Insurance Agent Forum - Health Insurance Reform Forum

Health Care Bill(s) Info

insurehound — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:12:00 GMT

According to an analysis conducted for this office by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, between the 106th and 110th Congress, there were 41 cases in which the Senate approved the motion to proceed to a bill that the Senate eventually held a vote on final passage. Of those 41, 40 of the bills received Senate approval (S. 1805 in the 108th Congress was the lone exception). Based on these numbers, when the Senate votes to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to a bill, that bill has a 97.6 percent chance of inevitably passing the Senate.

*This analysis excludes any bill that may have been pulled from the floor for whatever reason after the initial cloture votes or that may have passed by unanimous consent or a voice vote.

Top-Line Facts:

Spending: The cost of the bill is $2.5 trillion over 10 years of full implementation (2014-2023) (See attached).

Taxes Increases: Taxes will go up $493.6 billion-nearly half a trillion dollars.

Medicare Cuts: Medicare will be cut $464.6 billion-another half a trillion dollars.

Total Number of Pages: 2074

Abortion: The bill permits the use of accounting gimmicks that will, for the first time, allow federal dollars to go to plans covering abortion. The bill does not include the Stupak language, and as a result, National Right to Life describes the Reid bill language as "completely unacceptable" and said it would "result in coverage of abortion on demand in two big new federal government programs."

Government Plan: The bill includes a government run plan and provides states with the possibility of opting out of participating in that plan. According to CBO, the government run plan "would typically have premiums that were somewhat higher than the average premiums for the private plans in the exchanges."

Employer Mandate: The bill will impose $28 billion in new taxes on employers that do not provide government approved health plans. These new taxes will ultimately be paid by American workers in the form of reduced wages and lost jobs.

Additional CBO Background:

The bill would bend the federal cost-curve up. CBO says, "Under the legislation, federal outlays for health care would increase during the 2010-2019 period, as would the federal budgetary commitment to health care." The coverage expansion would drive a net increase in government spending on health by $160 billion over 10 years.
CBO scored the bill as reducing the deficit by $130 billion over FYs 2010-2019.

o However, CBO notes that the bill includes two budget gimmicks that hide the true cost of the bill. Doctors are assumed to get a 23 percent cut in 2011 which would carry into subsequent years. Fixing the SGR would cost $247 billion. Additionally, the CLASS Act generates $72 billion over the budget window, but later turns to deficits. Eliminating these two gimmicks means the bill would be $189 billion in the red. It would also put the real cost of the bill over a trillion dollars.

The start dates for the individual mandate, exchanges, and employer penalties were all moved from July 1, 2013, to January 1, 2014.

This is another budget gimmick to hide the true cost of the bill.

24 million people would be left without insurance

Unfunded mandates on the states: The bill mandates that states spend an additional $25 billion in Medicaid expenditures
Taxes on uninsured individuals would total$8 billion.

Taxes on employers from the "free-rider" penalty would total $28 billion.

5 million Americans would lose their employer coverage.

Cuts to Medicare include: Permanent reductions in the annual updates to Medicare's payment rates for most services in the fee-for-service sector of $192 billion; $118 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage; $43 billion in DSH cuts; $23 billion in unspecified cuts by the Medicare Advisory Board.

Only 19 million people will get a subsidy to help them buy health insurance.

None of the 162 million people with employer-based care will even be eligible for a subsidy.

The government plan would have higher premiums than private plans. CBO said the government plan would "typically have premiums that were somewhat higher than the average premiums for the private plans in the exchanges."

With the opt-out provision, two-thirds of Americans are expected to have a government plan available in their state.

Co-ops are included but would have "very little effect."

The CLASS Act would reduce deficits by $72 billion in the 10 year budget window, but "would begin to increase budget deficits" in the decade following 2029.

The IRS would need $5-$10 billion to expand and implement the provisions in the bill.

The costs of the subsidies in the exchange would grow at 8 percent a year.

The tax on high value plans will quickly be applied to almost all plans. CBO expects the revenues from the Cadillac plan tax to grow at 10-15 percent per year outside the budget window.

Includes a $15 billion "Prevention and Public Health Fund" slush fund.

