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Evan Bayh
           Health Care Reform has FINALLY Passed!
Published Sunday, March 21, 2010
Filed under Commentary, Video, &
Health Care Reform
This entry was posted on Sunday, March 21, 2010 and is filed under Keeba’s Commentary, Health Care Summit, Health Care  and Video.
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Keeba Smith is a published writer and desired screenplay artist.  She is the author of “Shades of Bright Pale,” and many other
unacquainted writings. Please visit www.Keeba.org to find out more about Keeba Smith, read additional critiques and her
unpublished autobiography, “Spirit in the Dark.”
© 2010
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Comments
Today, Health Care Reform passed and in my mind, in favor of the American people.  

Today, Sunday, March 21, 2010, every American will have access to affordable
health care and in my opinion, is exactly what they should have.  All Americans
deserve it as it is a right of the American people.

It warmed my heart to hear Nancy Pelosi utter the words “…it is not a privilege, but
a right.”  I have been saying those exact same words for years but to hear them
reiterated by a government official only proves to me that ALL of them knew of this
a long time ago.  And while I am ecstatic about this memorable time in history, I am a
tad sadden and sickened that it took them so long to publicly admit and acknowledge
it, but I digress.












After today, I will cease my abhorrence for John Boehner and Mitch McConnell
when they deprecate President Obama and those Democrats that supported the
Health Care Reform Bill.  Okay, I was kidding about that last part because everyone
knows that this isn’t over.  Nope, far from it.  In fact, this is just the beginning of a
long and arduous fight for those that supported the Bill, but I digress.  

After today, I will find a new gripe and I’m guessing one of them will be how much
money this Bill is costing the American people although President Obama quoted the
CBO that said that it would not cost a dime.  The CBO states that the majority of the
cost for expanded health care insurance for all Americans will be borne from the
elimination of Medicare subsidies and additional taxes for people earning over
$250,000 a year, which means that most Americans will not pay an extra dime for the
additional benefits they will be getting.  Understandably, most people I know, earn
less than $250, 000 per year.  However, the CBO's explanation for increased
premiums for someone like me, was unclear but at least there will not be 32,000,000
people needlessly suffering.

Oh and on the issue of affordability, I have put things in perspective:
The new legislation is expected to cost $940 billion over ten years, or $94
billion a year, but we DID already SPEND one TRILLION dollars in Iraq!

After today, I’m guessing another one of my gripes will be my ongoing distrust and
disgust of those that sicken me the most; namely John Boehner, Chuck Grassley
and/or Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Greedy Old Pansies.  

After today, I will get to hear and be disgusted over the controversial item of the Bill
that not everyone is covered.  You know, the controversial language of the individual
mandate which says that everyone would either have to buy health insurance or pay a
modest penalty that would contribute to the system. In the House bill, the penalty
would max out at 2.5 percent of income.  Waivers would be available in the cases of
economic hardship or for those who have religious objections.  There will be those
who get those waivers; others will be left behind -- it's not a truly universal system.
But according to preliminary projections, the result would be an uninsured rate of 3
to 5%, rather than the 16 or so percent who lack insurance today - reducing the rolls
of the uninsured by some 20 million 30 million.

After today, I will and will not tread lightly when it concerns Health Care Reform
because I really and truly did not have a gripe for or against it.  Okay, that's not true as
I did write my own Health Care Reform Bill after the news correspondents wore me
down and I grew tired of Obama being trashed throughout the media.  Nonetheless, I
am very happy that regardless of how much it may cost every American, I am truly
glad because no one deserves to suffer needlessly.  

