For many long years, I’ve rummaged around the AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) web site quite regularly. Do yourself and the American people a favor, and in the days and weeks ahead, check in from time-to-time with this despicable organization.
AHIP has been issuing a steady stream of updates throughout this ordeal about the legislative process.
If you go to the AHIP web site, you’ll notice that their last official news update came on November 19th.
There’s no doubt, this miserable lobbyist, knows silence, not gloating or even a comment, is the way to react to the -legislation- giveaway.
They’ve won–everything.
Operational silence from AHIP.
Since we’re on the verge of passing a totally pro-industry bill, AHIP which represents the universally loathed for-profit insurance industry, is going to ground. This is the only way to greet their great victory, and our tremendous loss.
As the recipient of tens of millions of new -customers- victims, AHIP and its members know full well the only way to greet this sellout to the American people is a stony silence.
But before I go any further. Have you watched the latest Bill Moyers with health care, economist Robert Kuttner and journalist Matt Taibbi? Watch it! The entire sordid healthcare story in 35 minutes of explosive television.
Returning to AHIP.
In addition to its policy statements, AHIP also has a so-called blog, which they update relentlessly with pro industry news articles.
The most recent update comes from the Economist, but the AHIP employee responsible for the updates, must not have read the entire article.
The Economist article makes the AHIP point that mandates are an essential component of universal healthcare, and that we Americans, will need to get used to a new world order where covering everyone requires mandates.
But the article goes on to say that surely the U.S. government will also mandate cost controls and "premium regulations". But no, not for we exceptional Americans. The writer, unfamiliar with the U.S. healthcare/industrial complex, made an assumption, which we know AHIP would not tolerate. Price regulation of insurance policies would present an intolerable intrusion into the profits of AHIP members. Hence Americans will continue to remain fully at the mercy of the insurance corporations with no escape provided.
But another way to look at it is this: Americans are still not used to the way universal health-insurance systems work. Mr Olbermann, for example, is angry that working-class Americans will be obliged to buy health insurance that could cost up to 17% of their incomes. Mr Olbermann is right; that figure is too high. But there is plenty of time before 2013 to ensure that no one ends up paying such extortionate premiums, and it’s a good bet that, if reform passes, no one will. What happens in systems where people are obliged to buy health insurance is that, if such insurance is unaffordable, governments are forced to find a way for people to afford it, or governments are voted out of office. In the Netherlands and Switzerland, the private-based universal health-insurance models to which America’s current reform aspires, governments employ a mixture of provider-cost controls, premium regulations, and subsidies to make sure nobody has to pay 17% of their income for health insurance. If people were forced to pay that much for health insurance, governments would fall—and they have.
David Axelrod knows full well that what he has recently been saying is not true. Axelrod knows that the insurance industry is no longer fighting this -legislation- giveaway tooth and nail. Why would they, they’ve received everything and more? Administration spokespeople, small favor please, don’t insult our collective intelligence. We lived through eight years of deceit, now we want our information straight up.
Matter of fact, I could tolerate more easily what the Administration is foisting on us if the truth started to seep out. This pact with the Devil was made because this is the way you keep the $$$ flowing from the insurers to the Democratic party and Obama 2012.
Axelrod: "Every single day we’re battling the insurance industry who are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat this bill".
The insurance industry has gone to ground, they are silent, they love this bill.
One more thing, let’s start to get into the weeds on the definition of affordable.



86 Comments




I thought Taibbi pulled his punches last night, actually; probably he was told he couldn’t swear, and was also deferential to Kuttner’s greater age and experience, which was referred to a coupla times. Would have liked to see Matt cut loose.
But it was television we’ll see nowhere else, that’s for sure.
Bill Moyers is the finest we have. That interview is must see TV.
nyceve, where do you think we go from here? i guess i’m wondering – A LOT – because you are signed on with POP which, at least as far as i’ve been able to figure out, will keep private insurers in the game and in charge. but you were awol on recent single payer action here. i was actually thinking of emailing you with the Q, but figured you already have to much in your in-basket…..
