Health Reform Drags Obama's Poll Ratings Down

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Not many Americans understand the provisions of the current health reform bills that are currently being reconciled, so it is hard to take any polls seriously. To prove this, ask your friends, fammily and neighbors these few questions...
What is the concept of a Health Insurance Exchange and who would be eligible to use it?
What provisions are in the bills to incentivize large employers to continue to offer private group health plans to their employees? What qualifies as a large employer?
What provisions are in the bills to give small businesses assistance in providing private group health plans to their employees? What is SHOP?
What are cost-sharing subsidies and premium tax credits, and who would qualify for them?
What are non-profit Co-Ops and how would they play into the landscape of plans available in the Exchange?
What are the tiers of plans that would be available on the Exchange and how would their premiums and levels of benefits be determined?
What are the regulations that would be placed on the private insurers in terms of pre-existing conditions? What are Medical Loss Ratios?
What are the plans for financing reform? How much of the financing comes from changes to the income tax code for individuals? How much comes from taxing big pharma, medical device manufacturers and private insurance companies?
I bet that almost all of your friends and family would fail a test asking these questions. Who's fault is that? Well, I think that the The Congress and White House have done a horrible job at explaining what has been proposed, and has left it all up to the talking-heads, editorial writers, and bloggers. This has led to an enormous amount supposition, assumption and outright hysteria, all of which could have been avoided by just having some synopses of the bills published to public websites, so that people could take a look at the facts and figures. Then all they needed to do is get the word out to their constituents to let us know that we could read this stuff and form our own opinions based on the facts, instead of having to be informed through the filters of the media.
If you want to be informed yourself, take a look at this synopsis from the non-profit foundation, Kaiser Family Foundation. This is factual and is updated as things change:
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/housesenatebill_final.pdf
Let's get the word out so people can make informed decisions based on facts. Then, once people actually have a clue about what is in the bills, we can take the polls seriously.

E Warren of GA 4:14PM January 16, 2010

Lyle Sir,
I am sorry to say that you do not understand health care reform, nor can you pretend to understand the current reforms because half, if not more, of the legislators voting on this bill have not even read it. In fact most of it has been done behind closed doors as you already know yet ignore. You are mistaken to have insulted James D when when you say his news sources are skewed. You are correct when you say health care is not completely free to everyone, but on the other hand it will be free to many more than under the current system, a system which is already unsustainable and deleterious to our ability to maintain a proper budget as states and a nation. Tell me though who is the one with a crooked "agenda" as you imply; is it those who are trying to pass a bill behind closed doors, or a person who comes out on national television and says what he feels is right, according to his and most Americans view of the constitution? The founding fathers also had an agenda, and you might do well to question the agenda in which you have placed your trust.

Sammy of UT 6:47PM January 15, 2010

There are many issues with the HC system, however, it was the government that created the problem in the first place with Medicare and State Medicaid. The real problem is with the Providers who've been cost-shifting because of the low rates paid by the government. The Providers tack those lost revenues onto the private insurance sector. This has NOTHING to do with insurance companies. It's the Providers and the government that drive the rising costs of HC and so it forces the private insurance to raise premiums to compensate. Insurance companies do not make that much (2-3% margin) as this crooked WH administration and the Democrats would have you believe. They are lying and using insurance as a scape goat to gain popular support from the nation and they are flat out wrong, but most bought into it hook, line and sinker. While *some* insurance companies may be guilty of recinding coverage or denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions, well think about this: Insurance companies have obligations to their members to ensure that they can cover their claims when they get treatment. If insurance companies just took anyone for any reason then what happens when all these very sick people with cancers, tumors, heart conditions, etc, just come onboard to the plan? Well, they're going to cost hundreds of millions to the company that potentially deprives the millions of other people for just those small handful of people. It would be reckless and irresponsible for them to just take anybody in when they know they're going to potentially bankrupt the company or impact everyone else's care/benefits. Just like the WH and congress are being reckless and irresponsible now in jeopardizing nearly 300 million people's coverage/lives for what- 10-20 million? That doesn't make sense and nor does this current HC legislation that is going to drive HC costs/premiums even higher and ultimately bankrupt this country. And it's funny how they say that it's wrong to charge sicker people more in premiums... Think about it like this: You go to get auto insurance and you have multiple accidents, tickets and a DUI... Do you somehow think that you're going to get the same rate as the perfect driver of 25 years that has never had a ticket, accident or DUI? It's all about RISK. Life insurance/actuarials work exactly the same: You smoke, you're overweight, you have high blood pressure and diabetes and you're 50 years old so do you think that you're going to pay the same as a perfectly healthy non-smoker age 25? Health Care is NOT a right. It is a privilege for those that work for it. It should be made affordable to all, however, that will never happen with any government meddling because they created the mess in the first place and will only make it worse. At any rate, first drive down the COST of HC and then look at larger legislation to help the uninsured; otherwise, you'll be dumping tens of million into a broke system that will go over budget in the first year.

SS of IL 9:50AM January 15, 2010

James D, You don't understand health care reform. We are already spending trillions of dollars on health care now. Very few people will get "free" health care under reform. It is about making it more affordable and regulating the insurance industry to keep them from the unscrupulous tactics that they have been using to steal our hard earned money. Yes, it is about power and control, the insurance companies have power and control over the consumers, and the administration is working hard to put that control back in the hands of middle class Americans. Fox News and Glenn Beck have an agenda and that is the keep the money flowing into their pockets.

