Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Goofy Bulletin
Date:	7/28/2017 2:02:02 AM

Skinny Repeal was defeated as McCain votes against it. Now, let's see if the 2 parties can put together the fix that is needed.

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	Goofy Bulletin
Date:	7/28/2017 8:47:43 AM

This was one interesting drama to watch.   In the end, the GOP could not pass legislation because they really had no unified ideas about what to replace the ACA with, and were convincing themselves that it would be a good idea to actually pass a bill that none of them wanted to become law.   Passing flawed legislation they HOPED would be stopped in the House was a bit like playing Russian Roulette, I think.  

And John McCain, ever the loyal soldier, posted the 3rd 'no' vote... enabling many GOP collegues to safely go on record as voting to kill the ACA because they were assured that their vote would come to nothing.   What a relief it must have been to them.    Much like all those votes to kill Obamacare in recent years, they could safely vote to kill it because they knew they would not have to face the consequences of their actions.

Now, it's crucial that a bipartisan Congress invest in fixing what is wrong with the ACA, although D Trump has made it clear that he would prefer to take the most cynical route.... allowing/encouraging the insurance markets to do harm to the most vulnerable citizens... counting on that increased suffering to punish ACA supporters.

We can't go on like this.   

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	McCain is a fool
Date:	7/28/2017 9:03:44 AM

He talks about tribalism in the Senate and yet Democrats vote in lockstep every single time while the GOP deliberates, compromises, etc. What is ironic is that on this particular vote he is the one who voted with the tribe.  But I doubt he sees the irony.  The GOP will be in a much better place when he is finally gone from the Senate.

There is no bipartisan fix possible with Obamacare because Democrats will not repeal the mandate or the taxes, fees or whatever the heck they are.  These have to go away or all we have is Obamacare with GOP fingerprints on it which will ultimately lead to single payer.  And all Democrats will want to do is throw more money at an abject failure.  Look at the history of the war on poverty, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, federally driven education, student loans, etc. for proof positive of that.  Failure is always met with a call for more taxes, more spending, more federal control and they are impervious to their own failures.

But all is not lost.  They just need to keep working. If I were McConnel I would cancel the summer recess until they pass a bill and send it to conference.  That will get them working on a compromise.

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Goofy Bulletin
Date:	7/28/2017 9:20:18 AM

WHAT ?/ CANCELSUMMER RECESSS? / these jerks have been working so hard this year at nothing , surely they not only nees a month off, but probably will vote themselves a 10% raise; sign me; ##neveragainwillivoteforanincumbentinCongress

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	McCain is a fool
Date:	7/28/2017 9:31:59 AM

I guess McCain wanted to bury the ax in Trump one last time.  I had a friend who was a POW in Hanoi with McCain, and he had nothing good to say about McCain.  He would not define the problem (like all good soldiers), but he just said McCain was not liked by the other POWs.  That opinion has stuck with me thru the years, and ever since he ran for Pres, I have lowered my opinion till today.  He voted as a personal revenge to Trump....period.  He is going out on a very low note.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Goofy Bulletin
Date:	7/28/2017 9:39:23 AM

I can't go along with that response.  The House passed repeal and replace and every GOP Senator except the three voted for something to go to conference.  We need to focus our ire on McCain and Murkowski.  Collins has been a consistent no so she is not the hypocrite here. But again, every time a vote happens the headlines read that repeal and replace is dead and then it comes back to life.  They just need to keep working on it because they recognize what a disaster it will be for the GOP if they don't follow through on their promise to the voters.

Name:	Old Diver -	Reply
Subject:	Could They?
Date:	7/28/2017 10:22:18 AM

  Does anyone believe congress could come up with a workable healthe care plan? They couldn't organize a 3 car funeral!

