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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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 Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:11 am Post subject: |
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| No_hite_pls wrote: |
Here is his Healthcare plan, it is not hard to find.
The news never talks about the real issues.
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Barack Obama's Plan
Quality, Affordable and Portable Coverage for All
Obama's Plan to Cover Uninsured Americans: Obama will make available a new national health plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. The Obama plan will have the following features:
Guaranteed eligibility. No American will be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditions.
Comprehensive benefits. The benefit package will be similar to that offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the plan members of Congress have. The plan will cover all essential medical services, including preventive, maternity and mental health care.
Affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
Subsidies. Individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need financial assistance will receive an income-related federal subsidy to buy into the new public plan or purchase a private health care plan.
Simplified paperwork and reined in health costs.
Easy enrollment. The new public plan will be simple to enroll in and provide ready access to coverage.
Portability and choice. Participants in the new public plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange (see below) will be able to move from job to job without changing or jeopardizing their health care coverage.
Quality and efficiency. Participating insurance companies in the new public program will be required to report data to ensure that standards for quality, health information technology and administration are being met.
National Health Insurance Exchange: The Obama plan will create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals who wish to purchase a private insurance plan. The Exchange will act as a watchdog group and help reform the private insurance market by creating rules and standards for participating insurance plans to ensure fairness and to make individual coverage more affordable and accessible. Insurers would have to issue every applicant a policy, and charge fair and stable premiums that will not depend upon health status. The Exchange will require that all the plans offered are at least as generous as the new public plan and have the same standards for quality and efficiency. The Exchange would evaluate plans and make the differences among the plans, including cost of services, public.
Employer Contribution: Employers that do not offer or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan. Small employers that meet certain revenue thresholds will be exempt.
Mandatory Coverage of Children: Obama will require that all children have health care coverage. Obama will expand the number of options for young adults to get coverage, including allowing young people up to age 25 to continue coverage through their parents' plans.
Expansion Of Medicaid and SCHIP: Obama will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and ensure that these programs continue to serve their critical safety net function.
Flexibility for State Plans: Due to federal inaction, some states have taken the lead in health care reform. The Obama plan builds on these efforts and does not replace what states are doing. States can continue to experiment, provided they meet the minimum standards of the national plan.
Lower Costs by Modernizing The U.S. Health Care System
Reducing Costs of Catastrophic Illnesses for Employers and Their Employees: Catastrophic health expenditures account for a high percentage of medical expenses for private insurers. The Obama plan would reimburse employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur above a threshold if they guarantee such savings are used to reduce the cost of workers' premiums.
Helping Patients:
Support disease management programs. Seventy five percent of total health care dollars are spent on patients with one or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Obama will require that providers that participate in the new public plan, Medicare or the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) utilize proven disease management programs. This will improve quality of care, give doctors better information and lower costs.
C
oordinate and integrate care. Over 133 million Americans have at least one chronic disease and these chronic conditions cost a staggering $1.7 trillion yearly. Obama will support implementation of programs and encourage team care that will improve coordination and integration of care of those with chronic conditions.
Require full transparency about quality and costs. Obama will require hospitals and providers to collect and publicly report measures of health care costs and quality, including data on preventable medical errors, nurse staffing ratios, hospital-acquired infections, and disparities in care. Health plans will also be required to disclose the percentage of premiums that go to patient care as opposed to administrative costs.
Ensuring Providers Deliver Quality Care:
Promote patient safety. Obama will require providers to report preventable medical errors and support hospital and physician practice improvement to prevent future occurrences.
Align incentives for excellence. Both public and private insurers tend to pay providers based on the volume of services provided, rather than the quality or effectiveness of care. Providers who see patients enrolled in the new public plan, the National Health Insurance Exchange, Medicare and FEHBP will be rewarded for achieving performance thresholds on outcome measures.
Comparative effectiveness research. Obama will establish an independent institute to guide reviews and research on comparative effectiveness, so that Americans and their doctors will have the accurate and objective information they need to make the best decisions for their health and well-being.
Tackle disparities in health care. Obama will tackle the root causes of health disparities by addressing differences in access to health coverage and promoting prevention and public health, both of which play a major role in addressing disparities. He will also challenge the medical system to eliminate inequities in health care through quality measurement and reporting, implementation of effective interventions such as patient navigation programs, and diversification of the health workforce.
Insurance reform. Obama will strengthen antitrust laws to prevent insurers from overcharging physicians for their malpractice insurance and will promote new models for addressing errors that improve patient safety, strengthen the doctor-patient relationship and reduce the need for malpractice suits.
