House passes health care bill on 219-212 vote

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Unlike the inherent inefficiencies of insurance companies with huge executive salaries? If everything the government runs is inherently inefficient, maybe we should privatize the Army and the Navy.

While I think you raise valid points that are open to reasonable debate, I think overgeneralizations like this detract greatly from that reasonable debate.

Why don't we ask Mitt Romney. Wasn't it his idea first?

Exactly, that's where they got the idea, and it's working in Massachusetts. That's why Massachusetts didn't want a new federal mandate, they already have universal care in that state. For anyone who says that including everyone doesn't bring down rates, just look at Massachusetts. The only real issue they are currently having is that they have a shortage of primary care physicians. This is what we really need to worry about!

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Exactly, that's where they got the idea, and it's working in Massachusetts. That's why Massachusetts didn't want a new federal mandate, they already have universal care in that state. For anyone who says that including everyone doesn't bring down rates, just look at Massachusetts. The only real issue they are currently having is that they have a shortage of primary care physicians. This is what we really need to worry about!

Whether or not it's working in MA overall, I'm not really sure. However, I do know that it didn't work for me (at least as far into it as I was able to get before I moved). The state wanted everyone to have healthcare, and if they didn't, they were penalized. The first year, I had $219 (I believe that was the exact figure) deducted from my tax returns, leaving me with next to nothing. For someone who was making $7.80 an hour at a part-time job, unable to find a decent one, that sucked. The following year, they penalized me $72/month for not having insurance. In October of that year, I moved to PA.

So basically, I lost almost $900 over the course of 6 months, and I still didn't have insurance. But if I got health insurance, I would have paid more than that, and I simply couldn't afford it. I pretty much got screwed and paid a whole bunch of money for nothing.

[xp2k]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Whether or not it's working in MA overall, I'm not really sure. However, I do know that it didn't work for me (at least as far into it as I was able to get before I moved). The state wanted everyone to have healthcare, and if they didn't, they were penalized. The first year, I had $219 (I believe that was the exact figure) deducted from my tax returns, leaving me with next to nothing. For someone who was making $7.80 an hour at a part-time job, unable to find a decent one, that sucked. The following year, they penalized me $72/month for not having insurance. In October of that year, I moved to PA.

So basically, I lost almost $900 over the course of 6 months, and I still didn't have insurance. But if I got health insurance, I would have paid more than that, and I simply couldn't afford it. I pretty much got screwed and paid a whole bunch of money for nothing.

Not trying to pick any fights, but if you made $7.80 an hour, were you not eligible then for the low income plan?

Also, there are partial insurance plans cheaper than $72 a month.

[33girl]

The thing that is driving health care costs sky high is marketing particular meds to the general public. They see the commercials and decide they want to get them whether they need them or not. We should have gotten rid of that before effing around with universal health care.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by 33girl

The thing that is driving health care costs sky high is marketing particular meds to the general public. They see the commercials and decide they want to get them whether they need them or not. We should have gotten rid of that before effing around with universal health care.

Speaking of ads...after this weekend, come mid term elections, the best ads the DNC could do would be to mix Joe Wilson's 'Liar', with Randy Neugebauer's 'Baby Killer', some Tea Party Protesters,(especially the spitting ones) etc. into one montage, then ask 'Is this who you want to give more power to in Washington?'