Except the bulk of those using emergency rooms are illegal immigrants.

You might want to do at least a little fact checking before spouting off.

Because hospitals are required by law to admit people that visit their emergency wards. This is common knowledge that doesn't require fact checking. Estimates say there are 10M illegals... all of them visiting ERs. Like I said "bulk".

But this is off-topic...

I would like to point out something that makes me fearful.

From "What the Pelosi Health-Care Bill Really Says" (more conservative leaning)

On Nov. 2, the Congressional Budget Office estimated what the plans will likely cost. An individual earning $44,000 before taxes who purchases his own insurance will have to pay a $5,300 premium and an estimated $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, for a total of $7,300 a year, which is 17% of his pre-tax income. A family earning $102,100 a year before taxes will have to pay a $15,000 premium plus an estimated $5,300 out-of-pocket, for a $20,300 total, or 20% of its pre-tax income. Individuals and families earning less than these amounts will be eligible for subsidies paid directly to their insurer.

From "Some Vaguely Heretical Thoughts on Health-Care Reform" (more liberal leaning)

A lower-middle-class family of four earning, say, forty-five thousand dollars a year would be entitled to a subsidy of, say, seventy-five hundred dollars a year, to enable them to buy a basic health insurance plan that would cost them, say, eleven thousand dollars a year on the proposed Health Insurance Exchange, These estimates are based on a table on page 3 of the summary document I referred to earlier, which says that families that earn between two hundred and two hundred and fifty per cent of the federal poverty level would have to pay a maximum of eight per cent of their income in insurance premiums. Some poorer families that couldn’t afford to buy coverage even with the generous new tax breaks and subsidies would become eligible for an expanded Medicaid program. Individuals and families that failed to obtain coverage despite these inducements would be subject to a fine of seven hundred and fifty dollars for each uninsured adult.

(Thank you Bronco for that article link. It was very insightful.)

You have different people basically saying the same thing. Doesn't this at least alarm anyone?

This comment was edited on Nov 10, 2009, 20:23.

I just had a ad for mygamesfile.com.
At first it looks like it offers free, legal downloads; for example Fallout 2.
http://mygamesfile.com/halflife2game/index.php
Than it wants to install some ad/spyware and redirects you to some public server with the HL2 Demo.
More info here:
http://blog.spywareguide.com/2009/02/download-zango-get-free-pc-gam.html

Except the bulk of those using emergency rooms are illegal immigrants.

You might want to do at least a little fact checking before spouting off. Some quick checking shows estimates of over 40 million uninsured in 2007, with around 7 million of those being illegal immigrants. So, a large majority of uninsured people in the US are not illegal. I'd also point out that many illegal immigrants pay taxes.

5.00 to transfer my RB1 content to RB2? Stupid - but I see why they do it. I am pretty impressed with all of the DLC i have loaded tha tit just picks those up. Excited to get GH5 going this weekend....in the mail with that Guitar Hero store sale.

Oh, for those who need more guitars (they break too easily) there is another sale. 2 guitars and GH5 for a stellar price!

http://gamerdeals.net/blogs/misc-cheap-deals/archive/2009/11/10/guitar-hero-5-w-dual-wireless-guitar-bundle-360-ps3-wii-79-save-40-shipped.aspx

If this is fear mongering, she's doing a pretty poor job of it, IMHO. Most of this is about mandated health care, which I'd think the conservatives would be all for. Right now, taxpayers are carrying the load for all those people who don't have their own health care, and are using the emergency rooms as their primary care. The mandate will make those people take responsibility for their own health care instead of the rest of us paying for them.

From what I've read most of the people that can't afford to pay for their own care will have their insurance subsidized under the house plan.

Here is a decent, relatively simple review of what the plan hopes to accomplish:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2009/11/some-vaguely-heretical-thoughts-on-health-care-reform.html

Note that the author is a liberal and he is pretty blunt about what he thinks the plan accomplishes.

This whole argument reminds me of a sign posted in our local jewish deli. A triangle with the following words at the points: Price, quality, service. Next to that was choose any two.

This comment was edited on Nov 10, 2009, 16:11.

I had an orthodontist (the surgeon kind) screw me up; nothing long term (as far as I know) but just money.

I went through the whole ordeal of a Pallete Expander to correct my bite. This was through Junior year of college and I wound up talking like a special needs student for quite a while. To those youngsters that need one you have my condolences.

After months of that BS they downgraded me to a retainer to keep my upper-jaw in place. The goal was to wear the retainer for some months, then upgrade to surgical route to fix my bite (ie, break my jaw and set things correctly).

I followed up with all of my visits and such. But eventually I broke the dang thing.

My parents took me to see her the next day and she said it was no big deal... I'd worn the thing much longer than needed and wouldn't need another one. She made arrangements that she would call my parents when the time came to revisit surgery.

