Let's talk about the basic facts about the health care reform bill...

nursestudent1975 · Mar 23, 2010

Thank you for posting this! I have exactly the same questions! Don't get me wrong, my main concern is patient care, but also note that after devoting four years of my life (and I have no life!), and after accumulating thousands of dollars in debt, what am I getting myself into? This doesn't seem like the kind of thing that can just get passed overnight (like the Stimulus Bill, what a joke), the repercussions concerning actual patient care are frightening to think about. It seems as though they are just selling an ideal world, not thinking about the reality of it. How will the doctors be reimbursed? They need to pay bills too. Are the people who actually work going to have to pay more taxes to pay for this? When they say that they are going to cut spending in other ways, that just has regulation, regulation written all over it. Please don't get mad, I'm not just speaking conservatively:argue:, I just want to get some realistic answers myself. :eek:

linda2097 · Mar 23, 2010

Americans are going to be forced to buy health insurance. It is unconstitutional to force Americans to buy something. This is why most states are now suing the Obama administration. Even car insurance is optional because we are not required to own a car.

Americans who refuse to buy health insurance will be fined by the IRS.

Insurance companies are now forced to accept new customers who are very sick. This will force insurance companies to raise their rates.

Hospitals will become a lot more crowded. The nursing and doctor shortage will be get worse. Less people will want to become doctors because they will be taking orders from people like Obama, and their salaries will be capped.

Want to see how well the government runs healthcare? Look at medicare and medicaid. They are bankrupt.

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2010

Americans are going to be forced to buy health insurance. It is unconstitutional to force Americans to buy something. Even car insurance is optional because we are not required to own a car.
Americans who refuse to buy health insurance will be fined by the IRS.
Insurance companies are now forced to accept new customers who are very sick. This will force insurance companies to raise their rates.
Hospitals will become a lot more crowded. The nursing and doctor shortage will be get worse. Less people will want to become doctors because they will be taking orders from people like Obama, and their salaries will be capped.
Want to see how well the government runs healthcare? Look at medicare and medicaid. They are bankrupt.

No, our cars are more important than our health? huh? Who doesn't drive cars? Most people drive cars, come on.

Not only that, but there are going to be people that aren't going to buy the insurance just as they don't buy car insurance.

I can't believe people that don't want this health care in place. Sure details need worked out, but come on, think about

people that need health care. You have health care, but what if you didn't and you needed it ???

The selfishness needs to Stop!

charlestonsailing · Mar 23, 2010

Career change nursing student here so very interested in long term prospects for how this will affect us as well as patients.

My take, we missed an opportunity to really fix some things. From what I have read the law will mandate everyone purchase health insurance. Low income people will get some sort of subsidy to help defray the cost. Insurance policies will have a maximum out of pocket amount and no lifetime caps. Problems I see with this point is that we now have a law that requires by force of government that people purchase something from a private company approved by the federal government. That seems kind of scary to me. It has never been done before. Maybe I am overreacting but I don't like being forced to buy something (though I already have insurance I pay for so perhaps I am overreacting.)

Insurance companies will no longer be able to decline coverage for pre-existing conditions. This is going to end up causing higher premiums unless the governments calculations on how the increased number of insured's premiums will make up for that difference. Maybe they are right but they have never gotten cost estimates right ever.

In a few more years, those who don't have insurance will be penalized on their taxes for not having insurance. There are 16000 people being hired by the IRS to deal with this. This will mean more people covered and seeking health care which will increase demand for services which means more nurses needed. Yipee!

Unfortunately, to gain the savings that they needed to get this to pass via reconciliation, they figured in cutting of planned medicare payment rate increases. That hasn't happened and it likely won't ever so the deficit is going to go way up. What that means for us is eventual higher interest rates and greater inflation so what we gets paid buys us less and we pay more for houses and stuff.

There are a lot more negatives. All in all, I think the stated goal of the law was noble and I think something needs be done to stop the spiraling costs of health care but I don't think this does it.

My first economics class taught supply and demand. It seems to me that very little was done to affect supply of health care but a lot was added to demand. I think this would have been a great time to expand the scope of nursing practice and reorganize how health care is delivered in this county.

Lastly, in the spirit of keeping this thread friendly, please remember that those who are opposed to this law or even universal health coverage aren't heartless monsters who want people to be without health care. We all got into nursing because we are caretakers. I am or was opposed because I believe long term this will be detrimental to all of our healthcare as well as to our economy.

Music in My Heart · Mar 23, 2010

americans are going to be forced to buy health insurance. it is unconstitutional to force americans to buy something. it is? which part of the constitution is violated? how come the ma program is enforce, then?
insurance companies are now forced to accept new customers who are very sick. this will force insurance companies to raise their rates. they'll be forced, huh? you mean as opposed to the 40% increase by anthem here in california which they ascribe to the loss of paying customers due to the economic downturn? from your comment, shall i presume that you think it's preferable to leave the very sick without access to insurance and, hence, access to care?
hospitals will become a lot more crowded. the nursing and doctor shortage will be get worse. less people will want to become doctors because they will be taking orders from people like obama, and their salaries will be capped. what nursing shortage? in which section did you find the part about physicians having to take "orders from people like obama" and that physician "salaries will be capped?"
i would hope that our hospital becomes more crowded. more patients means more demand for nursing care and more revenue to pay for it and more revenue to purchase the equipment to provide that care efficiently and effectively.
fewer people will want to become physicians, huh? i hadn't noticed a dearth of physicians in other developed countries... why will this one be any different? of course, given that there is a huge excess in med school applicants versus available seats, perhaps it's not a big deal if fewer people decide to head down that route.
want to see how well the government runs healthcare? you see, there's the problem. government won't be running healthcare... we're going to continue to rely upon the for-profit insurance companies. look at medicare and medicaid. they are bankrupt. i notice that the va is still functioning quite nicely - and according to a few of my patients who also go to the va for services - provide fine care... they certainly did for my father. i also notice that the military medical system is functioning quite nicely... my good friend who's retired military told me that his family still uses the base facilities because the insurance is much better than what his wife gets as a nurse in a local hospital.

you forgot to mention the death panels...

ursus57 · Mar 23, 2010

Think about any other time the government has been involved with anything.

