Health Reform: A Major First Step

"If they choose a policy with abortion coverage, then they must write a separate personal check for the cost of that coverage.

There is a requirement that the insurance companies be audited annually to assure that the payment for abortion coverage fully covers the administrative and clinical costs, that the payment is held in a separate account from other premiums, and that there are no federal dollars used.

In addition, there is a wonderful provision in the bill that provides $250 million over 10 years to pay for counseling, education, job training, and housing for vulnerable women who are pregnant or parenting. Another provision provides a substantial increase in the adoption tax credit and funding for adoption assistance programs."

Exactly.

No federal funds used for abortion services.

Auditing of insurance companies to ensure compliance.

Increased resources for pregnant and parenting women.

Pass this bill and let's get on with it!

Sure I also believe that something needs to be done but, why is the federal government so interested in controlling 17% of the nations economy? You should ask yourself this and seek out the answers. Watch this video, I have. And I have searched the health care bill for answers of my own based on the authors views. I have made my decision...just look for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcBaSP31Be8

If by "control" you simply mean "regulate" by barring certain practices, then yes the bill does that. But if by "control," you actually mean "take over," then no, the bills under consideration do not do that. Anyone can make a youtube video; therefore relying upon them for facts is dangerous.

With the latest variations on the bill regarding abortion, I heard that the problem lies with funding for various clinics that also happen to perform abortions. Should such clinics be defunded period? Or should something else be done that's not so drastic. (I'd also appreciate any non-partisan fact checks since the issue is swarming with DISINFORMATION on all sides, and I use that term deliberately. It's disinformation, not misinformation.)

The belief that the federal government will be "controlling 17% if the nation's economy" is one of the major fallacies of logic and truth in this argument.

I don't know who knows what in this debate.

The "bill" has been debated for months--and yet there isn't A bill anyone can digest and pass final judgment on.

I'm at the point of wanting a disclosure at the start of every commentary given on the matter:"What are your three primary sources of information which form the basis of your understanding of the proposal?"

So you think the government is going to stand by and allow competition from private health care companies to interupt its plans to become the sole provider of health care in this country. Health care is nothing but a socialist takeover of the industry.

This is were you progressives drop the ball. Health Care is not about health care to the Democrats/Socialist/Progressives. It is about bigger government and control of my life. It is about securing a bigger block of voters. I hope you are truly prepared to live with what you are asking for.

They, being the government, are not going to sit by and allow any competition. When they are done there will only be government health care and that is when they control 1/5 of our economy.

You people are so blinded by Wallis and his communist ideology you can't see the forest for the trees.

"You people are so blinded by Wallis and his communist ideology you can't see the forest for the trees."

A. Tiger, you have accurately identified the crucks of the problem. Senator McCarthy warned us back in the 50s that the communists would not conquer us from the outside, but would instead worm their way into the different parts of our society - government, churches, etc. the communists will never relent until they have taken over every aspect of our society. If this terrible legislation passes, people like you and I who have worked hard all of our lives will have to set in the same waiting room as those who don't have any money and don't even observe proper hygiene.

I agree... it is not perfect but it is a step in the right direction! To do nothing is not the answer.

Nathan you have no idea what is in my heart, yet you have the nerve to bear false witness against me in this blog. I would look at myself before you start accusing others of anything.

Not that I owe you anything after your comment, but I believe we should take care of the widows and orphans, just as Jesus told us too. But that is our job not the governments. Jesus told us, the body of Christ, not for us to give all our money to the government and allow them to do it.

Thank goodness. This legislation could help transform us into a society with fewer health care disparities. Finally, the US could be making some significant progress on the journey towards health equity.

I hope with this bill's passing and successful implementation, more people will recognize that only addressing reoccurring immediate needs is not enough. We have to address the structural causes of these needs and inequities as well, which is what this legislation begins to do.

I pray that more people -- especially self-proclaimed Christians -- take up their responsibility to live a charitable life and advocate for social change. We need both to adequately (and for Christians faithfully) respond to social injustices.

"You people are so blinded by Wallis and his communist ideology..."

What was that again about not knowing what's in a person's heart, looking at oneself before accusing others, and bearing false witness?

You seem to have provided a perfect example yourself engaging in all three!

The vast majority of the money under health care reform will be going to private health care companies.

