I disagree. They know the program is financially unsustainable and bankrupt already, it is unfunded and people are going to be shocked next year when they see their premiums go through the roof. This country is broke but no one seems to understand that fact. We simply cannot afford this monstrosity called the "Affordable Care Act", which is anything but. Just wait, you will see my words all come true in just another year or two. Everyone is going to freak out because they did not educate themselves about this horrible law being foisted upon us.

I took this unit not realizing the building was going forward this year, I was told by the owner before I took it the building would begin next year. Since then he has changed his mind and they will begin June of this year. And to Sharon not all things can be bankrupt you haven’t any idea of what you’re talking about. Seriously, you don’t. Nothing is bankrupted unless all is.

"Mooching Off Medicaid" by Paul Krugman, an economist and Nobel prize laureate:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/opinion/krugman-mooching-off-medicare.html?hp&_r=1&>;
.... excerpt:
"Mr. Scott recently shocked Tea Party activists by announcing his support for the Medicaid expansion. But his support came with a condition: he was willing to cover more of the uninsured only after receiving a waiver that would let him run Medicaid through private insurance companies. Now, why would he want to do that?"

Hello Friends,

Governor Rick Perry millions of under-privileged poor Texans who do not have any Health Coverage will be covered under The Affordable Care ACT (ACA) expansion of MEDICAID!

My Physician wife's practice is partly dependent on MEDICAID and its viability.
Please allow the expansion of MEDICAID to occur in Texas under The Affordable Care ACT. If states choose to expand Medicaid, the federal government will cover 100 percent of the costs from 2014 to 2016. The feds' contribution will begin to decrease in 2017, but will never be less than 90 percent, under the ACA.

That's why I created a petition to Governor Rick Perry, Texas Governor, The Texas State House, The Texas State Senate, and Governor Rick Perry, which
says:

"Please ACCEPT the FREE EXPANSION of MEDICAID under The Affordable Care ACT."

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/accept-free-expansion?source=c.em.cp&r_by=7268737

Thanks!

Ajay Jain
ajain31@gmail.com
Twitter Handle ajain31
Mobile: 214-207-9781

Shame on anybody who voted for any of them in Tallahassee! TERM LIMITS FOR ALL POLITICIANS!

Obamacare is modeled after the successful Romneycare program in Mass

Interesting to note you see yourself as a patriot. I assume you consider anyone else who differs with your opinions is unAmerican. You, like the rest of us, will, of course, have to pay for the 1.3 million uninsured persons with higher hospital charges and mounting medical costs. Scott should know--he ran hospitals before becoming governor.

I agree with your comment. Rick Scott has lost a lot of respect from me.

E.Niles: When it comes to GOVERNMENT, less is more! Obamacare is way to much GOVERNMENT! Health system has issues, but GOVERNMENT take over is not the answer! And yes, I would continue to pay for the uninsured then hand over my healthcare to the GOVERNMENT.

To GRACE, I totally AGREE with you, term limits for ALL Politicians !!! Kudos to you :)

Rider: It is often asserted that RomneyCare is the same thing as ObamaCare, but this is simply not true. It is important to note that Massachusetts, the state where Romneycare was founded, opposed Obamacare. In fact, Massachusetts opposed Obamacare so much that they elected Senator Scott Brown (R) in 2010 to be the deciding vote against Obamacare after Senator Ted Kennedy’s death. Why would the state where Romneycare was founded be opposed to Obamacare if the two laws were really the same? The answer is, of course, that they are not the same. While there are similarities between the two laws, there are also key differences. Below is a table of differences between the Romney plan and the Obama plan

Do you have an alternative that is actionable? Or do we simply cast those aside who fail to have the necessary means to afford reasonable health care? Perhaps Sir ... you would find yourself in agreement with the individual who attended the Republican Candidates debate here in Tampa. When Ron Paul was advancing his ideas on health care one member of the audience cried out "DIE." Do you find yourself in agreement with statement, or perhaps that was you?

Damn Republicans and Dems!

There should be a way to hold lawmakers responsible for bad judgment that affects the people they're supposed to be representing!

