Health Care Reform

[TUCAN99999]

Awesome!

[diegomuscleargentina]

good luck Marco

[AtlasShruggery]

Marco Rubio: El pendejo Republicano!

[ehacereco]

Private markets have had enough time to put a cap on exorbitants insurance plan prices for those who lose their job or need an individual insuranace plan. They have had enough time to stop their greedy discrimination which they call pre-existing condition. So is time for the goberment to step in and reach out for those who need an affordable plan.

[gofucoffee]

ehace............. & "the "Goobers" in DC've only had a combined 140 years of fixing the ( FAA , S/S, medicare/Aid, postal srvice, the war on poverty, the war on drugs, And as our fine TROOPS get bashed about relentlessly/their uselessness (till in need of help-HAITI , etc...................) clownsOprogressiveness love to also bash capitolists(even tho they cr8 D jobs) D-onk oh i can continue b-lieve-it hit da road if you lke what Chavez is doin' to the fine ppl of Ven. h'dlove to have Douche!

[RobertRobls]

Our State needs Marco's moral principles and service vocation.

[space912]

As we all realize, 2010 is a very important year. We must vote into office true conservatives in order to make a difference in our government and get back to what our founding father's envisioned for our country.

I will be supporting Marco with my time, energy, and most importantly for him at this point, my money.

[verbusen]

We need some young conservatives in the Senate to replace those senile old liberals, I'm all in! He certainly doesn't fit the mold of the old country cracker Republican! He'd be great to see on TV rebuff the SNL backed Obama crowd as what's hip! Screw moderate Republicans like Christ, we need solid change and youthful leadership. All the moderates lost the last election go CONSERVATIVE!!! I'm definitely voting Rubio in Aug 2010 and Nov 2010!!!

[HassoBenSoba]

Hey....You guys can try to out-argue each other all you want...this Rubio guy is FANTASTIC! Sign up on his website and send him a donation; let's get him elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 so he can kick the crap out of the Marxist currently in the White House in 2012!

[cman404]

What bigger monopoly is there than the federal government? There are over 1600 private healthcare insurance providers in this country yet most people only have access to 5 or 6 if they are lucky. The reason this is the case is because of federal regulation prohibiting competition instead of encouraging it. How does a centralized, government-run public option promote competition? Supply and Demand...ECO101. This administration isn't about increasing competition as it is more about CONTROL of us!

[UtopianComrade]

Do not dismay Marco! God is with you. We the Floridian are standing with you.

You will win!

[stevoiii]

In most states there are only 5 companies to choose from. In Alabama 90% are under one co. Now does that sound like a free market. I am not rubio supporter anymore. The replublican politicians have govt. Healthcare. Because of this I am now indepenant

[AnnInFL]

The Republicans, as well as Libertarian organizations such as the Cato Institute and Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty have suggested many free market reforms to expand and promote competition in the insurance industry. One needed reform is to create a national market for insurance, by allowing health insurance to be purchased across state lines. This would be a huge step in bringing down the cost of insurance, but Obama will not even consider it. Go to Cato Institute and CFL websites for info.

[stevoiii]

The insurance market is monopolistic for two reaons, the laws favor monopolies and the economics of the industry due to high cost of sufficiently pooling risk to produce a viable insurance. The first reason that insurance companies tend toward monopolies is they are exempt from federal antitrust laws. The core idea behind antitrust law in an economic sense is to address market failure in which due to a lack competition a player or a small number of market players can obtain monopoly pricing.

[cman404]

What bigger monopoly is there besides the federal government? There are over 1600 private healthcare insurance providers yet most people only have access to 5 or 6 if they are lucky due to federal regulations. By adding a centralized government ran public option is going to reduce costs by increasing competition? I fail to see the logic; however, I do not fail to see the massive increase in government control over her citizens.

[cman404]

What bigger monopoly is there than the federal government? There are over 1600 private healthcare insurance providers in this country yet most people only have access to 5 or 6 if they are lucky. The reason this is the case is because of federal regulation prohibiting competition instead of encouraging it. How does a centralized, government-run public option promote competition? Supply and Demand...ECO101.

[stevoiii]

Now, as to why, private health insurance in American tends to be monopolistic, as I said, there are two reasons- the law and economic.

The first reason is that health insurance is exempted from the federal antitrust laws. I am not the biggest fan of Wikipedia, but I think this will give you a quick run down of the law shaping antitrust exemption for health insurance companies under McCarran-Ferguson Act:

[stevoiii]

This is part of the reason you can assume that anyone discussing ending state regulation of privateinsurance is full of crap. The goal here should be to increase federal regulation so federal antitrust law applies to health insurance companies in coordination with state laws. There are many reasons for why such a policy change is desireable. One is to coordinate a systemic national policy rather rely on local govern. to overcome corruption that may occur in the dominance of local insurance co.

