According to CNN, the Senate bill has a "reasonable" cap on yearly payouts to patients...

[WCGreen]

There still is no life time cap, so we at least have that going for us...

When Tom Harkin was asked what "reasonable" meant he kind of stuttered a bit and then said "whatever the Health and Welfare Secretary says."

Sen. Harkin, does that mean when a Republican gets elected, I hate to type those words but it will happen in our life time, they will be able to redefine what reasonable is?

The example used was the treatment of a Colon Cancer case. According to the report, they said a colon cancer case could cost $200k. For the purposes of discussion, let's say the case was detected early in the year. If the cap for that year is $100k, that means the patient would be in for the other $100k. Is this really the reform we want? Loop holes for the Insurance companies to continue to deny comprehensive coverage? To still put a defined price on a persons life?

I hate to say this, but kudos to CNN for bringing this up. Well, at least taking seriously information provided by The Cancer Society.

Also, on Big Ed's show, Robert Reich pointed out that the Senate Bill does not lift the Anti-Trust exemption on the Health Insurance companies. Basically that means they can continue, in states like Maine which are served by only two companies, to collude and cut up markets.

Here in Ohio we are blessed since there are several Health Insurance companies serving us. But what about states were there are only two or three Insurance companies operating there? Let's see, people in those states will just have to rely on "the kindness of strangers." That out worked so well for Blanche DuBois...

The more we find out the more we realize that everything that goes on in Washington is centered on what is best for the moneyed interests.

Yesterday I wrote a thread about being frustrated with the continued erosion of individual rights and the quality of life for the little guy. Many thought I was being a little over dramatic. But if this is what we get when we have a democratic president who is, by the way, thoughtful, an overwhelming democratic majority in the Senate and the Dem's in the house are up by 79 member, what, pray tel, will ever change?


on edit, moved the CNN sentence to where I meant it to be.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. ...centered on what is best for the moneyed interests.

That sentence says it all.

And we are not those folks.

It's damn scary...

K&R

[WCGreen]

2. I gave up being one of "those" long ago....

[babylonsister]

3. I'm still in the 'wait and see what they come up with' mode.

But this snail's pace is beyond frustrating, and I can't blame all of that on the rethugs.

[Vinca]

4. The cap is enough for a "no" vote, IMHO.

The point of this exercise is to help people who cannot afford medical care. If insurance craps out midway through a treatment, most likely whatever treatment has already been delivered will be for nothing. Few people have the resources to fund their own chemo.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

5. How many times has Obama himself referenced NO caps

no rescission, no prior conditions, etc.?

What the hell do they think reform is?

[optimator]

6. hahahaha

enjoying the shit sandwich yet?