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85 comments Add your comment
TnGelding
March 24th, 2010
7:46 am
How can they cut Medicare payments to providers if they are woefully inadequate now?
Melissa
March 24th, 2010
8:24 am
Will insurance companies now be required to reinstate adult children under the age of 26 who were previously dropped from their parent’s policies once they turned 23?
Publius
March 24th, 2010
9:51 am
Please clarify once and for all whether the law will or will not allow government funding for illegal immigrant healthcare or to fund abortions? (So much misinformation about these two topices). Thanks.
Proponent of Self-Sufficiency
March 24th, 2010
3:05 pm
If I feel my children, when they become young adults, should be able to “hold their own,” will the law require me to insure them until they are 26? Or, was this merely an option for parents of younger adults?
Mexican Welfare Recipient
March 24th, 2010
3:32 pm
Why are illegals exempt from the mandate to buy coverage?
Juanita
March 24th, 2010
3:33 pm
Will my six kids be covered even if they all have different daddies?
Afraid to die
March 24th, 2010
3:36 pm
Will I die when my doc opts out of the plan?
How much?
March 24th, 2010
3:39 pm
How much are my current insurance premiums going up in Jan. 2011?
Ken Rodriguez
March 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
Will I go broke paying the tanning bed tax?
Ron
March 24th, 2010
3:55 pm
If my employer only has to pay a $2000 fine for not providing my coverage what’s to stop them from kicking me to the gov. plan? Won’t that be cheaper for them than buying a policy?
GDAWG65
March 24th, 2010
4:37 pm
Congress is proving the adage again: “Stupid is as stupid does.”
Cutty
March 24th, 2010
4:45 pm
Ron, I believe thats $2000 per employee. 2 PT workers count as 1 full-time.
How does this bill create jobs?
David S
March 24th, 2010
4:55 pm
What Constitutional article and section gives the Congress the right to interceed in the relationship between doctor and patient and also to force the purchase of goods under penalty from a private company?
Would it not have been easier and cheaper to try eliminating all of the laws, monopoly protections, regulations, subsidies, mandates, etc. that Congress has imposed over the past 60 or so years that have made such a mess out of health care delivery and so-called medical insurance?
There’s two questions for you.
David S
March 24th, 2010
4:58 pm
The term “to regulate” means to make regular. It does not mean to micromanage. How then does the Congress or the Supreme Court justify its micromanagement of interstate commerce rather than its appropriate intersession to make things regular (like stopping states from preventing the interstate sale of health insurance)?
Garry Owen
March 24th, 2010
5:37 pm
AG Baker should join the law suit against this health care law. Health care reform, yes. Health care micromanagement by the government, no. The only Democrats I will vote for are on the town and county level. The rest of you do not call me.
Teach!
March 24th, 2010
5:58 pm
This question was posed to me by a high school senior that was upset it passed because she is afraid she will not be able to afford college and health care. Will she be fined if she fails to maintain health care coverage? She is estranged from her only parent (Mom was not a role model parent and in legal trouble to boot)and the student already is being forced to provide for herself. Between paying for college or health care…she was planning to attend college in order to secure brighter future. Will the new system prevent her from achieving her goal??
Ronald Guglielmino
March 24th, 2010
5:59 pm
I am 67 and on Medicare, Part A only. I participate in my former employer’s health insurance plan (costing me over 13,000/yr.)so that I can get full coverage for my wife who is 61,retired and a diabetic. I also get full coverage myself under this plan for everything except Medicare, Part A. My wife won’t become Medicare eligible until February 2014, when the new insurance “exchanges” become effective. Between 2011-2014, should I go on FULL Medicare myself and hope that I can get my wife insured on one of the initial federally subsidized “exchanges” that take effect in 90 days, OR seek some other option? My former employer may elect not to cover me beginning in 2011 even though I pay the premium 100%. Thank you for taking my question. Please respond via e-mail as I am well outside Atlanta.
Free-lancer
March 24th, 2010
8:20 pm
I understand that there will be a cap on the premiums that insurance companies can charge us, 9.5% of our income. My question is, how will this be enforced? Who can we report this to if an insurance company won’t abide by this rule?