Republicans don't care. They have no heart. How can anyone vote against medical care for people in need? Remember, God IS watching us from a distance. There is a judgment. Those heartless bastards.

Why is it the responsibility of the state of Florida to provide free health insurance for your wife? Why have you not applied for Medicare or Medicaid a long time ago? If your income is too high for Medicaid then you should at least have applied for Medicare for your wife. And yes, I do blame you, unless you are truly destitute/homeless. And if that is the case, you already have Medicaid available to you. And if you can afford to sue people, then you must have a lot of money stashed away somewhere. Because lawyers aren't cheap.

Wait, your wife is 71 and NOT on Medicare already? Something smells in this post. If you at your age are collecting social security and think you don't need Medicare because the rest of society should pay for ignorance, well good luck in the short time you have in life.

John, I am truly sorry for your wife's illnesses. Is she not on Medicare? She is certainly of age to receive Medicare. Medicare is your insurance. Are you not on Medicare? You must be to be able to pay your bills unless you are still working and that is totally possible. Next time you go to a doctor tell them that your wife is on Medicare. The Medicare number is usually you or your wife's Social Security number. Please apply for Medicare for your wife so that she can receive the help she needs. Thank You. By the way, I am 63 and I am on Medicare and Medicaid and is very helpful to me as I am disabled.

michael mirra: I do not agree with you that REPUBLICANS do not care (I am not a REPUBLICAN by the way). I do think in the long run, Obamacare is not the answer. Government has very poor record globally administering to the health needs of the people. The hard truth is, in a true REPUBLIC (that America is suppose to be) we were all charged with the responsibility of our own individual needs. That means everything, a home, nourishment, and our health. I understand through the years and multiple presidents that driven to take on more socialist welfare programs the great REPUBLIC has been burdened with laws and policies that have slowly taken the power and self responsibility away from the REPUBLIC. Given this, imo, we would do well to slowly remove all social welfare programs and healthcare programs and initiate mandates that provide for the needy through private nonprofits that are funded both by the through the government without government oversight and the people.

John - your said your wife is 71 years old. Does she not have Medicare? If not, why not?

MM,
The usual Republicans don't care, is just as bad as the only thing democrats want is a completely socialism.
It comes down to the follow the money, those who pay for the services will end up making decisions on the services rendered and will hold the records of what illinesses/services the user has. Do I want my government to know what my medical history or issues I have going on are, regardless of how temporary they might be? No one other than a professional I trust should have my records and those of my family.
Also like many government industries that should really be private (USPS) they are run horribly. And honestly should be restructured by someone who understands the organization in question. The government is the wrong organization to be operating a number of functions due to the organizational overhead that it incorporates.

cutting health benifits to people that need them, like republicans do to john's wife, with no feeling, because it fits some anti-Obama agenda sucks. Plain & simple. People need this healthcare & the federal government is paying, but the Republicans don't give a crap. If Obama proposed it, they MUST oppose it.

I like how it is only the Republicans that do this not that both parties made this decision. Your bias, and it is as extreme as the people you speak out against on the extreme right. You are so busy finger pointing, you don't see the real problem. You see the trees but not the forest of issues within our government organization. The government isn't responsible for every issue. If they were, do you blame the government for the "accounting" practices of Eron? It would also mean that the government is at fault for the gas prices? Could it be that we are in such a litigious society that medical insurance has risen to the point where doctors can't afford to see a patient without decent insurance? But that is the government's fault to? Or according to you, the Republican's fault, because Democrats can make no bad decisions. By the way both parties voted this down, not just the Republicans. You know why, because there are a lot of problems with. Read the actual Affordable Health Care Act Bill and you will see that.

John, obviously the large majority of people here don't realize that medicare doesn't pay for many meds, you have to get a seperate policy for that, which costs money, and if you're like my Mom, and get $850 a month social security to live on, sometimes that's not possible. Try going online to the medicine manufacturer and apply for help. Some of the meds I take are $1000 a bottle. They give it to low income people for free or on a sliding scale. I only pay $200, which still hurts! My so called new "insurance" won't pay anything on it. Good luck, it's too bad these bad things had to happen to you late in life when it's a lot harder to cope. My prayers are with you and your wife.

