Congrats to all the parents who have children that were previously denied coverage

Is this the best possible healthcare bill? I personally don't think it is, but I am so very happy for the parents of kids who were denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions. I can't imagine what they've been through and I hope this change goes smoothly for them...and that the insurance companies don't rush to find new ways to screw them.

There are many adults who deserve this today as well and I hate that they have to wait. I hope the majority of them can, but I understand the reality. I guess I just want to say that I'm thinking of you too. :hug:

With hemophilia in the family, I'm betting we will be offered -something-, but I doubt if it will cover what is needed to be covered, and I seriously doubt if it will be affordable. And before the cheerleaders jump on my negativity -- I've been through this nightmare for YEARS, and I don't expect the *tinkerbell fix* y'all think this bill is.

It's NOT all that and a bag of chips. Not from where I'm standing. I'll reserve my right to cheer when I find out just how much shit we're still going to have to deal with - mainly because the insurance companies are STILL in the mix, and they were ALWAYS making judgments of DEATH for my kid. Quite literally.


Universal healthCARE would have been so much better for the kids with genetic disorders who are DISCRIMINATED against from the moment they take their first breath.

Under this bill as I understand it premiums are tied to age and not health condition so your available coverage going forward should be the same cost as anyone else's in your same age bracket/family size.

And I seriously doubt the insurance companies are going to just charge US what they charge everyone else -because- of his genetic disorder. They've gamed us in the past - this bill is no protection of yet more gaming in the future.

There are some kids who have treatment bills close to a million dollars a YEAR with the same *category* of disorder. My kid, in actuality, costs less to keep healthy, because we are very keen on keeping him in a healthy lifestyle, and the fact that he has a mild version of the disorder. He has friends who have no genetic disorders, but have more healthcare costs, because of slack lifestyles.

But *he* gets labeled, and tossed in with the risk pool of the kids with the million dollar health costs.

He's been an insurance *leper* since he was born. His grandfather also had the same disorder - same problems.

The fact remains - this bill will NOT cover all the uninsured in this country. It's been noted by doctor's groups that 23 million will go with nothing. I fully expect my *radioactive* kid, the one the insurance companies rejected before, will be in that 23 million.

And so will other kids who have disorders that are *rare and costly*. Those people have been ignored in the past - this bill will do nothing for them now either.

Been there, been through it. Not expecting much now.

I understand your frustration with how the health insurance industry worked. However I don't think you understand what this legislation does for you.

FACTBOX: US healthcare bill would provide immediate benefits

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF ENACTMENT

*Insurance companies will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated and annual limits are to be restricted.

*Insurers will be barred from excluding children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

The second point affects you directly this year. It will ensure that you are able to purchase insurance. I dont have time right now to look up the part of the bill that says that premiums will no longer be allowed to be based on health condition but only tied to age but I am almost positive thats in the bill that was passed. This will insure that they cant charge you an exorbitant sum when you do buy insurance. Well not any more than they charge the family next door with no conditions whatsoever.

I think you should look more into what this bill does and does not do. I think you will find this law will provide you with much needed relief.


My son has diabetes I know intimately how a chronic condition changes everything in your life. We have been fortunate in that he was covered when he was diagnosed and we have held that coverage ever since, in fact we have made life decisions based on the fact that we needed to keep that coverage, thankfully after today we no longer have to worry about losing his coverage.

Leaving the insurance industry in the mix is akin to licensing a known child molestor as a principal of a kindergarden.

I'll BELIEVE this bill will protect us ONLY when I am offered insurance at a rate *I* deem affordable.

But, after decades of getting shat on by this evil fucking industry - I'm not going to believe a thing until it is IN my hand, covers EVERY possible thing that could happen to my kid, and doesn't force us to mortgage our lives away to do so.

I realize you're trying to reassure me - but these cartels are pros at *getting around* laws and rules. I had to wait several YEARS to get an implant to help with my own problem. I have nerve damage in both arms. There was stacks and stacks of case studies, showing the implant worked. HOWEVER -- the cases only showed that it would work with ONE arm.

I was DENIED because there was no study showing it worked with *both* arms. It took YEARS to get them to pay for the surgery. And in those years I had to use massive amounts of drugs that I didn't need, IF I'd had the surgery.

ONE *little* technicality. YEARS of bullshit. They are MASTERS at blowing smoke and fucking with people's lives. Do you really think a somewhat *vague* bill is going to stop the BS?

We'll see how well this bill works when the rubber hits the road.

Where is it from? A link would be nice.

From one parent to another, you're living a hell I hope to never experience and I hate that this is your reality.

anyone else. Not surprising.