Even the TAX money collected under health care reform will be going to private health care companies.

This is the truth - look it up.

This bill is not anywhere near a government take-over of health care. If this bill resembles anything, it is a big fat handout TO private health care companies in the form of guaranteed new customers and increased income (profits).

How in the world could you possibly characterize THAT as socialist takeover?

You are sadly disinformed.

I don't need to look at your heart. Through the words you write shows me what you believe. So should I assume you are not a follower of Mr. Wallis' ideology. Is that what you are saying.

Government funded health care is a redistribution of wealth, which is a socialist idea. That is a fact. Is the government not paying for this by confiscating taxes from me. Another socialist idea, that is also a fact.

Wow, I'm glad you all know what's in the bill and that you've given us such assurance that the government will not be funding things like abortion...

You're so much futher enlightened than the bi-partisan pro-life group of congressmen/congresswomen (mainly democrats) who are concerned about the vague language covering abortion funding. AND, so much more enlightened than Speaker Pelosi who actually said we need to "pass the bill so you can find out what is in it."

The government is not in the business to make money. They don't have to. They continue to exist off my burden. So how can private insurance companies compete against the government when the government is not concerned with making money?

I suppose we will not be getting taxed now without benefits for four years either, correct? You are the misinformed one to trust anything to the liars in Washington.

Yes, it's amazing what 7 months of time and a little reading comprehension will do as far as knowing what's in the bill, and what is not :).

A.Tiger,

Maybe you misinterpreted my last comment. I totally agree with you that this whole Obamacare plan is cleaarly a communist takeover and that it is the job of our churches, not the government to care for the widows and orphans. I am no longer on the board of my church, but I plan to bring this up at the next church business meeting to allocate a portion of our church budget to pay for the medical needs of the widows and orphans. In my town, most of the widows are covered by that communist program called medicare, but I don't know about the orphans. Maybe we should make them work to pay off there medical expenses. But I say AMEN - it's the churches job!

My mistake Nathan...I misinterpreted your meaning. My apoligies. Glad to know there are like thinkers on this site. God Bless you.

Both sides in this argument are wrong. The healthcare bill before Congress will not increase state control over healcare; the state already controls all of healthcare. Everay state in the union already determines insurance rates, mandates coverage and controls every aspect of insurance. They also regulate all aspects of healthcare. The Feds control about half of all healthcare through Medicare, and they set prices for all of the medical industry by providing a base charge for all procedures. If you think the state doesn't currently control all of the 18% of the economy that is healthcare, you're fooling yourself.

Those who think the healthcare bill will change anything are fooling themselves. The 10% who don't have insurance may get coverage, but taxes will have to increase in order to pay for it because they will not be able to afford insurance. Some of that cost will be offset by hospitals charging less for those with insurance because they won't have to pay for those without insurance. But insurance premiums will rise dramatically because more people will want healthcare while the supply of healthcare will not grow. So the price of medical care will grow much faster than it has been growing and insurance premiums will have to grow in the same amount. That will make healthcare insurance more expensive for everyone and more people will have to rely on the Feds to pay for it.

I think you're continuing to "misinterpret" Nathan's meaning - think Stephen Colbert...

One of the first rules to follow when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging - perhaps you need to put your shovel aside for a bit, because by continuing to dig, you're only getting yourself deeper and deeper :).

Oh - I see:

"you have no idea what is in my heart..."

Yet -

"I don't need to look at your heart. "

See shovel remark, please :).

thanks for looking out for me. without your input I would never have known nathan's comments were not genuine.

See: http://www.guttmacher.org/media/inthenews/2009/...

According to Guttmacher and Kaiser, over 80% of typical employer-based health insurance policies cover abortion services.

If you're working, and you have employer-based health insurance, there's an 80+% chance that you are paying for abortion services.

The fact that the current health care bill does not permit federal tax dollars to be used to provide abortion services, yet is such a lightening rod for misleading "conservative" attacks, prompts the questions:

Why are "conservatives" not expressing the same amount of rage at the over 80 percent of those covered under employer-based PRIVATE health insurance who ARE funding abortion services NOW, with their premiums?

Where are those "enlightened bi-partisan pro-life group of congressmen/congresswomen" voices protesting the CURRENT funding of abortions through private health insurance corporations?