I wish I was only 1/10th as smart as michael mirra THINKS he is. I AM a Republican and I DO have a heart. Because I oppose Obamacare for its unintended negative consequences, which I feel far outweigh its benefits, does not mean I am heartless. michael mirra, while attempting to portray himself as deep, has actually exposed his shallowness.

Peggy, insurance companies no longer can reject you for pre-existing conditions, nor can they drop you for making a claim. That is a huge part of the new "Affordable Care Act" law, which is completely unaffordable, and which will take full effect, supposedly, next year. So get ready for your premiums to absolutely skyrocket, because you are going to be covering all of those pre-existing conditions that may or may not have been self-induced. Also, the Federal government is only guaranteeing to fund the expansion for 3 years. So then what happens? The state has to pick up the tab, which will affect every single tax paying person in the state of Florida. I think the committee is doing the right thing. They don't trust the federal government, and neither do I.

Do you have any idea of how irrational your statements are? Why do you not realize that Obamacare takes the money paid to hospitals for ER and other costs for people that do nt have insurance and puts it towards Obamacare? More people will be turned away from quality care in the coming years. What ever happened to the American ideal of self sufficiency ? I am responsible for myself, not a bunch of mooches. Remember the story of the little red hen?

Right on SPARKY!

Sharon, you obviously don't know what the hell you're talking about... I'm living it. You obviously are not.

Is that what being a Liberal is all about orbit1? Whether you realize it or not Obama is "Reeeeeeaming" us ALL, Democrat or Republican. There's a big storm brewing orbit1. Desperate times are on the horizon. When it strikes, Obamacare will not matter because our system and our government will have failed us. People will have to learn how to take care of themselves because the government will not be able to after it collapses.

My Dr used to take Medicare, but he quit last summer. He says a medicare payment for a standard appt is Way below what it COSTS him to do the appt. So the extra is coming out of his pocket. He's a good Dr, and a good person, and I can see it pains him not to be able to help, but he does have to make a living. Where is all the money going? If we can't afford to help with peoples medical bills, why are we so far in debt? Maybe we should just tear it all down and start from the bottom up. So many wasteful practices, so many people who CAN not paying their fair share. I'm ashamed of my countrymen sometimes!

You have touched on an important issue, that Medicaid is a terrible program that is not run correctly as it is now, so why should it be expanded?

So all doctors that accept Medicade are shady? And the ones that don't will not have to cheat on the paperwork. Doctors and clinics have to pay their way first before making a profit. Medicade does not pay for a basic level of care so the clinic can survive...and that is the future.

@Paul, I totally agree with you. Life "changes on a dime". In 1991, I was 41 and having a good time in my life. One day, out of the blue, I had a stroke. It was from a malformed vessel from birth in my left lower occipital lobe of my brain. There was NO way that I could have known about this sooner. It took me almost one year to get "back to myself". I also had residuals from the stroke. I have stress seizures, night blindness, no periphial in my right eye and memory loss. Short term and long term. I was totally LUCKY that time to have insurance, had I not had it I would have been in a lot of trouble with the care that I received. Doctors who except Medicaid do not render proper services because it take a very long time before they are paid. They seem to not care at all. I see it all the time with my GP here where I live. Most of the time my GP sends his Nurse Asst to the facility (ALF) to see the sick people. To me that is crazy. Medicaid is paying the Dr. NOT the nurse assistant !!!
Makes me wonder if I should not call this Dr. out to Medicaid. What do you readers think I should do?

For all of you complaining about Medicare, or its reimbursements to healthcare providers, you need to get (try the library, if its no longer at the store) the March 4th edition of Time.

The cover article is "Bitter Pill; Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us', written by Steven Brill. The article, in some 31 pages, is an exposé of how Medicare is actually profitable for most healthcare providers, and it demonstrates where money is being wasted because Congress refuses to give Medicare authority to negotiate drug prices, and medical hardware prices, without their hands tied behind their backs by Congress.

It also demonstrates that some parts of the system are being over-compensated, such as hospital executives and top hospital administrators, as well as medical device salesmen and private health insurance company executives, while others, such as family physicians, are somewhat under-compensated.