CBO says it would be "difficult" to maintain the predicted savings over a long period of time-meaning that the plan will likely run deficits when savings do not materialize.

Summary of Tax Provisions

Baucus Bill
Reid Bill
Cadillac plan tax
$201.4
$149.1
Employer W-2 reporting of health benefits
Negligible
Negligible
Conform definition of medical expenses
$5.4
$5
Increase penalty for nonqualified HSA deductions
$1.3
$1.3
Limit FSAs to $2,500
$14.6
$14.6
Corporate information reporting
$17.1
$17.1
Requirements for non-profit hospitals
Negligible
Negligible
Pharma fee, effective 2010
$22.2
$22.2
Device manufacturer fee, effective 2010
$38.6
$19.3
Health insurer fee, effective 2010
$60.4
$60.4
Eliminate subsidy related to Part D
$5.4
$5.4
Raise 7.5 percent AGI floor to 10 percent
$15.2
$15.2
$500k deduction cap on pay for heath insurers
$600 million
$600 million
0.5% HI payroll tax over $200single/$250married
Not included
$53.8
Section 833 treatment of certain insurers (the Blues)
Not included
$400 million
Cosmetic surgery tax
Not included
$5.8 billion
Individual and employer mandate penalties
$27 billion
$36 billion
Effects of coverage provisions on revenues
*This number is not directly comparable in both scores
$83 billion
$70 billion
Other changes in revenue
$16.3 billion
$14.8 billion

TOTAL
$508 billion
$493.6 billion
PDF Version: [COLOR=#800080]http://www.atr.org/userfiles/111809pr-comptaxreid.pdf[/COLOR]
Full bill: http://www.atr.org/userfiles/ReidHealthBill.pdf
JCT score: http://www.jct.gov/publications.html...0a3c&no_html=1

COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL TAX HIKES IN SENATE GOVERNMENT HEALTH BILL

Individual Mandate Tax (Page 324/Sec. 1501/Awaiting CBO score): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying "qualifying" health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the following schedule (capped at 8 percent of income):

Single
Single +1
Single +2<
2014
$95
$190
$285
2015
$350
$700
$1050
2016 etc.
$750
$1500
$2250

Exemptions for religious objectors, undocumented immigrants, prisoners, those earning less than the poverty line, members of Indian tribes, and hardship cases (determined by HHS).

Employer Mandate Tax (Page 348/Sec. 1513/Awaiting CBO score): If an employer does not offer health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit, the employer must pay an additional non-deductible tax of $750 for all full-time employees. Applies to all employers with 50 or more employees.

If the employer requires a waiting period to enroll in coverage of 30-60 days, there is a $400 tax per employee ($600 if the period is 60 days or longer).

Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (Page 1979/Sec. 9001/$149.1 bil): Starting in 2013, new 40 percent excise tax on "Cadillac" health insurance plans ($8500 single/$23,000 family). Higher threshold ($9850 single/$26,000 family) for early retirees and high-risk professions. CPI +1 percentage point indexed.

From 2013-2015, the 17 highest-cost states are 120% of this level.

Employer Reporting of Insurance on W-2 (Page 1996/Sec. 9002/Min$): Preamble to taxing health benefits on individual tax returns.

Medicine Cabinet Tax (Page 1997/Sec. 9003/$5 bil): No longer allowable to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin)

HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike (Page 1998/Sec. 9004/$1.3 bil): Increases additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.

FSA Cap (Page 1999/Sec. 9005/$14.6 bil): Imposes cap on FSAs of $2500 (now unlimited).

Corporate 1099-MISC Information Reporting (Page 1999/Sec. 9006/$17.1 bil): Requires businesses to send 1099-MISC information tax forms to corporations (currently limited to individuals), a huge compliance burden for small employers

Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals (Page 2001/Sec. 9007/Min$): $50,000 per hospital if they fail to meet new "community health assessment needs," "financial assistance," and "billing and collection" rules set by HHS.

Tax on Innovator Drug Companies (Page 2010/Sec. 9008/$22.2 bil): $2.3 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to share of sales made that year.

Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers (Page 2020/Sec. 9009/$19.3 bil): $2 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to shares of sales made that year. Exempts items retailing for <$100.

Tax on Health Insurers (Page 2026/Sec. 9010/$60.4 bil): $6.7 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to health insurance premiums collected that year.

Eliminate tax deduction for employer-provided retirement Rx drug coverage in coordination with Medicare Part D (Page 2034/Sec. 9012/$5.4 bil)
Raise "Haircut" for Medical Itemized Deduction from 7.5% to 10% of AGI (Page 2034/Sec. 9013/$15.2 bil): Waived for 65+ taxpayers in 2013-2016 only
$500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives (Page 2035/Sec. 9014/$0.6 bil)
Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax (Page 2040/Sec. 9015/$53.8 bil): Current law and changes:

Wages (Employer/Employee)
Self-Employment Net Income
Current Law and New Rate on First $200,000 ($250,000 MFJ)

1.45%/1.45%

2.9%
New Rate on Amount Which Exceeds $200,000 ($250,000 MFJ)

1.45%/1.95%

3.4%

The 0.5% new rate addition is not deductible for the self-employment tax adjustment.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike (Page 2044/Sec. 9016/$0.4 bil): The special tax deduction in current law for Blue Cross/Blue Shield companies would only be allowed if 85 percent or more of premium revenues are spent on clinical services

Tax on Cosmetic Medical Procedures (Page 2045/Sec. 9017/$5.8 bil): New 5% excise tax on elective cosmetic surgery to be paid by the surgery patient

11/18/09 For more information, contact ATR Tax Policy Director Ryan Ellis at rellis@atr.org

Procedural Vote Coming Right Up

Winter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:51:41 GMT

Senate is getting ready to vote on taking up the Senate bill(s) versus the house bill. Some pundits are speculating that they may not have the votes to take it up on the floor. I suspect they will find them because some of the holdouts know that there is a fight that has to take place and we might as well get on with it. Of course voting to take it up and voting for it are two different things.

Because I accepted years ago that reform is coming, I am mostly focused on following the public option piece. I think that the chances of the current bills getting blown to smithereens (in part by dem idealogues) is somewhere between very good and excellent. However, I find it inconceivable that they will not regroup in a few months after the bloodbath and start picking through the rubble to put together a bill that has the areas where there is consensus.(such as on guaranteed issue). Quite likely too, they will just abandon the comprehensive bill approach and just pass bills piecemeal. They just saw how easily that worked when they reduced the pricetag of heath reform by 250 billion simply by stripping the cost of the doc-fix out of it and passing it in a separate bill. That is not a trick that they will forget easily because it worked so well. More to come.

Most likely I am wrong.

Effect of the Reform on Insurance As a Career

mousidd — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:52:02 GMT

Just wondering what your thoughts are about how the reform is going to effect the insurance industry as a career. Will the insurance agents still be able to compete and find business if the public healthcare bill is passed? If yes, please explain.

Health Insurance Across State Lines, Competition, and Premiums

GT350 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:02:16 GMT

What do you guys think will happen if health insurance is able to be bought and sold over state lines and the anti-trust exemption is eliminated? Will this increase or decrease competition? Also do you think this will decrease premiums for consumers? Please post real world examples/comparisons/studies to back up your stance.

Break Down of the 47 Million Uninsured

ABC — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:24:11 GMT

I sat in on Cigna's update on reform yesterday.

The 47 million uninsured and how the health bill might impact them.

23 million will go onto medicaid. So the game plan right now is to increase medicaid in all of the states to 150% of poverty level.

6 million would move to the public option.

4 million to private individual plans with the GI option

6 million to employer provided. The Gov will force all companies to carry health insurance no matter what the size.

The 8 million left over are the illegals in this country.

CBO - Breaking News

Winter — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:05:56 GMT

CBO projects that the public option in Reid's bill would have higher premiums than private plans in the exchange.

