| Keeba's Commentary |
| Keeba's Health Care Reform Plan |
| February 26, 2010 Filed under Commentary, Video |
| First and foremost, this plan only covers United States citizens. If you are not an U.S. citizen and have problems with this healthcare bill, then visit those who still believe in the inscription on the statue of liberty which says…. However, fret not as taxpayers are currently paying for you anyway, but…well, first let me say that in no way was this meant to sound sarcastic nor a desire to have anyone needlessly suffer. Personally, I care and pray for you and you and you and you too; no matter whom you are. However, you see how they treat us, how do you expect them to treat you? Secondly, this healthcare plan is feasible and every politician WILL agree with it as it helps protect his or her current health insurance and job. Thirdly, this healthcare reform bill goes into effect today! |
| Introduction |
| Just like most Politicians, Community Leaders and Activists, I am so egotistical, that I felt I could write a healthcare reform bill better than any Democrat or Republican. Here’s mine: |
| Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" |
| ELIGIBILITY: If do not have children, you will want to participate in this plan as it will greatly benefit you. If you have more than five children, this plan will benefit you as you and your family will fall into the current government-run option. If you live in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and/or Wyoming, you have the right to cross State-lines and on foreign lands with your insurance coverage. This applies to Insurance Companies as well. |
| This entry was originally created Wednesday, February 17, 2010 but edited and published on Friday, February 26, 2010 - filed under Keeba’s Commentary and video. Post comments below or click here to send an email. |
| 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 |
| Tags: Keeba, Poems, Commentary, Biography, Barack Obama, Working |
| There is so much confusion and concern about the Healthcare Reform Plan, but one thing I’ve learned is that what I THOUGHT was in there, is not.. For one, I, like some people, thought it was going to lower me and my spouses premiums but while reading SOME of the previous 1,017 document, it looks as though we might be paying even more! That frightens and saddens us as we’re already having a hard time and can’t imagine them being any higher. When I first heard about the plan refusing to pay for abortions, I was truly dismayed, but then later, learned that it MAY not include those who are victims of rape. However, to me, its still troubling as I figured that if any young girl - or even an older woman – finds herself in trouble and is unable to get an abortion, she might seek other alternatives that might be deadly. That scares me. While I have been trying very hard to find the answers I’ve been seeking, I’m still at a lost. And it seems to me, that even the most intelligent and eager folks can’t figure it out which is again, another scary thought. If the United States Constitution is the shortest and oldest written document – including the Bill of Rights which guarantees certain rights for The People – then why does it take more than 100 pages to write a healthcare bill for The People? I once heard someone say that it might be a bunch of rubbish and perhaps it may bite us in the buttocks. They just may be right, but consider who is against the bill. I cannot help but continually consider the Saturday Night Live episode when the Republicans tell Obama that since he’s for it, then they are against it. But if he were against it, then they would be for it. I have to believe that Obama can be trusted and that his bill may be the answer, but since people on both the left and right continue to complain, I say just use mine and be done with it and if not, then step down! |
| CO-PAYMENTS: If you make less than $70,000 per year, ALL co-payments will be $10.00. If your current co-payments are more than $25.00 and you make less than $70,000, you will be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid Services even if you currently have an 8-hour job. * (Note: Medicare and Medicaid are already federal-government-run-programs; handling healthcare, so you will not notice a change.) * (Note: COSTS under the insurance companies does not apply to individual recipients/patients of this bill.) |
| UNITED STATES SOLDIERS: If you are currently or have been previously in the United States Military, then you will rightfully have and receive any and all necessities of healthcare for you and your immediate family. |
| PENALTIES: If you opt out of this plan, there will not be any penalties. However, if any insurance Company opts out, they will be taxed accordingly and will be forced to pay penalties according to Federal government laws. |
| CURRENT GOVERNMENT-RUN OPTION: Medicare and Medicaid Medicare and Medicaid are already federal-government-run-programs; handling health care. Medicaid is the United States healthcare program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the States and federal government, and is managed by the States. Among the groups of people served by Medicaid are certain eligible U.S. citizens and resident aliens including low-income adults and their children, and people with certain and verified disabilities. Poverty alone DOES qualify ANY individual for Medicaid. It is estimated that approximately 6% of poor Americans are not covered by Medicaid. However with this plan, you are eligible if you meet the lines of poverty requirements. Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical and health-related services for people with limited income in the United States. Eligibility: Anyone seeking Medicaid must produce documents to prove that he or she is a United States citizen or resident alien as well as proof of their financial income. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides health insurance coverage to certain categories of low-income individuals, including children, pregnant women, parents of eligible children, and people with disabilities. Medicaid was created to help low-income individuals who fall into one of these eligibility categories and pays for ALL medical and health services. Medicaid helps eligible individuals who have little or no medical insurance. Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) set out the main rules under which Medicaid operates and each Federal State runs its own Federal law program. Under no certain circumstances, any category of applicant will be never be denied coverage and if so, all of Congress, the Senate as well as ANY government official will be effected. As a result, the eligibility rules do not differ from State to State as ALL States must follow the same basic framework of this Federal law. Medicaid and Medicare Categories There are a number of Medicaid eligibility categories; within each category, there are requirements other than income that must be met. These other requirements include, but are not limited to, age, pregnancy, disability, blindness, income and resources, and one's status as a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted immigrant. There are special rules for those living in a nursing home and disabled children living at home. As a result, these individuals will receive the same healthcare as former United States Vice Presidents. A child is covered under Medicaid if she or he is a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. A child is eligible for Medicaid regardless of the eligibility status of his or her parents or guardians. Thus, a child can be covered by Medicaid based on his or her individual status even if his or her parents are not eligible. Similarly, if a child lives with someone other than a parent, he or she may still be eligible based on his or her individual status. Medicaid and Medicare Eligibility In general, individuals are eligible for Medicare if:
Lupus, Ataxia, and/or Fibromyalgia as well as any other neurological illness. The 24-month exclusion means that people who become disabled will NOT have to wait 2 years before receiving government medical insurance. Special provisions remain in place such as verification of illness and financial income. Both Medicaid and Medicare are dual-eligible. This means they qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. All Medicaid and Medicare recipients are eligible under Plans A, B and D. In short, ALL U.S. citizens are eligible for the same medical insurance as each and every other American. Meaning, ALL U.S. citizens MUST have the same medical coverage as the president of the United States of America, each and every congress man and woman as well as every Senator – all who receive lifetime benefits. Thus, so will all United States of America citizens. Additionally, if any Federal government worker (Politician(s)) contract HIV or any other terminal illness, they will continue to receive lifetime benefits through this program just as ALL UNITED STATES CITIZENS. |
| PUBLIC OPTION: This is for all Americans and every insurance Company to participate. The option is, you can opt in or opt out. |
| PREMIUM COSTS: Anyone that already has medical insurance and whose take-home pay is less than $80,000 per year, there will be a 50% reduction in their monthly and/or yearly premiums. (If you pay monthly, you will note a 50% decrease – if you pay yearly, you will receive a 50% decrease.) |
| PRESCRIPTION COSTS: If you make less than $70,000 per year, ALL prescriptions will be $40.00. If you are currently paying less than $40.00 per prescription, depending on your take-home pay, the amount will remain the same. |
| MENTAL ILLNESS: Frankly, lets just face it, most if not all Americans are in great need of some type of psychological treatment, however, some refuse to acknowledge it. The following group of people are in great need of a lobotomy if the fall into any of the following:
If you are for health care reform, then it is obvious that you need some type of financial assistance with your medical costs. If you are against health care reform, you are either rich, young, never sick and/or have a cold heart. Anyone, who does not care about someone else’s life, has to be truly merciless. |
| GUARANTEED COVERAGE & INSURANCE MARKET REFORMS: Insurance companies will no longer be able to engage in discriminatory practices that enable them to refuse to sell or renew policies due to an individual’s health status. In addition, they can no longer exclude coverage of treatments for pre-existing health conditions. The bill also protects consumers by prohibiting lifetime and annual limits on benefits. |
| ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS: Recognizing the special needs of small businesses, those with payrolls that do not exceed $500,000, are exempt from the employer responsibility requirement. |
| INSURANCE COMPANIES: Insurance Companies cannot put ANY limitations in changing rates on premiums due to health status, gender, race or any other factors. Under this proposal, premium rates only vary when and if a person makes less than the eligibility requirement and/or has a loss in employment. |
| EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY: The plan builds on the employer’s sponsored coverage that exists today. Employers will have the option of providing health insurance coverage for their workers or contributing funds on their behalf. Employers that choose to contribute will pay an amount based on eight percent of their payroll. Employers that choose to offer coverage must meet minimum benefit and contribution requirements specified in the proposal. |