Peter
March 24th, 2010
8:34 pm
I am not insured. I have no job and no income. I have several pre=exisitng conditions. I am 54. When will I be able to get subsidized insurance?
wondering
March 24th, 2010
8:39 pm
why has nothing been said to young people as to what is going to happen to their premiums. My son, who is 25, healthy and has a high deductible policy is paying $60 a month for his insurance. It says that an older person will not have to pay more than 3 times a younger person’s rate. There is no way a 60 year old diabetic, with high blood pressure and heart problems will get full coverage for $180 a month. So if his premium is $500-$600 a month, which it is now, does that mean that my son’s premium will be $200 a month. I have a feeling all the young health people are going to be screaming real loud when their premiums double or triple.
Mary
March 24th, 2010
8:46 pm
Why don’t the politicians have to have the same insurance? What makes them so good that they don’t have to have it and pay the fines too if not?
J.R.
March 24th, 2010
8:47 pm
Whats covered? Emergency room, hospital stays, Doctor visits, prescription refills, x-rays, surgery,etc,? Am I fully covered, or can we expect huge co-pays for each service on top of what we are being forced to pay?
Lucy
March 24th, 2010
9:31 pm
Are health insurance companies required to cover you if you switch from one company to another whether or not you have pre-existing conditions like stage IV cancer?
Eddie
March 24th, 2010
9:34 pm
Will Georgia set up the high risk pools in the next 90 days, for those who are uninsurable and have pre-existing conditions? Or will the federal government handle that for Georgia?
And why hasn’t Georgia done so, already, (all its bordering states have managed to get it, over the years)? Are their any stats on how many Georgia’s have died due to Georgia’s neglience? The reality is that neither Barnes nor Perdue got around to it, so it is not a dem versus repub. issue. Thanks!
John Radney
March 24th, 2010
10:34 pm
My mom was getting Medicare to come and bath and feed her 3 times a week. They called Monday and said they could’t do it any more. I hate everybody that voted of the criminal in the white house. And I hate their pets and friends,
Scott
March 24th, 2010
10:44 pm
Why am I forced to pay into a plan for 3 years before getting any benefits? To make the accounting work? That is pure DECEPTION
That alone should be enough to have killed this bill, and I am not republican, I hope its repealed.
Scott
March 24th, 2010
10:47 pm
Can you give me ONE example where this bill controls costs?
Why not fix the pricing, or atleast have it published so people can shop the medicine they use, that would save billions alone. Get rid of the crazy law suits and let companies sell all across the country, there is a REAL fix!
Scott
March 24th, 2010
10:49 pm
Hey Peter, when your 57 you might start to see some results, thanks Congress (Pelosi)
Tech alumni
March 24th, 2010
10:52 pm
Are breast enhancements and bubble butt implants covered.
Scott
March 24th, 2010
10:54 pm
Cutty,
It will create tens of thousands IRS jobs, and set up 159 new gov’t associations to implement this chaotic plan. SO if you want to create some gov’t jobs, this one does a pretty good job. However it will cost hundreds of thousands of private sector jobs b/c employers will not hire knowing they MUST offer a product to them. I am an emplyer, and it will make me take a second look before actually hiring someone even if I really need them on my staff.
Obama's daddy
March 24th, 2010
10:57 pm
Was Ward a little too rough on the Beaver on todays show?
Scott
March 24th, 2010
10:58 pm
Hey Wondering…
You are dead on, its called “spread the wealth”, and that is the Obama way, enjoy.
It is also they way to go broke, which is where this country is now heading unless this bill is repealed and changed quite a bit.
All those young voters for Obama, are about to grow up and become a little more conservative, and not by choice.
Scott
March 24th, 2010
11:00 pm
Obama Daddy, the Beaver is just fine, I feel for the folks this bill will ruin, and there will be a lot of them.
The Gray hair
March 24th, 2010
11:04 pm
The bill will ruin a lot of people and businesses. You may think I’m joking but the next uprising you see will be from the aged generation. In a lot of cases they are being left nothing in this situation
Rick Z
March 24th, 2010
11:37 pm
I’ve heard that one of the first benefits to be phased in will be preventive care coverage (with no co-payments). Can you provide some specific examples about what kind of preventive care is required to be covered, how much of it, and how often?
ChNguyen
March 25th, 2010
4:52 am
Question: Why a retiree with Medicare(P.A)+Advantra Insurance(PartB) will be charged much more dollars for Primium Fee?
BC
March 25th, 2010
7:45 am
From the 4th District of GA
YANK HANK 2010!!!!
