Obama comes out swinging for health care reform

You can take a negro out of the fight, but you can't put the fight in a negro...he's either got it or he doesn't. President Obama needs to know what is it he is fighting for and why? Fighting to win so one can feel like the smartest person in the room is a foolish fight. A fight for others to get what you have is a noble cause, but this health care is far from what Obama has. Pay 10 years for 6 years of benefits isn't a savings-it's a gimmick. Making healthy people pay something for nothing isn't a fight-it's grand larceny. I think the answer is a "Rebate" not a "Stimulus Package" for insurance companies.

Cecil, Cecil, Cecil...Do you have home insurance? Do you have car insurance? Are these expenses for nothing? As long as your house doesn't catch fire or sustain any damage and you never have a wreck, then I guess you are paying your insurance companies for nothing. What if something happens? Would that be a waste of money then? Grand larceny is what the health insurance companies are doing now. The "negro" you are referring to has done more in 14 months than any other president has done in 60 years in the push for health care. To reduce costs, both healthy and not-so-healthy people need to spread the risk around. That's how insurance works, everyone shares the burden so that costs are lowered for everyone. I happen to very proud of that "negro" you refer to. There is a learning curve for any new job and I think that "negro" is doing just fine, especially considering supporters like you, beck, limbaugh, teabaggers, republicans.... Forget the talking points and think for yourself. What would health insurance reform do for you and your family? What if your health was more important than profits? I'm jus sayin.....

Everybody's copays are going up!
Deductibles take the place of premiums.

Iarry's comment on profit is unfounded. The Gross Profit Margins of all insurance companies weigh around 3-4%, as per sources from Forbes. In comparison, Google made a Gross Profit Margin of 27.7% and Apple made a Gross Profit Margin of 39.9%. Yes, think for yourself.

But Andrew, those companies you mentioned aren't health care providers. And where did you get your info from. I heard 20 to 30% profits for health care providers. Anyway, I commend Obama on what he is doing. I find it mind boggling that people are knocking him for trying to fix a broken system.

Too little too late since he should have already had this passed, the GOP and those who have it, insurance and, they had better pray they NEVER get sick, as the insurance folks will fight this to the end. They aren't all millionaires due to the healthy and even then, the healthy are paying for the sick in this twisted health care monopoly.

Even if Obama were to pass something resembling reform, if it doesn't have a public option you're just wasting everybody's time. And can you get quality care if it's mandatory to buy some form of insurence?

Six months after the bill is signed into law, Medicare beneficiaries would get a 50% discount on brand-name prescriptions that fall within a coverage gap known as the "doughnut hole." Starting next year, insurance companies would no longer be able to place lifetime caps on coverage and they would begin to lose the ability to set annual limits on benefits. Insurers would have to pay the entire cost of preventive services. These changes apply only to new insurance plans purchased after the bill takes effect. Current employer plans will be grandfathered in and won't be required to adopt these new changes. By 2011, all consumers would face a $2,500 cap on flexible spending accounts. The bill would also put new restrictions on withdrawals from health savings accounts. In 2013, people with an insurance plan worth more than $8,500 for an individual and $23,000 for a family will face a new tax of 40% on the amount of the benefit that exceeds those levels. This is commonly referred to as the "Cadillac" tax. In 2014, the government will start to hand out tax credits to low and middle income Americans to offset the cost of buying insurance and expand the Medicaid federal-state program to provide insurance to a greater number of the poor. In 2014, insurers would no longer be able to charge older people more than three times as much for insurance. That is also the year states would set up new insurance exchanges where people without employer plans and small businesses would shop for coverage. In addition to plans from private insurers, the exchanges would offer plans administered by the same entity that handles insurance for government workers. In 2014, consumers will face a $95 fee if they don't carry insurance and are deemed able to afford it. That penalty increases to $495 a year in 2015 and $750 a year by 2016. Consumers could end up paying up to 2% of their income or up to the value of the cost of a basic insurance plan, if that level is higher than the $750 fine.

Larry, Larry, Larry if the Mob came to you and offered you "Insurance" would you buy it cause you needed it or because they wanted you to have it as protection. I drive like Mr. Magoo. I'm so careful people pass me. I don't go to doctors. I have life insurance, but we are all going to die sooner than we'd like. Insurance would be a whole lot better if I got a "Rebate" for living the right way. People who jump out of planes, take serious risks, and use the services should pay more. We are talking about rewarding positive behavior and empowering people. Do the right things and you should pay less. Do you work for an insurance company? Sounds like I'm stealing your Christmas bonus and Bahamas vacation? How much is too much and your insurance is probably free? Rebates are the answer to Pres. Obama's forced care and insurance stimulus package. We didn't even discuss the violations of confidentiality and shared information. This program is "Big Brother." Do you know what's in your DNA future?

Obamas approval rating is worse than bushs at the same point in his presidency. Gallup came out w/ 46% dissaproval today! OUCH! maybe stop shoving socialized medicine down our throats and start listening to the people barry