                                                                      Whom the Gods would destroy

                                                                     They get our government to help

Name:	CRD -	Reply
Subject:	Goofy Bulletin
Date:	7/28/2017 12:31:52 PM

In 3 lines or less CL, please explain "allowing insurance markets to do harm to the most vulnerable of citizens".  Over the next 8 years Medicaid spending in the Senate Bill would increase at twice the rate of the inflation, (twice that of Medicare expansion rate, which will only increase at the rate of inflation).  After 8 years, Medicaid expansion will mirror that of Medicare spending, ie, at the rate of inflation.  

Don't believe me?  Read the bill.  

So you are back to the pushing the elderly off the cliff motif again?

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Could They?
Date:	7/28/2017 12:53:32 PM

I heard an interesting suggestion this morning on one of the talk shows.  John Sheifer was on and I have always like to hear his thoughts on Washington, just becasue he has seen it all.  Anyway, they were talking about the health care bill and someone suggested that they get all the women, from both parties, and let them write a health care bill. Women work well together in groups and I think sometimes women have a very practical approach.  I've seen groups of men work together and it is always a crap shoot as to what will happen.  I think sometimes men too focused and winning and less about the end result. 

I think at this point, no matter what Trump wants, they should set aside health care and take it up again after the August recess.  There is just too much free floating emotion right now for them to get anything good done.  This is one of those issues where everyone needs to taka deep breath and figure out a good solution without it being a "democratic" solution (Obamacare) or a "republican" solution, which right now seems to be only to repeal Obamacare.  Right now, everyone is addicted to getting their "soundbite" and are not focused on anything that would be a reasonable solution. 

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	Could They?
Date:	7/28/2017 3:29:27 PM (updated 7/28/2017 3:31:42 PM)

I think your points are well taken. At the moment, just let healthcare "simmer" for awhile and move full steam ahead with many of the other plans, such as taxes, infrastructure, the "wall", cutting regulations, etc. I would not be opposed to getting a group of prominent women from all the different backgrounds related to solving the healthcare problem and see what they come up with. It would be worth the effort to get the "politicians" out of the picture and bring together experts from every segment of the economy that bears on this problem(doctors, lawyers, insurance companies, financial advisors), and any other players that could provide a meaningful input on this matter. Most "politicians" are concerned only with listening to lobbyists and getting reelected, and show "little" concern for the people they represent. The current state of our government affairs is a "prime" example of this situation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                As I continue to say, I do not support my taxes being used to provide health care insurance for anyone who does not take responsibility for making healthcare insurance a priority for themselves  and others they are responsible for. Why should I be paying for someone elses insurance when they "neglect" caring for their families? What "right" does the Federal Government have to require me to support someone's healthcare needs when they decide that "rolling" the dice and "pulling" slot machine levers  at casinos are more fun and take priority over providing healthcare for their family? The government has already enacted so many "welfare" benefit laws that there is a record of over 95 million workers who are not in the Labor Force today. Contrary to popular belief, our "taxes" can only support a limited amount of "free" government benefits. We continue to "ignore" the fact that our National Debt is over 20 trillion dollars. What happens when the Chinese decide we need to pay up?

qt

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	Punishing the people
Date:	7/28/2017 3:37:45 PM

Trump's statements have been that he wants the ACA to "implode"...which he could do by various acts of funding sabotage.... that could cause  the insurance industry to continue to raise premiums and pull out of less lucrative markets.    It's cynical and a obviously a threat to actually increase the problems we have with the ACA..... and he would let the insurance markets do harm to people who depend on the ACA.  That's not just cynical, it's sadistic, ....the kind of thing you would expect from a 3rd world dictator, not a US President.

The ACA is not just about Medicaid.   In the final "skinny bill", no reductions in Medicaid were proposed ....but 15 million people who were NOT Medicaid recipients would still have lost their insurance.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Goofy Bulletin
Date:	7/28/2017 3:54:31 PM

  Doc you have to remember when dealing with CL that he is an ideological idiot. I have challenged him to provide documentation of just one child dying in this country for lack of medical care, excluding neglect and/or abuse by the guardians or parents. I offered to provide  1000:1 of cases of uninsured children having their life saved, without insurance. Of course I was simply going to point him to Children's Hospital as my proof, figuring he must of never heard of their services. But wait, there's more! To buttress his argument he relates a conversation between himself and a female physician at Children's Hospital. So he knows they will treat anyone, at no cost, whether insured or not but still claims children's were dying in the streets before obammycare and will be doing so again immediately if it is repealed.

