Convergence of Relevant Stuff

The American people are saying that they like President Obama, but do not like some of his policies.  President Obama has straddled the fence on nearly everything; not taking a clear stance on Health Care,  Afghanistan, and a number of other issues. Those on the left, feel he is not living up to campaign promises and those on the right or calling him a socialist.

Obama has not made a stance on anything.  He has not clearly articulated his stance on Afghanistan and his approach on Health Care Reform has been wanting; particularly his passive approach to passing a health care bill without a public option.

I must admit I am an avid Obama supporter, but feel jilted  with his lukewarm support for the public option and his continual praise of  Republicans, who could care less for him or his policies. When he campaigned as the catalyst for change we  can believe in. We believed.  So far he has not delivered.

A ramp up has occurred by the drug and insurance industries to lobby congress, spending millions of dollars over the summer to influence health care legislation.  It is working.  Many members of the Senate are reportedly on the receiving end of substantial funding from anti health care reform  lobbyist.

The Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America reported nearly $7 million in lobbyist expenses from July through September.

People are under huge misconceptions regarding health care reform. The biggest items are cost/affordability and whether are not pre-existing conditions are covered.  If you lose your employer sponsored group insurance plan and you have a pre-existing condition, under the current laws you will not be covered by any insurance company. People are arguing about the cost and what it will cost and probably   those people who are arguing  have a pre-existing condition.  Meaning they are one pre-existing condition away from no insurance coverage at all.

This is the most important item in the total health care debate.  If you have a sickness you will not get coverage and you can lose everything trying to pay  for the coverage on your own.  Unless you are rich. You are done.  We hear about people with cancer not getting coverage, but it is a lot more than cancer that is considered a pre-existing condition.  It could be diabetes,  thyroid conditions,  high blood pressure,  kidney disease, you name it, you will not be covered.

This is why we need health care reform now. I don’t believe there is anyone without some type of chronic sickness that could be deemed a pre-existing condition. Yet we talk about cost and future cost. We need to wake up and fight for the most progressive bill we can get. It simply may save your life.

All you need to know on Health Care Reform

OUR nation is now engaged in a great debate about the future of health care in America. And over the past few weeks, much of the media attention has been focused on the loudest voices. What we haven’t heard are the voices of the millions upon millions of Americans who quietly struggle every day with a system that often works better for the health-insurance companies than it does for them.

More From President Obama OP ED in the New York Times

Blue Dog Democrats this message is for you.  I have never been sure that you really are Democrats. So I will ask the question….. Or you really Republicans  masquerading  as Democrats?  Better yet, or you all hypocrites?  Maybe you are both.

Do you have the lobbyist in your back pocket?  I believe you do.   How much money are you taking by lining your pockets with dirty lobbyist money? Just asking.  You see the American people want to know.  Many people, white, black, asian, latino don’t have health care, yet you are  asking for and getting the votes of hard working Democratic people and you want support Democratic principles.

Stand Up, show your mettle. If you say you are Democratic, then vote for Health Care Reform. Do not take a vacation in August until the bill is passed.  Your constituents are being laid off.  Your constituents have pre-existing conditions. Your constituents can’t get health care now, because they  don’t have  health care. Do the right thing, quit being  hypocrites and support President Obama’s Health Care reform.

Last week, Republican Senator Jim DeMint made it pretty clear why the opponents of health care reform are fighting so hard. As he told a special interest attack group, “If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” Here’s how the President responded:

Think about that. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America’s families, breaking America’s businesses and breaking America’s economy. And we can’t afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time, not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake.

With Congress only days away from finalizing their plans for reform, it’s time to stand up with the President and fight back against this disastrous brand of old-style politics. So we need as many people as possible to publicly support the President’s principles for health care reform and call on Congress to act.

Before the first full votes in Congress, we’ll publish the signatures in newspaper ads across the nation, to make sure your voice is heard.

Watch President Obama’s full response, then add your name in support of reform. Or if you’ve already signed, please forward this message to every one of your friends and neighbors so they can join you.

The President is more dedicated than ever to passing health care reform that satisfies the three requirements he’s been talking about for months: Health care reform must reduce costs, guarantee choice — including the choice of a strong public insurance option — and ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care.

If we do not reform our broken health care system this year, we will only shackle future generations with spiraling costs and deteriorating care. The cost of inaction is simply more than this country can afford.