Lowering Costs Through Investment in Electronic Health Information Technology Systems: Most medical records are still stored on paper, which makes it hard to coordinate care, measure quality or reduce medical errors and which costs twice as much as electronic claims. Obama will invest $10 billion a year over the next five years to move the U.S. health care system to broad adoption of standards-based electronic health information systems, including electronic health records, and will phase in requirements for full implementation of health IT. Obama will ensure that patients' privacy is protected.
Lowering Costs by Increasing Competition in the Insurance and Drug Markets: The insurance business today is dominated by a small group of large companies that has been gobbling up their rivals. There have been over 400 health care mergers in the last 10 years, and just two companies dominate a full third of the national market. These changes were supposed to make the industry more efficient, but instead premiums have skyrocketed by over 87 percent.
Barack Obama will prevent companies from abusing their monopoly power through unjustified price increases. His plan will force insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient care instead of keeping exorbitant amounts for profits and administration. His new National Health Exchange will help increase competition by insurers.
Lower prescription drug costs. The second-fastest growing type of health expenses is prescription drugs. Pharmaceutical companies are selling the exact same drugs in Europe and Canada but charging Americans more than double the price. Obama will allow Americans to buy their medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower outside the U.S. Obama will also repeal the ban that prevents the government from negotiating with drug companies, which could result in savings as high as $30 billion. Finally, Obama will work to increase the use of generic drugs in Medicare, Medicaid, and FEHBP and prohibit big name drug companies from keeping generics out of markets.
Fight for New Initiatives
Advance the Biomedical Research Field: As a result of biomedical research the prevention, early detection and treatment of diseases such as cancer and heart disease is better today than any other time in history. Barack Obama has consistently supported funding for the national institutes of health and the national science foundation. Obama strongly supports investments in biomedical research, as well as medical education and training in health-related fields, because it provides the foundation for new therapies and diagnostics. Obama has been a champion of research in cancer, mental health, health disparities, global health, women and children's health, and veterans' health. As president, Obama will strengthen funding for biomedical research, and better improve the efficiency of that research by improving coordination both within government and across government/private/non-profit partnerships. An Obama administration will ensure that we translate scientific progress into improved approaches to disease prevention, early detection and therapy that is available for all Americans.
Fight AIDS Worldwide. There are 40 million people across the planet infected with HIV/AIDS. As president, Obama will continue to be a global leader in the fight against AIDS. Obama believes in working across party lines to combat this epidemic and recently joined Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) at a large California evangelical church to promote greater investment in the global AIDS battle.
Support Americans with Disabilities: As a former civil rights lawyer, Barack Obama knows firsthand the importance of strong protections for minority communities in our society. Obama is committed to strengthening and better enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) so that future generations of Americans with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities. Obama believes we must restore the original legislative intent of the ADA in the wake of court decisions that have restricted the interpretation of this landmark legislation.
Barack Obama is also committed to ensuring that disabled Americans receive Medicaid and Medicare benefits in a low-cost, effective and timely manner. Recognizing that many individuals with disabilities rely on Medicare, Obama worked with Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) to urge the department of health and human services to provide clear and reliable information on the Medicare prescription drug benefit and to ensure that the Medicare recipients were protected from fraudulent claims by marketers and drug plan agents.
Improve Mental Health Care. Mental illness affects approximately one in five American families. The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that untreated mental illnesses cost the U.S. more than $100 billion per year. As president, Obama will support mental health parity so that coverage for serious mental illnesses are provided on the same terms and conditions as other illnesses and diseases.
Protect Our Children from Lead Poisoning. More than 430,000 American children have dangerously high levels of lead in their blood. Lead can cause irreversible brain damage, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma and death. As president, Obama will protect children from lead poisoning by requiring that child care facilities be lead-safe within five years.
Reduce Risks of Mercury Pollution. More than five million women of childbearing age have high levels of toxic mercury in their blood, and approximately 630,000 newborns are born at risk every year. Barack Obama has a plan to significantly reduce the amount of mercury that is deposited in oceans, lakes, and rivers, which in turn would reduce the amount of mercury in fish.
Support Americans with Autism. More than one million Americans have autism, a complex neurobiological condition that has a range of impacts on thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. As diagnostic criteria broaden and awareness increases, more cases of autism have been recognized across the country. Barack Obama believes that we can do more to help autistic Americans and their families understand and live with autism. He has been a strong supporter of more than $1 billion in federal funding for autism research on the root causes and treatments, and he believes that we should increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to truly ensure that no child is left behind.
More than anything, autism remains a profound mystery with a broad spectrum of effects on autistic individuals, their families, loved ones, the community, and education and health care systems. Obama believes that the government and our communities should work together to provide a helping hand to autistic individuals and their families.
