You heard what McConnell and Boehner said....It isn't and issue to leave thousands un-insured.

the rethuglicans could care less about we, the people. they have no plan and no intention of providing insurance coverage for us. paul ryan would like to throw us off the cliff and be at the mercy of insurance companies! paul ryan's office hangs up when calling to express an opinion (eg on jobs, student loans,health care, etc) and he is supposedly my "representative--pitiful!!! Rethuglicans forget that Pres Obama used rummy's law as a guide--no wonder it is called Obamney Care. now the rethuglicans are busy spreading lies about the Affordable Health Care act.

Republicans are morons who only care about their rich buddies,they do not care about seniors, the poor,or the disabled you see these people cannot filled their pockets we are objects in their eyes they they stand tall for their lobbyist friends and some of the democrats are in this too.

oh my goodness 16% of repukes thinks otherwise so far. who are these aliens?

Yes, They are morons, greedy bastards. They have never cared about middle class or the poor people. Pharmaceutical companies (I used to work for one that just got fined 3Billion Dollars), and insurance companies. They have so much power over Repyblicans that all that money blinds them by its glitters! Yes, some like Hateful Hannity keeps telling that he used to be poor, and so did Bonehead leader. Both have forgotten where they came from.

And that Mcconnell guy did not think 33 million people's lack of insurance was an issue! His state Kentucky has large number people in those mountains and coal miner country. The guy is so rich, he does not consider uninsured as an issue.

Republicans care only for keeping their wealthy "benefactors" happy. That would include, most especially, the wealthy, profitable, greedy health insurance companies.

Foxworld will keep the lies and propaganda going for them, too. They get paid well to keep the disinformation going.

They make me want to vomit. I can't even look at McConnell or Boehner without feeling sick. This is madness, just madness. These people are truly dangerous.

They really DO NOT CARE, the get paid well NOT TO CARE ABOUT US!

I am an independent consultant, a trained economist, and a capitalist. Now, I've wondered much of my professional life when, if ever, conservatives will learn that "compassionate capitalism" can and does exist, and when we design programs to assist the less fortunate IN CONJUNCTION WITH federal and state governments, everyone wins, and makes the almighty profit without excessive greed. The afordable care act will not only insure the poor and struggling working folks, but provide for people to have their own ins policy, be responsible for themselves, and stop the very sick from arriving at the emergency room when it's too late to treat their stage 4 cancers, and leaving the bill for others with inurance to help pay thru higher permiums or for taxpayers to handle with their 1040's every year. Are these conservatives stupid? blind? being told what to think by talk radio? or all the above????

Republicans get $billions$ in donations from physicians and insurance companies that are lobbying to ensure the US taxpayer continues to get ripped off worse than any other country for medical care that is inferior to almost every other developed nation.

AND.

Republicans want to bankrupt inner city emergency rooms where tens of millions of uninsured US citizens receive the only medical care they had access to before Pres. O got the Affordable Care Act passed.

Physician income is doubling every 10 years, and this already accounts for 0.15 of every $dollar$ you earn because no new medical schools have been built for 30 years.

And doctors want to keep it that way.

No, they have no health plan to coverage 30 million plus American, only repeal and run. I have been waiting since W. Bush till today, but not luck. What make you think they would come up with a solution?

Check out this amazing article: Romney Invested in Medical-Waste Firm That Disposed of Aborted Fetuses, Government Documents Show on

motherjones dot com/politics/2012/07/romney-bain-abortion-stericycle-sec

[change dot to period]

some people suggest to post on conservative website like Red State or Daily Caller, etc. Twitt, Tumblr, Youtube, etc. the story. Thanks.

Definitely NOT! Turtleman McConnell's comments make that clear. I hope the good people of Kentucky get smart AND GIVE HIM THE BOOT IN THE NEXT ELECTION HE'S UP FOR. I think that might be in 2014, if memory serves, so we still have 2 more years of this @!$%# in office.

By the way, no one on the Supreme Court has said that the Affordable Care Act is a tax. The Court said the mandate is constitutional under the taxation powers of the federal government. Those are two very different things. For one, there are a huge range of provisions in the ACA that have nothing at all to do with the mandate. Thus, penalty is not a tax, but simply a penalty for failing to buy health insurance to take responsible of your health.

