Making it clear: Case 4

America’s middle-class families, listen up!

Over the last few days DemWit has pointed out the absurd conspiracy theories and health industry lobby-backed “protests” aimed at stopping healthcare reform at all costs.

Democratic members of Congress have gone out across the country in an attempt to explain to their constituents exactly what this legislation will mean in their lives.

Here’s what they are trying to say. Here’s why they are being shouted down. And, here’s why America’s $2.4 trillion healthcare and health insurance industy is spending $1.5 million A DAY to kill this reform:

According to healthcarefactcheck.com, a Web site of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), here is what proposed healthcare reform legislation will mean to America’s middle-class families:

GUARANTEED COVERAGE

The days of being denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition - or being forced to pay higher premiums because of it - would be over, thanks to the House bill. Insurance companies also will be prohibited from other discriminatory practices like charging higher rates because of gender, health status or other factors.

GREATER CHOICE

If you like your doctor, your local hospital or your current insurance plan, you can keep your choice under the House bill. It also sets up a health insurance exchange to act as a marketplace where individuals and small business employers will be able to comparison-shop among private and public insurers.

LOWER COSTS FOR EVERYONE

The House bill would lower healthcare costs for all Americans. It ends co-pays and deductibles for preventative care and puts an end to rate increases for pre-existing conditions. It will give you access to lower group rates from a national pool if you buy your own plan. It also includes a public option to compete with private insurers (BJ NOTE: While public option remains in the House version, senators Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) said on CNN Sunday that public option is probably dead in the Senate). The bill caps annual out-of-pocket spending to prevent bankruptcy from medical expenses.

HIGHER QUALITY

The House bill makes sure that you and your doctor make healthcare decisions, not insurance companies. It provides new incentives, scholarships and training to encourage the very best and brightest to become doctors and nurses.

PREVENTION AND WELLNESS

The House bill also expands community health centers, strengthens wellness and prevention services, provides oral, hearing and vision care for children and ensures that mental health care is covered.

Read more HERE.

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So, who are the Americans doing the actural shouting at town hall meetings – at the behest of health industry lobbyists? In my opinion, they are anti-Obama activists out to see, as my own South Carolina Republican senator, Jim DeMint, put it, that Obama meets his “Waterloo.” Their new catchphrase is “Obamacare,” referring, of course, back to the earlier Republican catchphrase, “Clintoncare.”

Dear reader, let me remind you of President Obama’s words:

"This isn't about me, This isn't about politics. This is about a healthcare system that is breaking America's families, breaking America's businesses and breaking America's economy.

“Health insurance companies and their executives have reaped windfall profits from a broken system.

"Let's fight our way through the politics of the moment, Let's pass reform by the end of this year."

This is a trillion-dollar industry based on services to sick people, and it needs to improve its bedside manner.