| INSURANCE EXCHANGE: Because this health care reform covers ALL United States citizens – with the same coverage as our federal government i.e. politicians – this plan does not need address Insurance Exchange. |
| INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY: Except in cases of hardship, once market reforms and affordability credits are in effect, individuals will be responsible for obtaining and maintaining health insurance coverage. Those who choose to not obtain coverage will pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of modified adjusted gross income above a specified level. The reason this is in place: You would have to be a dunderhead not to agree with this plan as it covers you and every single U.S. citizen. |
| COSTS: Currently, insurance Companies earn over $200 million and they and other multi-million dollar Companies will be able to contribute to the nation’s taxes. Additionally, those individuals who earn $100,000 and more will also contribute to maintain costs. Currently the United States of America pays over $4,000,000,000 to protect visiting world leaders, current and past presidents as well as other “protectees.” To help pay the cost of healthcare, Public Law 103-329 will no longer be in effect but a new law will be put in place. Therefore, only current president Barack Obama and former president George H. Bush will be the ONLY ones to receive protection of the United States Secret Service. (The new public law will remain in effect for current and one previous president.) This new law effects William J Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Nancy Reagan, James (Jimmy) Carter, their spouses and descendants. Simply put, the above mentioned will no longer use the United States Secret Service or any other lifetime governmental assistance and Public Law 103-329 does not and will exist for them. |
REFERENCE MEANINGS:
medicine and others without this term and meaning being specialized or used as any other meaning. Humans are commonly registered at birth. Registration is the process by which most people are given a person.
politicians – this plan is very affordable. If not, ALL of our politicians have agreed to take a pay-cut because they are aware that they work for THE PEOPLE.
employers to comparison shop among private and public insurers. It works with state insurance departments to set and enforce insurance reforms and consumer protections, facilitates enrollment, and administers affordability credits to help low and middle income individuals and families purchase insurance. Over time, the Exchange will be opened to additional employers as another choice for covering their employees. States may opt to operate the Exchange in lieu of the national Exchange provided they follow the rules of the federal law.
family is eligible to qualify for help from the government.
alone does not qualify a person to receive Medicaid benefits unless they also fall into one of the defined eligibility categories. Medicaid WILL provide medical assistance for all poor persons especially in the case of emergencies. All claims will be paid after financial income is verified.
|
| CONTROLLING COSTS: The bill will reduce the growth in health care spending in a numerous ways. Investing in health care through stronger prevention and wellness measures, increasing access to primary care, health care delivery system reform, the Health Insurance Exchange and the public health insurance option, improvements in payment accuracy and reforms to Medicare and Medicaid will all help slow the growth of health care costs over time. These savings will accrue to families, employers, and taxpayers.
|
| ABORTION: This bill covers abortion with very few exceptions and will be decided between the women and discussions with her personal doctor. *Note that it does not leave room for pro-right and/or pro-life debate as it is not a government's right to decide what a woman should or should not do with her body. |
| | HOME | | Keeba | | Biography | | J Davis | | Bible Stuff | | Bath & Body Products | | Helen's Unique Designs | | Site Map | |
| All contents Copyright (Keeba Smith) or other copyright holders. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed for any commercial purpose. Privacy Policy |
| QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Q: Will Republicans be for or against Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan? A: In short, they will be for it as they need health care insurance like every other American. And if they or anyone else refuses to agree, then NOT ONE SINGLE REPUBLICAN and/or American Citizen will have Health Care. ******* Q: What is the difference between a "public option" and a single-payer plan? A: The "public option" is a single federal insurance plan that would compete with private insurance companies. Single-payer is a complete government-run health insurance system under which everyone is covered, e.g., Canada’s system. Long Answer: The so-called "public option" has taken several forms in several different health care bills this year in Congress. All of the proposals, however, would create a federal health care plan, something like Medicare, but for persons under age 65. Individuals and small businesses would be able to buy such a plan just as they would purchase a health care plan from a private insurance company. Proponents of a public option say it would create more competition for the private companies, holding prices down for everyone. Opponents say that private insurance companies would have a hard time competing against the public option, which they say would be less expensive and would eventually drive private companies out of business. In theory, a public plan could be unfair competition if granted the power to force doctors, hospitals and other providers to accept payments that are far below what private insurance plans pay. But analyses of the leading bills that have emerged predict that only a small percentage of Americans would actually take up the public health insurance plan. ******* Q: What is the difference between a "public option", a single-payer plan and Keeba’ Health Care Reform Plan? A: The "public option" is a single federal insurance plan that would compete with private insurance companies. Single-payer is a complete government-run health insurance system under which everyone is covered, e.g., Canada’s system. Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan is not ran by anyone but is monitored in the same manner as medical insurance for Barack Obama, John Boehner, Alan Grayson and George LeMieux. Every single U.S. citizen is eligible for this plan and there are not any penalties if anyone chooses to opt out. Long Answer: While the “public option” allows for competition with private insurance companies, Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan does not as all insurance companies will be insuring all Americans in the same manner as they insure all U.S. politicians and the U.S. president. Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan is comparable to the single-payer plan: EVERYONE is covered and no one is left out – eliminating separation between the “haves and the have nots.” While each and every single American is eligible for Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan, there may be some who might not want to participate due to rising cost. However, the cost will lower when all Americans realize that no one is exempt of the right to life, liberty and happiness a suitable and justifiable right that Harry S. Truman reiterated in 1945. ******* Q: If everyone has the same health care choices, will there be long waiting lines for health care? A: Yes. The same delay that our politicians face. (The same for Barack Obama, John Boehner, Alan Grayson and George LeMieux etc.) ******* Q: Should I be worried that creating a whole new bureaucracy will tax my children’s future? I'm a single mother who makes good money but even with 2 dependents 30% of my paycheck goes to taxes. Why does the Federal government have to control this why can't the individual states take on the health care issues as each sees fit? Offering different social service programs and expanding health dept services. The Federal gov running my health care scares me because they don't do a good job with anything else. I've been uninsured with chronic health care conditions, I've been on welfare with the birth of my first child, I've been in the military system growing up and married to it for a time. You will never find a perfect system but I do really feel some of my best care has been through my private health care PPO which allow me to make my own health care choices with my doctors for my various chronic health care condition. I believe eliminating pre-existing conditions is a good start A: Because these questions are long and entangled, I will attempt to answer each as they appear: The short answer is no, you will not have to worry about taxing our children’s future as it taxes the highest paid individuals and that will start with people a list of over 80 people such as Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Christy Walton, Jim C. Watson, Alice Walton, Alice Walton, Michael Bloomberg, Charles Koch, David Koch, Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Michael Dell, Steven Ballmer, George Soros, Donald Bren, Paul Allen, Abigail Johnson, Forrest Edward Mars, Jacqueline Mars, John Mars etc. However, those taxed the highest will begin with the president of the United States, congressional and senatorial members. As a person who makes “good money”, well you will follow under the guidelines of the middle-class and considered the lowest taxed. As you stated, the government has not done a good job with mandating services, however it has previously setup a plan for you to take care of yourself if your children should abandon you. In addition, you do have water and electricity. Furthermore, the government or some organization should have a system in place to help those individuals that do not have health care insurance. Consider yourself blessed to already have that in place, as there are over 30,000,000 people who do not. To leave each State in with their own pool of resources to affordable health care is unfair and as you stated, too costly as the excess of cost will have to be divided among the middle-class; which is were you currently fall. You stated that you were dealing with a chronic illness, pregnant on welfare etc. First, the government provided for you while on welfare, which is another government run system that you and millions of Americans use. Keeba’s Health Care Reform Bill is not a fix-all system, but a work in progress that will ultimately help save the middle class - and ultimately will stop squeezing out the lower class. In short, why would we want to eliminate or exclude anyone from receiving adequate and affordable health care? Furthermore, your tax dollars are already being used to help pay for the Iraqis to receive medical care. ******* Q: There is a lot of “fear mongering.” How do I decipher the truth and will not be caught in a web of lies? A: In short, do your research. Long Answer: When dealing with a rational argument some will resort to loaded words that contain a greater emotional component then their definition allows. Words such as "socialized” or "liberal" have a different emotional meaning to an American than they do to a Canadian. To aid in the debate, sometimes it is necessary to replace an emotionally loaded word with a closely related, but less emotionally loaded one. For example, "universal" instead of "socialized". Another strategy that can help in the debate over health care reform in the U.S. is to look at those who are already in your future. Canada