Hi selise, I think Jane will weigh in on this huge question, she already has, but will do so alot more next week. So will all of us.
she’s been weighing in for 16 months (i’ve got the message). but i would really really like to know what you are thinking is going on and what you think should be done.
I want Chris Matthews to have Eve on his program to demonstrate how ridiculous and how absurd his statement was about bloggers. You know those folks sitting in the back seats “bitching”
Come on Chris Matthews have Eve on your show to share the work she has done at the Free Clinics. Show the world the faces that Eve has captured of the uninsured. Yeah right the “netroots” just sit back and “bitch”
Chris Matthews have Eve on your program. Matthews is a chicken shit to have his own outlandish comments shoved back in his face
Oh that is just so sweet Leen. I doubt Chris wants the truth.
Hi again selise, I truly don’t know what to think.
I feel deeply betrayed by Obama, OTOH, he knows the history of failed HCR, so the most generous explanation is that he decided to dance with the Devil.
I hope this giveaway will have the intended effects, but I fear it won’t.
I know the people I met are counting on Obama, and I fear, they will feel very let down because for so many of them, even the subsidies will not be near enough to make healthcare affordable and a right.
I’m sad and dismayed and fearful for our country.
I don’t like Axelrod lying, I’ve had enough of that shot after eight years of Bush.
Is Markos in D.C.? He or Jane could challenge Chris Matthews to have about 5 or more netroots people on his program to demonstrate the diversity and decades of experience of those involved with blogs. Along with all of the technocrats who opened up another avenue for all of us to be active in.
Bet there are some 80 years old netroots folks out there who have been involved in politics for 6 decades
But Eve Matthews should get off his high horse on this one and put his money where his mouth is. Have netroots folks on like yourself who are doing extraordinary work. Trying to show just who is uninsured.
Hell maybe Rachel or Keith would line up a bunch of netroots people to come on their programs and explain how they have been involved in politics and why they are now involved with the netroots. Too bad Chris Matthews did not come to NNO9 to see with his own eyes what is going on,
Hope the FDL crew or the NN10 team sends Chris Matthews a direct invitation to broadcast from NN10 to show the world all of those lazy bitching netroots folks.
Come on Chris Matthews broadcast from NN10
Axelrod makes the point, “many states now have a 5x different increase for older payers”, and now it’ll be 3x.
Q. How will the Ins. co’s. do this?
A. Raise the rates on the younger payers
Eve, try not to freak out too much. I’ve been falling apart with nerves, but then realized that it’s all good. Olbermann is not drinking the koolaid so he should continue helping to bring attention and money to free clinics. Even if this piece of shit passes, it has an upside. There may not be as much of an effect as you would like, but it will help to shed light on the corporatism. Look how many Obama people on dkos have woken up? The incumbent D’s will not win over any of the R’s no matter how rightward they trend. D’s and I’s are not going to like what’s in this bill at all, either. Think of it as a prime time to primary. The R’s are weak and look crazy, so not as much risk that a lesser known will lose to an R so you have to vote incumbent. Incumbents were already in a lot of sites and will only be more so. We just need to get out in front of emphasizing that we were against this, too, so the shitstorm doesn’t splatter. The WH has already done us a huge favor in that way, as well, as they have been publicly distancing themselves from us and giving publicity to our opposition to this that we couldn’t buy on our own. It will only get us more exposure as the right picks up our messages in their anti-Obama trouble for D’s in 2010 and 2012 narrative and the MSM, in all their adoration of the two sides of an argument format, sucks this up. Good drama to be had by all, and our message gets out and our people get exposure.
I don’t have insurance and can’t get it because of preexisting conditions and I was just last week told I am going to need another surgery soon. But I can still talk myself up from the depths of despair on this one. It’s actually a relief that they had the nerve to go this far. It would have been far worse if they had been more subtle.
hi Paula, what does someone like you do? You need surgery and you’re uninsured–what happens?
PaulaT, i’m so sorry to hear about your situation. i also have pre-existing conditions, and can get insurance (although it is very expensive) in MA. i think NJ may also have some regulations about that. anyway, just wanted to let you know that different states have different rules, so if you have friends and/or family you could stay with (and who could help you establish residency) you might want check to see if there are any options for you out of state.
please forgive me for intruding w/o an invite if my comment is unwelcome. in any event, best of luck to you.
Paula I hope you get the help you need.
You do whatever you can. I pay cash to go to a doctor. I am lucky that the doctor I had when insured will still take me uninsured and even give me a cash discount. They also give me samples whenever possible and have a list of cheap Walmart/Target drugs for when they don’t have samples. I am also lucky that my problem is chronic sinus infection in that although it is incredibly painful at times, it won’t actually kill me. Right now I’m at the point that I am back at the doctor’s office with another infection within a couple of months of finishing each course of antibiotics for previous infections, so I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d need another surgery even before the doctor laid it out for me. I’ve been here before.
I see a holistic medicine doctor who has set up his own insurance system to try to keep my allergies under control because my chronic severe allergies set off my sinuses and vice versa. He’s been a lot of help in identifying and treating allergies and supporting my immune system and the problems with my digestive system that come from wiping it out with antibiotics so regularly.
I save what money I can, try to hold out as long as possible and my family saves as well. My dad has a good job and good credit and a house that is paid off, so if push comes to shove, he says that he will mortgage his house to the hilt instead of me having to put mine on the block. In this market, who knows how much I could borrow against it anyway! So I am lucky in ways that others are not. My kids are covered under their father’s insurance, which is a huge relief.
This brings up my biggest problem with this bill. To this point, I have saved every single month at least a little bit because, as I said, I have known I’d need back-up funds for sinus problems. If there were another financial emergency, I could dip into those savings. If I were able to get things under control and not need surgery, I could use those funds for other things. If this bill passes, I will be forced to pay at least as much as I have been able to save, and probably more, in premiums but will still most likely be paying the same amount for doctor visits out of pocket. If I need surgery, it’s not like the difference between a percentage of those bills and the whole bill is going to be huge. The dollars are huge, but if it’s enough to force you into bankruptcy, it doesn’t matter whether it is a few thousand or a few tens of thousands more than you can afford. So I will still be scared shitless of surgery, but will have the added stress of wondering how I am going to pay for food and stuff every month because I have to write out that premium check.
It’s a rich person’s discussion to talk of limiting exposure to even 5% of gross income every year. To rich people, that’s not eating out as much or not trading in for a new car for a few thousand more miles. To those living on the edge, it’s ensured cliff diving now rather than possible cliff diving in the future.
Thanks for everyone’s well wishes. I would not mention it if I would be offended by comments on it, especially sympathetic comments and ideas for options I may not have thought of.
One more comment: It makes me absolutely livid that Obama had people go onto his website and write about their personal horror stories, many of which were about the insurance industry screwing them over in horrific ways, and then not only not shine a sympathetic light on those stories, but sell them out to the very insurers who had abused them. It’s like the police asking you to tell your rape story and then going out and rounding up your rapist and putting you in the same holding cell. Why are we being punished and forced to help them get rewarded for creating such tragedy?
What about going to one of those alleged christian churches and ask them to walk their talk and help you with cost of surgery.
I’ve never had an abortion and I’m not gay, so they would probably be willing to pray for me.
right. truth has nothing to do with his info-ganda show, where tweety is alwways right, even when he changes his mind in mid sentence.
Hi Paula, I too have a chronic sinus “issue” since I took a tumble over some vines and landed on my Face. I know the problem associated with repeated bouts of anti-biotics – especially hard on the gut and “gentles.” If you have not tried it, I strongly recommend getting the NeilMed sinus rinse kit. It comes with saline paks and I find it a HUGE help in avoiding a new infection, and addressing a new infection and getting the upperhand without antibiotics. Also, please get yourself down to the natural food store – or whatever passes for such in your area. Pick up some pro-biotics so that you can recollonize your gut after the anti-biotics regimine.
I’m pulling for you PaulaT!
The only way this corrupt system and government changes is if there is a revolution from the ground up. It need not be bloody although entrenched interests rarelly cede power willingly. The smell of revolution is in the air. A people united cannot be defeated and now is the time to begin uniting disparate peoples and organizations.
I’m watching the Kutner-Taibbi piece now, but I already know the conclusion. U-G-L-Y.
