Belay that!

[july_july_july]

I lied! Quote from Digby.
Update: I'm wrong about this. If the house passes the bill, it will become the law of the land (unless the president vetoed it, which won't happen.) If reconciliation fails, as remains possible, then the House will just have been screwed and all the careful negotiations of the past few days will have been for naught.

Comments

[darkmagess]

Are you telling me that my country almost has universal healthcare?

[july_july_july]

Ummm....no. Sadly. It's basically a list of insurance practice reforms. But it's better than nothing, which is pretty much what we've got at this point.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/18/health-care-reform-bill-c_n_505128.html

A lot MORE people will be covered, but not everybody. And it will be harder insurance companies to screw people over.

[darkmagess]

Oh...

That's... not really as thrilling as it could be, is it.

I don't understand the mandated concept. How is making me buy something I can't afford good for me? If I could afford it... I'd have it. *boggle*

[july_july_july]

Ah yes, the mandate. This works the same way that car insurance does. If we both have cars, and I back into your car, GEICO (my provider) will pay for your damages. BUT if we both have bodies, and I get sick and end up in the ER, and I have no insurance, YOU the taxpayer will end up paying for my treatment. ERs can't turn away urgent cases so if I break my leg and show up at County General, they have to set the leg and give me some painkillers. If I can't pay County General back, County General will draw on the tax base.

Now multiply that by MILLIONS of people who have no insurance and end up in the ER. The government ends up absorbing those costs and taxpayer dollars end up paying. Which is how, over time, this bill will actually significantly reduce the deficit.