Lt Col
March 25th, 2010
8:19 am
I heard a report(on NBC, I think) that Health insurers can still deny coverage to children because of “pre-existing conditions. Is there any basis to that report, and if so, what is it?
David S
March 25th, 2010
8:24 am
BC has the best comment of all. Not only yank him, but shun him as well and encourage all businesses in the district or even state to shun him too. Don’t do business with him. Don’t speak with him. Make him, Lewis, Scott, and the fourth one (can’t remember name now) do business in Alabama for their treasonous votes.
DT
March 25th, 2010
9:10 am
Does this creat a national ID card and does it creat a national database for gun owners?
TisP'doff
March 25th, 2010
9:12 am
Please explain why this healthcare passing will allow the federal govt to come into the homes of new parents to determine whether they are good parents?
Question
March 25th, 2010
9:15 am
What happens when someone shows up at the Emergency Room without insurance? Will they be turned away?
CT
March 25th, 2010
9:35 am
Shouldn’t we have been asking all these questions BEFORE this was signed into law?
Skip
March 25th, 2010
9:40 am
I am against health care reform only because the Prez should have focused on job creation from day one and I am MAD. This state does not have the money to F with suing the feds over something that will be repealed in three years anyway.
I am for equality and think corporations should pay a bit more but the government needs to cut the fat out out of its blouted corrupt ways first and truly believe it is these corporations that the media and people like me condemn that create jobs!
HDB
March 25th, 2010
9:40 am
Are we seeing proof that this nation has NO heart?
Kevin
March 25th, 2010
9:41 am
If Medicare/Medicaid payments are to be cut by the levels mentioned, fewer doctors will accept these patients. With more patients covered by government-funded options but with fewer physicians accepting patients, how will this not lead to incredibly excessive wait times and the resulting rationing? You cannot force a physician to accept patients that will cause the physician to lose money. Oh, wait, I forgot. This administration has no reservations about forcing people to do something at the point of a gun.
Pompano Jane
March 25th, 2010
9:58 am
To ALL of the above responses.
Listen to Clark Howard today (AM 750 – WSB Radio.com) at 1:00 pm today. He and 2 or 3 other folks are suppose to tell us what all this means to us and the time lines of implementation. There will be an “Encore” presentation at 3:00 pm today, same stations.
la
March 25th, 2010
9:58 am
How can the feds tell us we have to get insurance?
That is unconstitutional
Uncle Joe Liberty
March 25th, 2010
10:01 am
If our present methods of providing medical care or so terrible, and Obamacare is such a great solution, then why not implement the whole shebang NOW, instead of waiting for the bulk of it to take place after the next presidential election?
Uncle Joe Liberty
March 25th, 2010
10:06 am
If we are trying to improve our citizen’s access to quality medical care, then why are illegal aliens routinely given care? Why is Obama planning to legalize those who have been breaking the law (as Bush and McCain sought to do), and swamp an already challenged medical community?
AHIP
March 25th, 2010
10:06 am
As an Insurance professional, I can state as an ABSOLUTE FACT:
ANY depedendent child can ALREADY stay on their parents health
plan until Age 26…..provided that dependent child is a Full-Time College Student.
THERE”S NOTHING NEW HERE ON THAT ISSUE.
By the way, once your college age child graduates from college, how come they cant go get an affordable Individual Health plan to cover themselves from any of (10) different health insurance companies in this State.
MOST OF THE TIME, the cost of an Individual Health plan for a
20-something dependent IS LESS than the cost to keep the child on the family plan.
Are all you folks THAT ignorant?
Uncle Joe Liberty
March 25th, 2010
10:10 am
What are the penalties for remaining uninsured under Obamacare? Will a person be fined one time for being uninsured,or will the fines increase? Is time in jail possible? Why must the uninsured choose the government option, instead of any number of private insurers?
AHIP
March 25th, 2010
10:23 am
Look here folks:
Social Security is Bankrupt.
Medciare is Bankrupt.
Medicaid is Bankrupt.
One-fourth of American housholds are Bankrupt.
There is not enough wealth left in this country to pay for all of the government we already have.
How in the Hell are we going to pay ANOTHER $1.0Trillion ?
Where in the Hell do you people think that money is going to come from?
The Rich?
The “Rich” in this country (all combined) dont have $1.0Trillion in wealth.
The doctors?
Trust me when I say this…they will simply close their practice, rather than work for no money. And, even those that would keep their practice open, the Government is going to tax the Hell out of their incomes.