Thanks for all your work, Eve.
me neither. thanks for the response and mostly for all the work you’ve done throughout the years.
AHIP wins – “crickets”. How can they look themselves in the mirror? They’re pond scum.
This is why I think a lot of people are going to end up paying the mandate penalties. Whatsit, 2% of income?
Eve-thanks for all you for for all of us in keeping us abreast of developments and insights integral to this fight. There appears to be mutiny occurring within the democratic base and I believe it’s justifiable.
This Senate Bill discriminates against women and views us as “chattel” – regressing us back to the Dark Ages. Shameful.
Tweety is in the pocket of the con men – always has been. He drooled over Bush and then has the gall to call himself a “liberal”. He’s a corporate puppet.
This mandate will become a “national joke” with everyone paying the penalty and then landing in the ER’s for their healthcare. So what changes from our current situation? Nada. Zip…
If a mandate remains without the public option, there will be a massive Democratic uprising against this administration and Congress. The democrat-leaning Independents will join in the mutiny.
Revolution is coming in 2010. It may even put a halt to the elections.
He has at times done a bit of “drooling” over Bush. But if you watch the show even before the invasion…he did some ripping into the Bush administrations push for the war. I watched his program often before the invasion
Every good salesman knows that when you close the sale, it’s time to shut up and leave.
They’ll lay on hands and babble in jibberish and nothing will change. But please put your money into the coffer near the door on your way out.
This administration and Congress is a sham. They don’t give a rat’s patooty about the people who’ve elected them to office and believed in them.
They can go scratch if they want to see another dime for their campaigns from me. I’m through with all of them.
Axelrod’s voice is cracking the whole time.
http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/19875
A Challenge for Chris Matthews. Have some Netroots Folks on your program. Yeah Chris I am talking to you!
Have Eve, Marcy, Jane, other netroots folks on your program. Find out who they are
For anyone that hasn’t seen this, here is the prescription.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/12/16/815429/-No-One-Is-Going-To-Save-You-Fools
thats because he was struggling not to say “goo goo gatchoo, i am the walrus” and give away the secret
I assume Tweety is too afraid his regular audience might find out who HE is in such a circumstance. There’s no way he could hold his mud in that crowd…
When it comes to Revolution. be careful what you wish for.
Today’s danger in this country is the outrage coming from Palin/Dobbs xenophobic, anti-constitutional, proudly ignorant teabaggers.
If they emerge as more than just a Fox News echo chamber phenomenon, their revolution will become a French 1791 reign of terror.
chris is way too puss for that. people like tweety-bird mathews and bill orly only do on air shit they can control.
It won’t just be the Democrats. I live in right wing land and this is not going to fly around here. If they think they placated the wingnuts by taking out the “socialized medicine” they just bought themselves a bigger problem by forcing payments and IRS fines if you refuse. You think they had signs about tyranny before!
What’s also crazy is that you could counter the death panels and socialism remarks with facts. But this one is true. You can only respond that well, yeah, we are trying to force you to pay the lobbying corps so they will pay Democrats to make try to control your government despite your vote. Sorry, didn’t think you’d notice!
From the Manager’s Amendment in the Senate bill, here’s the bit about penalties for “non-compliance” with the mandate. They have it figured out to the MONTH!
i feel the same way you do about that, and the danger of an actual insurrection is, as always, the junta will use it as an excuse to suspend whatever constitutional restraints are might be left. and yet, there may come a time when none of that matters anymore
so whats going on in “right wing country” with the wingnuts? are they just unaware of whats happening, do they think they “won”?
Today’s danger in this country is the outrage coming from Palin/Dobbs xenophobic, anti-constitutional, proudly ignorant teabaggers.
That is (arguably) my greatest fear right now. Hedges has talked about it at length, and I tend to agree with him on the point. There’s no question that $Trillions have been sucked out of the treasury. The social consequences of that do not portend well, thus paving the way for the far-right zealots to waltz right in…
I have a sinus wash and swear by them as well. I get probiotics from the holistic doctor and take them regularly. It does seem to have helped all the problems I had from taking all the antibiotics all the time. I am eating organic and cleaning with steam and have a good air cleaner. That’s what keeps me from being on antibiotics even more. I’m just hoping all this can help me hang in there until I either have more money or can find even more ways of making things better.