@Sen

Of course the GOP don't care for middle class or poor people getting health care. They only care about those companies that have bought and paid for them with millions of $ in bribes. PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES.

The GOP know who they are working for and it's not the average citizen in this country and certainly not the constituents who voted for them. It's the private companies stuffing their pockets and bank accounts.

If they had the welfare of the people who voted for them at heart, they would have passed an infrastructure bill by now to fix those bridges in their districts that are about to fall down.

Kelly, That's because it isn't a tax. It is a penalty for those who can afford health care, but want a free ride, thus driving up everyone's costs. It is a penalty they (1% to 2%) will pay for through their income tax. No one else gets taxed. It is an excellent mandate. It is the only way it can be made affordable.

Plus, why should we pay for someone who can afford to pay? That's freeloading. It isn't fair!

No. Those darned Republicans aren't interested in giving away anythinig that people could be enabled to get on their own...

absolutely, apparently, GOP & their supporters prefer free riders, and then they wonder why we have federal deficit problem. As you know, private health insurance premium has been increased 700% since 1969 according to consumer watch dog. Thus, ACA is the right thing to have and a step closer to single pay.

The partisan Supreme Court agrees with Obama! The Republicans don't want anything Obama program to succeed. They are the party of hate, hate, hate. We need to move on and the party of hate have loss this battle!

I do not know anybody that is going to pay any new taxes for ObamaCare.

Summary of tax increases:

• Broaden the Medicare tax base for millionaires: $210.2 billion
• Annual fee on health insurance providers: $60 billion
• 40% tax on "Cadillac" insurance over $10,200/$27,500 per year: $32 billion
• Fee on manufacturers and importers of branded drugs: $27 billion
• 2.3% on manufacturers/importers of certain medical devices: $20 billion
• Raise AGI floor to 10% on medical cost tax deduction: $15.2 billion
• Limit flexible spending cafeteria plans to $2,500: $13 billion
• All other revenue sources: $14.9 billion
• Uninsured through 2015: $95, or up to 1% of income
• Uninsured after 2015: $695 or 2.5% of income

The tax for uninsured US citizens will provide funding for physicians and emergency rooms that are going bankrupt in low income communities because the recession has made it impossible for most of their patients to pay for care.

You won’t have to pay the tax if:

• you’re not in the U.S. legally;
• you’re in prison;
• you’re poor (measured two different ways);
• you’re a member of an Indian tribe;
• you’re in a period of being uninsured that’s less than three months long;
• your religion forbids getting health insurance; or
• you get a waiver from HHS.

@Kelly independent

I read that article earlier today. Surprising to read that. I guess that's when he was 'pro-choice'. Also he is trapped by the fact he called the ACA a tax because now what does he call his 'mandate' in the state of MA?

And NO, the republicans do not care about people who cannot afford the 'privilege' of heath insurance.

They have no plan, just repeal, reapeal repeal lets hope they fall flat on their faces this time...

I just want to know, who's going to pay for this shiny new bobble? The Middle Class will get taxed to pay for this. People can call it a penalty if they want, but the deciding Justice that upheld the ACA called the individual mandate a tax, not a penalty. It was the only reason he decided to uphold it, because Congress has the right to levy taxes.

The CBO has already doubled the cost of implementation of the ACA from their initial cost. It will not pay for itself. It will bankrupt this country.

As President Obama and Congress crafted the largest national health insurance program since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, they insist that the final product will add "not one dime" to the federal deficit.

But cost projections are notoriously unreliable, and history is filled with examples of federal programs - especially in health care - that cost far more than originally predicted.

In 1965, the House Ways and Means Committee estimated that the hospital insurance program of Medicare - the federal health care program for the elderly and disabled - would cost $9 billion by 1990. The actual cost that year was $67 billion.

In 1967, the House Ways and Means Committee said the entire Medicare program would cost $12 billion in 1990. The actual cost in 1990 was $98 billion.

This health care overhaul will bankrupt our nation and no one seems to care. History has shown it.