Barack Obama's Record
Health Insurance: In 2003, Barack Obama sponsored and passed legislation that expanded health care coverage to 70,000 kids and 84,000 adults. In the U.S. Senate, Obama cosponsored the Healthy Kids Act of 2007 and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007 to ensure that more American children have affordable health care coverage.
Women's Health: Obama worked to pass a number of laws in Illinois and Washington to improve the health of women. His accomplishments include creating a task force on cervical cancer, providing greater access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, and helping improve prenatal and premature birth services. |
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How in the holy F is Barack Obama gonna pay for this? Oh yeah, raising taxes. BTW, if you are single and you make more than 65,000 a year. You are in the quote "RICH" tax bracket. |
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ytuque
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Location: I drink therefore I am!
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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Two things have been pissing me off for the last 30 years in America, illegal immigration and healthcare. Obama won't touch the former for political reasons and will attempt something on the latter. Ok, Iraq pisses me off also.
It will be interesting to see how Barack handles his half-brother's assertion about his religious background. |
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The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:46 am Post subject: |
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There's no reason in the world why the US cannot afford a health care system that provides both minor and catastrophic coverage for every citizen. It's not charity, no more than free public school education is charity. All Americans are better off if everyone can read - all Americans are better off when everyone can live their lives and contribute to society without fear of a random medical mishap.
We give away billions to Korea, Israel, a host of other countries because we feel it's in our interests to do so - why is it not also in our interests to see that a family man who works for a factory that has outsourced and laid him off will not have to mortgage his childrten's future for medical bills?
Most developed nations don't even argue about this. It's absurd when you think about it. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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The healthcare is a funny one.
It's a good thing Americans were MUCH DIFFERENT years ago. Otherwise we wouldn't have public education, post offices, higways, libraries, police departments, etc.
I can see it now back in the day, "you want to drive your cars on highways? You want us to build bridges? Do you know how much MONEY that is going to cost? You're taxes are going to be through the roof on this one!"
And all the Americans say "NO MORE HIGHWAYS! DOWN WITH LIBRARIES! WE HATE POST OFFICES! NO MORE POLICE DEPARTMENTS!" |
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Vancouver
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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| spliff wrote: |
His plan is to raise your taxes but, that's not very popular, hence he doesn't talk about it.  |
but he said he'd cut taxes. Oh the contradiction! |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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Everyone is in agreement that the Social Security and Medicare system in the US is f-ed. Everyone is also in agreement that in order to FIX it, you need a massive amount of money.
The money has to come from taxes. You see, no one ever runs for office saying they'll "Fix" social security or medicare. Why?? In order to fix it, you need to raise taxes. No one is every going to get elected with the platform "I'm going to raise taxes." |
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No_hite_pls
Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
Everyone is in agreement that the Social Security and Medicare system in the US is f-ed. Everyone is also in agreement that in order to FIX it, you need a massive amount of money.
The money has to come from taxes. You see, no one ever runs for office saying they'll "Fix" social security or medicare. Why?? In order to fix it, you need to raise taxes. No one is every going to get elected with the platform "I'm going to raise taxes." |
Wars cost more than social programs, and Obama voted against the war.
Last edited by No_hite_pls on Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
Everyone is in agreement that the Social Security and Medicare system in the US is f-ed. Everyone is also in agreement that in order to FIX it, you need a massive amount of money.
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That's a start. |
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IncognitoHFX
Joined: 06 May 2007
Location: Yeongtong, Suwon
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:38 am Post subject: |
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| Nothing wrong with raising taxes if the money goes to the right place. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:12 am Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
Everyone is in agreement that the Social Security and Medicare system in the US is f-ed. Everyone is also in agreement that in order to FIX it, you need a massive amount of money.
The money has to come from taxes. You see, no one ever runs for office saying they'll "Fix" social security or medicare. Why?? In order to fix it, you need to raise taxes. No one is every going to get elected with the platform "I'm going to raise taxes." |
That is the OTHER common Republican argument.
Sure they can create incredibly inefficient Bureau of Homeland Security agencies and FEMA (to deal with natural disasters like the New Orleans one and be ineffectual and inefficient). They can even create massive wars overseas and promise the world of social programs like building orphanages and other nonsense in foreign countries ALL WITH TAXPAYER MONEY.
But you have another party NOT intersting in massive military spending, ineffectual government watchdog agencies, ineffective natural disasters agencies, that ONLY want to give healthcare to the sick - and all the Republicans cry and cry about the $$ it will cost.
That's right Republicans, its better to bomb bomb bomb and rebuild Baghdad over and over and over again everyday than to help a sick person in America! Ridiculous. |
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