But then I actually only have to make it a little while longer. Any day now, HCR will be passed and all my problems will be solved and I can write President Obama and all my knights in shining armor in Congress glowing thank you notes.
also, as an obama campaign worker i no longer feel like i can talk about the “anti constitutional” crowd. that might be what pisses me off the most about his con
I’ll be the Christian Scientists and Seventh Day Adventists will become very popular in the face of the Religious Conscience Exemption.
Quite an irony, Americans will be saved from their State by their Churches.
So correct me if I’m wrong (or being way too simplistic), but if I’m understanding this gibberish correctly, the IRS is going to become the dejure and defacto enforcement and collection agent for the health insurance industry.
Um…is that not straight-up, right-out-of-the-textbook fascism?
What did I miss?
Very good post Eve- thanks! Insurance companies have certainly gone to ground and trying to hide their glee! Trying to understand the manager’s statement out today– cost controls =none. 20% profits continue. Most single payer plans in Canada, Europe get below 5%. Taiwan went from competive free-market system in the eighties to a national single payer plan and they keep administrative costs below 2%!! Ed Schulz is back on it! Let’s all support reconciliation in the committee to get public option back on the final bill.
Or maybe in another country. I know somebody who got some excellent care by a US trained Oral Surgeon by going to another country for her vacation. Even including the airfare and a very nice hotel, it was much much cheaper than it would have been in America.
It is strange you don’t hear them saying “We Won!!!” like they did when it looked like Medicare might be expanded to include people over 55.
HA!
Just got an email from the White House asking us to “look past the bickering and cable chatter.”
What the great Axelrod underestimated was the netroots power that gave them life, also has a powerful life of its own..GO ROOTS!
Seconded.
Yes, the IRS is enforcement. And if you missed 2 months, voila, they have the formula to penalize you for 2 months. 2 fucking months.
That’s a penalty the government asesses. They won’t pass it on to an insurance company, and you also would not have had insurance.
It’s a “pay one way or another bub. And you might as well pay us the first way so you have coverage. But we’re going to take the equivalent of money out of your pocket, no matter what.”
He has had Amy Goodman on I think twice…The Nations Katrina a few times. He could not shut them down so easily. They have not been back on
Penalties and interest rack up very quickly under such circumstances – never mind the cost of the policy itself. This is very nasty stuff…
The difference is added revenue. I’m sure they think we won’t think of this as a breaking that campaign promise about middle class taxes since it’s your own choice and all even if it does come courtesy of the IRS. It’s pretty clear by now he doesn’t care about breaking campaign promises anyway, if we do figure it out. Plus, some people will buy the junk insurance instead of paying the fines so the insurance people are happier and even if nobody did, they’ve all made money on their stock options in the meantime, so it’s all good.
The ‘we can build on it later’ meme peddled by an array of dimfucks like Franken, Krugman, Kuttner, Klobuchar, etc, are willing to, in our face, ignore the fact that Soc Security was established as a Government run Public structure!
AHIP should put up a big Thank You Democrats page after their victory, if the loathsome bill passes.
They want Obama to fail. They don’t really keep track of the specifics well. They still think there’s a big danger of socialized medicine. Some of them have heard on talk radio that they will be thrown in jail if they don’t buy insurance but the way a neighbor described it was that if you didn’t buy into their Marxist plan you’d be thrown in jail. I don’t think it will matter that being thrown in jail is for private companies once they figure that out. They will twist things to hate Obama, so having something legit is really going to have legs. I am hearing a lot of “I told you Obama was evil” stuff. The idea that it’s not him personally and won’t end with getting him out because it’s the people behind him resonates with some, but not others. One of my friends who voted Obama because, though staunch repub, couldn’t stand to think of the country in the hands of Palin, is regretting her decision. That’s exactly the demographic I think Rahm thinks he’ll capture by moving to the right, but even they can see that fascisim is a bit too far right.
Who would’ve thought that calling Obama a fascist might turn out to have some truth to it? Crazy world we live in. I’m really scared we’re in for an ugly period. We’re going to end up like the Iranians tweeting for solidarity from the outside world while we fight like hell to get our country back from the assholes. At least our military can’t fight us and all the Muslims at the same time!