Medicare works, and Medicare would work even better if Congress did not protect the drug companies and device manufacturers rather than the people who depend upon Medicare.

It is a very revealing read, and cuts through the crap that partisans try to distort in an effort to have their own ideological way.

Dr. Linder, I was very, very impressed with your testimony in front of the House & Senate Subcommittees. Thank you for taking out time from your practice to do this for ALL of us who need medical help. I am disabled with seizure activity, COPD, both knees bone on bone. I pray that your testimony resonates with some of the people on the panel. Thank you, once more. Donna

Thank you! I'm tired of being called a "mooch" because I got sick, got let go from my job BECAUSE I was sick, and lost my ins because I lost my job. Couldn't get more because I was SICK. I paid health ins all my life and only used it to have 2 kids. Now, when I need it, I can't get it. To "Sharon Poole" I've been sick with chronic Lyme and out of ins for 15 years. I did finally get ins last year. None of the big companies with decent policies will touch me, and the two companies we have gotten to approve me don't cover even a 10th of the meds and dr's bill's I have. I didn't ask for this, I didn't want it, I used to be an energetic, ambitious, and yes, responsible person! I believe I'm a good person, but when I hear you people going on about it's my fault and people like me ask for what we get, and we aren't responsible, it makes me wish you'd get put in my position. Get sick, lose your job, lose your insurance and find out what wonderful people make up this country. Thank heavens for people like Allie's Grandpa, and Bobby Saltzman maybe there's hope for us yet.

Spoken like a true TEA Partier Sharon...now get the facts• The federal government will pay for most (90% - 100%) of the Medicaid expansion when it is implemented in 2014, but states would be required to pay for up to 10% percent of it by 2020.. It is a small price to pay to assure everyone has acess to health care.
Your I got mine and you can take a flying leap is what is wrong is Tally....

You obviously have no idea how bad it is not to be able to get ANY treatment because you are SICK! Out of work because you are SICK! Out of insurance because you are SICK! Out of money to pay for meds because you are SICK! Maybe ins does need reform, but they are greedy mongers and have had the world of time to police themselves. They won't. This has got to be the first step to taking some of the power away from them and giving it back to the people who pay for their yachts and palaces. If I had all the money I've paid into health ins all these years, I wouldn't need it now! And as far as medicaid Dr's, Every Dr I've known that took medicare... IE my doctor (I'm too young to get medicare and don't "qualify" for medicaid) my Mom's Dr, my Dad's Dr, and a dozen or so others are wonderful people and have much more care for people in general than you obviously do! If that makes me have LOW INTELLIGENCE then so be it. Maybe that's because I got sick, lost my insurance, couldn't get treatment of any kind, and got told I brought it on myself, I was a MOOCH, and generally a rotten irresponsible person. This helps a LOT when you're just trying to survive...NOT!!! You need to grow some conscience and heart. If you don't like Obamacare (which by the way is NOT the plan Obama's team proposed) then help figure out something better. I've been hanging in the void for 10 years. Something HAS to be done.

I said spoken "like" I did not label you...I am on Medicare and still have my same dr from when I was working. He said "no difference"...my "low intelignce" has been around a long time...I am always going to be for the little guy because I am one..

Sharon: That there is a classic back peddle from Mr.Robert Saltzman! He should be in politics!

Patriot
1:25 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
"Sharon: That there is a classic back peddle from Mr.Robert Saltzman! He should be in politics"
Wow did i really??? In what way did I backpeddle?? We know your politics do you know mine?...this is politics over people in true form of the TEA Party..tell me how fair and balanaced the current bunch in Tally are...they are saying no because...they got a better idea?? I don't hear them saying they do..all I hear is oh it's gonna cost this or that...$$ vs lives saved!!!

How old are you? Which government stole the money? Hello! The money was there before the Bush came into office, and was gone when he left. Maybe Obama is just trying to figure out how to fix the disaster he was left with!

Cite your source DRaymond. If you can't then you should refrain from posting useless comments.

