Yesterday, NCrissieB made a very insightful comment about how large segments of our populace receive their news and information:
Actually most people get their news ...
... from listening to friends, neighbors, coworkers, family members, and other people talk about the news.
[SNIP]
Which is why we progressives need to take part in those casual news-sharing conversations that happen at hair salons, in waiting rooms, checkout lines, and the like. Each of us can and needs to be the average American's "news anchor." If progressives don't join in those conversations, the average American will hear only conservative news ... without ever having turned on Faux Noise or Rush Limbaugh.
In the spirit of putting this sage advice into practice, I'm posting a "handy" list of facts that can be used to better inform family, friends and your neighborhood hair stylist about what's really in the new health insurance reform law.
There's no question in my mind that the reason this HCR law is still polling poorly is the simple fact that people don't know or don't understand what's actually in it. Reasons for this are 2-fold: 1) Democrats haven't done enough (or screamed loud enough) to educate the public and, 2) Republicans have saturated every conceivable mode of communication with disinformation...with the exception of one - the word of mouth...or in this case, hand.
Remember Caribou Barbie's telepalmter?
While the vast majority of non-Alaskan winking, turkey mutilating, Russian neighboring, "In what sense, Charlie" saying sane people don't need crib notes to remember 6 words, I for one am going to need some place to put the following, slightly longer list:
What the HCR law does and when it does it*:
2010
- Offers small businesses tax credits of up to 35% of premiums (effective now)
- Provides up to 250$ rebates to seniors to help cover the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap (effective now)
- Prohibits denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions in children (six months)
- Prohibits lifetime caps on insurance payouts for the chronically ill (six months)
- Children can stay on parent's plans until age 26 (six months)
2011
- Insurers will be required to spend at least 80% of premiums on medical-related services
- Fees and taxes on health industry phased in
- $2.3 billion annual fee for drug makers
2013
- Additional 3.8% tax on investment income and a 0.9% Medicare tax on families making more than $250K/yr.
2014
- Phase in of individual mandate - initial fines at 1% of income
- Subsidies provided to individuals and families with incomes up to 400% above the poverty line to help purchase insurance.
- Expands Medicaid eligibility for persons making up to 133% poverty level (~$29,300 for a family of 4)
- Requires most employers to provide coverage or pay penalties
- Prohibits denial of coverage to anyone with a pre-existing condition
- Exchanges established enabling those without employer-provided insurance to shop for appropriate coverage
2018
- Excise tax imposed on "Cadillac" employer-provided health plans (valued at more than $27,500 for family or more than $10,200 individual
- Completes expansion to 32,000,000 American citizens.
(*Adapted from an HCR fact sheet published in The Week)
Sounds pretty socialistic, doesn't it? So - after jotting some of these facts down on your telepalmter - the next time someone asks you about the new health insurance reform law just tell them to...