OF course you are also dealing with an idiot that refused to believe that there were provisions, before obammycare, that included coverage for pre-existing conditions. Something I had taken advantage of several times with job changes. He still refused to believe it. Vehemently denying that such provision existed. Even after others agreed with me and provided links to prove it. Only conceding when his fellow traveler goofy told him he was wrong. Liberals only belive liberals, who are the least reliable because they believe so much that just isn't so.

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Punishing the people
Date:	7/28/2017 4:39:14 PM (updated 7/28/2017 4:50:58 PM)

ACA is imploding long before Trump and there is not any D's who wish to change a thing about it, or else they could have spoken up, but they prefer to lock step vote.  Let it die on the vine.  They passed it in secret along mostly party lines.  They own it.

Republicans attempt to roll it back, and the d's said no along with the expected R's.  As more and more of it is implemented through 2022 and the full pain of ACA is realized.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Punishing the people - DAMN LIE
Date:	7/28/2017 7:22:31 PM

15 million people would lose their insurance.......a damn lie by dimokraps......15 million people would have been able to make their own choice about paying oBAMMIEcare stupid rates.

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	Punishing the people
Date:	7/28/2017 7:37:10 PM

You use the words cynical and sadistic to describe President Trump and the Republican Party regarding the fact that they were not able to move forward on "repealing" Obama Care. Why do those two words not describe you and the 50 Democrats who know that Obama Care is "imploding" and had rather see the "results" you describe occur instead of lifting a single finger to help. In hindsight, I guess they did lift the "middle" finger as their show of support. 

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	MCCAIN IS AN AMERICAN HERO
Date:	7/28/2017 9:48:40 PM

THE MISTAKE MITCHIE MADE WAS NOT INCLUDING COLLINS ON THE COMMITTEE. SHE IS A FORMER INSURANCE COMMISSIONER IN MAINE.

YOU CAN'T COVER PREEXISITNG WITHOUT THE MANDATE TO FORCE HEALTHY PEOPLE TO SIGN UP UNLESS THE GOVERNEMNT IS WILLING TO PAY THE COST WHEN THE SICK SIGN UP.  HIGH DEDUCTIBLES ARE DESIGNED TO CONTROL LARGER CLAIMS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALOT OF SICK PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO CAUSE PREMIUMS TO CONTINUE TO RISE EVEN WITH THE MANDATE.

TOO BAD THE RIGHT WAS PLAYING A SHELL GAME THE PAST 7 YEARS WITH NO REPLACEMENT PLAN.  THEY LIED AND WON AND NOW LOOK LIKE IDIOTS.

MCCAIN IS AN AMERICAN HERO.

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	MCCAIN IS AN AMERICAN HERO
Date:	7/28/2017 11:12:33 PM (updated 7/28/2017 11:19:56 PM)

You still will not admit that it was 'lie' upon "lie" uttered straight from ex-President Obama's mouth that has resulted in the healthcare crisis that our country finds itself in today. I hope the words "you have to pass the law to know what's in it" reverberates though your mind on a daily basis reiterates the fact that the American people were sold a "bill" of lies. What makes it even worse is that we the people believed the "lies" that Obama repeated over and over again everytime he appeared on TV. It even took the Supreme Court to make a "play" on words to gain the approval of act. And yet you still show your admiration for the non-achievements of your idol Obama during the eight years of his Presidency he spent carrying out his plan "to fundamentally 'transform' the United States of America".                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Concerning your thoughts on Senator McCain, as someone who served and retired from the military, I agree that his service to our country and his time spent in captivity as a POW make him a "hero", but I don't agree that some of his recent decisions relative to certain issues currently before Congress are in the best interest of the American people. Again, I don't believe the Federal Government has the right to force taxpayers to support healthcare against their will.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	MCCAIN IS AN AMERICAN HERO
Date:	7/28/2017 11:37:57 PM

"Again, I don't believe the Federal Government has the right to force taxpayers to support healthcare against their will."

