American health care bill

[marley2580]

Can someone from the USA please explain to me why so many Americans are against Obama's health care bill? I honestly don't get what's so bad about it

 

[special_kala]

is it just case of the better off not wanting to pay for poorer peoples healthcare?

 

[Hayley90]

i dont understand either, surely it'll be more fair? any americans care to enlighten us brits?!

 

[nicholatmn]

*sighs* nevermind.

This is a way heated topic. Don't want to be part of it.

 

[Shri]

the people who can't afford it won't go to jail. What he is trying to do is make it possible for everyone to have access to healthcare and stop the health insurance companies making unreasonable and inappropriate profits/controls of peoples access to healthcare.

What many americans protest to (as far as I can tell) is a government controlled health legislation, because for some reason they are under the impression that they are 'free' of government control with the current system even though Nixon implemented a large aspect of it in order to leach money out of the public.

It's utter madness IMO. There is enough money and human resources to make a fantastic healthcare system that IS free (well, paid for by tax payers of course) but people are scared of what they don't know, of negative propaganda and unable to believe in a positive vision.

This topic really gets me going....

 

[MoonMuffin]

People are against it because the media scare people into being against it. Not enough people know what exactly is in the bill. If only people could get over themselves and do what's best for everyone so we could have FREE healthcare. But that wont happen for a long time, but at least what they are trying to pass now is a step in the right direction. But as nicholatmn said, what about those who can't afford even cheap healthcare?
Personally we pay a bit more then $300 a month straight out of DH's paychecks, and I know that if we didn't have to pay that then we would actually be able to save a bit of money up and live closer to DH's work (he has an hour and a half commute each way), so it would be amazing for us.

Also the insurance companies have lobbyists who fight against healthcare reform, these companies want to make as much money as possible, as do many doctors and hospitals. And the politicians seem to think that being right is more important then helping us, they can't agree untill the bill is so widdled down that its barely worth passing. How is it that bush got all these awful things passed but obama tries to do something that would help millions and it can't?

 

[MoonMuffin]

What many americans protest to (as far as I can tell) is a government controlled health legislation, because for some reason they are under the impression that they are 'free' of government control with the current system even though Nixon implemented a large aspect of it in order to leach money out of the public.

It's utter madness IMO. There is enough money and human resources to make a fantastic healthcare system that IS free (well, paid for by tax payers of course) but people are scared of what they don't know, of negative propaganda and unable to believe in a positive vision.

This topic really gets me going....

Seriously, what do people think medicare and medicaid is?
The topic gets me fuming too.

 

[nicholatmn]

*sighs* nevermind.

This is a way heated topic. Don't want to be part of it.

 

[Sarahkka]

nicholatmn - the blog site with the Obama interwiew quotes does not say that people who cannot afford to pay healthcare would go to jail. Obama discusses the possibility of penalty for those who can afford to pay health care but refuse to, then try to have the system pay for them when they do get sick.

President Obama said that penalties are appropriate for people who try to “free ride” the health care system but stopped short of endorsing the threat of jail time for those who refuse to pay a fine for not having insurance.

Under the House bill those who can afford to buy insurance and don’t’ pay a fine. If the refuse to pay that fine there’s a threat – as with a lot of tax fines – of jail time.

Mr. Obama said penalties have to be high enough for people to not game the system, but it’s also important to not be “so punitive” that people who are having a hard time find themselves suddenly worse off, thus why hardship exemptions have been built in the legislation.

“I think the general broad principle is simply that people who are paying for their health insurance aren't subsidizing folks who simply choose not to until they get sick and then suddenly they expect free health insurance. That's -- that's basic concept of responsibility that I think most Americans abide by,” Mr. Obama said, “penalties are appropriate for people who try to free ride the system and force others to pay for their health insurance.”

The President said that he didn’t think the question over the appropriateness of possible jail time is the “biggest question” the House and Senate are facing right now.

On another note, I cannot believe the revolting behaviour that opponents of this bill are sinking to. I just listened to a radio broadcast of a crowd screaming racial slurs at black Democrats who were entering Congress. The reporter said that the crowd was mostly Tea Party members. Charming.

 

[StonesWife]

I'm an american and I am against it not because I don't want healthcare for everyone but more so I don't beleive the government (or ANYONE) should be allowed to tell me how and what to do with my body. It's bad enough the things they already have against us... but I must add I am a conspiracy theorist. I belieive the government has no interest in the common people and only has something to gain for themselves with this helath care reform (amongst other bills, laws, and regulations).