has had a Universal Health Care System for at least 60 years. If you are worried that, as you age, you'll receive less health care, then just look North. Elderly people receive just as much care in Canada as they do in the U.S. A Universal system has one major benefit. It reduces anxiety and you will not need to worry about losing care because you lost your job, or are similar to Dick Cheney who is 69 years old and has suffered five (5) heart attacks. ******* Q: The government seems to fail at everything it touches, for example: running large-scale programs such as Social Security, and even more recently, the Cash-for-Clunkers program (which is a tiny program compared to the budget projected for healthcare). How would a government-run healthcare system be any different? What will the government do differently with this program to ensure its success? A: Social Security has been working for Americans for over 75 years. If you ask some people, they will say it runs quite well, whereas others might deem differently. But, the government cannot and will not ever please everyone. Additionally, Medicare has been working very well for Americans. Again, because we cannot please all the people all the time, that is why you do not have to participate in Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan. It is YOUR RIGHT as well as YOUR CHOICE. ******* Q: Would Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan be too expensive? A: No, because Keeba’s Health Care costs would be lower than the current U.S. system due to lower administrative costs. The United States spends 50 to 100% more on administration than single payer systems. By lowering these administrative costs the United States would have the ability to provide health care, without managed care, increase benefits and still save money. ******* Q: Why doesn’t the United States have universal health care as a right of citizenship? A: The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. 28 industrialized nations have single payer universal health care systems, while 1 (Germany) has a multi-payer universal health care system similar as to the one former President Clinton proposed for the United States. ******* Q: Doesn’t the United States already have the best health care system in the world? A: Short Answer: No. Long Answer: Try these facts:
having the best trained health care providers and the best medical infrastructure of any industrialized nation. ******* Q: Would Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan deprive citizens of needed Services? A: Short Answer - No. Can you read? This includes EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN INCLUDING ALL OF YOUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. Long Answer these are the facts:
Health Care Reform Plan, all would have limitless access care. There would be no lines as in other industrialized countries due to the oversupply in our providers and infrastructure, and the willingness/ability of the United States to spend more on health care than other industrialized nations. ******* Q: Would Keeba’ Health Care Reform Plan result in government control and intrusion into health care resulting in loss of freedom of choice? A: Short Answer - Yes and no. Keeba’ Health Care Reform Plan is for all Americans and we would know the health and business of our federal government just as they would the average U.S. Citizen. Long Answer: Under Keeba’ Health Care Reform Plan, you will not be forced to see providers on the insurer’s panel to obtain medical benefits thus undercutting patient confidentiality and taking health care decisions away from the health care provider and consumer. Although health care providers fees would be set as they are currently in 90% of cases, providers would have a means of negotiating fees unlike the current managed care system in which they are set in corporate board rooms with profits, not patient care, in mind. Taxes, fees and benefits would be decided by the insurer which would be under the control of a diverse board representing consumers, providers, business and government. It would not be a government controlled system, although the government would have to approve the taxes. The system would be run by a public trust, not the government. Conclusion: Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan is administered by a state public health system that would be much more democratic and much less intrusive than our current system. Consumers and providers would have a voice in determining benefits, rates and taxes. Problems with free choice, confidentiality and medical decision making would be resolved. ******* Q: Under Keeba’ Health Care Reform Plan, are there any pre-approval lists to consider? A: No, there would be no management of care unlike the current managed care system which mandates insurer pre-approval for services. ******* Q: Is Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan just another form of universal health care and/or socialized medicine that would be unacceptable to the public? A: Short Answer - Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan, is not socialized medicine and would be preferred by the majority of the citizens of this country. Long Answer: Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan is not socialized medicine. It is health care payment system, not a health care delivery system. Health care providers would be in fee for service practice, and would not be employees of the government, which would be socialized medicine. Keeba’s Health Care Reform Plan Single payer health care is not socialized medicine, any more than the public funding of education is socialized education, or the public funding of the defense industry is socialized defense. In a October 20, 2005 Harris Poll, 60 to 75% of Americans would like a universal health care system. ******* |