Here is how it will effect each of the 50 states.....To long to post all. So go to the sight.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57462359/a-look-at-the-health-care-law-in-all-50-states/

India, I'm late but the powers on. Came on during the night. I have never in my life seen a storm like Friday. Thunder that sounded like cannons, Lightening better than fireworks, The rain and the wind were unbelievable. One tree missed our garage by 3 inches, other limbs came down and it twisted trees in our woods ever which way. Many in Ohio are with out power and may be 8th july before powers restored. This will be a 4th many will never forget. Please keep Ohioans and so many who are trying to survive the storm, the damage and the heat in your prayers.

I agree Boner and McConnell have made me sick for long time. Ohio and Kentucky have some very poor people. Many wonder where next meals coming from. For these two very wealthy men not to care makes them sub human! One thing for sure they will fall off there pedestal one day , but the poor they will do as they have done keep putting one foot in front of the other and do the best they can.

The ACA is just another entitlement we can't afford right now.

No, not as long as there is tons of money to be made from keeping 30 million people uninsured. This keeps all medical costs up so they have money to line their pockets . The Republicans are all about how rich they can get and to hell with everyone else.Plan and Simple. Maybe you can be one of them the few,the hateful,the greedy, the Republicans.

@DrillBaby,

Oh just give up.

The only people that pay the personal income tax fee for ObamaCare are:

• Middle Class and wealthy that choose to not buy health insurance
• But who will eventually show up at an emergency room demanding health care

Also known as: stupid people.

Poor people and people with religious beliefs that prohibit them from going to an emergency room don't pay anything.

You are defending stupid people.

@Crackhead Awards

I think that guy gets his information from Newsmaxx or Townhall Magazine in extra big print and 'little words' for easier comprehension.

The standing dean of LC College is threatening to shut down the College because the ACA offers abortion coverage and he don't want to provide such a sinful program to his faculty. The GOP will even go that far to abolish this plan.

@Ethelouise,

I think that guy gets his information from Newsmaxx or Townhall Magazine in extra big print and 'little words' for easier comprehension.

DrillBaby claims to have a PhD in electrical engineering.

Mastering the entire body of knowledge in one field tends to obliterate the ability to learn new information in all other areas that conflict with that body of knowledge.

Electrical engineering is the profession that determines how to deliver electrical residential power, most of which comes from coal, oil, and nuclear.

Hence the nickname.

@Crackhead Awards

My Dad was an electrical engineer. But he did not think like that. My Dad also knew that labor was being outsourced to make television way back in the 80's. I asked him for advice to buy my 1st television and wanted to buy American, he just told me they don't make them here anymore, they got rid of the 'union labor'. That was 1982.

Whenever I buy something labeled for medical use like a simple pump, it cost more than twice as much. The pump not labeled medical and is exactly the same and works just as good. This is the root of the problem with medical costs.

We also need to address FRAUD. I would bet this is at least 20% of the cost of medicare/medicaid. I looked at a bill for my carpal tunnel surgery and what shocked me the most is the cost of the procedure. This is a 20 minute procedure that costs nearly $3000 and it takes me 8 weeks to heal. If I brought my car in to put in a new engine, it would take several days and cost me about $3000 for a used engine with low miles, but it would work perfect after the job was done. The point here is that carpal tunnel is an EASY surgical procedure and the engine is a difficult procedure where both are machines being repaired. A doctor is basically a mechanic that works on an organic machine rather than an inorganic machine. The major difference is that a car can be replaced where as your body cannot be replaced "yet". Doctors only "PRACTICE" medicine (remember that), so why should they make so much money from it. A doctor can NEVER give you a definitive solution, only a treatment or a procedure that may or may not work. If it does work, it is not perfect and will most probably have some side effects. So, again, why should medical care cost so much when it is not an exact science? My answer: GREED!!!!!!!!

So, everyone NEEDS health care insurance because it will keep the overall costs down for everyone.

Correct, Tod, and

Correct RaleighFrank! #1.8

@Ethelouise,

Off topic, but this may help to understand some of the troll postings.

I have the same degree as DrillBaby, and I worked briefly for a major power company after Three Mile Island.

The power company made us all watch propaganda videos with quite a bit of false information. We were expected to remember and repeat the false information as if it is true.

Kind of an Orwellian 1984 experience.