[stevoiii]

The second reason why we see monopolies in the insurance market, and the reason why a change in antitrust law is probably a necessary step to real reform, but insuffient, is that health insurance as a market is naturally monopolistic.

[stevoiii]

There is, in a moderate sense (rather than centrist triangulation to the crazy right), a few reasons why government intervention is typically deemed necessary when monopolies arise. One of them was first layed out by Theodore Roosovelt, a Republican who first busted trusts, and thus giving up antitrust laws. One of those reasons is market failure, which monopolies certainly are.

[show555]

U.S. has the best medical care in the world, the problem, insurance companies have too many freedoms and privileges that are abusing the consumer and citizens abuse the same free medical service (medicaid and medicare) this coming on abuse by clinics and hospitals that make many charges to these programs unnecessarily. Drug prices out of control, they are very large vested interests who are fighting against any change or fix.

[HossGuv]

Drug companies are in bed with Obama. He bought them off in that undisclosed, non-transparent deal he had denied for so long -- that, when surfaced, caused such a stir among many on the left.

Deal: drug companies give $150million in pro-ObamaCare advertising (more than McCain spent for his pres. campaign) & they promise 2 somehow "cut $80 billion in projected costs to taxpayers & senior citizens over 10yrs."

[HossGuv]

Comment part B for show555 re: drug makers deal with Washington.

In return the White House agreed to oppose any congressional efforts to bargain for lower drug prices or import drugs from Canada -- and also agreed not to pursue Medicare rebates or shift some drugs from Medicare Part B to Part D.

[HossGuv]

Ha. Want to see ObamaCare on wheels? Want to see the beauties of socialized, government-created products vs. capitalist-created products? Watch the youtube video: youtube [[dott]] com/watch?v=AmIKbjpeTZw

[HossGuv]

"Health care in the US is covered by three main systems-- Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Two of these systems are bankrupt, and will be unable to make payments beyond 2017. The third is solvent, and can make all of its payments for the foreseeable future.

Obama & congressional leadership's plan is to take the one system meeting its obligations and fold it into the two systems that are bankrupt."

[stevoiii]

Yeah but the third one is making a ton of profit and actually making more money when the deny care and drop as many sick people they can. This is Radical!

[HossGuv]

How is capitalism is radical? How is providing a service that people are free to purchase or ignore -- with an industry standard of 3% profit or so -- radical?

[stevoiii]

Yeah making money off not paying care is Radical. Think about it!

That would be like having the police's imcome 100% based off how many criminals they killed or kept in prison. It is what we are use to so we think its the norm but THIS IS RADICAL!

[HossGuv]

I think you may be confusing things. Making a profit from a service that have specified benefits and specified limits that both parties agree to before purchase is not radical. It's called daily life.

[stevoiii]

Making a profit based off if people live or die is not "daily life" That is radical

[HossGuv]

Not sure what precisely you mean by "based off of if people live or die."

Company, who could choose not to offer any service, or offer in a different state, or offer some other type of insurance, says: we will enter this state, play by their rules & offer people various insurance plans.

If people or their employers (enter 'distortion of the market') like these plans they can choose to purchase. If not, they can choose others.

[HossGuv]

Offer a service. If customer likes the terms being offered the customer chooses to purchase service. Otherwise customer goes somewhere else.

Happens everyday. Night and day.

[DLB1752]

You should have given the Republican Response tonight, you would have done way better!

[cgypsygirl45]

Why in the health care bill is there an Office of Minority Affairs and an Office of Civil Rights. I would like the bill to include all people not just minorities. Blatant Reverse Discrimination!

[ccreasman]

Why would we want to put in charge the same people who have ruined education, depleted Social Security, shown themselves as failures in programs like welfare, Head Start and Medicade, or who never seem to be willing to exist on the same system as us regular people use? Vote for Rubio and against every other incumbent!!

[velez325]

I agree, our health care system is not perfect, yet there are many foreigners coming to the US for health care. Isn't that a clue?

[Parvstella]

There are other ways to reform the system without turning it upside down.

Open competition so everyone can choose from the 1300 insurances offered in this country. Stop out of control law suits which increase the cost of H.C. Give tax breaks for personal health insurance accounts.

There are many, good ideas out there that do not include government involvement. Repubs. have put forth these ideas, why won't the Dems consider them? Why do they want so much control of our lives?

[jermico007]

Fantastic!!!! Rubio should skip the U.S. Senate and go straight into presidential politics!!!!!

[Parvstella]

Why won't Dems address Tort reform? Drs. pay as much as $200,000 a yr. for malpractice insurance and are Forced to do tests and procedures just to protect themselves. And you wonder why health care is so expensive?

We have the most advanced care and technology in the world. NO ONE is turned away regardless of ability to pay. Rationing will be a MUST under the single payer Obama wants, just as in GB and Canada. There will not be enough Drs. and many will leave the profession forcing long waits.