Your article says "Patients on Medicare were 45% more likely to die than those with private insurance; the uninsured were 74% more likely; and Medicaid patients 93% more likely." That's because at this point, you have to be about to die to get on medicaid! Where as people who are lucky and healthy enough to have insurance get treatment from day one. I've been too ill to work for 10 years (I worked and paid for insurance for 40 before that), but because I'm not basically dying, just poor, but not poor enough for welfare, I can't get medicaid. If medicaid took care of people who were just sick, and not about to die, the numbers would be way different. You don't get on medicaid until your way past getting cured. Plus, I've worked in hospitals, and there's many a person that works there that believes like many here, that if your sick and don't have insurance, your a leach and don't deserve good care. What is the matter with you people? At this point, I begin to wonder if we'll get turned into a pillar of salt!

Well said. If we don't get some kind of care for the uninsured, they end up on the welfare roles and medicare / medicaid eventually which costs the taxpayer way more in the long run than just providing health care in the first place, so they can get well and go back to work!

and how is you adding this comment moving the conversation forward. Just another label among people who are labeling.

shallow, shallow people who don't have any care for those worse off than themselves! Hope your luck runs out like mine did, but at least I tried to help others when I was well and doing better. I didn't act like they were second class citizens because they weren't lucky enough to have been where I was to get ahead. Making judgments is the worst sin.

I'm confused by your statement.. guess I'm one of the ignorant ones... :) Are you saying Florida has been asking for aid for medicare every year? What does that have to do with Obamacare... I know it's medicare, of course, but if they refuse it, does it cause a problem with the regular medicare funding?

Dharma, you should have spent a little more time paying attention in English class instead of passing notes. You writing skills are horrible! But I suspect they are in line with all your other skills as well...lol

Yeah Mike...Obamacare is coming alright, along with America's bankruptcy - "like it, or not". So when our currency collapses, and as we enter into an economic depression that will make the "Great" one of the 1930's pale by comparison, I will give you and your Liberal cohorts full credit. If anyone has their head in the sand it is you, and if anyone needs to lead it is supposed to be the President, but all he is leading us to is bondage and despair. You better put down the Kool Aid and drink a big glass of reality before its too late!

Mark,
Like Mike Mirra above your bias is showing here. To blame just the Democrats is as wrong as blaming just the Republicans. Both parties have gotten us into the mess we are. Let us not forget it was the Bush Administration that pulled away from the policies of Reagan, Bush Sr. and Clinton from a strong dollar monetary policy to a weaker dollar economic policy. These problem fall on both parties, because both parties have been spending without taking in revenue. Creating loopholes for their "donators". The Affordable Healthcare Act is one of many cash cows of the Federal Government. Remember that 11 Trillion of the 16 Trillion of the yearly deficit according to the Treasury Department Reports are legislation that was signed off by the Bush Administration. So don't blame just one side for the mess we are in.

Wow, you said it so much better than I did! Thanks!

Perfect name for you Mr. Lack, because you clearly "lack" the knowledge that Obama embraced the term Obamacare and now uses it himself.

Typical of a Liberal to whine about something so mundane, when the real problem is "how do we retract this monstrosity before it consumes us all?".

Right you are Mark!

JR,
The words themselves are not the problem, the problem is we as a society have become stuck behind said words. And it also allows those political finger points to have the power. You complain about them with the words they give you to complain about them with. Until we start thinking like Americans, and fixing American problems. Not what some label did that is against what my label says to do. The "Liberals", "Conservative", "Tea Baggers" didn't do this, we did by allowing them to divide and control us. Then we just continue this spiral downwards. The fact that you take offense to some and not others just shows you are just as wrapped up in the propaganda they have feed you to be wrapped up in.
I don't plan on changing the agenda of people who do not want to change. Just pointing out that you are part of the same problem you are so eager to complain about. At some point America will wake up and see the theatre that has been given instead of leadership, hopefully it will not be too late. If Political Partianship is what works why do the same corporations own both parties, as always follow the money. Money is what runs this system, because we allow it to.

Great post Michael D.

Obama has no good intention, in anything he does....or says... he is a traitor to the American people that he was elected to serve! He should be...at the least...impeached....at the most....imprisoned!

one other thing we could spend a little more like most first world countrys and do better then canada