There was one thing that claimed that nuclear waste is only dangerous for a few months after refueling because of iodine vapor. Radioactive cesium can replace potassium in the human body, and the cesium remains dangerous for several centuries. Plutonium is dangerous for millions of years. Used fuel contains tons of both.

Quite a few companies are doing this kind of thing to their employees.

Ethelouise, Drill baby gets a lot wrong.

Technically the mandate should only impose the "tax" on you if you choose never to have medical insurance but still expect the rest of us to pay for the extra cost of when you get sick. Maybe it is just me but I would much rather opt in with everyone else so cost is lowered and medical care is affordable and preventive care can actually exist in the US. As it is we are making the pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment industries bigger billionaires while we fall further behind other industrialized nations as they actually set healthy trends with preventive care and cover everyone who need medical care. I would gladly give a bit to help my fellow man in need but I'll pass on make the richest in the country richer by maintaining a broken system. LET'S ALL PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IDEA WAS A REPUBLICAN ONE PUT FORTH FIRST BY THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND TOUTED BY MOST CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS UNTIL PRESIDENT OBAMA ACTUALLY GET IT THROUGH CONGRESS. Is the problem really that Republicans would much rather TALK about solving a problem rather then actually getting their hand dirty while fixing one?

Technically the mandate should only impose the "tax" on you if you choose never to have medical insurance but still expect the rest of us to pay for the extra cost of when you get sick. ...

It actually does do these things.

The difference is that the tax does not apply to the poor.

It applies to those who choose to be free riders and not take responsibility for their own health care be opting into the system. It about personal responsibility remember when that mantra was right wing talking point but we have come to realize that the like all things right wing is a movable position once the Left begins to move toward it. Perhaps moving to a private island where only the right exists will help to keep your principles

Hi India, Pam, Ethelouise, Kelly, Billie, Rusty, GA Girl

How ya all doin? I just got a chance to watch the beginning of Ed's show where he was talking about "patient based health care" which he says is just a made up word by Frank Luntz. But I think Ed missed a chance here.

In my opinion, Patient based health care is a program were the patients' needs and rights are more important and put first and foremost over the profit motives of the private insurance companies... WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT OBAMACARE DOES.

So OBAMACARE IS PATIENT BASED HEALTH CARE! And that is certainly not what any of these conniving Repugs have in mind.

Doesn't that make sense? What do you all think?

@Crackhead

It's true that Repugs are getting lots of money from the private insurance companies to defeat Obamacare, and I'm sure many Repug doctors want it destroyed also. Especially those doctors who are in it mainly to make a lot of money rather than care for patients.

But the majority of doctors support Obamacare. I think it had the support of about 80% of doctors during the time they were putting it together. Those of course are the doctors who are more interested in patient care and are tired of the insurance companies interfering with their recommended patient care... by denying certain treatments or medications, etc.

@India and Ethelouise

Drill baby gets a lot wrong.

Of course, drill is conservative.

Brain not firing on all circuits.

@Crackhead

I have a question for you. What religion(s) prohibit going to emergency rooms or medical care of any kind? Do you know the name of any specific denomination? I know there are some religious groups who believe in faith healing to the exclusion of medical care... but I don't know which specific ones.

I know some like the Jehovah's Witnesses prohibit certain aspects of modern medicine like blood transfusions, but they do allow medical care otherwise... even surgery if necessary.

No. Those darned Republicans aren't interested in giving away anythinig that people could be enabled to get on their own...

Tell that to the 30 million people that don't have health insurance. Many of which the insurance companies want nothing to do with.

@ DScully 1.13 : I agree. I am glad that Supreme Court has upheld the Health Care Act by interpreting mandate to be legal under Govt's ability to taxation clause , and did not reject it as unconstitutional.

WE ALL AMERICANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S THIS GREAT INITIATIVE FOR ALL.

@ DScully 1.13 : I agree. I am glad that Supreme Court has upheld the Health Care Act by interpreting mandate to be legal under Govt's ability to taxation clause , and did not reject it as unconstitutional.

WE ALL AMERICANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S THIS GREAT INITIATIVE FOR ALL.