[stevoiii]

Why is everything a Dem, Rep issue. We are one people under one flag and we all want the same thing. Wait until yourself or someone you know gets kicked off a health plan without any reason or a "preexisiting condition" THEN you will get care and have to pay a special self pay rate literally 10-20 times the negotiated rates. Then youll be indebted for life and your house will have a lein on it and the only way you can get coverage with Medicaid all poor people can get is when your home is gone.

[Parvstella]

I have family and friends, who have had cancer, and they have no problems keeping their plans...there are companies out there that will not just drop you...we just need to open the market and allow people to get the plans that work for them. Allowing more competition will keep the bad companies in line in order to stay in business...

My Dad: 3 cancer ops, same ins. co. for over 20 yrs. reasonable rates. Bro-in-law 2 cancer ops. same ins. co. no problems.

Dont throw baby out with bath water

\

[stevoiii]

I know the system we have now is what everyone is use to BUT if you think about how people and companies make a profit when they can deny more claims and refuse treatment and pay as little as they can then you can realize that this health care system is radical! You are a lucky one with not having problems with health care and I am sure you have a health plan that is part of thousands of employees from a corporation. I have owned a small business for 10 years with 6 employees

[stevoiii]

One more thing. Your telling me that we dont have long waits? It takes me 2 months in advance to see my doctor and thousands of people die in hospital waiting rooms every year when they wait for 4 hours to see an ER doctor. That is rediculous. You go to GB or France or any other industrialized nation and you will find that 80%-95% of them love the system they have. They will never have to worry about loosing all of their families wealth or their home etc if they get sick or hurt.

[Parvstella]

One current problem is not enough drs., these gov. plans will only make it worse...

The mortality rates for cancers in Europe and Canada are much higher than ours. U.S. survival rates for prostate cancer is now over 95%, only 70% in Eur. and Canada. Most elderly cannot get cancer treatment, only pain management.

Over 100,000 Canadians came here for med. care last year alone. My brothers cancer would have killed him in Europe, they don't allow the med. that saved him - to expensive...

[stevoiii]

The standard way to judge a countries health care system is by the infant mortality rate. We have the 2nd worse in the modern world. Research it if you want.

No one is saying that you cant pay for the Dr. you want to go to. You can go anywhere you want to go.

[Ronsonic]

Premature births are counted toward the infant mortality rate in the US. They are not counted in other countries. This difference accounts for the apparently poor infant mortality rate. Our premies are counted, theirs aren't.

[stevoiii]

Is that what Rush Limbough told you? Where are the facts?

[HossGuv]

Is that how Obama and Olby taught you how to argue your points? By saying: "a radio talk personality told you that".

Facts: From our own government, as reported by media outlets left (NYT etc) and right (Fox etc).

Medicare Trustees Report came out recently saying that Medicares Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund will be insolvent by 2017. Medicare has an unfunded liability of almost $38 trillion.

[Parvstella]

Residential1, you're drinking the kool aid. I know many who have good health insurance, my Dad has had 3 operations for cancer, he was not dropped and his premiums are manageable for a middle income individual.

The problem is many cannot go out of State to shop for insurance, no competition keeps costs high.

And the 'non discrimination' clause in HR 3200 WILL allow illegals to get H.C.

We must keep gov. out of our lives to keep our Freedom..Gov. does not care about us, they care about power.

[stevoiii]

One more thing Marco Rubio says "this is the most radical piece of legislation ever"

That is rediculous what about these bills "medicare", "social security", does he think that these systems we have in place are radical? Well maybe he does since he is a politician and has a government run health care plan!

[Parvstella]

They were un-constitutional when they set them up and they are un-constitutional today. S.S. was set up as a VOLUNTARY plan! Now it is just a gov. run Ponzi scheme that is BROKE! Our unmet liability for SS, Medicare & Medicaid are $172,000 per CITIZEN today, and rising fast. Our economy is headed for a cliff, and the politicians don't seem to care. So lets just give up and add another 1.5 TRILLION to the debt! Why not, we are already screwed....China owns us...

[stevoiii]

Ok so Canada or the UK or literally EVERY industrialized nation in the world is socialist because they have a one payer/ government health care system for all people. Most people crying foul dont realize that we already have socialized medicine for the poor (Medicaid) and people over 65 (Medicare).

The same people that are complaining most about this are usually the ones that it will help the most.

 Most of them are the middle class that get paranoid watching conservative TV/Radio.

[Parvstella]

I get so sick of hearing libs complain about the EVIL rich people. When was the last time a poor person gave you a job?

What makes this country great is that ANY ONE can become rich, all it takes is hard work and perseverence. Most of the, so called, rich people in our country started out with nothing. They didn't cry about the evil rich, they got off their lazy butts and made the American Dream come true.

Those nasty Capitalists are the reason we became a prosperous Nation, you hate that?

[residential1]

I am sorry to say, this libs are not bashing the rich but it bashing the evil system which some of the rich are using to manupulate the system to get richer and richer over general people.Why no pre-existing coverage on health insurance? Why your premium will go up if you fallen sick. It means that insurance company is for healthy people who does not need services. Is it not manupulation of the system?

[Parvstella]

This 'evil' system has given us the most prosperous Nation ever to exist.

You sit in your lounge chair, watching one of your two or three t.v.s, with two cars in the garage and a fridge full of food, or in front of one of two or three computers and you can complain about the 'evil' system that has allowed you to live in comfort that most on this Earth could never dream of?

If we are so evil, why don't you and your American hating friends leave? Cuba is right up your alley, or Venezuela...

[Parvstella]

Sorry, but if we could turn the P.O. over to private owners, you would see efficiency, customer service and profits within a few years. Government is not capable of that, all government does is create bigger and bigger bureaucracies with more waste and fraud.

There is not a government program in existence today that is not fraught with waste and fraud.

We now have gov. depts. adding millions a yr. into their budgets to cover FRAUD! How insane is that?

[residential1]

Yeah, why not give every gov agency to private company like blackwater who cheated billions from the public.

Why not private company like power and phone and insurance company can charge whatever they think to the consumer. Even you can't afford and want to cancel a phome service , you may end up paying hefty penalty. Not everything can be private, where national security is related like postal, transportation and insurance because health care should be the national priorities.

[ericandlindashelman]

Please direct me to the source that Blackwater cheated BILLIONS from the public. I'd like to research this myself. Thanks!

[residential1]

Please google black water cheated billions. I wonder how come is missed that. That was a very big news in Bush era. Sorry to say, we had wasted almost trillion dollar in overseas stupid war and then no complain but when we need to reform the health care and it mat cost half of that over ten years, then all these foul cries. This is not just for the spending , all these foul cries is for saving ass for the giant insurance company.

[Parvstella]

Source for Blackwater bilking millions from taxpayers?

With private companies comes competition, competition keeps prices low. Once the government gets its foot in the door they become the only provider - how can a private company compete with a gov. dept. subsidized by taxpayers, with no incentive to make money? They do not have to abide by the same regulations or tax structure either.

Medicare, medicaid, S.S. are ALL BROKE! $172,000 per yr for EACH citizen is there cost today, and rising

[residential1]

Help yourself in google my smart man.

[residential1]

I just don't understand if you can spend billions to overseas, whay not for us. A healthy nation is more powerful than any nation on earth.

[Parvstella]

That is a good question. Why do we send Billions to Brazil to drill off shore, but we cannot do it here?

Of course, this happened right after George Soros became a major stock holder in the oil company doing the drilling...

[residential1]

Idiots republicans are for rich and they stand for rich, work for rich. If government assist health care is so bad how come Medicare is doing an excellent job for the elders? And how come fat cat republican and some democrats who opposes health insurance, are enjoying federal health plan. Oh! If it is good for you why not it good for general publics.

[residential1]

Marco Rubio thinks he is smart but he is a looser. He is the one who to be blamed for the stupid property tax reform. The republicans are crying foul over this health care reform because their big fat cat buddies insurance company is about to lose big money. My question to fat cat republicans is why the insurance company is not covering pre-existing conditions and why if someone is sick and use service few times their premium is sky-rocketing.

[quarryone]

I disagree. Rubio led the charge for major "outside the box" reform of property taxes. He proposed scrapping it altogether and replacing with an increase in state sales tax. That would have had everyone paying taxes instead of just property owners. That would have reduced the "cost of ownership" for many Floridians. He failed in his efforts but showed remarkable insight on the underlying issues.

[residential1]

Is it not the same policy which Obama is trying to do on health care and now because Rubio is running for senate and to get right winger support he has to bash this very same plan he supported many years ago. This called politics for self interest. However, Rubio diverted the tax reform and we end up in to the same mess paying hefty taxes.

[stevoiii]

OK lets get rid of the post office and make it a for profit company. Lets see how often you will get your power bill and how many times your power gets turned off because of non-delivery. The Post Office does not take one single dime from the US government (research it if you want to). That is the same plan with the Public Option. It is planned to be a Non-Profit health insurance company without assistance from the government. That way the corp. fat-cats will not skim the millions for salary.

[ollietrixdef]

The post office is not a "non-profit". It is a money losing government subsidized sink hole that we all pay for every day. Can you imagine they can't even stop delivering on Saturday to save money!!! They even advertise first class mail service even though they have no competition.

[stevoiii]

This is crap! Ok what about the US Post office that competes with Fed Ex and UPS. If they didnt exist then they could charge what they want because there is not a non-profit keeping the prices low.