After today, I suspect the course of economy will be the same as it was when Bill
Clinton was president.  Yes, all of us will pay more in taxes, but we won’t notice it.  I
suspect that after today, when all the excitement is over, and within time, we will
notice the change President Obama spoke of during his campaign.
After today, the Greedy Old Pansies will began debating over the “fixes”.  I cannot deviate from this as
this will be ongoing for a mighty long time.  Nonetheless, after today, the following will occur:
  • Small businesses will receive tax credits for insuring their employees.
  • Senior citizens will receive medical rebates.
  • No one will be forced to wear a deceased family member’s dentures; forcing them to needlessly
    suffer.
  • Children will be able to remain on their adults insurance plan until the age of 26.
  • People who were unable to pay for affordable and decent health care previously, will finally be able
    to have that chance.
  • No one will be refused the right to have medical insurance due to a preexisting medical illness.
  • Hard working Americans will no longer be forced into bankruptcy due to over priced medical care.
    (In 2007, Harvard researchers studied thousands of bankruptcy filings and found that medical
    causes played a role in more than 6 in 10.
  • Insurers wouldn't be allowed to cancel an individual's coverage for reasons other than failing to pay
    the premium.
  • Insurers would no longer be permitted to impose annual or lifetime caps on benefits.
  • Insurers that sell insufficient, shoddy plans that leave people vulnerable to medical crises would be
    required to disclose that fact to their customers.
  • All insurers would be required to disclose how much of their spending is on health care and how
    much goes to costs like overhead, advertising, etc.
  • The legislation (especially the Senate HELP bill) creates new tools for fighting insurance fraud and
    abuse.
  • Large companies will no longer be able to violate lower paid workers and render little or no health
    coverage. Under the proposals in Congress, medium and large firms would face a simple choice:
    Offer their employees decent coverage or pay something into the system to offset the burden their
    employees' health needs impose on the American taxpayer.
  • Congress will continue weeding out mediocre parts of the Bill and work on Medicaid eligibility,
    which is similar to my Health Care Reform Bill.
  • Those at the lowest income levels but earn too much to get Medicaid will be required to pay no
    more than 1.5 percent of their total income for health coverage.  Subsidies would also be available
    for co-pays for people earning up to 400 percent of the poverty line.
  • Oh and the best one of all?  I will not have as much animosity for those average citizens that fought
    and rallied against Health Care Reform when they should have known that their American dollars
    are paying for Iraqis to receive affordable health insurance.  If the citizens do not know, our
    government does!  Americans are already paying for non-insured Americans as well as non-
    Americans.  Ohh the hypocrisy!

Oh and speaking of the "fixes", I will continue to applaud my Congresswoman Diana DeGette for not
supporting the portion of the Bill that does not include abortion.  I digress for now as I know that all the
"fixes" will be a pain in the you know what.  Notwithstanding, I will always wonder about the Public
Option portion of the Health Care Reform Bill; why it was not included and who was paid what.
For me, it is important to remember that the new "socialized" approach to health care reform in the USA
will be administered by private insurance companies, not the government.  Claims of socialism are being
made because the new legislation includes subsidies to families earning less than $88,000 a year to help
them pay insurance premiums.  The claims continue because it ends the use of draconian insurance
practices worthy of disciples of Attila the Hun and was passed by the Democrats but implemented by a
Black man.  

Democrats may lose a few more congressional seats than they would have in November, but I am not so
sure Republicans are on solid ground on this issue either.  Only time will tell.  If people realize that this
legislation helps them and does not cost them extra money (most of us make a lot less than $250K) I
would not be surprised if Republicans have to start running for cover on this issue.  No wonder they
fought it based on the fact a Black man pushing it forward and its constitutionality and/or  lack thereof.

I wonder what opponents are going to tell people who are suddenly able to get health insurance because
the government is providing subsidies to make it affordable to them.  What will they say to those who are
no longer excluded because of pre-existing conditions or because they have contracted a chronic illness
that are expensive to treat?  Or to those who no longer have to worry about losing insurance coverage
when they lose or change jobs?   Uh huh, whatever!  In ten years or less, we will not hear anyone
complaining about the makings of this health care system.

If an avid voter views this as a loss to America, then they do not have a heart and would rather support the
enemy and not their very own fellow American.  The Democrats have always been for and about The
People: a woman’s right to vote, moving forward the civil rights movement, social security, Medicare,
furthering the discussion on global warming, and now health care reform.  Once again, these are exciting
times.