We do have huge problems in health care. We, in spite of the huge problems in health care, have the best medical delivery system in the world.

The free market has been bringing medical care in different ways, clinics in drug stores for minor ailments, educating the public about ailments and what drugs can do, and what they can't do, along with side affects.

The huge problem is cost, and the access to care is limited by how good your insurance is. We have a large population of very sick people now, that need care.

The government will regulate the costs and services allowed, and place many providers out of the government system.

The money for health care will be less, the services needed will expand, so we can't avoid rationed care.

While this is playing out the nurse's job continues to be one that encourages each person to be in charge of their own health as much as possible. teach what promotes good health by example and sharing knowledge.

For those already very ill and with limited resources, our job is to be advocates for our patients. Educate ourselves about resources so we can direct our patients to them.

Nurses are all about providing care that is not drug based, while we do administer pharmaceuticals, our focus is comfort, care, and education.

Each person can only do the best they can for their own patients, we can improve the lives we touch and promote the best quality of life possible within our capabilities.

Nurse continue to be on the front line in medical care and we have brought many needed changes over the years to health care.

Join and promote groups that are working on common sense solutions to this huge problem, at the ballot box, and where we work.

Nurses continue to be the among the best sources of information for health and well being.

Teach what you already know.

linda2097 · Mar 23, 2010

I can't believe people that don't want this health care in place. Sure details need worked out, but come on, think about
people that need health care. You have health care, but what if you didn't and you needed it ???
The selfishness needs to Stop!

Do you want free food too?

charlestonsailing · Mar 23, 2010

americans are going to be forced to buy health insurance. it is unconstitutional to force americans to buy something. it is? which part of the constitution is violated? how come the ma program is enforce, then?

i can answer this one. this violates the 10th amendment or maybe it is the 9th that sates that the federal governments powers are limited to those listed in the constitution. however that was disregarded so long ago it isn't even funny so i doubt the court will apply it in this case. the constitution has unfortunately basically become irrelevant in the us.

and as to the military health system. i am a vet of 11 years. it sucks. i was given 800mg ibuprofen to treat pericarditis. people don't complain because those in the military are generally not complainers and work tirelessly for little pay because we believe in something greater than ourselves.

Music in My Heart · Mar 23, 2010

And as to the military health system. I am a vet of 11 years. It sucks. I was given 800mg Ibuprofen to treat pericarditis. People don't complain because those in the military are generally not complainers and work tirelessly for little pay because we believe in something greater than ourselves.

I, too, am a vet... it worked fine for me. It saved my niece who was very sick as an infant. It took fine care of some close friends who were preemie triplets. And it's fine enough that my friends, one a nurse - and neither a martyr - choose to use it during his retirement rather than the plan offered through her hospital. My brother and his family also choose to use it during his retirement for the same reason. Oh, and he's not a martyr either.

What, errors actually happen in the military hospitals? As opposed to our civilian ones where errors never happen?

You are certainly entitled to your opinion regarding the quality of the military healthcare system... my experience and that of some close friends and family members is quite different.

linda2097 · Mar 23, 2010

you see, there's the problem. government won't be running healthcare... we're going to continue to rely upon the for-profit insurance companies.

starting today, government is running healthcare. they are now forcing insurance companies to cover preexisting conditions, give free preventative care, and remove lifetime caps.

linda2097 · Mar 23, 2010

it is? which part of the constitution is violated? how come the ma program is enforce, then?

the senators believe the bill is unconstitutional because the insurance mandate is not authorized by any of the limited enumerated powers granted to the federal government. the individual mandate also likely violates the "takings" clause of the 5th amendment.

they'll be forced, huh? you mean as opposed to the 40% increase by anthem here in california which they ascribe to the loss of paying customers due to the economic downturn? from your comment, shall i presume that you think it's preferable to leave the very sick without access to insurance and, hence, access to care?

anthem does not force you to buy their health insurance. the very sick should have access to loans to cover their healthcare.

i would hope that our hospital becomes more crowded. more patients means more demand for nursing care and more revenue to pay for it and more revenue to purchase the equipment to provide that care efficiently and effectively.

where exactly is this revenue going to come from?

you see, there's the problem. government won't be running healthcare... we're going to continue to rely upon the for-profit insurance companies.

starting today, obama is running the insurance companies. he just ordered them to add kids up to 26 years old to their parents' policy, to cover preexisting conditions, to give free preventative care, to remove lifetime caps, etc.

i notice that the va is still functioning quite nicely - and according to a few of my patients who also go to the va for services - provide fine care... they certainly did for my father. i also notice that the military medical system is functioning quite nicely... my good friend who's retired military told me that his family still uses the base facilities because the insurance is much better than what his wife gets as a nurse in a local hospital.

you assume that they are in good financial shape. the usa is printing money.