Lyle of CO 7:21PM January 14, 2010

What did the Obama administration pay you for that blather? This country is in debt up to it's ears and you want to spend another trillion dollars to put 30,000,000 people on free healthcare.If you were to watch Fox News, Glenn Beck, and or read the news papers you would understand what kind of a dissaster that this will cause. Of course Obama doesn't care about cost he will just print more money.Obama is only concerned about power and control of the people.

James D of OH 2:00PM January 14, 2010

Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, or an Independent, the Passage of The Healthcare Reform Bill by both Houses is a Major Achievement by President Obama's Administration, and a Historic Moement for the American People.
For decades, this Nation has failed to Reformed Healtthcare. Now it is Time, for us to Used our Technological Strenght in HIT, to Contained our SkyRocketing Healthcare Spending. We mus Used some of the Stimulus Funds, to Build Smart Infrastructure Services for: Smart Grids, Smart Transportation Systems, Broadband, and Healthcare IT. This Investment will Enabled New Jobs Creation and Economic Recovery.
Healthcare IT, we need to Coordinate our EHR/EMR/PHR Interoperability Efforts, with Organizations such as HL-7, IHE, HIMSS, ISO, as well as have a Harmonized Inter-State Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security Laws to Protect Individual's Electronic Health Records/Electronic Medical Records/Personal Health Records.
Proper Deployment of Health Information Technology (HIT) Solutions and Training will Increased Productivity (i, e, medical data mining/warehousing, risks treatment, service delivery), Efficiency (i, e, medical errors, redundant and inappropriate care), and have a Cost Savings of around 20-30% of our Annual National Healthcare Expenditures ($2.4 Trillions).
The Engine of Economic Growth in this 21st Century is "Braodband." We can start by, Deploying a pure Packet-based, All Optical/IP, Multi-Service National Transport Network Infrastructure, using Optical Ethernet throughout this National "Network of Networks." This will Connect All Oprical Islands, Nationwide.
The Investment in this National "Network of Networks", in addition to New Jobs Creation and Economic Recovery, can also Serve as a Business Driver for: Energy Systems, Transportation Systems, e-Commerce, e-Education, e-Healthcare, Social Networking, Entertainment, etc.
This Investment is llike the Investments made in the past in ERA, TVA, and the National Transportation Inter-State Highways, which Increased Productivity and our GDP.
Please See: www.gkquoquoi.blogspot.com for Summary Deplloyment Plan, for the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN).
Gadema Korboi Quoqquoi
President & CEO
COMPULINE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Gadeema Korboi Quoquoi of NY 10:03AM January 14, 2010

Do you tea beggars,Right Wing Wing Nuts and Cave Dwellers and old timers who are already enjoying public funded health benifits under what have you: Medicare, Veterans Health Coverage etc... have an alternative plan?
If you have something better than the so called "Republican supported Disastrous Satus-Que" plan that costs more and gives less each year. Then, why don't you propose one though you "Do-Nothing, Obstructionist" Republicans? You guys have nothing to offer and want to selfishly preserve your own privileges, worried that the present reform will undermine what you hold so near and dear to you.
I think most of you guys are bored to death setting in your empty caves and have no outlet where you can channel your desires and frustrations. I have the right place for you, technology has moved far ahead while you guys rant and rave. Here’s the solution for you. Just click on: http://www.truecompanion.com/ and you’ll have something to keep you busy. It comes with all attachments, with options of selecting the face and voice like that of "Sara Palin" or who ever that will satisfy you.

BoBo of MT 5:17PM January 13, 2010

We need more Democrats, not less. That is the reason for the corruption in the senate. We have one democrat and one independant who have been bought out by special interests, but all of the GOP has been bought out. What we need is more TRUE Democrats. Democrats are the ones who care about this country and pass legislation to make improvements. The GOP always sit on their hands and take money from special interests. Every GOP member of the senate is corrupt, but only 2 members who caucus with the Democrats are. If it were left up to the Republicans, we would not have social security and medicare today. They even tried to destroy social security by trying the privatize it. What a disaster that would have been. That of course would have been another one of their special deals for Wall Street. They also are trying to privatize medicare. It is called advantage programs, which they hope to get every American on in order to hand medicare recipients back to the insurance companies. GOP stop lying about your motives!!!!!

DonaldJohnson of CA 5:06PM January 13, 2010

Pete of MO posts: "VOTE OUT CORRUPT DEMOCRATS!"
Thank you. We have laws against political corruption. In fact, there've been 11 U.S. senators convicted of some wrongdoing and subsequently removed from office. By the way, if you know your history, 9 of those senators are Republicans.

jon of IN 11:04AM January 13, 2010

Patriots, join me in voting all the corruption out of Washington!
January 19th, 2010 there is a special election in Mass. If you live in Mass. please get out and cast your vote for Scott Brown.
This moderate Republican will reclaim the US Senate seat back into the hands of the AMERICAN PEOPLE! After you are finished reading this wonderful news magazine, please donate to the website of Scott Brown (R) available here:
http://www.brownforussenate.com/

Pete of MO 3:57AM January 13, 2010