Not what Harry wanted to hear, believe me. Abortion is going to be a show-stopper too the way it is worded.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Senate Bill HR 3590

healthagent — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:04:24 GMT

The clause I was looking for - page 157

ENROLLMENT THROUGH AGENTS OR BROKERS.—The Secretary shall establish procedures under which a State may allow agents or brokers (1) to enroll individuals in any qualified health plans in the individual or small group market as soon as the plan is offered through an Exchange in the State; and (2) to assist individuals in applying for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for plans sold through an Exchange. Such procedures may include the establishment of rate schedules for broker commissions paid by health benefits plans offered through an exchange.

This is different language from the House bill which makes no mention of commissions. In this bill each state "may" set the rate of commissions.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
VERY interesting:

Page 38:

1) INFORMING SECRETARY OF PREMIUM INCREASE PATTERNS.—As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection (c)(1), a State, through its Commissioner of Insurance, shall— ‘‘(A) provide the Secretary with information about trends in premium increases in health insurance coverage in premium rating areas in the State; and ‘‘(B) make recommendations, as appropriate, to the State Exchange about whether particular health insurance issuers should be excluded from participation in the Exchange based on a pattern or practice of excessive or unjustified premium increases.

Wow!!! This gives the states a large amount of power about which carrier can sell in the exchange.

Per this clause, if the state wants the grant (which they need) they'll have to review all past carrier's premium increases. If they deem them "unjustified" they have the power to exclude that carrier from participating.

This is what I call the "state revenge" clause for association-based carriers. If this passes, every 2nd tier carrier will crap their pants.

Breasts and Health Reform

Winter — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:19:11 GMT

Big, big mistake in my humble opinion for the dem bureaucracy to unveil the proposed guidelines for preventive breast exams right in the middle of the floor debates. Or if they didnt plan to have that happen then it is a stroke of bad luck then. Whatever.

Obama touts the idea that there will be independent health panels comprised of experts who will make recommendations for health care based on what allegedly works and does not work. At the same time he touts the idea there will be an increased focus on preventive care. Critics argue that it is just a backdoor to rationing.

Now we have a government panel recommending a reduction in the frequency of mammograms and related breast exams from once a year to two years in general. Just heard Sebelius treading water on the radio saying that no one should worry that this is just a government panel recommendation and that she gets to make the final decision. In other words, here we go. A prime example of what the future will look like right in the middle of the debates. Not what they want. And the libs are arguing to the government (and it has only been a couple days) that if they make that recommendation then the insurance companies will follow suit and not reimburse if the government says it is not proven to be necessary- which they will.

Obama et al do not understand the visceral fear around breast care that exists. When he talks about increased preventive care, what the hell does he think is the first thing that comes to mind for a woman. Do not underestimate the extent to which they have shot themselves in the foot here by showing their true colors right at this time.

The other thing: The concern about pulling the plug on Grandma has not gone away and will only get worse. The libs have tried to dismiss it as Glen Beck kook stuff but grandma is not smart enough (or too smart) to understand how you can be proposing cuts in medicare without getting into rationing. It doesnt help when they tell her that it is going to be done by achieving savings, such as by eliminating her medicare advantage plan.

Now we have Sebelius out there treading water explaining to people that they shouldnt be worrying about these medical panels because she makes the final decision. Say what? That only makes things worse. People used to think that they and their doctors did.

Bloodbath ahead. Used to be years or months ahead. Just a few days now.

Change you can believe in.

:cool:

Link to Senate Bill 2074 Pages

Expat — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:14:30 GMT

http://democrats.senate.gov/reform/p...e-care-act.pdf

It is longer than War and Peace.

Senate Bill is Going to Drive the Process

Winter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:58:03 GMT

Wow, this is a parliamentary nightmare.

Apparently the inside baseball goal now is to use Reid's Senate Bill (details unknown) as the core of the health reform bill to be reviewed in the Senate, versus reviewing the House Bill and amending it when it is in the Senate.

Problem is, the Constitution requires bills that have revenue and tax implications to be introduced in the House. ie. cannot be introduced in the Senate and then sent back to the House for review.

Soo.......it looks like the gameplan is to put the House Bill on the Senate floor for debate and then amend it by replacing most of the House Bill language with the language of the Senate Bill so that it looks like an amended House Bill rather than a bill coming from the Senate.

