Originally Posted by Clip-Clop
1. A Harvard study found that 45,000 Americans die every year for lack of insurance. Pretty mush everyone dies, nobody has ever died from not having insurance.
2. After a century of trying, President Obama was the first president to sign a law that would achieve near universal health insurance coverage. Not even close actually.
3. For the first time, health insurers are required to spend 80 to 85 percent of customers’ premiums on actual care. More than $1.3 billion in overcharges will be returned to consumers and employers this year. No profits for businesses that take risks, sounds like a fine idea to me.
4. The law allows many Americans under age 26 to stay on their parents’ health plans. Today, as many as three million young people have already taken advantage of this benefit. 26 is no longer young, go out and be a grown up for fks sake.
5. Tens of millions of people now getting preventive care at no extra cost, including cancer screenings and vaccinations. Last year, 32.5 million Americans on Medicare and up to 54 million Americans with private insurance received one or more free preventive services. Oh there is a cost.
6. 3.2 million small businesses — employing 19.3 million workers nationwide — were eligible last year for tax credits worth $15.4 billion or $800 per employee. Unless you actually pay your employees a decent wage.
7. 3.6 million Medicare beneficiaries saved on average of $600 each as part of the phasing out of the donut hole. Would have been better to stop the fraud.
8. Health care fraud prosecutions are up 27 percent. Recoveries are up 58 percent, taking in $4 billion last year. Needs to be better, easy system to take advantage of because it is so poorly run, like all government agencies.
9. Most health plans cannot deny coverage to children under age 19 because of pre-existing conditions. This will make things WAY cheaper...
10. Insurance companies can no longer cap the dollar amount of care you can receive in a lifetime. Same as #9
11. Insurers cannot drop your coverage due to a mistake on your application when you get sick. Or what? That is the question.
Beginning in 2014:
12. Marketplaces will be established in every state for people and small businesses that buy their own health insurance. Pregnancy, contraception and newborn care, along with vision and dental coverage for children, will be covered in all exchange plans and new plans sold to individuals and small businesses. Unless they do not want it.
13. Plans will no longer be allowed to turn away people with pre-existing conditions. #9
14. If your income is less than about $88,000 for a family of four and your job doesn’t offer coverage, you may get tax credits to pay for insurance. That is wealthy in much of the country.
15. The national Medicaid minimum eligibility level of 133% of the federal poverty level ($29,700 for a family of four in 2011) for nearly all Americans under age 65. Good. This should have always been the case.
16. Health care insurers will no longer be allowed to charge women more than men for their coverage. Private businesses should be able to charge whomever, whatever they want. Don't like it go to a competitor.
17. Up to 30 million Americans who are currently not insured will be covered, saving thousands of American lives. #9
18. How is this all paid for? By slight tax increases on the investments of Americans earning over $250,000 a year, “Cadillac” insurance plans, medical device companies, penalties for businesses and individuals who can afford insurance but choose not to get it and tanning. I think as a business owner it is for me to decide what I can and cannot afford to buy/provide.
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