WH Statement on the Pending Cloture Vote.

[Clio the Leo]

(well, technically its about the bill itself but the vote tomorrow is WHY they released the statement)

SHOW OF SUPPORT: On the eve of a critical test vote in the Senate, the White House throws its full weight behind Majority Leader Harry Reid's bill.

The Office of Management and Budget released a Statement of Administration Policy Friday evening that said: "This legislation meets the president's criteria for health insurance reform: it provides stability and security to those with insurance; offers access to quality, affordable health care for those who do not have insurance; cuts costs for families, small businesses and the government and does so without adding a dime to the deficit."

And in an email sent to Senate press secretaries this evening, the administration announced: “ Tonight at midnight, the White House will post a summary of how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will benefit your state. You can find this summary at www.healthreform.gov.".

http://www.politico.com/politico44/wbarchive/whiteboard11202009.html

[jillan]

1. Awesome! I love that they are going to post how it's going to benefit each state.

that is a perfect way to start the debate.....hoping we get there.

[Cha]

2. Thanks Clio~

Are you really a Virgo?:)

[Clio the Leo]

4. Shhhh....... state secret. NT

[HopeOverFear]

3. K & R

[ChicagoSuz219]

5. Did you see the Saturday Nite Fever poster...

...with Harry Reid's face photoshopped on it? It's a hoot!

[JDPriestly]

6. Help! I don't understand these items.

Families: The 36.8 million residents of California will benefit as reform:
. . . .
Creates immediate options for people who can’t get insurance today. 9 percent of people in California have diabetes2, and 25 percent have high blood pressure – two conditions that insurance companies could use as a reason to deny health insurance coverage. Reform will establish a high-risk pool to enable people who cannot get insurance today to find an affordable health plan.
. . . .
Seniors: California’s 4.5 million Medicare beneficiaries will benefit as reform:
Lowers premiums by reducing Medicare’s overpayments to private plans. All Medicare beneficiaries pay the price of excessive overpayments through higher premiums – even the 66 percent of seniors in California who are not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. A typical couple in traditional Medicare will pay nearly $90 in additional Medicare premiums next year to subsidize these private plans. Health insurance reform clamps down on these excessive payments.

http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/statehealthreform/california.html

First, California already has a pool for otherwise uninsurable people, folks with pre-existing conditions. It's just so extremely expensive only the rich can afford it. So, how does this bill improve anything? Sounds like this pool is just another place to throw the hard-to-insure, the costly patients. Whatever happened to not allowing insurers to refuse to cover people due to pre-existing conditions? I thought that was the trade-off for requiring everyone to enroll. Am I not understanding how this is going to work?

Second, what do they mean by "Medicare's overpayments to private plans." I'm in a Kaiser senior advantage plan. Is Medicare paying it extra for my coverage? I pay extra for my coverage. How much is the government paying? Is my coverage going to be cut because I'm in a Medicare Advantage Plan?

Can someone please answer my questions? Thanks in advance if you can.

[MarieP]

7. $850 per month per insured paid to insurance companies

My husband has to get a Medicare Advantage plan in January, so we went to a presentation where we were told that the insurance companies are paid $850 per month per insured...sounds like the advantage is to the insurance companies. Sorry I can't answer your other questions. I've decided that I'm just going to calm down about all this until something more concrete about a final version comes out.

[JDPriestly]

8. I doubt that Kaiser gets that much for me. I'm essentially very healthy.

Kaiser does not offer low-cost memberships in health clubs and the like. But I cannot imagine trying to organize my healthcare without a Medicare Advantage plan in L.A. Finding a doctor and getting to the right specialists here is very confusing. Kaiser keeps all my records on-line and is very well organized. I would not want to have to change to some other sort of plan. Non-Senior-Advantage works well for my mother who lives in a small town in the midwest. Her doctor knows her. The senior citizen community is close. Everybody knows and cares about everybody else. L.A. is impersonal. Older people are ignored and get lost here, especially if they are ill or having a medical problem. That's why Senior Advantage is so important for low-income people in cities. The insurance company helps you organize your care, remember tests and appointments and gives you reminders.