Aerothorn on 22/3/2010 at 03:36
As of 20 or so minutes ago, the Senate bill has passed the House. Love it or hate it, the Senate's health care plan will be (with some possible tweaks down the line) implemented. Fun quote, from John Boehner as he rails against the bill's passage:
"Do you really believe that if you like your health care plan, you can keep it?" "Yes!" shouted Democrats. Boehner fired back, "You can't!" "Yes we can!" yelled Democrats.
Honestly, I didn't think it could happen. The Democrats may get slaughtered in the upcoming elections, but hot damn, they actually got something done.
Thief13x on 22/3/2010 at 03:41
Just some initial thoughts:
A) it passed without a single republican vote
B) I think they've gotten too used to calling it "The House" and have forgotten "of Representatives" part.
Aside from these, yes the dialog between Boehner and the crowd had me laughing and pissed as all hell at the same time. Very weird feeling I must say.
Scots Taffer on 22/3/2010 at 03:52
Can someone give the Cliffs Notes to us non-yanks as to what this means for the common man?
But it generally sounds like a cause for WOOHOOing.
Thief13x on 22/3/2010 at 04:06
Primarily:
A) provides a public government insurance option to "keep private insurance companies competitive"
B) Mandates that every citizen carry a minimal level of health insurance coverage
C) Some bullshit with higher education funding that snuck in under my radar
D) I believe tax credits of some kind to businesses who supply employees with health insurance and penalties for those who don't (or something similar)
...could be missing some stuff but I believe these are the biggies
doctorfrog on 22/3/2010 at 04:10
A bill got passed?
On a Sunday?
Renzatic on 22/3/2010 at 04:10
Does this mean we're communists now? :o
Tonamel on 22/3/2010 at 04:13
I'm not too up on the actual contents of the bill, but I know a couple of the immediate changes are 1) Children can't be denied coverage due to a preexisting condition and 2) Policies may no longer have lifetime maximums attached to them.
The bigger stuff, like the public insurance option, don't kick in for another four years because they have to build the infrastructure to support them.
CCCToad on 22/3/2010 at 04:14
Short term, not too much unless you don't have health insurance.
In that case, prepare to be slapped with an additional fine. If you are an employer who doesn't offer insurance, expect a fine of up to $2000 per worker.
Bunch of other provisions in there too, since it bans denial based pre-existing conditions (edit: tonamel beat me to it) and provides for several new taxes to help pay for the programs it creates.
Personally, I think its a pretty shitty bill because it doesn't really do anything to cut back on federal inefficiency while protecting the private sector bandits. Not only do insurance companies get to keep the antitrust exemption that lets them act the way they do, but now you get penalized for NOT giving them your business.
Thief13x on 22/3/2010 at 04:15
Probably goes without saying but it also makes it virtually impossible for an insurance company to drop you
june gloom on 22/3/2010 at 05:07
The fact that it passed comes of no surprise to anyone. All that's left is waiting to see what parts of the bill are horribly broken, so we can pass it on to the next generation to fix.