Spencer Ackerman is upstairs!
Also, The Iraq War Is Over, And Russian & Chinese Oil Companies Won
Down the Rabbit Hole — Obama in Cheneyland
It’s dangerous in two ways:
1) The real depth of the catastrophe is obscured by those who benefit from the happy talk about imminent economic recovery, most significant expansion of health care reform in decades, etc. Obama thinks his rhetoric can cure any problem — a fatal version of while you were sleeping, we’ve fixed everything. No really. Just trust me.
2) The tough, pragmatic & costly measures needed to address our real illnesses, rather than just pretending to treat the symptoms, never see the light of day in the debate over public policy.
In the battle between who will display angrier civil disobedience and benefit more from MSM support when America’s dispossessed majority finally wakes up and takes to the streets, progressives can’t prevail with well reasoned arguments and sound policy analysis.
Corollary to Santayana: Those who are powerful enough to dump their risks and losses on others have nothing to fear from forgetting or misrepresenting the past — in fact, they directly benefit from both.
So it’s only important to remember history and act with future consequences in mind, when you have to bear the consequences of your actions, or the lack thereof.
WOW — what a bunch of freaky dumocrats on here. I am fairly astute person and did learn about a document in school many years ago — you guys might have heard of it — the CONSTITUTION !! — If I remember correctly we have a right to bear arms, free speech and so on — never saw a right to free or affordable healthcare written anywhere. How come the leftys always want to the government to be the nanny — get a freakin’ job with benefits !!
THIS is how we plebes beat the system trying to kill us in so many ways.
We share, we talk, we help others . . . .
Awesome LS, and thanks to FDL for enabling this.
I’m am truly um, touched, humbled, delighted, the right words escape me that was so kewl LS.
This is how you fight the beast. The rest of yas take heart and lissen up!
Not sure where you figger or get your 2%?
More like 20% or more? After premium, after co pay, after higher priced meds, after higher priced ‘care’ issue by issue that’s re-designated by the insurer when the claim comes in to pay for it, after caps imposed?
Just sayin.
Other’s in here have offered proof and facts for this reasoning, so I don’t feel I have to offer the direct proof to rebut your posit.
Just sayin.
Uh, gotta get the signature, then leave . . .
Just sayin . . .*G*
I was referring to the mandate penalty, not the cost of insurance. Is the mandate penalty going to be 20%?
I would heartily concur with this . . we need change but a revolution of REAL violent portent is surely gonna come from the right wing and that will serve NONE of us well.
Rather, I’d prefer HUGE national, on going and continual mass civil disobedience in a non violent way.
Millions, across the nation, millions in cities, across the nation. Civil. In the street. And of course, anarchist and paid and planted anarchist factions from the status quo will try and spoil the peacefulness and allow a harsh crackdown on the innocent.
But I think at this point, the risk is worth it.
And while I’m at it, may I say that I like what I think is the FDL strategy to Kill The Bill, and also work to primary bluedogs in ’10, primary primary primary all we can, while working local to elect progs and work up that ladder as possible.
And finally.
Howard Dean/Elizabeth Warren for ’12!!!!
Just Sayin . . .
Eve, thanks for the post.
I posted on an earlier thread:
The more I think about this, the more I think it should be done. Push for 100% MLR and kill the loop hole. When CBO states that would make the companies government owned, we can ask, “And it’s called what when you force citizens to pay taxes on healthcare and be pushed by mandates but do not expect the same in return by the health corps?”
Hey, the corps were determined to have individual rights just like citizens. Let’s treat them as such.
Like it!
The most important aspect of the Netherlands, and most other western countries’ universal health insurance is risk subsidization. Usually a gov’t board pays each company an amount to make all premiums the same. At the very least we could do that here and it would be even more money for AHIP.
I remain truly mystified by the OBVIOUS practices and intent of this admin in behalf of corporate interests.
It’s a complete death sentence for re-election from the progs, libs and the right wing.
All I can fathom for myself is that it’s a give away to corporate america, and they are in it with the GOP.