All you folks on Medicare & Medicaid: Its OVER for you if this bill isnt overturned.
Oh, and by the way, they’re coming after your retirement as well.
See this link: http://moneynews.com/StreetTalk/unions-401k-pensions/2009/03/17/id/328862
martin
March 25th, 2010
10:24 am
This is the real objective of “health care reform.” This virus free legitimate audio is from a Democratic Congressman speaking on a radio interview. Listen to what he says.
http://www.breitbart.tv/shocking-audio-rep-dingell-says-obamacare-will-eventually-control-the-people/
Th
March 25th, 2010
10:30 am
Has there been any estimate as to the impact on property taxes now used to fund indigent care at county hospitals?
The Medicare cuts are supposed to be mostly reductions in subsidies to private insurers in the Medicare Advantage program. What are the subsidies now and what will they be?
knobsaw
March 25th, 2010
10:48 am
It is hard to believe how much race plays a factor in our society. We’ve seen an unfounded, unneccessary and unpopular war declared which has cost billions of dollars to fund and accomplished absolutely nothing but increased the national debt. Now this President passes some legislation that actually helps Americans and the “minority” in the US Government is out for blood. How hypocritical can a group of people be, I guess as much as those who penned a document that stated that “we are all created equal” but then in the same document state that one group is only 3/5 of a human being. To our President, continue doing what you are doing and always rememeber, “Without struggle, there can never be progress” Frederick Douglass
lovely
March 25th, 2010
11:05 am
What does this potential lawsuit mean for GA
ozzfest
March 25th, 2010
11:14 am
Total madness from ole fat dumb-dumb. The South is finished, done…you people are so stupid. I am white and middle class and proudly support Obama. I am moving to SoCal this summer after 41 years in Atlanta.
Georgia = Alabama = Louisiana = Sinkhole of America
We had the whole world in our hands in the summer 1996, and we ghettoed the whole thing. This state is for the uneducated. Selah.
scott
March 25th, 2010
11:17 am
HDB,
This nation is the biggest of “donors” in the history of mankind, and has plenty of HEART! We sent more to Haita by the millions. The left hate this country, and for the life of me I just don’t understand why. But you prove it in your comment.
The Bill is wrong for this country, and just because you don’t give something away FREE, doesn’t mean you don’t have a heart. By the way, any ER room is waiting for you if you get sick. Tax payers take the bill.
Its called personal responsibility, not facism/socailism. This will be the biggest November in the history of policitcs. It will make 1993-94 look small.
scott
March 25th, 2010
11:20 am
AHIP
Yes they are, good info. in your comment.
DWH
March 25th, 2010
11:21 am
It’s obvious that the republicans in this state / area do not take the thought of healthcare seriously. Can we impeach Sunny instead of Baker?
Can we promote logice instead of knee-jerk reacion and domestic terrorism?
RGB
March 25th, 2010
11:24 am
Caterpillar reported ObamaCare would cost the company more than $100 million in the first year alone. Separately—in a letter to employees—Verizon wrote that “many of the plans that Verizon offers to employees and retirees are projected to have costs above the threshold in the legislation and will be subject to the 40% excise tax.” Verizon has 900,000 employees and retirees.
Clearly ObamaCare increases the cost of health care. Simple economics says that increasing the price of something reduces the demand. So, fewer people will have health care coverage as a result of ObamaCare and the costs will be much higher.
3 questions:
Question 1: With Caterpillar facing $100 million in new costs, will they be more likely or less likely to add new employees to their payroll? Or will the company fire existing employees?
Question 2: Obama said his heath care legislation would reduce the cost of a policy by 3,000% (later changed to $3,000). When a medical care policy faces a NEW 40% tax, is the cost of the policy higher or lower? Will people buy more or less of something when the price rises by 40%? Does a 40% tax on one’s health policy break the president’s pledge not to increase taxes “one single dime”? Remember, many of these people are retirees and most don’t make anywhere near $200,000/yr.
Question 3: Medical device maker Medtronic said that it may have to lay off 1,000 employees as the result of the new health care legislation. These employees now get their health care from their job. Does their being fired increase or decrease their access to health care?
FOUL
March 25th, 2010
11:27 am
ozzfest: Have a nice life in California. Have you watched any news reports lately? I wish you many blessings.