@Crackhead,

Supposedly you're an engineer and can do math. Look at your post #1.18 and add up all the new revenue over the next ten years. It's going to come up to a little more than $500 billion dollars when you include the new taxes that you didn't post. Then add the $500 billion dollars in projected Medicare 'savings' and tell me how that adds up to $1.76 trillion dollars, the CBO's most recent estimates for the ACA.

How can Liberals look at anyone with a stright face and say, "This massive entitlement is not going to add a penny to the deficit?" The truth is, it will add trillions to the deficit. Do the math Libs. It doesn't add up. Our politicians are lying to us and Liberals are falling for it.

drill,

it is very considerate of the repub party to be so concerned about the deficit now, since they are the ones who caused this financial crisis.

how can REPUBS LOOK AT ANYONE with a straight face and say that they are now concerned about the deficit? especially when they are not willing to do everything they can to help deplete it.

@suzette,

I am not the Repulican Party. I speak for myself. I have been critical of Republicans and Democrats when they have overspent. If you are aware of any my posts, I'm all for repealing the Bush Tax cuts for everyone. Bring all the troops home and repeal the Medicare prescription drug entitlement. I want to go back to Clinton era taxation levels.

Don't say I have only been critical only of Democrats' deficit spending because it just isn't true. We are on an unsustainable path right now. Entitlement reform is the way out of it now, not adding a new one.

Republicans could care less about uninsured americans. They would rather kiss Netenyahu's hindquarters and continue ot give foreign aid to Israel and other countries that will never pay it back and offer us little in return.

These republicans would love to see us involved in a conflict with the Iranians for example, and are anxious to show the Russians how tough we are. Bush's cowboy diplomacy brought us 9/11 and an unnecessary war. If you want more of that, vote for Romney.

@Al,

I'm okay with not giving foreign aid to anyone. We can't afford it anyway. Most of Foreign Aid is just bribes to Nations that don't like us anyway.

@Al,

I would rather we spent that Foreign Aid money on our military so that we could help our Allies when they need it and defeat our Enemies when necessary.

@suzette,

I really hope you have a good supply of pencils because, with your beliefs about deficit spending, there are going to be a lot of people on the streets trying to sell pencils out of tin cups. You might survive if you have enough of them and you're a good sales person. My best advice to you is, invest in pencils and learn to sell stuff.

I tend to agree on foreign aid. The POTUS and the Congress should be required to make public all contributions to foreign countries and the rationale for those contributions. This is particularly true as we are in an economic crisis of our own and as I understand it are actually borrowing money form China to give to other countries. Unbelievable. Yet, anything that goes to the benefit of most of the american people is socialism.

As to the military, I for one, believe that we should do far more for our returning veterans. Many are joless and homeless. This is a national disgrace. These individuals should get first preference for government jobs at all levels and should always have first class healthcare coverage, particularly those who have been wounded or injured.

I do find it humorous when Al posts about things like aid to Israel and infers it is a Republican program. I just looked it up and aid to Israel has averaged 15% to 20% higher under Obama than in the 8 previous years.

One positive- I did see a study today where 75% of Obamacare would be paid for by those making less than $125k per year. At least we aren't going to be a transference health care system. Those who get it will actually pay for it.

Billie Mazza, I missed it all and will catch Ed at 11:00. The storm sure was something. But can count on the chosen ones who want to keep there money in the country club i would not be surprised of anything they said. If they played all of there comments the past 4 years. They would be the same old hog wash!

I heard the add and i love it! Obama calls it like he see them and he has Romney pegged . His record is all Romney has . He made a hell lot of money on firing people shutting down business and sending them else where. He was proud of his record when he started his run and now hes the great Job creator! This is a sign he will carry around his neck for ever!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57462359/a-look-at-the-health-care-law-in-all-50-states/

KENTUCKY

NUMBER OF UNINSURED: 640,000 state residents are uninsured, or
about 15 percent.

WHERE THE STATE STANDS: Kentucky has laid the
groundwork for a statewide health insurance exchange, but Democratic Gov. Steve
Beshear opted to wait for the Supreme Court ruling before moving doing anything
more.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW: Beshear says if the law is upheld, he will sign
an executive order creating the state's health insurance exchange.

@Billie

That troll probably got that 'study' from Newsmaxx or Townhall, not very reliable sources of news. Even though by their own admission they vote against their best interest they don't have to make us do that too...