I guess she forgot about me. I drove by her some weeks/months later and waved; she called that day.

I guess I went too long without the retainer because my upper jaw had reverted back to almost it's original size/shape. She wanted to start over with the pallette expander.

We said screw it. It cost a lot of money that we'd have to pay AGAIN, plus now I was in (or about to start) my senior year and I had enough social problems than to worry about the dang medieval pallete expander again.

End result, lots of money wasted and I still can't bite through certain sandwhich fillers like lettuce and bologna.

Also every couple of months and then I get a cramp-like sensation in my upper jaw and to feel better I have to use my tongue to push my back teeth to the side... effectively replicating the pallette expander in a small scale.

This comment was edited on Nov 10, 2009, 15:58.

Sue the dentist Blue.

Precisely Dan!

This comment was edited on Nov 10, 2009, 14:59.

Except the bulk of those using emergency rooms are illegal immigrants. So while Sec. 59b (pp. 297-299) says that when you file your taxes, you must include proof that you are in a qualified plan or else you will be fined thousands of dollars, illegal immigrants are exempt from this requirement.

Logic alert. How are you supposed to provide proof if you don't have any information for that proof, when you're an illegal immigrant operating under the radar?

If this is fear mongering, she's doing a pretty poor job of it, IMHO. Most of this is about mandated health care, which I'd think the conservatives would be all for. Right now, taxpayers are carrying the load for all those people who don't have their own health care, and are using the emergency rooms as their primary care. The mandate will make those people take responsibility for their own health care instead of the rest of us paying for them.

Except the bulk of those using emergency rooms are illegal immigrants. So while Sec. 59b (pp. 297-299) says that when you file your taxes, you must include proof that you are in a qualified plan or else you will be fined thousands of dollars, illegal immigrants are exempt from this requirement.

If this is fear mongering, she's doing a pretty poor job of it, IMHO. Most of this is about mandated health care, which I'd think the conservatives would be all for. Right now, taxpayers are carrying the load for all those people who don't have their own health care, and are using the emergency rooms as their primary care. The mandate will make those people take responsibility for their own health care instead of the rest of us paying for them.

It's not opinion, or fear mongering, when it's in the bill. Here's the 1,990 page bill. Look for yourself!
http://www.defendyourhealthcare.us/images/111_ahcaa.pdf

Or from the official source...
http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf

This comment was edited on Nov 10, 2009, 14:36.

Betsy is considered a controversial figure by many - that is for sure.

I handle the benefits at my company and spend a fair amount of time each year trying to figure out how to balance the needs of our employees (which includes me of course) along with the overall profitability of our company - it isn't easy.

I haven't had a lot of confidence in our politicians for a long time now and I don't see this passing and being a big plus to an country that can't pay the bills it already owes.

I deal with a lot of government agencies in my job (local, state and federal) and I have to say that the only thing I've ever seen our government do well is kill people and blow things up. Even doing that they run way over budget so I don't see this bill as an 'awesome cheaper for everyone solution'.

Taking a step back from the health care debate and looking at the 'big picture' of the US finances...it's an ugly mess and I don't see any people really working to resolve the issue.

This comment was edited on Nov 10, 2009, 14:19.

For real. I read the first few cited sections, and I've gotta call total fear-mongering, here.

OPINION

Stopped reading right there.

Well damn, i knew the national health care idea was a bad one but what they are trying to pass here is just tossing shit in the face of the American people.

While I'm not in favor of UHC (being a small business owner, I like my insurance as it is save the current 5% to 15% annual premium hikes), statements like

permitting the government to dictate treatment decisions

are pretty bogus without some context. Insurance companies do that now with restrictions such as only being eligible for $1000 worth of physical therapy a year, or only paying for certain drugs. Thank you for taking your time to put your [BETSY MCCAUGHEY?] spin on it.

This comment was edited on Nov 10, 2009, 14:00.

Read this and weap...

What the Pelosi Health-Care Bill Really Says
Here are some important passages in the 2,000 page legislation.
OPINION / NOVEMBER 7, 2009
By BETSY MCCAUGHEY

The health bill that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is bringing to a vote (H.R. 3962) is 1,990 pages. Here are some of the details you need to know.

What the government will require you to do:

o Sec. 202 (p. 91-92) of the bill requires you to enroll in a "qualified plan." If you get your insurance at work, your employer will have a "grace period" to switch you to a "qualified plan," meaning a plan designed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. If you buy your own insurance, there's no grace period. You'll have to enroll in a qualified plan as soon as any term in your contract changes, such as the co-pay, deductible or benefit.

o Sec. 224 (p. 118) provides that 18 months after the bill becomes law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will decide what a "qualified plan" covers and how much you'll be legally required to pay for it. That's like a banker telling you to sign the loan agreement now, then filling in the interest rate and repayment terms 18 months later.