You need a scorecard to tell the players here. One of the obvious implications is that the bill that was passed by the House will no longer be the bill passed by the house so who knows what has been approved by the house and what hasnt when that happens. It will still need to go through conference committee and then back to the house again. No doubt a lot of blood will flow along the way.

Change you can believe in.

Senate Moves Toward Kicking Off Health Care Reform Debate - California Healthline

Health Care Reform Magic

somarco — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:39:15 GMT

Health insurance reform is about give and take. If you waddle through the maze and countless pages in all the various bills before Congress you really have to wonder what is going to come out on the other end if and when this massive spending bill is finalized.

I have wondered about all the new taxes to pay for health insurance (supposedly for the uninsured) but something I read this morning crystalized the games they are playing in Washington with our money. The AP reported this on the tax credits that everyone got as part of our share of stimulus.

Quote:

The tax credit, which is supposed to pay individuals up to $400 and couples up to $800, was President Barack Obama's signature tax break in the massive stimulus package enacted in February.

Most workers started receiving the credit through small increases in their paychecks in April. The tax credit was made available through new withholding tables issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

The withholding tables, however do not take into account taxpayers with multiple jobs or married couples in which both people work. They also don't take into account Social Security recipients with jobs that provided taxable income.

The Social Security Administration sent out $250 payments to more than 50 million retirees in the spring as part of the economic stimulus package. The payments were meant to provide a boost for people who didn't' qualify for the tax credit.

However, they went to many retirees who also received the credit. Those retirees will have the $250 payment deducted from their tax credit � but not until they file their tax returns next year, long after the money may have been spent.

That's a bit of a rude awakening.

President Obama called and he wants his money back.

Congress is doing the same thing with health insurance reform under the guise of taxing the rich to pay for health insurance for the poor.

Quote:

That finding from a new Associated Press poll will be welcome news for House Democrats, who proposed doing just that in their sweeping remake of the U.S. medical system, which passed earlier this month and would extend coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.

The poll found participants sour on other ways of paying for the health overhaul that is being considered in Congress, including taxing insurers on high-value coverage packages derided by President Barack Obama and Democrats as "Cadillac plans."

That approach is being weighed in the Senate. It is one of the few proposals in any congressional legislation that analysts say would help reduce the nation's health expenditures, but it has come under fire from organized labor and has little support in the House.

Lawmakers also are looking at levying new taxes on insurance companies, drug companies and medical device makers.

Think about this for a moment.

They want to assess health insurance companies, drug companies and medical device makers to pay for health insurance for the poor. But what happens when the tax is imposed?

Drug companies will pass the tax on to consumers who will pay more for medication. Prescriptions covered by health insurance will be more expensive which will result in higher premiums.

Medical devices like pacemakers and wheelchairs will become more expensive which will result in higher costs to the consumer and health insurance company. This mean higher premiums.

Of course let's not forget that drugs, pacemakers and wheelchairs are also covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so those costs will increase as well.

And that tax on health insurance companies? It will be passed through as well to those who pay the premium.

As health insurance premiums rise, to cover the cost of new taxes, higher prices for medication, pacemakers and wheelchairs those plans are in danger of becoming a "Cadillac" plan . . . which will be taxed.

These changes don't even take into account the required 30%+ increase in premiums caused by health insurance reform that mandates more expansive (and expensive) coverage for wellness and mental health parity as well as the "no restrictions on pre-existing conditions" requirement.

So just like the government is giving us a break by lowering our withholding taxes and tossing a bone to Social Security beneficiaries, then taking it back next April, they are doing the same thing with health insurance reform.

Giving us more benefits (no pre-existing, low copays, wellness, mental health parity) which increase premiums so we will have to pay more tax. Actually, it is a double tax.

We pay the tax the first time when we consume goods like medication and medical devices, and then we pay again because we were forced to buy an expensive "Cadillac" plan.

This is a dog only a politician could love.

Change you can believe in. Yes you can.

Mass. Premiums Rising

healthagent — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:41:14 GMT

State has health company hearings - BostonHerald.com

"By Sullivan’s calculations, the typical Massachusetts family now pays $20,000 a year for health insurance.