It’s a game, both parties play it, but it always swings right, and it always transfers power, wealth and control upwards, neutering the general public and masses at every turn, in a legal fashion.
Presidential.
Legislative.
Judicial.
Fully captured and owned and operated by corporate interests.
Any Pups got any better answer for this insanity?
Break it down in public speak for us plebians hoss . . . *G*
WHASSDATMEAN?
When yer not busy with the bernaise or the glace de viande . . . LOLOLOL
Swear hoss, you do more saucier work at home than I did in the bix . . *G*
PHUD GOOD!!!!
Paula, forgive me if I intrude, but where do these sinus issues stem from, in general?
Not you, but in general, how does one GET to this point?
Passed on in genes? Environment? (in some cases I know about personal abuse of substances so not goin there at all with you)?
Well? What’s the mandate penalty? 2% or 20%? Eh?
Yes.
How can you separate the mandate penalty from the cost of failed compliance?
When care is denied, or those can’t AFFORD compliance to purchase?
And that’s based on what’s been reported here at FDL by analysts.
Can you dare to separate failed compliance and penalty from failure to care, or provide care, from ability to pay?
Yer killin me.
Hat tip Ma’am . . .
And I’m sorry . . .
Again, my manners . . .
Eve, what a great post and great considerations.
The silence is always deafening . . . when it’s convenient.
Bless ya for all ya do . . .
Don’t know what you’re getting at Larue. I don’t suppose you’ve read any of my blog entries or posts opposing the bill.
In my case, I was apparently born with bad sinuses. Sinuses are just passages in your skull bone or holes in your head. Mine have areas where pockets of infection can hide out and grow bacteria instead of draining out like they are supposed to. I also have a ton of allergies, which causes swelling that messes things up in my head. If I get any kind of cold or infection, there is more infection to get clogged up in there and not drain like it is supposed to. I’ve never used any illegal substances, but snorting out my nasal cartilage might be tempting when the pain is so bad I’d do anything to get rid of the pain. Just kidding for the feds who are monitoring these subversive blogs and planning to send the DEA my way!!
I didn’t watch that Moyers piece, Eve, but I read the entire transcript. Pretty damaging, but unfortunately, not nearly enough people will either see or read it.
Many thanks to you for everything that you do.
Paula, there may be other holistic options available to you. For example, google the benefits of coconut fat. (Yes, it’s saturated, but it’s short and medium chain fatty acids, and very high quality.)
It has been noted for antiviral and antibacterial action, among other things, and is often used to enhance the immune system. I started eating coconut milk yogurt about a year ago, and it really brought me back from the edge of something. At first, I thought it was just the “yogurt” aspect, but the more I read about coconut, the more I think that may be the more important factor.
You can now buy coconut milk in half-gallon containers in the refrigerated section of some stores (like my local health food store). I learned some years ago, that it made more sense to spend a little extra on food, and need less in the way of health care.
You might also look for some books on Chinese Medicine. In that mode, the motto is “Let your medicine be your food; let your food be your medicine.” Or something like that…
I, too, wish you all the best. Chronic conditions are tough to figure out sometimes, but often holistic practices have more to offer.
Nice chart showing interrelationships of major villains in this mess:
http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?s=who%27s+paying+to+kill
I use a Netti pot. You put warm salt water in it and pour half of it in one nostril and the warm salt water and everything else comes out the other nostril. Then you do the other one. It beats allergy medicine, for me anyway. YMMV
Really like it
Blue,
The optimal solution is publicly funded elections. It’s bloodless and most democratic (small d) method. The unintended consequences are much better.
Someday I’ll write about how the events at Kent State really changed my life for the worse.
Eve,
Excellent curiosity into AHIP’s lack of comments. Will Rahm take credit?
Also, I watched Bill Moyers last night at the urging of my wife. Matt Taibbi’s expertise is financial services, yet I agree with him. I know that the MBAs who gamed financial markets have made the med insurance MBAs envious. Why don’t people realize they ALL attended the same business schools, learned the same lessons, passed the same ethics tests (there were no ethics tests!), and are more motivated by personal greed than adding value
I really appreciate Robert Kuttner’s insights, and think I saw him gag when agreeing to vote for the current bill.