After months and months of delay,deliberation and debates we are finally at the moment where we can say that we have healthcare reform in the United States. It was a long and winding road filled with insanity. Below is a video of the last push by the tea party to stop the reforms.
Right after the page break will be a list of the people who voted in favor and against the original senate bill when it reached the house of representatives,the benefits of the bill and a song that describes how I feel about everything.
Welcome back and as promised here is a complete list of who in the house of representatives voted for and against the original senate bill.As you can see it didnt have complete democratic support but it had more than enough to pass and as I type this sentence the house is doing the final passage of the reconciliation bill.Below is a few of the facts about the bill and how it will help everyone in this country.
1. The bill costs 940 billion dollars and according to the CBO it will save the country over 100 billion dollars over 10 years.
2. The bill expands coverage to over 32 million people including myself.
3. People who are uninsured and the self employed will be able to purchase insurance through state based exchanges.
4. An exchange will also be established for small businesses to purchase insurance effective 2014
5. People who make between 100 and 400% of the federal poverty level will be eligible to receive subsidies to purchase health insurance.They cannot be eligible for Medicare, Medicaid and cannot be covered by an employer. Eligible buyers receive premium credits and there is a cap for how much they have to contribute to their premiums on a sliding scale.
6. Individuals will be able to stay on their parents coverage until the age of 26
7. Part of the plan will be paid for by a 10% tax on indoor tanning but seriously though you're not gonna notice that extra couple of bucks they're gonna have to charge you at the tanning salon...unless you're John Boehner.
8. By 2020 the bill is expected to completely close the Medicare donut hole. People who happen to fall into that donut hole this year will receive a $250 rebate.
9. Beginning in 2011, seniors in the gap will receive a 50 percent discount on brand name prescription drugs.
10. Medicaid gets expanded to include people who make 133% of the federal poverty level.
11. Starting in 2014 states are required to include childless adults such as myself to be included in Medicaid coverage
12. Illegal immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid despite the conspiracy theories
13. six months after the law is enacted insurance companies can no longer deny children healthcare based on pre-existing conditions.
14. Starting in 2014 the pre-existing condition becomes illegal which means that insurance companies can not deny anyone based on any type of pre-existing condition. Even if you have HIV you can get and keep insurance instead of being denied and/or dropped like you can in the current system.
15. In 2014, everyone must purchase health insurance or face a $695 annual fine. There are some exceptions for low-income people.
The reforms aren't perfect but what it does do is make America a much better place for the people of today and the people of the future. Our old system was unsustainable,unfair and weighing down the country. With the expanded coverage and focus on preventative care we could actually be looking at a healthier and happier America and when it comes down to it no one can vote against health and happiness. Below is a song that basically sums up my feelings on everything that took place.
Oh and here is President Barack Obama the exact moment the vote hit 216 and the world realized that America would finally get healthcare reform after 100 years of trying.
1 comments:
Yesterday was a wonderful day - now we just have to wait and see what the Senate Republicans do to try and derail the Reconcilliation Bill!
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