With the state requiring that all residents have insurance, something, somewhere has to give, said Sullivan, who has been urging state officials to investigate what he calls “anti-competitive” behavior by the insurers.

“This is an emergency situation,” Sullivan said. “Premiums are rising so fast that government has to intervene.”"

And this gem:

http://www.boston.com/business/artic...sses_to_surge/

"Bob Carroll, owner of a Billerica distributor of paint spraying equipment, recently got some really bad news from Blue Cross-Blue Shield: His company’s health insurance rates are going up 47 percent in January."

Public Option Fraud

Winter — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:59:59 GMT

The feds already run two of the largest public options on earth- Medicare and Medicaid. If they want to introduce another public option the normal mind would think that they would want to get those under control (both cost and performance) and then use them as as the best case for taking it to the under-65 crowd. But no, tis not the liberal way.

Govt: Medicare paid $47 billion in suspect claims - Yahoo! News

Oympia Being Difficult

Winter — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:40:20 GMT

Reid says he is going to have a bill by Christmas.

Olympia has said that if he brings it up for a vote before the end of the year she will automatically vote against it.

Harry, why don't you have Mr. Obama call her a few dozen more times and see if that helps. "Hell hath no fury.....as a scorned woman"

WATERVILLE -- Don't expect health care reform gift-wrapped by Christmastime. That's according to Republican U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, who spoke about pending health care legislation Wednesday afternoon as she strolled Main Street and spoke with people in the downtown area.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday that he expects to bring the legislation to the Senate floor next week and complete work on a bill by Christmas. The House approved a $1.2 trillion, 10-year bill this past weekend.
Speaking outside Jorgensen's Cafe, Snowe, who was the only Republican to vote for a version of the bill in committee, said she would not vote for the health legislation if it comes to a vote before the full Senate under Reid's timeline. More time is needed for legislators to examine the complex bill and obtain a final cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office, she said.
Snowe said she last spoke with Reid on Tuesday night and urged him to slow the bill's review down, because "the more eyes on the legislation, the better."
"It's unrealistic," Snowe said of the Christmas deadline. "This is the start of a building process, and it takes time. It (the Christmas timeline) is not going to happen. I can't vote for a bill this large and important without taking as much time to get this as right as possible."
Snowe has previously expressed doubts on getting a health care bill passed by year's end, but her comments Wednesday revealed a sharper stance on what she sees as arbitrary deadlines.

Prayer Treatments to Be Covered

Winter — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:35:12 GMT

Note first that this is not just a right-wing proposal. We are talking Kerry/Kennedy/Bean Town libs here.

Keep in mind that Mr. Obama has assured us that we are going to reduce costs in the health care industry by focusing on proven treatments that are based on outcome measures.

I am thinking right now that I could purchase one of my neighbors old double-wides, then put it on the back of my property and turn it into a sweat lodge. (no referral required if you have a PPO plan).

Prayer Treatments Covered In Health Care Reform Bills - Kaiser Health News

FYI>>>The Best Health Care Idea All Year

kennethbroyles — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:53:50 GMT

Posted by ROBERT LASZEWSKI at 7:56 AM 11-11-2009

"Out of almost nowhere has come momentum for a proposal to create a bipartisan entitlement and tax commission to draft proposals to control the long-term costs of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The idea would require the Congress to quickly vote the recommendations up or down via a super majority vote."

FYI.... Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review: The Best Health Care Idea All Year

Whats the story here. I'm to tired to "get it." Maybe tomorrow I will. Better Idea... you guys that are much smarter and experienced that I am..... tell me what you think it might be. Thanks in advance.

AIM to the Rescue

somarco — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:05:06 GMT

I keep getting spam email from David Rutstein about their marketing program for AIM. Had to chuckle at today's serving.

A few days ago on "ABC-TV" (you may know it as the "ALL BARACK CHANNEL"), during the "Network Special on Health Care," someone asked Obama:
"MR. PRESIDENT, WILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GIVE UP YOUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAM AND JOIN THE NEW 'UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM' THAT THE REST OF US WILL BE ON?"

Following a stony silence, Obama IGNORED THE QUESTION AND DID NOT ANSWER IT!!!