Mom- Illinois is likely the "most" Democratic state in the Union, with te Gov being more than 10 years in Democratic hands and both Sen and HOR in Dems hands for history. No doubt they are doing well? Probably looking to expand health care for seniors and everything...

Crack- I would suggest many Union members will end up paying a tax on the "Cadillac Plans"- sort of by definition.

Pam, good to see you. We were concerned you'd lost power and AC! It's blistering hot out!

hi pam, i hope evrything is fine where you're at, me i'm in tacoma,washington and i'm not complaining about cold weather lately. you know those repukes are going down and in a big way. can you hear them crying louder and louder?

I wish it was true. But their priority was set already from the beginning. Most people keep on forgetting. I wish MSNBC have a text box always there: The GOP Congress works only to "make Obama fail". They want to cause failure.

If they really wanted to do something about health care for all they had 8 years of Bush, and two years controlling congress. I want President Obama to bring everything that he is planning out. GOP leadership does not have anything except the desire to cause this president to fail. We should have this in our mouth every time they come with a promise we know they are not going to fulfill.

The REPULSICONS could CARE LESS about ANYONE WHO IS NOT THEIR OWN SONS and FAMILY/FRIENDS !!! They ALSO DO NOT CARE ABOUT FIREMEN / COPS / FIRST RESPONDERS , Which they call "BIG GOVERNMENT " ! Oh WAIT !! The COUNTRY IS ON FIRE and ALOT of RICHY RICH REPUBLICONS HOUSES are BURNING ! NOW THEY WANT FIREMEN AGAIN !!!

I guess if the REPULSICONS could EVER COME UP with SOMETHING for the POOR and SICK , other than CLEANING UP their HOUSES ! WE the 99% MIGHT THEN HAVE A CHANCE WITH US99% !!!!!

They would pay for fire and police in their richy,rich neighborhoods and the hell with the rest.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57462359/a-look-at-the-health-care-law-in-all-50-states/

LOUISIANA

NUMBER OF UNINSURED: 886,000 state residents are uninsured, or
about 20 percent.

WHERE THE STATE STANDS: Louisiana has not implemented
health care exchanges, instead choosing to have the federal government create
and operate them. Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal and Attorney General Buddy
Caldwell oppose the health care law, and Louisiana is one of the states
challenging it in court.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW: If the law is upheld, Jindal
looks next to the fall election cycle, hoping Republicans will win the
presidency and take control of Congress and repeal the health care
overhaul.

Jindal will take the money.He always does.Just as soon as Obama is re-elected for he will fear for his own re-election.

LouisDavid, The hospitals and doctors in these GOP states will come down on them like a ton a bricks if they refuse Medicaid.

Right now they're spinning and lying to make the flat-earth people at the base happy; the "Let 'em die" crowd of head shakers.

They'll take the money or get voted out by the sane people in their states. Sooner or later these t-party folks will be shown up for the domestic enemies they are. They are clueless and ignorant.

@Louis David

Of course... the Repugs want to get rid of public teachers, police and firefighters who serve the 98%... and they want to privatize those services.... private schools and teachers, private police or security, private fire protection services... which only they, the 1% can afford and the rest of us are screwed.

@India

Yes... I certainly hope that the hospitals and medical professionals in these GOP run states will get on the asses of these idiot right wing nut Governors and legislations who are claiming they will refuse to implement the Medicaid provisions of Obamacare.

Turning down that money to provide healthcare of thousands of uninsured and poor citizens would be a sin as well as legislative malpractice. They have supposedly taken oaths to do what is the best for the citizens of their states.... and refusing to provide available health care is in violation of those oaths.

I do hope these middle class citizens in these states with Repug leadership, who keep voting against their best interests, will finally see the Repugs' true colors and whose interests they have at heart.... and vote them out of office.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/06/obamacare-supreme-court-regular-americans

1) Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime coverage limits on your insurance. Never again will you face the risk of getting really sick and then, a few months in, having your insurer tell you, "Sorry, you've 'run out' of coverage." Almost everyone I've met knows someone who had insurance but got really, really sick (or had a kid get really sick) and ran into a lifetime cap.

2) If you don't know someone who has run into a lifetime cap, you probably know someone who has run into an annual cap. The use of these will be sharply limited. (They'll be eliminated entirely in 2014.)

3) Insurers can no longer tell kids with preexisting conditions that they'll insure them "except for" the preexisting condition. That's called preexisting condition exclusion, and it's out the window.

4) A special, temporary program will help adults with preexisting conditions get coverage. It expires in 2014, when the health insurance exchanges—basically big "pools" of businesses and individuals—come on-line. That's when all insurers will have to cover everyone, preexisting condition or not.

5) Insurance companies can't drop you when you get sick, either—this plan means the end of "rescissions."

6) You can stay on your parents' insurance until you're 26.

7) Seniors get $250 towards closing the "doughnut hole" in their prescription drug coverage. Currently, prescription drug coverage ends once you've spent $2,700 on drugs and it doesn't kick in again until you've spent nearly $6,200. James Ridgeway wrote about the problems with the doughnut hole for Mother Jones in the September/October 2008 issue. Eventually, the health care reform bill will close the donut hole entirely. The AARP has more on immediate health care benefits for seniors. Next year (i.e., in nine months), 50 percent of the doughnut hole will be covered.

8) Medicare's preventive benefits now come with a free visit with your primary care doctor every year to plan out your prevention services. And there are no more co-pays for preventative services in Medicare.

9) This is a big one: Small businesses get big tax credits—up to 50 percent of premium costs—for offering health insurance to their workers.

10) Insurers with unusually high administrative costs have to offer rebates to their customers, and every insurance company has to reveal how much it spends on overhead.

UPDATE: Here's one more big benefit we've found out about since the ACA passed:

11) Free birth control and other preventative services for women, unless you work for a faith-based organization that opposes birth control.

oh mom i just love it when you provide the truth here.

Thanks Billie, but the truth is so easy to find, I can't take credit for it.

Just saw this GSK info on TV.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2011/Nov/drug-company-fined-for-avandia-marketing-96123537.html

Mom the truth is easy to find but to the repubs its hard to tell, lolol!!

yes it is for us normal folk but for the close-mined not so much. guess you have to want to hear the truth.

Right, and if Romney wins the Ryan Plan will be put into effect and the working poor and middle class will pay more in taxes.

Remember, when the GOP leadership talks about "the future of children" they are only thinking of their children and those of the top 15%. They want "their children" to continue controlling 94% of the financial wealth of the country. That is why the bottom 85% in the Ryan Plan will be "sharing the sacrifice" meaning they are the ones who will sacrifice while the top 15% will be sharing the wealth, just as it is now.

People, don't be mislead the GOP leadership does not have your interests in mind. They can't. They have received too much money from the top 15% to give into moral principles. Remember, Ayn Rand, "Greed and Egoism is good", GOP leadership and the top 15% teaches that to their young from the beginning of life.

"When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses." Shirley Chisholm

TM, We must keep putting the truth out, as they are now having to double down on their lies. Foxworld will keep the lies and propaganda coming fast and furious about how this is a TAX on the middle class, etc., etc., etc. this is government control, this is a pile of crap...whatever........

No, this is an essential thing for the country, a very good step in the right direction! There is a penalty for those who CAN AFFORD health insurance, but want a free ride at the cost of other's premiums being raised. This penalty, which will affect only 4 million people, (very small %) will be enforced through that person's income tax. No one else pays a tax!!!

And this tax isn't enforcible!

Mom, you are right. Did you guys know that we, the tax payers pay also for medical research but yet when the positive result of those researches come up and it is privatized only the wealthy is able to afford it. We are actually paying for their longevity. VP Cheney, just had a heart transplant even when he is over 60yrs. old. While there are others that are 59 and 60 who are denied it by insurance companies, no matter how much they pay. Doctors tells them that if you are over 60 you cannot survive a transplant. Only the wealthy (apparently) can withstand the operation. I know someone who just died needing a liver transplant and she was 46 yrs old. The insurance did not cover and she paid her own insurance for over 17 years. The last 5 years she had to pay double because they kept on raising her premiums. It is a racket and only the wealthy takes advantage of the good things that come out.

@Thankful Mom,

Every point you gave is valid.

