The Truth About Health Care Reform

What with the crazies that are showing up at Congressional "town hall meetings" and making all kinds of wild allegations against proposed provisions of the pending legislation, it is helpful to look at what is really under consideration. Already provisions that would have provided for coverage of counseling about end of life decisions - i.e., executing living wills to avoid being kept alive as a vegetable for months or even years on a ventilator and executing durable medical powers of attorney so that family members or trusted friends can guaranty that your wishes are followed - have been deleted from the bill.

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The irony, of course is that it is likely that it will be the very same protesters and opponents of such legal documents who will see their families bankrupted by costly and useless treatments of relatives with irreversible brain death who are kept alive for extensive periods even though the end result is already known. This situations are great for medical providers who will go on treating and billing indefinitely, but are tragic for both the one dying and distraught family members who will face crushing medical costs. The fact is that medical cost nightmares are the second leading cause for families going into bankruptcy. Here are some highlights of the REAL proposals would do:

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8 Ways Reform Provides Security and Stability to Those With or Without Coverage:

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Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.

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Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.

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Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.

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Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.

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Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.

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Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.

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Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

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Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

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As for the lies and untruths that are being disseminated by covert GOP operatives and a number of "family values" organizations, here are a few things that are NOT true:

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1. Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.

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2. We can’t afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.

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3. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.

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4. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.

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5. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.

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6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.

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7. You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.

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8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.

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I hope Obama and the Congressional Democrats will go on an offense to expose the lies of the "protesters" and - one can at least hope -that the MSM will start exposing those behind the lies.