Health reform and what it means to us
After last night's vote I decided it was way past time to post a blog and this seemed like a very good topic.
Since early last year I have had very mixed emotions in regard to any legislation that might come out for a whole slough of reasons.
First, the amount of misinformation being released on both sides of the argument really showed me that I wasn't going to trust anyone with my healthcare.
Second,I felt like it was far too politicized with what both parties wanted being ridiculous polar opposites that I felt weren't feasible.
It was definitely time for something to change, but what was million dollar question.
The original ideas of universal healthcare were simply too optimistic to be implemented. A program like that would come with major costs and sacrifices that, frankly, I'm not willing to make.
Now, with that being said, if the bill passed Sunday is actually what I'm understanding it to be, I think legislators might have found a good balance point.
One of the reasons I feel differently on this issue than many other political issues is because I was born with an adrenal disorder that makes it next to impossible for me to purchase health insurance.
It's really a simple disease, but because it's quite rare it scares insurance companies to death. In other words, the only option for me has been to find a job that offered it and couldn't turn me down.
While it's not the greatest coverage in the world, after years without any at all I'm thankful for what I have and I understand how frustrating this can be to people who fall into those holes.
The next issue that really hits home for me is the changes in Medicaid law. While I obviously don't use the program, this law will make it available to a family of four making up to $29,000 per year. What that means to me is that more people will be eligible to use a program they've been paying for for years.
I know that the majority of taxpayers won't be eligible, but it's something. The fact is, an average family of four with two children making under $29,000 can't afford most premiums and actually have a decent home and provide for their family.
If there's a good way to make that happen on far less than that, I sure haven't figured it out yet, but believe me I'm trying.
While there are many, many issues I still have with this bill, I have to say I'm glad to see "something." There's nothing I'd be 100 percent happy with. For instance, I am concerned about the rest of the 900+ page bill and what it might contain and the I absolutely detest the practice of buying votes with earmarks and favors, but the fact is that's the way everything is done in Washington.
The one part of this bill that I am the most upset about, though, deals with penalties to people who don't purchase insurance. I'm not sure how that part will play out yet, but I don't like it. As Gallagher said, it doesn't make sense for them to charge you more of what they know you don't have any of!
So far, the only thing I've found that seems to give a reasonably unbiased article about what this bill means to us is here. While MSNBC isn't known for being unbiased, this seems to lay some of this out there in a simple format. Read it and then share your thoughts, but please remember to keep this civil! Thanks everybody!
Comments
- -- Posted by Dexterite1 on Mon, Mar 22, 2010, at 1:32 PM
- -- Posted by L2L on Mon, Mar 22, 2010, at 1:40 PM
- -- Posted by GONENOW on Mon, Mar 22, 2010, at 3:49 PM
- -- Posted by swift on Mon, Mar 22, 2010, at 4:32 PM
- -- Posted by swift on Mon, Mar 22, 2010, at 4:37 PM
- -- Posted by geezerette on Mon, Mar 22, 2010, at 4:55 PM
- -- Posted by BonScott on Mon, Mar 22, 2010, at 8:18 PM
- -- Posted by L2L on Mon, Mar 22, 2010, at 10:34 PM
- -- Posted by BonScott on Mon, Mar 22, 2010, at 11:00 PM
- -- Posted by shannonhoon on Tue, Mar 23, 2010, at 8:36 AM
- -- Posted by L2L on Tue, Mar 23, 2010, at 9:30 AM
- -- Posted by shannonhoon on Tue, Mar 23, 2010, at 10:22 AM
- -- Posted by geezerette on Tue, Mar 23, 2010, at 1:10 PM
- -- Posted by BonScott on Tue, Mar 23, 2010, at 3:01 PM
- -- Posted by swift on Tue, Mar 23, 2010, at 3:04 PM
- -- Posted by geezerette on Tue, Mar 23, 2010, at 4:10 PM
- -- Posted by swift on Tue, Mar 23, 2010, at 4:12 PM
- -- Posted by mythought on Wed, Mar 24, 2010, at 8:10 AM
- -- Posted by shannonhoon on Wed, Mar 24, 2010, at 10:28 PM
- -- Posted by shannonhoon on Fri, Mar 26, 2010, at 11:45 AM
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