Interesting
March 25th, 2010
11:29 am
I find it very interesting that people are shocked that there was a huge spike in the death threats that are being sent to the representatives that voted for the health care bill. America’s true colors are showing. Those ideas of hatred, intolerance, and white supremacy haven’t been removed, only masked by politically correct people. These same people are upset by one thing only…..Our president is BLACK!!!!!!!!!!! and they cannot stand to see a black man that is in power, making decisions. Don’t tell me anything about playing the race card, when white supremacists have had the whole deck for the past 500 years….Get over it, your time is up and you know it….America is diverse and you all have to realize that God made all people equally. We aren’t by law 3/5 of a human anymore. Thank God for change and may God continue to bless America and protect our President.
GeorgiaGal
March 25th, 2010
11:40 am
I understand members of Congress, their staff and the White House and its staff are exempt from this plan? Is that true? Gee, if it’s as wonderful as Barak, Nancy and Harry are telling us, then why aren’t THEY first in line for this plan? Will we see them all waiting for service down at the government clinic? No, they’ll have their own plan.
BiteMe
March 25th, 2010
11:49 am
OH, Lord. Here goes the race card again. Too bad no one cares to listen anymore, as your whining time is OVER!!!! Quit living in your own little world and take a look at what REALLY is going on and maybe once you get your head out of your ASS, you might understand why people are REALLY mad.
AHIP
March 25th, 2010
11:57 am
Dear “Interesting”
I couldnt care less what “color” my President, Senator, Congressman, Governor, Mayor, etc. is.
I care WHAT their political philosophy is. Hell, I supported Alan Keyes for crying out loud !!!!!!
And, I would easily believe that YOU couldnt tell me ANYTHING about Alan Keyes.
It was the great MLK, in his August 23, 1963 speech at the Lincoln Memorial where he said:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
The CHARACTER of the person is THE ISSUE.
Usse that God-given brain to go research how Socilized Health Systems work in other parts of the world……and the HORROR STORIES that have resulted.
Better yet, just ask YOUR DOCTOR.
BiteMe
March 25th, 2010
12:02 pm
AHIP – Perfectly said!
RGB
March 25th, 2010
12:04 pm
Interesting:
There is no “huge spike” in death threats and there is no credible source that would substantiate that allegation.
You should read “Anatomy of a Racial Smear” at http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/03/anatomy_of_a_racial_smear_1.html.
As the article states: “This one headline contains one perilously uncorroborated accusation and three conscious fabrications, beginning with the identity of the “congressman” in question.”
The left has to invent false racial allegations to distract people from failed health care legislation that will bankrupt America, increase job losses, and destroy our way of life.
But here’s one you may remember where another Obama supporter here locally created a false story that someone burned her house down because she was an Obama supporter:
“A Forsyth County woman who claimed her house was burned down because she supported President Obama is now suspected of setting the fire herself, authorities said Wednesday.” (Source: AJC.com)
Very Interesting
March 25th, 2010
12:07 pm
Isn’t it Very Interesting that the media is hiding the fact the many of the threats are from Democrats and not Republicans. Isn’t it Very Interesting that the race card is being played over and over again. Isn’t it Very Interesting that the healthcare bill and the Democratic party are out to keep minorities from being sucessful. It’s it Very Interesting that the liberals in this country care more about illegal immigrants and want them here for a voting block just like they have kept the black man down.
What I find most Interesting is how arrogant and defiant our elected officials are. They don’t feel the need to listen to what people want and instead to do as they please. Obama and his cronies spit on the constitution and when we the peopl don’t like that, by God then we are racist.
This healthcare bill is all but dead in the water. The victory celebration came a bit too quickly and Obama will soon realize he is about to be dethrowned. Don’t worry folks, the good guys are winning this war. Democrats are going to be shown to the World what evil hypocrits they really are. Popcorn anyone?
Larry
March 25th, 2010
12:24 pm
Very interesting – 10 Democratic congressmen have received threats and have security assigned, but NO republicans! Is this a great big conspiracy by the MSM and the FBI.
TTitus
March 25th, 2010
12:47 pm
If Sonny Perdue is worried about federal law requiring citizens of GA to purchase health insurance, why does the State of GA require that I have auto insurance, an auto tag, and even an auto license. Talk about hypocrites!
Larry
March 25th, 2010
12:55 pm
Is there anyway to prevent Sonny from using our Ga taxpayer money in his case….. This is not something we as Georgia’s should pay for
Big Dog
March 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
where does human life become a factor in the health care reform bill. all i hear is the rich complaining. i will be so glad when Sonny Purdue run is over he hasnt done anything for the state as far as i can see, he will need that same health care when he becomes a normal person again.