I did not realize you are against taxpayer supported Medicare as it forces taxpayers to support it.  Isn't it great that we can express different opinions.

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	Back to you
Date:	7/29/2017 11:56:21 AM

OK, Lifer, you seem to think that everyone who is uninsured can always count on free medical care to be generously available if only they ask for it.   Good thinking.   If that’s true, then you should let your insurance lapse and utilize this freeby for the medical needs of you & your family.    Children’s Hospital (and many others) write off bills on a routine basis on accounts who cannot afford to pay.   Before doing that though, their collections agencies will also look closely at suing to collect the debt, placing liens on property, and doing things that made uninsured medical costs the leading cause of bankruptcy in this country.  

So where do you think payments for all this free medical care comes from exactly?

You also misunderstand the Pre-existing condition exclusions that was used by insurance companies to refuse policies to new applicants.   Your Certificate of Continuing Coverage did provide a temporary ‘bridge’ that would allow you to avoid that problem while between insurance coverages… but for how long?  It was time- limited.   Did you think your Certificate was a life-long exemption from pre-existing condition exclusions?    If you went a couple of months or years without coverage, are you thinking that the certificate would have assured you could avoid the pre-existing condition exclusion?   

You have incredible confidence that no one is harmed by their inability to get medical insurance.  Would you bet your family on it?     

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	So many stupid statements
Date:	7/29/2017 1:00:09 PM

I May not remembering them all to respond too. But I will start with Children's. You are absolutely, invincibly ignorant, arrogant, and stupid but love to spout crap that just isn't so. Children's NEVER sends a bill to families, much less sues and puts lines on family homes. Ask your lady doctor friend. They advertise as much on TV. They will even provide transportation and living quarters for family that live out of the area. So find me ONE case of Children's putting a lien on someone whom they advertise will never be billed. Sounds like a great lawsuit to me. But then again I know it never happened. I have had friends and family avail themselves of Children's services through the years. None ever received a bill. Period. If the patient has insurance, Children's will bill the insurance company, but never a family. Yet they still provide world class care to all. Quit showing your ignorance, dumb@ss. Ignorance is overcome with education, but stupid can't be fixed, and you seem to have a terminal case of stupid.

Now back to pre-existing conditions. How funny to see you, who denied for MONTHS that such coverage was even possible. I think once you might have even argued it would be illegal, but that could have been another idiot. Now you are an armchair expert on something you denied existed for MONTHS. I used the Certificate 3 times. Once was BC/BS of different states due to job changes with companies in different states. The other times were BC to United and then United back to BC. BC actually waived the Cerifficate when I came back to them. I simply pointed out that BC had actually covered the condition when I was with them. They saw the Certificate they had issued when I went to United less than two years prior and decided to just waive the Certificate and cover me with all my ailments.

I Don't know what time constraints might be involved. Never had cause to check on it or even care because I went straight in. But I can assure you I was uncovered for well over a year at one point when I left one company and went on a private venture that failed after about a year and a half. Went back to a corporate job and straight back into full coverage. Once again no need to obtain a Certicate as it was BC of Alabama. They saw their prior coverage and waived the waiting period.

Now crawl back under the rock from whence you came. You are to stupid to be allowed on a public forum. But first please share with us how you came to be an expert on pre-existing coverage that just a short time ago you denied even existed. Please enlighten us. I may want to use the same method, service, school, website, or clinic that you used so I can become an expert on things I deny exist,like counselors/therapists with IQ's that reach triple digits. I'm not sure yours goes above room temperature but am willing to keep an open mind until I avail myself of some "expert" training like you have. So please enlighten us some more.

Don't forget to find the family that had their house leined by Children's. I know a couple of shyster lawyers who would LOVE to advocate for them.

I Will close with this quote, *Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt".