bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will cost over $1 trillion, would regulate how private health insurance companies manage its members as well as extend Medicaid coverage to an estimated 36 million Americans.

Have you been following this debate? Do you understand what the House has approved? Are you getting involved? Health care is the most talked about topic in Washington - are you talking about outside the Beltway?
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JimDadOfTwo - 2 weeks ago

The frustrating thing about the health care "debate" is that so many mainstream media sources focus on the squabbling between the two political parties rather than explaining to the American public what exactly is included in the legislation.

According to the Washington Post, this bill will prevent private insurance companies from denying preexisting conditions and mandate that private companies must offer health care options to its employees. More frighteningly, individuals would be REQUIRED to get health insurance or face a fine of 2.5 percent of their income.

If the Federal Government wants to extend public health care options to people that fall through the cracks or can't afford it, that's one topic of conversation that I'm willing to have. But for the government to mandate how private companies and individual citizens spend their money, that is flat-out wrong. We are a country that values individual liberty and private organizations - whether businesses or people - have the God-given right (see: Declaration of Independence) to live their lives and make their choices as they see fit.

I will be on the phone with my Senators every day. This legislation is wrong for the country. I can only hope that a narrow win in the liberal-er House means a defeat in the more conservative Senate.


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mom2A-J - 2 weeks ago

I think this is extremely important as I feel that every American should be entitled to quality health care regardless of employment status.

There have been many iterations of this bill so I do not know all the specifics of what passed the house.

But now it goes to two committees in the senate and then to the senate as a whole....we are a long way off from seeing anything signed into law.


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1hotmama7 - 2 weeks ago
Replying to ...
  I think this is extremely important as I feel that every American should be entitled to quality health care regardless of employment status. There have been many iterations of this bill so I do not know all the specifics of what passed the house. But now it goes to two committees in the senate and then to the senate as a whole....we are a long way off from seeing anything signed into law.  
By mom2A-J
I saw a debate on my evening news tonight about this. So much is still being passed around its hard to understand where its at. There was a poll asking if the public thought this bill would be decided upon by the end of year? I laughed and sarcastically said 'No way." I think insurances that don't cover pre-existing conditions is crap. Its not the persons fault they have that condition and isn't that what insurance is for. I think its discrimination to say they won't cover pre-existing conditions.
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smallfrymom - 2 weeks ago
I am not sure of the specifics but am glad they are doing something about preexisiting conditions. I currently cannot get health care due to preexisting conditions, and getting sick could ruin my family financially.
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Jennyboots - 2 weeks ago
Oh something must be done ... we just found out our insurance will be going up 28%. Now I am going to have to work more to cover the extra hundreds of dollars it will cost. Before long I will just be working to pay for insurance and have no time to enjoy life!
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BroncosDad - 2 weeks ago
Replying to ...
  Oh something must be done ... we just found out our insurance will be going up 28%. Now I am going to have to work more to cover the extra hundreds of dollars it will cost. Before long I will just be working to pay for insurance and have no time to enjoy life!  
By Jennyboots
Health Care Insurance companies are profit-based. They are not a service of the government, nor is their mandate to provide health care to everyone. It is to ensure that an acceptable profit level will remain in force for their company. I don't fault them, that is the goal of every business. And if that profit level ceases, the company will go into default.
I don't know what the answer is, but the government is going to put enough pressure on Health care insurance companies that they will simply close up shop. If that happens, the government will have to step in, and we'll have government sponsored universal health care. Perhaps that is the goal of the current administration.
The poor cannot afford health care. If the insurance companies lower premiums to cover the poor, the insurance company goes under. The wealthy want to continue the level of care they have been receiving. That level of care is expensive, and reflected in the high premiums. They don't want lesser, non expensive care.
I'm not sure there is a suitable or fair answer. But I don't think what is happening is going to do anything more than eliminate some existing coverage. If told to lower premiums by the government, the company will simply close its doors.
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Giggles_all_day - 1 week ago
Replying to ...
  I think this is extremely important as I feel that every American should be entitled to quality health care regardless of employment status. [....]  
By mom2A-J
I agree but at what price to us? I am only speaking for my family but I am not sure how much more we can afford to have deducted from our paycheck or pay out to an insurance company!
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SantaMonicaMom - 1 week ago

I'm not sure what the answers are but I know that it gives me the creeps to think about the way that insurance company's make money. Not everything should be operating under a profit motive. Roads and bridges aren't private profit centers. Education usually isn't about chasing a buck.

I don't like the idea of incredibly wealthy people getting more wealthy by denying people services after accepting their premiums for years.


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SantaMonicaMom - 1 week ago

And another thing ... I don't like the idea of my only affordable insurance option is to get it from my employer

It kills entrepreneurism.

I think of all the people I know who are not starting business ... or not rocking the boat at their jobs ... because they would be sunk if they lost their insurance ... they could never afford it if they had to pay for it on their own.

Our country would be a lot more creative if people could break free of their 9 to 5s and start new ventures.


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AnnabelleMcB - 1 week ago
I confess that I really haven't followed the debate as closely as I could be. There are so many options and buzzwords thrown around that I really don't know what's on the table. I like our insurance company and hope that this new law won't force us to lose it.
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