I've had "Obamacare" since 1980. All federal workers and retirees have had everything on the list for decades.

Anybody that opposed the Affordable Care Act has got rocks for brains.

Crackheadawards. Yep. That includes certain so called engineers with a Phd.

People who oppose the AHCA are either ignorant or brainwashed by the Fox folks and the rest of the bitter, hate-filled, prejudice toxic talkers.

They don't realize how the Foxworld folks get paid by the very rich to keep their policies in place. And screw the rest of us. They have THEIRS ! Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, etc. are all multimillionaires. They are talking puppets for the wealthy and they got rich doing it. They will never tell the truth. Lying is too profitable for them!

Do you know what a paitient centered solutions are......? Nothing!

TM, I rest my case about their doubling down on the LIES! We were watching the baseball game and an Americans For Prosperity ad came on calling Obamacare the biggest tax increase ever! More tax and spend from the liberal Obama!

Isn't AFP the Koch brothers organization? How dare they? I literally screamed when I saw that LYING AD!

Geez, I scared my cat!! LOL

I know it was created in 1776 by the Centrist Party! And then we gave it to the Indians and they only had to pay with only a few shiny beads. And was a ancestor of Sarah Pailn!

"Patient-centered Solutions" means that patients will be left to come up with their own solutions to health care. If you don't have insurance coverage or the money to pay, the Repubs and the insurance companies will say to you, "Don't have coverage or money--really? That's sad, but it's too bad, Bud. Die, darn you!" Now THAT is the reality of "death panels."

Ugh you pullum plug!

@TMom & msmc

I think PATIENT CENTERED SOLUTIONS are REAL, and Obamacare is exactly that. In my view, Patient based health care is a program were the patients' needs and rights are more important and put first and foremost over the profit motives of the private insurance companies... WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT OBAMACARE DOES.

So OBAMACARE IS PATIENT BASED HEALTH CARE! It is also for the most part, a consumer or patient protection law to protect the average health insurance customer from being taken advantage of by those private health insurance companies... sort of like the customer protection agency set up by Elizabeth Warren to protect the average citizen against unscrupulous credit card companies.

But I agree with msmc, that is certainly not what any of these conniving Repugs have in mind when they talk about Patient centered solutions. What they want is for the private insurance companies to be allowed to continue to function just as they have in the past.... and for patients to be left to find their own solutions to their health care after their insurance companies discriminate and drop them from their policies.

@xxx ooo

LOL... what are you talking about? The Centrist Party? Indians pay with shiny beads? Sarah Palin? You pullum plug?

P.S. I'd like to pull Sarah Palin's plug... she is already brain dead after all.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+healthcare+video&mid=6D1EC367DAE7CB6493E36D1EC367DAE7CB6493E3&view=detail&FORM=VIRE3

The republicans do not care about anything except getting President Obama out of office. I have never in my lifetime seen such disrespect for a president."

So true!

You are so right! That has been their agenda since day one! They should cut their healthcare (the greedy bastards)!!!! I bet they have no problem with their health insurance. If they are going to leave Americans without healthcare, take away theirs!!!! That Fat-Jawed McConnell he needs to go back to KY and crawl under that rock he came out from under!!!1

Don't forget that the transvaginal ultrasound laws are mandated--and you have to pay for it on your own.

Hey I thought the right didn't like mandates lol

Irisheyes, Good point! They say they hate big government, too! LOL

They say a LOT of things that are just plain out lies!

@Viewer01

I agree. I will never understand the reasoning of republicans - pay people less so that they cannot afford health insurance then refuse to pay taxes so your employees get sick - and die!

All so you can have less money taken out of your profits. True patriots!

XXX OOO, That is really, really good!

@xxx ooo,

ROFLOL

I cannot lie I based it on half truths!

XXXOOO, Like your black cat! That's not Fester, is it?

Yes it is!

India I think he's a republican because he very demanding and gives little in return except dead bodies!

LOL. For some reason I thought Fester was grey and had stripes! My mistake.

Jackazilla is black. He has a real tiny white spot on his chest, and a white bikini on his bottom which you can't see till he rolls over. He looks totally black, but actually isn't.

@MJB in Des Moines

You know I keep looking for that button too!