No health care? Expect a requirement to get it

[SHRED]

I predict, if this happens, it will ruin the Obama Presidency and severely damage the Democratic Party.


---

No health care? Expect a requirement to get it
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer Liz Sidoti, Associated Press Writer – 19 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Don't have health insurance? Don't want to pay for it? Too bad.

It's looking like President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress are going to require you to pick up the bill.

In Washington-speak, it's called an individual mandate — or a requirement that people who don't already have health insurance to purchase it, much like most states require drivers to have automobile insurance.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090622/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_mandate_2

----

[hobbit709]

1. That will work out real well for poor people.

So you won't be allowed to live just like you won't be allowed to drive without insurance.

[YewNork]

7. They'll have to have some mechanism for covering people with income below a certain level.

Most of the people who don't have health insurance can be divided into three categories:

1) Those who can't afford it.
2) Those who are ineligible for it due to pre-existing conditions.
3) Those who can afford it, and who are eligible for it, but who choose not to purchase it.

Let's deal with number 3 first - Because it's impossible to predict that this type of person will never need medical services that he can't afford, make them post a bond to ensure that there will always be money there to cover their potential illness. The probability that they will never need medical care is minimal. This is no different than owning a car. Many states either require proof of insurance or financial proof posted in the form of a bond, to cover the minimum financial obligations. True, you can choose not to own a car, but medical care is a requirement of living. And you can't choose not to live - well you can, but that's not part of this discussion.

#1 Those who can't afford it will have to be provided with a way to help pay for it.

#2 Many of them would love to buy it, but they're told no. If they also fall into #1, then again, there will have to be a way to make sure they can afford it.

[liberal N proud]

2. How are they going to squeeze blood from a turnip?

If you don't have the cash, you can't buy the health care.

I guess that goes back to this toon posted yesterday by n2doc...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5880188&mesg_id=5880188

[YewNork]

3. I'd love to have insurance, but the companies won't insure me due to a pre-existing condition.

So, if it mandates that they cover me. I'll pay for it.

Not being able to get coverage is giving me an ulcer, anyway, so I'll probably need it.

[SHRED]

5. what about caps?

If long term care is capped then we are in the same boat.

Most facing financial hardship had health insurance but insurance has it's limits.
Will those limits be addressed?

[madrchsod]

4. i have insurance but the 80% plus 1000 deductable....

has left my wife and i over 10,000 in debt to the hospital.

10,000 dollars could upgrade my heating and cooling efficiency , install new efficient windows, and install a solar panel. but no, i`m paying the stockholders of my insurance company

[SHRED]

6. that is criminal

Profit before people must stop.

[YewNork]

8. Not to mention you're indirectly subsidizing the millions that go into Congress' members pockets AND

subsidizing those ads on TV calling for no reform at all.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. This is what I am fearing

Having to pay a third to a quarter of my salary for "health insurance" that won't pay for visits to the doctor or lab tests, etc. Probably with a million dollar deductible, and no choice of MDs I can visit. I work in a doctor's office and I handle the insurance. Have yet to see any individual insurance policy that is really worth a flip. Pay my own way now, and see being forced to buy insurance only giving health insurance CEOs money for nothing.

[Why Syzygy]

10. I saw this coming.

"Mandate" was part of Hillary's plan. :hide: We didn't like it then either.

This will leave states holding the bag. So, this is the ONE thing Governors should protest. Too bad so many of them have wasted their steam on cheap, petty issues. In Texas, the STATE picks up the tab for low income persons to pay Medicare premiums.