Some people might be willing to support health reform - what are their questions?

[YewNork]

There are some people who will never support any type of health reform because it is simply against their political convictions.

But, there are Americans who would probably support it if they knew more about it, or had their concerns answered.

Most of them will stem from the question "How does this affect me?"

But, what are their concerns and questions?

[customerserviceguy]

1. I've known a goodly number of people who would fall into that category

Many of them are worried about losing what they perceive as the good coverage they already have. They may be quite unaware that the friendly company that pays for their routine annual physicals and their minor illnesses will go into deny mode if they really get screwed up medically.

Tax treatment is another issue. People really don't know what their employers are laying out for coverage, all they see is that their own premiums and co-pays may have gone up. They don't come face-to-face with it until they try to buy COBRA coverage. Now, if they started seeing deductions on their paychecks for Federal income tax, FICA tax, and possibly state income tax on their checks for their "free" coverage, they would have a cow.

Finally, there is the question of what's covered. Everybody has a list of things they don't want to see other people get for free, that now have to be paid for. And I'm not simply talking about abortion. Cosmetic surgeries (is LASIK cosmetic or not?) alternative treatments (do we cover chiropractors or aromatherapists) mental health coverage (do we pay for my annoying co-worker to lie on a shrink's couch twice a week?) are all issues.

[TellTheTruth82]

2. some other questions

As retired military, I gotta wonder is my plan going to remain the same? Will my employer have to pay a penalty because I use TriCare (the plan for military and military retirees) (right now he will under most bills)? Will he pass the charges on to me - or will I lose my job because of the penalty, or maybe he will hire someone else. What constitutes health insurance - and by this I mean, there are people out there who choose not to purchase health insurance for whatever reasons - what are they going to have to buy in terms of health insurance - $1/month to cover the common cold?, or $300/month to cover a fair amount of stuff they didn't want in the first place? What happens if the health care reform we choose fails to work - can we as a country recover from that or are we going to have to live with our mistake? How come we don't try the health care reform on a pilot basis - such as one state? Are we addressing all the issues with health care reform (such as torts, etc)?

We already have a shortage of doctors, mainly because primary care doctors don't make enough money (and they lose money on medicaid patients in a lot of areas). What will be done to make this trend change? If doctors are losing money on medicaid patients now, I gotta wonder ow the government is setting the reimbursement rate - and how will that change with reform?

Just a few for starters!

[Shagbark Hickory]

3. Most people haven't got a clue who's (not) paying their medical bills when they get sick or injured

and that's because they don't teach you in highschool that you need to save up $500-$1000 a month (if you're healthy) to have health insurance or you will have to get a job that takes $500-1000 a month out of your salary in exchange for including you in a group plan.

[YewNork]

4. A few answers

Your employer will be required to OFFER coverage to employees, but the employer is not responsible if the employee does not take the insurance.
As long as the employer has offered covered to an employee then the employer has met his requirements. It's is the individual's responsibility
to hold coverage. So no, your employer isn't going to be penalized if you don't take insurance through him because you are already covered
from another source. His only requirement is have offered to provide you coverage.

To answer your question about what constitutes health insurance - there will be a listed set of minimum benefits that a health insurance must at least cover.
They can cover more, but they will have to cover the minimum benefits. So, if your TriCare does not cover at least the minimum benefits, then it will have to
start covering at least the minimum. If it covers more than the minimum benefits, then nothing has to change. Insurance policies will also have to stop
having lifetime maximums and excluding for pre-existing conditions.

Regarding reimbursement rates - there is nothing in HR 3200 that requires doctors to accept the reimbursement rate. Doctors would be able to agree
to accept the public option's reimbursement rate or to charge a fixed amount above the reimbursement rate (equivalent to a co-pay), and they would be
listed as preferred providers for public option customers, much like in-network doctors on private plans. Private insurers would still be able to have
their networks of doctors and arrange for them to accept what those plans pay or to charge co-pays. And ultimately doctors could still charge
whatever they want and patients would be responsible for what their insurance doesn't cover.

[TellTheTruth82]

6. thanks - though

I guess it depends on what version of the bill ultimately passes. I've seen some where the offer is good enough, and I've seen others where it isn't. I suspect the offer will end up being good enough.

Understand on minimum coverage - though some will disagree on what the minimums should be....

Reimbursement rates are always an issue. fewer and fewer doctors are accepting medicaid because they lose money on it. It's great to have insurance, but if no one takes it.....

[Glory89fan]

5. The old "Socialized medicine" boogeyman?

Amongst other things like wait times, etc.