The Health Care Reform Political Time Bomb

[Are_grits_groceries]

I think the single greatest political disaster in store for Democrats over the issue of health care reform is not about policy, mandates, or taxes; it is about time. Americans for the most part do not know that they will be forced to wait for three years before reform really starts.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll asks:

If Congress and the president did pass a health care reform bill, when would you expect that people without insurance would begin to get financial help in buying coverage?

13% answered this year, 36% answered next year, and only 25% correctly answer three years from now. These are numbers that should completely terrify Congressional Democrats. Basically, half the country expects health care reform to be underway and there to be a noticeable drop in the number of uninsured by the time of the 2010 midterm elections. In reality, most of the reforms (and the decrease in the number of uninsured) will not start until several months after the 2012 election.

Most of the American people will know when “health care reform” has passed, but a majority will probably not realize that it means nothing will really change for next three years. That is a recipe for an angry, confused, and disappointed electorate. I would not want to be a Congressman trying to defend a reform package that has not started. And I would sure as hell not want to while stumping for re-election. Just try to explain to individuals in serious need of health insurance reform that they are out of luck until 2013.

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/23/the-health-care-reform-political-time-bomb/

I think this is a disastrous policy. People will have 3 years to stew about it, and the Republicans will still be pushing about how evil it is.

In addition, what will the insurance companies be doing in those 3 years? They will rewrite their rules to take advantage of anything they can.

[annabanana]

1. How can we apply pressure that would push enactment forward?

The sooner people feel some relief, the better it is for us.

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. Call those fools.

At this point, they could hide lord knows what in the bill. In 2000 pages, somebody could slip in funding for a clown college. I know they have people reading these bills, but somebody better be keeping an eye on every jot and tittle.

Everybody is so caught up with the PO debate that who knows what else is slipping by. Those bastards who are helping the insurance companies may be putting in small loopholes that will suddenly be enlarged.

I've called them about this. I think everybody is getting battle fatigue trying to beat back all the crap that shows up.

[AllentownJake]

3. They are committing political suicide on so many issues

The only ray of hope they have is their opponents are batshit insane.