Kevin
March 25th, 2010
12:57 pm
Ozz- Good luck in Southern California.
As someone who moved from there, all I can say is they’ll be lucky to have you. Or, more importantly, we’ll be lucky to lose you.
California continues to have a net exodus of high-wage earners (tax payers) and an net influx of net recipients of government benefits.
But, yes, please continue to think this model is sustainable. Enjoy your life in California, and please do drop us a postcard and let us know how you’re enjoying that tax rate.
JAP
March 25th, 2010
12:58 pm
if the states want to take the federal Gov to court for health care Insurance. for the people then the people sould be albe sue the state for making us carry car and house insurance, or you saying that my car insurance is more needed than my health insurance let put it all on the talbe, you say i can not drive if i do not have car insurance, but want let me have health insurance get real where did we get these dumb leader we have in office? see the courts is going to get the jobs done that these over paid leader can not understand that people can read and understand what is going on in life.
kathy
March 25th, 2010
1:02 pm
Did Perdue file a lawsuit when President Bush stole the race in Flordia?
Very Interesting
March 25th, 2010
1:22 pm
@ Interesting
What I find interesting is no where in your entire rant do you ask a question about healthcare. Do you even care about healthcare or is your only concern is “us getting over having a black President”?
When you consistently throw the race card into the argument and contribute nothing else to the discussion, that leads me to believe on thing: the only reason you voted for Obama was because he IS black. You and the race card crowd are tarnishing his historical Presidential victory, because it shows he was elected based on his skin color. That may be something you can temporarily be proud of, but don’t bet on a successful Obama legacy.
Ronnie White
March 25th, 2010
1:47 pm
It’s so wonderful that ObamaCare will cure aches & pain with its pills; improve bad eyes with its glasses or contacts; obtain better hearing with its hearing aids; but it can’t fix STUPID, like you, TTitus, because driving is a privilege, not a right guaranteed by the Constitution. Oh, but I forgot that you liberal socialists have NO concept of logic because you folks have no common senses what so ever. Git-R-Dun Sonny over T Baker !!!!
HDL
March 25th, 2010
9:51 pm
Questions:
1. Isn’t the Attorney General paid by the state of Georgia?
2. Doesn’t that make him an employee of the State?
3. How can he refuse to act on behalf of the State?
In the “real world” when your employer asks you to do something you have two options – either do it or if it is against your morals quit! Baker’s refusal to act on our behalf is a slap in the face! We should all become politicians so we can get paid, do whatever we want when we want, receive a pension later and DO NOTHING while in office. VTOIN (vote them out in November)
Voice for the people without a voice
March 25th, 2010
11:15 pm
My heart is heavy today because I am realizing that many people in the US are only concerned about holding on to their pot of gold and are not at all concerned about the welfare of their less fortunate fellow man. We were an upper middle class family until 2001 when my husband lost his job with a company where he had been working for 18 years. My husband and I both have college degrees and we are Caucasian. After my husband’s first job loss, he continued to secure and then lose jobs for the next 9 years. Every time he lost a job, we paid for Cobra and we eventually wiped out our savings. My elderly mother-in-law, who recently passed away, gifted us the maximum one year so we could pay our bills. We had no car payments or credit card debt at the time of any of the layoff periods, but we were still struggling. At one company, my husband had a company car and he lost that with the termination of his job.My sister-in-law gave us a car and told us to pay her when we could. I had a part-time job, but I was not offered benefits. At one time, I was working two part-time jobs because I could not find a full-time position. We have a son who has special needs and suffers from mental illness. My husband and I are also treated for depression and anxiety. We fought with insurance companies for mental illness coverage from day one. I cried, argued and raised my voice with so many insurance companies through the years without getting anywhere. We had to have our son hospitalized in a mental health facility and we ended up saddled with most of the bill. He was discharged, not when he was ready to be discharged, but when the hospital found out that the insurance coverage was ending. I finally found a full-time position and I have health insurance benefits now. I am still fighting constantly with the insurance company, but now I am getting results. I have uncovered so many claims that were processed incorrectly by the insurance company, and I have been reimbursed thousands of dollars because I have proved the claims were wrong. What makes me feel terrible is the fact that many people do not have the skills or time to review their claims thoroughly and they blindly pay the bills. You can be sure that the insurance companies are raking in the fruits of their (mistakes?). Recently, our son was dropped by our insurance because he was not taking a full credit load in college. The reason he was not taking