Obama Vows to Change Insurance Polices

President Barack Obama on Saturday criticized what he termed as the "scare tactics" of opponents to health care reform. He told a town hall meeting "what is truly scary is if we do nothing" to solve the nation's health care problems.

Obama said Americans no longer should be "held hostage by health insurance companies" that deny coverage for various reasons.

And he attempted to deflect some of the sharpest criticism of the health care bill before Congress from those who say it would mean government control over health care system.

"I don't want government bureaucrats meddling in our health care — but the point is I don't want insurance companies' bureaucrats meddling in our health care either," Obama declared, unleashing a cheer from the audience.

Obama's focus on insurance companies, a theme of earlier town hall meetings in Montana and New Hampshire as well in recent days, was an attempted to regain the upper hand in the health care debate and deflect the impact of increasing vocal and organized critics.

The president said the current health care system and the policies of insurance companies are "hurting too many families and businesses." And he vowed to change that, predicting health care reform legislation will be passed by Congress this year.

"Because we're getting close, the fight is getting fierce" critics are fighting back with by trying "to scare the American people. "Because of all the scare tactics out there, what is truly scary is if we do nothing," he said.

[jab232]

Changing abusive policies is probably the best he can do.

The issue is not the public option plan. The issue is the structure of the government and the rules of the Senate. In our government, the Senate gives minority states more power. Each state has two votes, no matter its size. Add to that the Senate rule that it takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster, and you have a situation where, for the Democrats to pass a public option health care plan, they would have to have elected at least seventy senators. Many small-state senators have not and will not support something that might well benefit the majority of people. After all, that majority live in the large states.

So, finally, to have come so close on the public option plan is a miracle. I hope we all keep fighting for it. But the best way to fight for it is to elect an overwhelming majority of Senators who support it. Otherwise, it won't happen.

[jab232]

People keep talking about how a public health insurance option will run the insurance companies out of business. I don't believe it. I have Medicare and a private company's tie in. I expect health insurance companies can make reasonable profits just selling tie-ins. That's not what I expect to happen. I expect private insurance to compete with any public option and survive, but even if it didn't, the insurance companies would not just survive. They would thrive.

Of course, they would not make the excessive profits and CEO salaries, bonuses and golden parachutes available when you only insure mostly healthy people and exclude the others. But they would make fair(and I think large) profits.

[Joe_NY_15]

by jab232 August 16, 2009 4:45 PM EDT

You don't believe it, well do you believe your own common sense....for example, page 16 of the house health proposal, states that once the bill is signed into law, you will NOT be able to obtain private insurance, and MUST go to the public option/plan.....what does logic tell you ? that in no time, matter of fact, immediately, private insurance companies will begin losing business, by law will not be able to gain any new members and by common sense, will cease to exist in a very short period of time.

Secondly, Obama himself, stated that he wants to eventually phase out ALL private health insurance over time....I heard him in his own words, during the campaign.

So, just imagine you have a business, and the government outlaws anyone from buying from you....how soon will you be out of business ?

BELIEVE IT !!!

[katbird158]

Please could you post the video from Our Man in France about their health care system? It would REALLY help to clarify some things.

[dumascracks]

Obama try starting with AIG, you know the Company that put the U.S in the Poor House and that help you to get Elected!!!

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money]

by reveal5 August 15, 2009 11:12 PM EDT
What is LOL. Lots of Luck?, Laugh out Loud?////
===============================

Lords of Lilliput?

Leslie ordered liver?

Licking on lichens?

[payasyougo]

And the IRS will collect your premiums and deductibles

Federal Tax
Payroll Tax (redistribution income tax)
Insurance Tax (redistribution income tax)

[spudder8]

I have Medicare Advantage plan which I love. I also have a single payer VA Medical that I do not use because of the waiting. 6 months for an MRI, 1 year for an angioplasty, the care is performed by interns, never have I seen a seasoned Dr.
I don?t know what our President is doing, but I have seen enough corruption and old boys school, Chicago politics, that why I left that state, however I still have family there and they keep me abreast of the political corruption. I will not vote for Obama or any other seedy incumbent person.

[radicalc-2009]

Just look at the narcissistic posture in that picture. What disturbs me about Obama is that he uses I to refer to the government. Like "I don't want to run a car company". or "I am not interested in owning a bank". Just notice the word I in his speaches. He thinks he makes all the decisions. I think he is delusional in that he thinks eventually everyone (like his followers and the media) will bow to his will.
It will be hard on him when the American people give him a resounding NO on his socialist policies.

[woltommel]

November 2010, but for now we will have to fight the press too. Any ideas?

[Stevenapoli7]

Some outside the media box facts and myths of health care: http://liberty.pacificresearch.org/docLib/20081020_Top_Ten_Myths.pdf

[naj1953]

Why not fix the jobs first???I am sick of hearing about this healthcare bill...Sick of both parties fighting about what or who was so great. Both parties are crap. I vote for the less of too evils and that doesn't seem to work anymore either. I can say I never voted for either Bushes so I am proud of that one... Town hall Meetings are "What a joke"??? Isn't that one of John McCain's thing?? Let the American people vote if they want it or not?