It's interesting how most nurses on here claim that we "can't afford" the new health bill. How sad that we can't afford healthcare for our own citizens but can certainly afford warfare abroad. I'm gravely disappointed in our priorities.
I think most individuals don't understand the bill, and have not taken the time to fully research it. They don't understand that it has been projected to slightly lower health insurance costs when it takes effect. They don't realize that it includes scholarship funds for future RN training and recognizes the importance that nurse practioners can have. They just listen to slogans on 24 hour cable TV.
yes and no, lol. i am all for healthcare reform and think it is very necessary, so in that respect yes, i think it is a step in the right direction.
i do not like how this bill was passed, however. something as big as this needs bipartisan support. and, as it happened, this becomes impossible, due to allegeance of politicians to other topics (abortion, free benefits for their state, and physicians' financial dependance on insurance companies for their present high incomes lso, i kept getting the feeling that the democrats decided that this is what is best for their constituents, so this is what they were going to do, regardless of whether or not the people actually wanted it. many of tyhose who wanted reform of insurance companies/health care, were without coverage due to preexisting conditions, unreachable cost of premiums; and and other factors prohibiting them from being protected against losing their homes, and other necessities on maslow's list. it seemed to be a very paternalistic attitude, which is not what we elect our politicians to do. we elect politicians to represent all of us, not just those with secure jobs, mortgages they can afford; and those with disabilities that prevent them from having a voice in laws such as that. they should listen to the voices of the many people who were against this bill and work for a bipartisan solution to this very big problem that we face. those democrats honored a sacred obligation to get the reform needed most by those without health care and disease prevention programs, whose conditions are ever worsening and death rates making the usa appear like a third world country globally, due to avaricious insurance and pharmaceutical companies along with the medical associations supporting physicians who care more for higher and higher incomes, more than the well being of their patients with untold billions invested in maintaining the status quo.
so, i really can't answer the poll. if you knew what was in the bill, you would have an informed viewpoint. i am very conflicted about how the bill was passed, but extremely hopefull that it will prove to be a beneficial and popular reform in the long run. :)
to have the desperately needed changes that now can be enforced, in our and our children's lifetimes, something had to be done. democrats have never used the method before that was employed, but republicans are renowned for it.
unfortunately, while everyone thinks it's "how the game was played" that is honorable, that isn't the way things are accomplished today, sadly. when the power is in the hands of those who can do the mosty good for manhy americans, it's time to get it done.
you must have seen the lies that were exposed in the course of this bill's passage, the unreal demands that were outright, such as the nebraska senator who wanted no funded abortions, even if incest, rape or loss of a mother's life was inevitable - plus free healthcare for all those living in his state! that's the kind of thing we were up against....... it took extreme means to have needed change accomplished. whether we like it or
not, once a majority of votes/colleges have been reached, we have placed the power in the hands of the winners. it's the only way the system works.
i voted yes but i think that the real cost saving measures were torpedoed by the corporatists.
we need to add:
medicare buyin for age 45+ or the entire population.
drug price negotiation did you know that drug price negotiation was previously prevented by law in the usa, for any entity but the va?
drug reimportation from canada
canada has allowed duplicate pharmaceutical factories to be built there, so their negotiations would have clout. i don't think your suggestion can be based on canada's superior bargaining capacity.....maybe israel has that....but as many countries as possible have to stop pharmaceutical companies from charging what they think the "traffic will bear", rather than the cost of producing the drug plus a modest profit. the dictionary suggests "decent" as a synonym for modest, which is how i'd like to see pharmaceutical prices, rather than the daily fluctuation according to their stock's worth.
aside: an example of drug price abuse, is seen in the cost of eye drops i buy at costco for my precious 14 year old dog, sox who is of the cocker spaniel persuasion. they are provided in tiny bottles containing a teaspoon, which is mostly homeostatic water, along with a minute quantity of neosporin in one, and an equally tiny dose of antiinflammatory (steroid) in the other. veterinarians charged me $32, each for them, until one ran out of it, and sent me to a very expensive pharmacist owned store, which charged the same.
when i latently realized that such meds were the same as ones for humans (duh!) who also suffer from glaucoma and cataracts, i took the prescriptions to costco where i was charged $2. - $3. for each, last fall. in january the price increased to $4. - $5., and last week i was charged a whopping $7. - $9. each! i called the company that manufactures them and they blamed the not so creeping climb in price, to the distributor, whose name they wouldn't reveal.......
i haven't kept up with the cost of my medications, which were $1500./month before i finally acquiesced to yet another insurance provider for them. when medicare d came into being, i had checked the cost of premiums charged by the manufacturers of each med that i'm on, and found the total exceeded the cost of paying for them outright. my "doughnut hole" was larger than the doughnut! with the reform act in place, i'll now be responsible for half their cost,after a honeymoon period of my cost being 20% for them. not ideal or possible, so back to toronto i'll go, for sustainable wellness. the older you get, the higher maintainance costs you have..... and believe it or not (i didn't), barring a life threatening illness, you'll get there, too.
I voted yes. Yes it will cost, but because I have health insurance it already costs me. I { my insurance carrier } am charged more because I AM covered. Easy to look the other way unless you are one who cannot afford coverage and make too much for Medicaid. If we don't do something this healthcare burden will break our backs but I admit I am worried about how the costs will be spread out.
The genius of this administration in financial affairs has already been shown.
Did you know that the $25,000,000 given Citibank to bail them out, has increased because of the stocks they gave back, which now are worth billions!!
Most of us don't have a clue about how much tax money from the 1.8% charged those who make over $200,000 singly or $250,000 for married couples. It is incredible!! Those Americans who haven't successfully hidden their hords of doh-re-me in foreign countries, have fantastic quantities of it, which is invested well, and cannot be hidden. The amounts that will come to light, are mind boggling. Then, possibly you will see how far greed has gone and how decent people like Bill Gates and some celebrities have formed foundations which provide opportunities for disadvantaged, less fortunate people.
The schools which their money endows will bring us a generation or three of well educated, well motivated self confident individuals from all walks of life, who will succeed in bringing this runaway universe into line. From the generosity that was modelled for them, they'll support others to assure that everyone has a chance for successful lives. Yes, I believe in miracles!!!!
canada has allowed duplicate pharmaceutical factories to be built there, so their negotiations would have clout.
it may take ten more years, but this bill is the beginning of regulation of our health care industry. this financial crisis began because of our a lack of regulation of the financial industries that both parties fostered.
mari55
98 Posts
I agree.