 

[Ashy]

in Canada we have socialized medicine paid through our taxes for docs/specialist/hospitals, we just have insurance for prescriptions, and dental etc. it seems to work lovely here, i pick my docs, even picked the OB/GYN i wanted a referral to, and im glad for it!

 

[hpjagged]

This gets my In-laws blood boiling as well. DH is in the US air force so we are covered, but all his family have to pay for their health care and I have had my ear taken off by my FIL when he gets onto this subject.
It's really hard to explain!

 

[futuremommy91]

I'm a dem and am living with an extremely conservative roommate. That isn't the problem as much as how rude she is about it.

She goes on and on while she's talking to her mother about how democrats are "f*cking pigs and morons" and "dirty dark trash" WHILE I'M IN THE ROOM! She's also completely homophobic. Hm. I may go and put on my pro gay marriage shirt just to piss her off haha.

The health care deal is a really nasty issue right now- you wouldn't believe how people are acting about it. It's horrible. I'll admit I don't know too much about it, but I really can't believe how horrible people are treating each other over this whole thing.

 

[marley2580]

Maybe it's because we have the NHS and therefore are used to free healthcare, but I actually have trouble understanding how health care could impinge on people's freedoms. I'm not wanting this to get heated but could someone that's against the bill (I realise it's passed now) please explain it to me?

 

[marley2580]

I'm an american and I am against it not because I don't want healthcare for everyone but more so I don't beleive the government (or ANYONE) should be allowed to tell me how and what to do with my body. It's bad enough the things they already have against us... but I must add I am a conspiracy theorist. I belieive the government has no interest in the common people and only has something to gain for themselves with this helath care reform (amongst other bills, laws, and regulations).

Stepping aside from the conspiracy theory atm How will this mean the govt telling you what to do with your body?

 

[morri]

In Germany each employer and employee pay a certain percentage of the wage to the 'krankenkasse' called health insurance fund (we have many different here) thats if insured by a compulsory health insurance fund, In Germany it is compulsary to be insured if you are working or studying. If you are unemployed your health service fees are paid by the employment office and you are by default insured at the aok health insurance.
If you earn enough you can opt for private insurance that offers more or more specialised service at times and you can get only if you earn enough. I think although everybody complains about it sometimes, it is actually not bad , and I don't see a problem why a state like the US could nothave something like that, as the state only limits the percentage of wage taken and apart from that there isnt any state in it..

 

[Missy86]

I'm an american and I am against it not because I don't want healthcare for everyone but more so I don't beleive the government (or ANYONE) should be allowed to tell me how and what to do with my body. It's bad enough the things they already have against us... but I must add I am a conspiracy theorist. I belieive the government has no interest in the common people and only has something to gain for themselves with this helath care reform (amongst other bills, laws, and regulations).

Stepping aside from the conspiracy theory atm How will this mean the govt telling you what to do with your body?

See this is what I was thinking, the NHS has never told me what to do with my body.

Whats wrong with free health care for all

 

[morri]

I think it is at the moment rather thatthe state tells them what to do with their body. I have a freind in the US who has severe back problems and would need surgery and reha but he cannot afford it. the only thing he can do is take pain meds and work over the pain.

 

[Kess]

There's a lot of negative propaganda about the NHS in America. There was a big piece in one of the newspapers about how "If Stephen Hawking was British he'd have been left to die because of his disabilities" - Stephen Hawking IS British and DID get all his (extensive, brilliant, modern) care on the NHS. AND the NHS tax bill is cheaper per person than private healthcare would be.

The government doesn't have anything to do with what I do with my body, just because taxes fund the NHS. And I could always opt to go private if I wanted something the NHS doesn't cover (not much, really!).

 

[Pussycat]

I may be wrong, but I don't think your choice is being taken away at all, you can still get normal health insurance if you want to, this bill is to make healthcare available to everyone whether they can afford insurance or not.
Yes it comes from taxes, but you don't get a choice as to what the government spends the rest of your tax money on anyway so what's the difference if some of it goes toward helping other Americans?

I admit I haven't read the bill and probably have a rather limited understanding of it, but I can't understand why anyone would be against healthcare for all in principle.

If there's some part of the bill that is majorly flawed, and that is the reason for being against it, please enlighten us.