a full credit load is because he has learning problems and a reduced load is all he can handle. I tried to enroll him in our state health care plan but they are full and there is a waiting list of 22,000. So guess what, our son is uninsured and I told him to go to the emergency room whenever he needs to see a doctor. The taxpayers will be paying for his health care because he has no money. Right now he is unable to see his psychiatrist and he cannot afford his medications. Our son is one of many of the less fortunate human beings in this country who do not have a voice. Others who do not have a voice are many minorities, the homeless, many elderly, the poor, handicapped individuals (both mentally and physically), poor and sick children all over the country and many more. The reason that Republicans say that the US citizens do not want this health care plan is because no one is asking this special group of less fortunate people whether they want this plan or need this plan. This is a group of people who many do not want to listen to, think about or associate with. My husband and I were once conservatives…not anymore!!!! The only group that has listened to our cries and our concerns is the Democratic Party. I have written letters to so many Republicans asking for help, but I don’t get answers or help. They are all sleeping with corporations, including the big insurance companies. I hope that all of the people who are fighting to kill this plan will someday have an emotional attachment to someone in real need. It’s nice to sit at the top and look down on all of the little people, until you become one of them. It’s a lot harder to come down than it is to go up. Our family is very lucky because we have a great extended family support system, but we still suffered. I have so much compassion for all of the less fortunate people in this world. We are moving in an unfortunate direction in this country. For so many Americans, it’s all about the bottom line and not about basic human rights and needs! Health care should be a right!! No one should die because they don’t have health insurance. I hope this bill is far reaching and helps all of you out there without a voice! This bill is giving our family support and hope and we are thankful to all who made it happen.
Sometime in your life, hope that you might see one starved man, the look on his face when the bread finally arrives. Hope that you might have baked it or bought or even kneaded it yourself. For that look on his face, for your meeting his eyes across a piece of bread, you might be willing to lose a lot, or suffer a lot, or die a little, even. ~Daniel Berrigan
gwen bobi
March 26th, 2010
12:50 am
I agree with the comments of voice of the people without a voice. If anyone who is uninsured becomes seriously ill or injured they would understand the struggles. For the insured people who do not want government coming between you and your doctor, right now the decisions are made by CIGNA, Aetna, blue Cross or whoever is your insurer. And the decision is profit based.
Mary S.
March 29th, 2010
9:53 pm
I had to drop my private insurance in December because it got too expensive. Then I joined a health co-op, but they stress that they are not an insurance company. I have a pre existing condition and would otherwise qualify to join the high risk pool when it opens, but does membership in the co-op count as insurance and therefore disqualify me?
Bus1Mfr
March 31st, 2010
11:24 pm
Our business will go bankrupt if the new laws require that we buy insurance for all. We are discussion letting 50% of our staff laid off, and creating a new 80 hour per week work rule – you loose job if you dont work 80 hours per week. Also considering a per hour insurance bonus vs the employee being charged the maximum so the cost inverses as their hours of work week go up. If you call in sick it costs you even more vs earnings. Somehow business must pay the costs. Otherwise we will cancel all insurance and execs will buy their own policy with a raise and leave employee to the government plan with a $2000 per year pay cut or reduced hours of schedule.
Debra Born
April 18th, 2010
4:35 pm
First I would like to say I was a member of the AJC Community for about a year and half and I really enjoyed it and miss it so much. It was a great opportunity for me. But my question is about the 2010 Stimulus check for the people on disability insurance and on social security benefits. When this new health care bill was passed and signed by President Obama, which I watched him sign on TV. He in his own words told the American People that there was going to be a stimulus check coming for 2010. But the problem now is you can’t find a straight answer. I spent many hours this past week searching many different sites and reading a lot of comments and questions regarding the stimulus check. And everyone is confused including myself. I ran across articles that stated yes the check is coming and that some states have already recieved them and then articles that said no we want get it. What the h*** is going on. If the AJC could provide GA with this answer I know I would be grateful along with many others. Would very much like to see something on your site or facebook or the print version. If we aren’t going to get it fine, but people want to know one way or another. Will keep an eye out for anything that the AJC can provide because I have researched every resource I could find and still confused.