This bill may or may not help ME, but you won't hear one word from me bitching about that and ignoring those who WILL be helped.

That's the difference between adults and spoiled children.

and with the battle Donnachaidh has been fighting, I think it's understandable to not trust insurance companies with or without this bill being passed.

I'm really REALLY fucking STUNNED at the depths some here are going for their self-righteous *win*.

What a hateful fucking country we live in. These people, especially the other poster -- should be ashamed. No wonder other countries hate us. Look at the way we *act* towards the ones who ask for help.

think of Americans as boorish selfish clods.

The REST of the civilized world doesn't shit on it's neighbors, or calls them selfish when they speak up about very real problems.

Jeez, nice sentiments coming from a *vet*. Cleaning cages seems appropos, considering how *compassion* is oozing out of your pores.

You gotta start somewhere.

the number of people calling themselves progressives who are absolutely UNCARING of the plight of those who are still uncovered is appalling.

the ones who can sully their *win*.

Nice American sentiment, isn't it?

Though we were never denied as we had the coverage before the Diagnosis of our son we have been mostly job locked because of it. Thankfully my wife loves her job as a teacher and had no intention of going anywhere but this bill takes a huge weight off our shoulders. We now have the option of moving closer to family something we contemplated a few years ago but decided we couldn't strictly because of health insurance issues.

I wish it kicked in sooner for adults as well but I am happy that it will kick in.

exclusions were for group health plans? FYI - group health plans have had limits on pre-ex exclusions for years. IIRC, it was part of the HIPAA legislation back in the 90's.

You get credit for coverage under your prior group plan that reduces the 12 month exclusion period under the new plan as long as you don't have a gap in group health plan coverage.
COBRA can cover that gap.


From Federal DOL's website http://www.dol.gov/elaws/ebsa/health/4.asp

A limitation or exclusion of benefits for a condition based on the fact that you had the condition before your enrollment date in the group health plan. A pre-existing condition exclusion may be applied to your condition only if the condition is one for which medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received within the 6 months before your enrollment date in the plan. A pre-existing condition exclusion cannot be applied to pregnancy (regardless of whether the woman had previous coverage), or to genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis. A pre-existing condition exclusion also cannot be applied to a newborn or a child who is adopted or placed for adoption if the child has health coverage within 30 days of birth, adoption or placement for adoption and does not later have a significant break in coverage. If a plan provides coverage to you through an HMO that has an affiliation period, the plan cannot apply a pre-existing condition exclusion. A pre-existing condition exclusion can not be longer than 12 months from your enrollment date (18 months for a late enrollee). A pre-existing condition exclusion that is applied to you must be reduced by the prior creditable coverage you have that was not interrupted by a significant break in coverage. You may show creditable coverage through a certificate of creditable coverage given to you by your prior plan or insurer (including an HMO) or by other proof. The plan can apply a pre-existing condition exclusion to you only if it has first given you written notice. If your plan has both a waiting period and a pre-existing condition exclusion, the exclusion begins when the waiting period begins. In some states, if plan coverage is provided through an insurance policy or HMO, you may have more protections with respect to pre-existing condition exclusions.


Here is another site with specific examples

http://healthinsuranceinfo.net/getinsured/dc/group-health-plans/can-a-group-health-plan-limit-my-coverage-for-pre-existing-health-conditions/

Of course, they are 30 and 32.

One owes 2600 for a visit to the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with SVT. He won't be seeing the doctor anytime soon, despite recommendations. His hours were cut and he no longer works enough hours to qualify for his employer's insurance plan. That will change soon, I'm sure; mandating that he purchase insurance will strain his already over-burdened budget and probably ensure that he will not have the money to actually see a doctor. Depends on the subsidies, I guess.

The other also has no insurance, having been laid off; he's collecting unemployment, working a part-time minimum wage job, and finishing a degree. He'll probably, eventually, also be eligible for some kind of subsidy, which still won't get him in to see a doctor. He's still, with his part-time job and unemployment, paying on the care he got last winter for a MRSA infection.

I don't give a shit if they are in their 30s. They are still my kids.

My grandson, thankfully, is already covered under the Oregon Health Plan, which saved his life in '05.

I hear you and understand entirely.

They don't stop being your kids when they become adults. If anything you worry more for them :hugs:

I'm a mom, and their words don't move me.

It's true that they don't stop being your kids when they become adults. I adore my men as much now as I did when they were newborn, then toddlers, then young boys, then young men starting to make their own decisions. I'm still there to support them in whatever they need; the difference is that they now return that support. We're a team.

Thanks for the :hug: