Prepare to explain this after a healthcare bill passes

[eridani]

My note--s/he's wrong about pre-existing conditions, which will be eliminated immediately. However, that is completely meaningless given that the sociopathic shitstains will be allowed to charge whatever premiums they want.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/10/5/789930/-Prepare-to-explain-this-after-a-healthcare-bill-passes

by clammyc

Share this on Twitter - Prepare to explain this after a healthcare bill passes Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 02:25:29 PM EDT

Progressives, Democrats and anyone who has been talking up these forms of health care "reform" better be prepared to defend this likely bill of crap to tens of millions of angry Americans – including many who have been (possibly unwittingly) fighting for something that won’t do jack shit for 3-4 more years.

Otherwise, get ready to kiss the House majority good bye in 2010 and quite possibly the Senate and White House good bye in 2012.

Here are some numbers for you: Even conservative estimates peg medical bankruptcies at around 500,000 per year. The recent study of 45,000 deaths per year from lack of insurance has been covered a lot lately – but did you also know that this number is up from 18,000 in 2002? The cost of health insurance premiums have doubled over the past decade, and for a family, it is not much less than the minimum wage, annualized. Insurance companies are currently suing states so they can raise premiums by close to 20%.

And here is one more for those who have to rely on their current employer-provided health care (you know, for that whole "pre-existing condition" thing) - 3.6 million job losses over the 13 months ending January 2009, and a total job loss of over 7 million as of last month. Even if things stabilize and turn within a year, that is still probably at least 2 million more job losses before things turn.

So while everyone thinks about high-fiving and applauding whatever success comes out of a bill (assuming that it is even worth progressives applauding over), think of how to explain why this bill is so good when the following could very well occur before any relief whatsoever kicks in:

150,000 – 200,000 more people dead from lack of insurance;
1,000,000 - 1,500,000 (at least) more medical related bankruptcies;
Potentially 2,000,000 more people that have to worry about "pre existing conditions" because of a new employer/insurance;
Premiums for a family exceeding $15,000 for crappy coverage.

This is a disaster waiting to happen. If anyone thinks that the shenanigans of this past summer by the teabaggers was crazy – wait until the above numbers – and ones more egregious and outlandish are thrown into the mix.

[TheKentuckian]

1. I'll tell them to demand the Public Option be available to all

or if the premiums will exceed 10% of their income they can join the exchange.

[eridani]

2. Any more than 8% is a total outrage. The French get 5 weeks of maternity care

--which includes someone to help you with cooking and laundry for 8%. No deductibles or copays either--8% is for everything. For 100 euros/adult/month (mandatory private insurance), the Dutch don't get that kind of luxury, but there are no deductibles or copays there either.

And your 10% STILL has completely outrageous copays and deductibles tacked on. Not only should a public option be available to all, it should have no deductibles or copays.

[joeycola]

3. Few in the Halls of Congress are really connected to

most of Americans.

[Mimosa]

4. We were betrayed. Obama supported single payer in June, July 2008

What happened?

We're going to get screwed. I have no loyalty or trust left towardsthe Democratic party. Is there a reason I should? All of Congress is in thick with the insurance and pharmaceutical companies who will keep ripping us off.

[elocs]

5. It certainly seems as though we have been sold down the river

and the Democratic Party has the attitude of "where else can they go?"