In addition, numerous senators were asked the same question, and their response was "we will think about it..." And they did. It was recently announced that they wrote the "Kennedy Health Care Bill" into the new Health Care Reform Initiative ensuring that Congress will receive a 100% EXEMPTION!

So, this great new health care plan that is good for you and I is not good enough for Obama, his family, or Congress?

We, the American Public, need to stop this proposed debacle as soon as possible! This is completely unacceptable!

Why should we accept a Universal Health Care overhaul that doesn't extend to everyone, only to us lowly citizens, while the Washington "Elite" keep right on with their gold-plated health care coverages?

Lemme see. Public option or AIM.

Tough call . . .

The Future Has Arrived (part 2)

Winter — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:26:25 GMT

At least once every other day someone pipes up here and accuses those of us who are against some of the dem proposals of being against reform.

For some of us the goal is not just reform - it is reform that works. Rule number one for choosing a strategy is that it must work, unless you are just some pinko wacko that goes around chanting "change all the time because it gets you tingley.

The folks in this article signed up for reform quite a while ago when they elected some pinkos. Does it appear to you now that what they wanted was really a solution and not just reform.

Wise up America. It is not about reform. It should be about reform that works. DUH!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/he...ewanted=1&_r=1

HR 3962 Role of Agents Preserved - Good News

Dave020 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:28:26 GMT

Nov. 9: Washington - Inclusion of a provision in the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) allowing insurance agents to sell health policies offered by health insurance exchanges is positive, but other issues remain to be addressed in the Senate, according to the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA).

The language that guarantees agent participation, added at the insistence of Blue Dog Democrats including former PIA member Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), was included in the final version of H.R. 3962 that passed 220-215 in the House on November 7.

"The inclusion of this provision assures that no matter what, consumers will continue to be able to rely on their local professional insurance agent to help them navigate the maze of choices available, both inside and outside these proposed health insurance exchanges,� said PIA National President Jon D. Spalding. �This provision needs to be preserved in the Senate.�

PIA believes that other elements included in the House bill will have to be fixed or removed in the Senate."

"We remain concerned with language added under a subsection entitled �Assistance for Small Employers� that designates the Small Business Administration (SBA) to design what is, in essence, a government-run insurance agency for small businesses,� said PIA Director of Federal Affairs Mike Becker. �In the House bill, SBA is required to provide educational activities to small businesses, along with distribution of information and �enrollment and plan selection assistance for employers� for health plans available under the Health Insurance Exchange."

"In short, the SBA would be required to perform the functions of an insurance agency or brokerage for small groups of under 100,� Becker said. �PIA opposes this provision because it is unnecessary and it has the federal government set up insurance brokerages in competition with the private sector.

Professional, independent insurance agents and brokers already perform all of the services for consumers that the bill would require the SBA to provide. The SBA provision is unnecessary, duplicative and creates needless federal expenditures."

PIA National has joined with a coalition of property/casualty insurers, agents, brokers, and reinsurers to express concern with antitrust provisions included in H.R. 3962. The proposed repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson limited antitrust exemption for health and medical malpractice insurance would disrupt the industry�s business environment and create substantial legal uncertainty and unnecessary litigation. In addition, a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis determined that modifying the federal antitrust exemption for health and medical malpractice insurers �will have no significant effect� on premiums charged for private health insurance.

The antitrust provisions included in H.R. 3962 would have no benefit on health insurance premiums, as the CBO reports, but would spur frivolous litigation,� Becker said. �No good would come as a result of these provisions, only more costs and more litigation. We recommend the Senate address these concerns by removing the antitrust provisions from their version of the bill.�

As passed, H.R. 3962 would also permit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prepare studies and reports on the entire insurance industry, including property and casualty. PIA said such a broad grant of authority has no place in a bill addressing health insurance.

"Our healthcare system needs improvement � it costs too much for the quality it delivers, too many people cannot afford coverage, if they can find it, and they can lose it for getting sick,� Spalding said. �Congress will probably pass something that will be called healthcare reform. The challenge is to build on the private system in a way that doesn�t bankrupt Main Street, USA. It is up to us to continue to lead the way for our lawmakers.