I have health insurance and enough medical bills to last a lifetime. I truly hate the thought of paying
increased premiums, but even more, I hate the thought of anyone suffering needlessly.

We pay for Iraqis to have health insurance – the same people that the previous administration said was
partially responsible for 9/11 and was on the verge of attacking us with the WMD’s we gave them – why
wouldn’t we pay for Americans to have health insurance?  Oh wait, we ALREADY pay for Americans to
have health insurance and now, the government is going to help us pay that bill.

All I can say is that it’s about darn time that the government steps up and helps the American people.
However, it’s too bad that the vampires can’t see the truth staring them in the face.

The greatest thing about today, is that I have lived to witness two very memorable historic events:
1) A Black taking the presidential oath of the United States of America and
2) The passing of the long and hard-debated Health Care Reform Bill.

Yes, today, I witnessed history and I am as happy as a clam.  

With only 2% of the population being effected and I – like the majority of Americans – will no longer be
forced to pay subsidized health care for those that did not have health care BEFORE TODAY!  What a
savings!  And oh what a thrill!  

Oh and Michelle, our First Lady: I hope she does not get too excited and comfortable as it's not over and
she will be forced to face a few more sleepless nights.  Yep, until the fix is in and over, and as I said, it
will not be over for a while.  HOWEVERRRRRRRRR, I hope she makes Barry take her out or have a
celebration just for HER!    

However, at least we have today:
Sunday, March 21, 2010 when the new Health Care Reform Bill was passed by the Democrats and
President, Barack Hussein Obama!  
Comments
I’ve been reading yr blogs for a while and ive noticed that u are very opinoated. I think that it’s a lil onesided but
what makes me write now is that i noticed that this entry says that it was pubslished on Sunday march 21st but it
wasn’t. I seen this blog on SATURDAY not Sunday like u said.  Either u r inside news or have a crystal ball. How
did u no they would pass this bill. And do u like it?

Peter Headan
Mr. Headan,

Yes, you are correct in your observation that I posted my commentary about the passing of the Health Care Reform Bill
prior to its passing through Congress.  In fact, I began to write my commentary on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:52AM and
after a few minor changes, posted it on Saturday, March 20th – a day before it was passed [through Congress.]
No, I do not work for a news network nor do I own a crystal ball.  I only speculated that Health Care Reform would pass and
so I wrote/created the entry prior to knowing its fate, however, I was prepared to write a retraction if it did not.  I was just
hoping that it would....I honestly cannot give a viable answer as to why I fudged the publishing date.    
Often times, I am away from my computer or without the ability to write my thoughts down.  What I’m trying to say is that I
come up with thoughts – no matter how crazy or thoughtless they may or may not be – and go with that particular idea.  
Yes, I understand I may be wrong, but in this case, I’m glad to know I wasn’t.  
Thanks for your comments.
Keeba
P.S.  You are more than welcome to comment on any of my other opinions.  Oh and yes, I am VERY opinionated…and
perhaps a tad one-sided. LOL!
LOL!  You don’t have to call me Mr Headan. Peter is just fine. I like reading what u post I just don’t have time to
leave a comment. Maybe u can post something less serious like u did when u wrote about ur experence with yur
hairdresser.
Anyway I like reading wht u write but it’s to serious sometimes. Take some time to enjoy life.
Peter Headan
Hello PETER!  (smile)
Thanks again for emailing me…I truly appreciate it.
I will make a serious effort to write or think of something more lighthearted, but honestly, I write what’s going on now or how
I’m feeling.  (I’m surrounded by a bunch of information that pertains to politics and/or whatever is happening in the news.)
Oh and yes, I appreciate the passing of Health Care Reform because it saves lives and lowers the risk of those who might
lose their jobs.  Additionally, I seriously tried to give two sides of the story when it pertains to health care, but if you
consider what’s opposed verses what is supported, there really isn’t much of a viable argument.  It just makes sense....to
ME.
March 25, 2010
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