The Truth about Health Care Reform HR3200 - Part 3: Some Facts and Fictions from the 200 Section
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There are tons of rumors and misinterpretations of the Health Care Reform Bill floating around. This article address some of the rumors about the text in the 200 Section of the Bill HR3200, or pages 72 - 143.
Rumor:
The poor will still get lesser benefits than the rich.
Fact:
The 200 Section of HR3200 outlines who will be eligible for government health insurance plans and when. Anyone eligible for Medicare or Medicaid will be forced to take Medicare or Medicaid and will not be eligible for the other government plans. If you are eligible for a government plan, there will be different plans available with different levels of benefits, basic, enhanced, premium and premium-plus plans. The cost of each plan will logically enough go up as the benefit level goes up and presumably, you will be able to pick which level of benefits you want and can afford. However, low income individuals, those who earn too much for Medicaid but earn below 400% of the Federal poverty level will receive a subsidized Basic plan with a premium cost adjusted based upon your income. That sounds fair enough, but if you read the fine print of Section 203(c)(2)(B), you will find it says, "the benefits under a basic plan are modified to provide for the reduced cost-sharing for the income tier applicable to the individual." This means that if you are paying a reduced, subsidized premium you be getting a level of benefit below that specific in the bill as being the "basic" level of coverage that all Americans should be qualified for. In addition, it does not specify how or in what manner those benefits have been reduced.
Opinion:
If I were to fall into that grey area of too wealthy for Medicaid and too poor for a "basic" plan, I would certainly be questioning exactly what level of care would be available to me.
Rumor:
Most people will not receive dental and vision care.
Fact:
Section 122 defines the services included in the "Basic" benefits package and does not include vision or dental care.
Section 203(c) of the Health Care Reform bill outlines the different levels of coverage. The only difference between the Basic Plan and the Enhanced and Premium Plans is the size of the level of cost-sharing. You will be able to choose between paying a high premium and lower co-pays and deductibles, or a lower premium and high co-pays and deductibles. In order to obtain vision and dental care, you would have to be able to afford the Premium-Plus Plan.
Opinion:
Since it is unclear how much more expensive this Premium-Plus Plan would be, anyone who currently has health, dental and vision coverage should be wary of this proposal and the possibility of loosing their coverage. Currently in the United States we experiences a high quality system of dental care. It would be a shame to see our dental system deteriorate to state similar to that available in the UK.
Rumor:
Individuals will be forced to enroll in health care plans.
Fact:
Section 205(b)(3) provides for a system of automatic enrollment for Subsidized Individuals.
Section 312(c) provides for the automatic enrollment of employees who have not affirmatively elected to opt out of the plan within a specified time period.
Rumor:
The Federal Health Care Reform will allow coverage for illegal aliens.
Fact:
Section 246 expressly states "No federal payment for undocumented aliens."
Bill Text
Do not, I implore you, take my interpretation of the bill, or anyone else's for that matter, as gospel! Read the text of HR3200 at:
Take Action!
If you have found this article helpful, please share the link with everyone you know. Then forward the article and your opinions to your representatives.
I never worry about action, but only inaction. - Winston Churchill
Our elected representatives do not think that the protestors at the town hall meetings are representative of the majority of America. Make sure your opinion, for or against, is heard.
You can locate the contact information for your representatives here:
House of Representatives:
http://www.house.gov/
Sentate:
http://www.senate.gov/
White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Health Care Reform Poll
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Comments
I Would like to know in easy to understand-plain English what this bill means to those it affects.I see why our congressmen don't read it.They probably wouldn't understand it unless someone they trust could figure it out,and relate to them in plain English.
I hope my explaination has helped you to understand. I plan to write more summaries and explainations as I work my way through this massive bill, so subscribe to my rss feed or become a fan so you know when the updates are available.
Good explanation. I are reading it for the second time, and I appreciate you efforts to interpret.
I appreciate your efforts to clarify some of the points so many people are up in arms about. I have written several hubs on the healthcare reform bill as well. Hope you will check them out. Thanks.
I would also add that our "alleged" representatives are choosing to use cheap rhetorical device rather than be honest and fair with the general public about this health care debate. Rather than stating that - yes - HR 3200 would indeed force many Americans onto a public option of health care, they deny things that are in HR 3200 and attempt to make opponents look like fear mongers. The favorite line of proponents to a single party system of health care is, "you will NOT have to give up your current health care insurance or doctor. In reality they fail to mention all of the conditions that must occur for you to keep your current plans or doctors. Another favorite tactic is, "That is absolutely NOT in THIS bill". Then rather than being honest, they do not explain to the public who may be unaware of the multiple drafts of health care reform bills in the congress and senate, they indirectly imply that those who speak out against HR 3200 are crazy or deliberately misleading the rest of the population. Many components and details are in multiple bills, some of the bills are worse than others. They expect us to trust them blindly and yet insist on deliberately misleading their own constituents. I have posted more about what I believe is going on in this country in a post about ideological battles that are occurring from within this country. You may call me a cynic, but I do not trust people who openly hate this country to do what is best for us to survive much less thrive.
The link to my post is http://hubpages.com/hub/USideologicalwars
I am totally new at this.
Our congress and senitors should read the bill. We need to take back our county. Vote out our Reps.that are not looking out for our best intrest. My state Reps. didn't have any town hall meeting. Why not because they didn't want any one to complain. Tell your Reps. that if they don't lissen to you they will be voted out.
Where exactly are the conservative proposals to seriously overhaul a health care system that is bloated in cost, but leaves corporate executives in charge of denying life saving medical procedures for profits. I'm no fan of big government, but all I see are stone throwers who have no ideas to contribute to the conversation. Who, among the conservative pundits, has had the intellectual courage to really provide an alternative to Obama's proposal?
Why not propose a voucher system that would encourage free enterprise while covering the uninsured? Instead of throwing stones at every idea, why not contribute one?
Because no one on the right has the courage to even acknowledge the problems with health care but instead organize an angry mob to attack an idea to solve the problem labeled as "government takeover", there is only one party proposing a real solution and unfortunately it's a big government solution. Do the republicans lack the IQ points or the intestinal fortitude to join in a rational conversation? I say that being a non-democrat and former republican independent.
I completely agree. Sticks and stone might break their bill, but it won't solve a single problem. I'm no fan of either party. In fact, I saw a sign the other day that I just loved. "Go Green, Recycle Congress!"
Health Care Reform in the News
- Shurtleff may sue to stop health care reformThe Salt Lake Tribune29 hours ago
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is poised to join nine of his conservative colleagues across the nation in suing the federal government over health care reform.
- Sestak: Health-care reform bill still lacking key elementsMain Line Suburban Life22 hours ago
Following a 60-40 vote along party lines in the Senate to end debate on a contentious health-care reform bill, U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi outlining elements he sees lacking in the Senate version of the bill — such as a public option.
- Mark Shurtleff may file suit to block health care reform lawABC 4 Salt Lake City25 hours ago
Salt Lake (ABC 4 News) - Utah's Attorney General has constitutional concerns about Washington's health care reform package.
breakfastpop says:
5 months ago
Great Hub! Very informative and spot-on. I, too, am plowing through this purposely long, convoluted and vague bill. If our elected officials refuse to read the bill, then we have to do it.