But the special interests who profit from the status quo won’t go down without a fight. The ads, the smears, and the attacks — targeting both President Obama and members of Congress who support reform — will only get worse. So it’s crucial that we show huge backing before Congress finalizes their plans this month.

Stand with President Obama on health care reform:

http://my.barackobama.com/hcdeclare

Thanks for standing up for change.

President Obama’s response to mounting opposition to health care reform has been  measured and consistent. Despite push back from Republicans and conservative Democrats, President Obama has remained firm in his resolve to pass health care reform this year. Why is it that there is so much opposition?   Do Republicans really care about a mounting deficit that is mortgaging our children’s future? Do they really think that  we will not be able to get quick, responsible care and that any reform  in which the government regulates will take rights away from you and your doctor?

Do they really care that people without insurance or pre-existing conditions, under the current system will not be able to get health care?  Do they really care that there are literally over  46 million people who are uninsured?  I know you do not have the answer to these questions and I have struggled to come up with answers myself. But there is one questions that comes up time and time again. What is in the hearts and mind of people in congress?

Are they worried about special interest and lobbyist who support the health care industry? Is all this opposition really about kickbacks and money? Do those in the  congress and senate really care about your welfare and the thousands of people who are lying on their sick  bed, unable to pay for health insurance, taking their life saving to pay for it or cannot get coverage for people that have cancer, diabetes, or some other pre-existing condition? Those are hard questions that we would be hard pressed to answer, but this is one time that  the American people should not be led down  the road to a cliff and forced to jump by Republicans who are lining their pockets at your expense.

Click Here to View President Obama’s weekly address

WASHINGTON, June 21 (Reuters) – Growing worries over budget deficits and government intervention could jeopardize President Barack Obama’s proposed healthcare overhaul in Congress as lawmakers bicker over costs and strategies for covering the uninsured.   More

Medicare Advantage Regulations

Medicare Advantage is the new name for Medicare + Choice. Medicare advantage includes Medicare Managed Care Plans, Medicare Preferred Provider Organization Plans, Medicare Private Fee For Service Plans, and Medicare Specialty Plans. Medicare typically provides supplemental coverage to supplement what primary insurance carrier will not cover or cover you when you have no insurance coverage. When you select Medicare coverage there is a price you pay. If you have no insurance and you are 65 or older, Medicare is available. However, there are cost that must be paid. If you have no income. Your personal assets must be exhausted before Medicare will pay for any coverage. In fact you can be denied any coverage if you have any personal assets.

The incentive for the elderly with no income is to rid themselves of assets in order to insure coverage by Medicare. The current rules is a five year look back. That means your assets must be sold at least five or more years from the time of coverage request. Even then it is a scary and tentative situation.

Medicare Advantage merely gives you choices of the type of plan you would like to receive. Much like the employer sponsored Group health Insurance plans. There are regulations involved in this coverage.

Regulations

1.)Enrollees must use only HMO Providers Only
2.) Specialty care must be approved in advance ( special request are often turned down)
3.) Medical Coverage request can be appealed (this causes delays and cost valuable treatment time)
4.)HMO can decide each year whether to offer a Medicare Plan
5.)You must be 65 or older to participate in the plan.
6.)To enroll in the Medicare Advantage Program individuals must be entitled to benefits under Part A and enrolled under Part B of the Medicare Program.
7.) People with end stage renal disease (pre-existing condition) or excluded from participating
8.) If end stage renal disease is contacted while enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, the individual can continue and coverage will not be denied.

(Source: medicareadvocacy.org)

Summary

You must be very careful in selecting a Medicare coverage plan. Things to consider would be what is covered under the plan? The cost of the plan. Are you eligible for participation? Will you have to pay a premium for supplemental coverage? What are the pros and cons of standard Medicare coverage vs. Medicare Advantage . What is the out of network cost, should you choose to select a doctor, that is not in the Medicare Advantage Network? How must will the plan actually pay for services and how much will you be responsible for uncovered treatment?

These are just a few the questions that must be answered in deciding between stand Medicare programs and Medicare Advantage. You also must be careful when dealing with private Insurance carrier who try convince you to buy their coverage, knowing that full payment of services will not be covered. There are a number of things to consider. The Medicare system is extremely confusing, before deciding on any plan or program do your homework and confirm any and everything that is said to you.