On Nov. 2, the Congressional Budget Office estimated what the plans will likely cost. An individual earning $44,000 before taxes who purchases his own insurance will have to pay a $5,300 premium and an estimated $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, for a total of $7,300 a year, which is 17% of his pre-tax income. A family earning $102,100 a year before taxes will have to pay a $15,000 premium plus an estimated $5,300 out-of-pocket, for a $20,300 total, or 20% of its pre-tax income. Individuals and families earning less than these amounts will be eligible for subsidies paid directly to their insurer.

o Sec. 303 (pp. 167-168) makes it clear that, although the "qualified plan" is not yet designed, it will be of the "one size fits all" variety. The bill claims to offer choice-basic, enhanced and premium levels-but the benefits are the same. Only the co-pays and deductibles differ. You will have to enroll in the same plan, whether the government is paying for it or you and your employer are footing the bill.

o Sec. 59b (pp. 297-299) says that when you file your taxes, you must include proof that you are in a qualified plan. If not, you will be fined thousands of dollars.

Illegal immigrants are exempt from this requirement, and ineligible for subsidies.

o Sec. 412 (p. 272) says that employers must provide a "qualified plan" for their employees and pay 72.5% of the cost, and a smaller share of family coverage, or incur an 8% payroll tax. Small businesses, with payrolls from $500,000 to $750,000, are fined less.

Eviscerating Medicare:

In addition to reducing future Medicare funding by an estimated $500 billion, the bill fundamentally changes how Medicare pays doctors and hospitals, permitting the government to dictate treatment decisions.

o Sec. 1302 (pp. 672-692) moves Medicare from a fee-for-service payment system, in which patients choose which doctors to see and doctors are paid for each service they provide, toward what's called a "medical home."

The medical home is this decade's version of HMO-restrictions on care. A primary-care provider manages access to costly specialists and diagnostic tests for a flat monthly fee. The bill specifies that patients may have to settle for a nurse practitioner rather than a physician as the primary-care provider. Medical homes begin with demonstration projects, but the HHS secretary is authorized to "disseminate this approach rapidly on a national basis."

A December 2008 Congressional Budget Office report noted that "medical homes" were likely to resemble the unpopular gatekeepers of 20 years ago if cost control was a priority.

o Sec. 1114 (pp. 391-393) replaces physicians with physician assistants in overseeing care for hospice patients.

o Secs. 1158-1160 (pp. 499-520) initiates programs to reduce payments for patient care to what it costs in the lowest cost regions of the country. This will reduce payments for care (and by implication the standard of care) for hospital patients in higher cost areas such as New York and Florida.

o Sec. 1161 (pp. 520-545) cuts payments to Medicare Advantage plans (used by 20% of seniors). Advantage plans have warned this will result in reductions in optional benefits such as vision and dental care.

o Sec. 1402 (p. 756) says that the results of comparative effectiveness research conducted by the government will be delivered to doctors electronically to guide their use of "medical items and services."

Questionable Priorities:

While the bill will slash Medicare funding, it will also direct billions of dollars to numerous inner-city social work and diversity programs with vague standards of accountability.

o Sec. 399V (p. 1422) provides for grants to community "entities" with no required qualifications except having "documented community activity and experience with community healthcare workers" to "educate, guide, and provide experiential learning opportunities" aimed at drug abuse, poor nutrition, smoking and obesity. "Each community health worker program receiving funds under the grant will provide services in the cultural context most appropriate for the individual served by the program."

These programs will "enhance the capacity of individuals to utilize health services and health related social services under Federal, State and local programs by assisting individuals in establishing eligibility . . . and in receiving services and other benefits" including transportation and translation services.

o Sec. 222 (p. 617) provides reimbursement for culturally and linguistically appropriate services. This program will train health-care workers to inform Medicare beneficiaries of their "right" to have an interpreter at all times and with no co-pays for language services.

o Secs. 2521 and 2533 (pp. 1379 and 1437) establishes racial and ethnic preferences in awarding grants for training nurses and creating secondary-school health science programs. For example, grants for nursing schools should "give preference to programs that provide for improving the diversity of new nurse graduates to reflect changes in the demographics of the patient population." And secondary-school grants should go to schools "graduating students from disadvantaged backgrounds including racial and ethnic minorities."

o Sec. 305 (p. 189) Provides for automatic Medicaid enrollment of newborns who do not otherwise have insurance.

For the text of the bill with page numbers, see www.defendyourhealthcare.us.

Ms. McCaughey is chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and a former Lt. Governor of New York state.

Damn Blue thats horrible.
I would recommend along with seeing a dentist also find a good dental hygenist, mine is inhouse at the surgery.
She is fantastic.
Kick ass fantastic.
Nothing gets by her.

This comment was edited on Nov 10, 2009, 12:44.

Blue did you get my email last night regarding the ads? You had told me to email you in yesterday's OotB.