since this constitutinality issue of religiuos freedom could be the straw that breaks the obamacare act (lose it and the whole law gets thrown out) perhaps its worth a look at what "greater good" could be served for all if/when it becomes enacted in 2014.
Below are the "talking points" of what what "Obamacare" is, does and will do once enacted into law.
While i dont like the idea of demanding or even exempting the faith based institutions to pay/cover procedures not in their beliefs, for reasons eloquently described above, i do feel that something, anything needs to be done to try and fix our system.
To me, a father of 5 kids, and elderly parents (one with cancer) who has had to deal with tons of doctors, bills, and some really bad situations, i would welcome a change to our current system.
I'm paying more for less now in terms of health care and the paperwork is a compete nightmare-even for my parents on medicaid .You have to fight, file for every dime on every damn claim it seems.
For those of you who dont have kids ((yet) or your parents arent old enough (yet) brace yourselves for when the real bills start coming in. Once you start having kids, if they run into any serious problems WATCH OUT! that insurance you THINK you have...it doesnt pay a damn thing. "oh sir im sorry your plan doesnt cover that...blah blah blah"
anyway here you go (from the Obama website) (granted these are talking points fo take it FWIW):
If your already insured....
Insurer has to justify any hikes to your premium before an independent panel—helping keep your rate down
Insurance companies can no longer put a lifetime cap on the amount of care they’ll cover, or cancel your coverage over a mistake in your paperwork—and by 2014, no one can be denied insurance due to a pre-existing condition
Your children can no longer be denied coverage based on a pre-existing condition like asthma or diabetes.
Preventive services like checkups and childhood immunizations are covered without a co-pay or deductible
Starting in 2014, you/your family will be able to shop for coverage in a new Affordable Insurance Exchange. If you lose the health insurance you have from work, or want to change jobs or start a business, you'll be able to shop in a market where insurance companies will have to compete on price and quality, and where you can see all your options in one place—and you can't be denied coverage or charged more based on a pre-existing condition.
Starting in 2014, insurance companies won't be able to charge more or deny coverage based on a pre-existing condition, like heart disease
Starting in 2014, youyour family will qualify for tax credits that can make insurance more affordable—helping save a typical middle-class family up to 60 percent on premiums. You'll be able to use these tax credits to shop for the best plan for youyour family in your state's new Affordable Insurance Exchange.
If your on Medicare...
People enrolled in traditional Medicare will save an average of $4,200 in health care expenses over the next 10 years.
You now have access to annual wellness visits with your doctor, free of charge.
If you fall into Medicare's coverage gap for prescription drugs, you now get a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs—and by 2020, the doughnut hole will close for good.
For all:
Before health reform, insurance premiums were skyrocketing, and the shared cost of caring for the uninsured added $1,000 to the typical family’s policy. The Affordable Care Act promotes better value through preventive and coordinated care, and eliminates waste and abuses.
The Affordable Care Act also helps keep insurance premiums down. Insurance companies must publicly justify excessive rate hikes and provide rebates if they don’t spend at least 80 percent of premiums on care instead of overhead, marketing, and profits. As many as 9 million consumers are expected to get up to $1.4 billion in rebates because the President passed the Affordable Care Act.
Fact: The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) provides insurance to people with health conditions who have been uninsured for six months, helping those with cancer or other serious conditions to get the treatment they need.
Before the Affordable Care Act, more than half of all private insurance plans included a lifetime limit on coverage—and nearly 20,000 people hit a lifetime cap each year. The Affordable Care Act banned these caps, and those who had already hit a lifetime limit will be eligible for unlimited coverage.
Young adults are now eligible to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans as they enter the workforce, until they turn 26. Since the health care law passed, 2.5 million young adults—traditionally the group least likely to be insured—gained insurance because of the Affordable Care Act.
Fact: All new insurance plans are required to cover certain preventive services without charging a co-pay or deductible.
Fact: Before the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies could deny coverage to children with medical conditions. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, as many as 17 million children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance
Millions of small businesses are now eligible for a tax credit to help pay for their health care premiums. The credit will increase to cover 50 percent of premium costs in 2014.
Under the Affordable Care Act, help for small businesses—including the new insurance exchanges—will reduce small business health care spending by nearly 9 percent, according to independent estimates.
Working families are protected from losing their health care or being forced into bankruptcy when a family member gets sick or is in an accident. Families have the security of knowing their health insurance will be there when they need it most.
Insurance companies are now required to justify rate hikes, and consumers have the ability to appeal to an independent third party when insurance companies refuse to cover services or care.
Starting in 2014, all Americans will have access to affordable health insurance no matter their circumstances—whether they change jobs, lose their job, decide to start a business, or retire early. Purchasing private insurance in the new state-based health insurance exchanges could save middle-class families who can’t get employer-provided insurance thousands of dollars.
Once fully implemented, the law will slow health care premium growth rates, adding another $2,000 to family savings by 2019.
The law is expected to reduce the deficit by $127 billion from 2012 to 2021.
Because of the new law, 34 million more Americans will gain coverage—many who will be able to afford insurance for the first time.
Once the law is fully implemented, about 95 percent of Americans under age 65 will have insurance.
When fully implemented, the Affordable Care Act will keep insurance companies from taking advantage of consumers—including denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and cancelling coverage when someone gets sick.
Some of these reforms are a step in the right direction in my opinion. im no epxpert like some of you seem to be on this issue i only know what i live (have lived thru). I know this is a white hot political football right now, but as a republican and conservative i have o problem with this law with the excpetion of the issue that ND is addressing. i believe in the separation of church and state and religious freedom.
I also believe that our country can do better when it comes to delivering health care to its citizens. This obamacare "aint perfect" to be sure but to leave the current system in place is worse.
ps Golson to start at QB vs Navy
