Questions and Answers about President Obama’s Health Care Plan

Health Reform FAQs: Get the Facts on Obama’s Health Care Plan

GenHope.com knows that no one – and unfortunately, not even Congress – has the time to sit down, grab a hot cup of coffee, and read President Obama’s 2,000+ page-long health care plan. That’s why GenHope.com offers Questions and Answers to some of the most important issues raised over Obama’s health care plan.

Your Questions So Far

1. I’m really concerned about all of the recent government spending, corporate bailouts, the budget deficit, and what this all means for my future. How much does the President’s plan cost?
2. Obama’s health care reform includes a broad provision that’ll tax medical devices and equipment. How will this affect me and my family?
3. Why should I be opposed to “reducing inefficiencies” in Medicare and where is it written that the "elderly will not be able to get treatments like hip or knee replacements or even heart bypasses if they are very old"? How does that translate to "scarce medical resources will go to younger people with a longer remaining lifespan?" If we're talking about saving money through "reducing inefficiencies", Why are you opposed to "reducing inefficiencies"?
4. Does GenHope receive funding of any kind from insurance, pharmaceutical companies or lobbyists?
5. What does President Obama have planned for Medicare for the elderly in this new health care plan?

Answers

1. Rating: +5

   

   I’m really concerned about all of the recent government spending, corporate bailouts, the budget deficit, and what this all means for my future. How much does the President’s plan cost?

   President Obama’s health care plan is estimated to cost over $1 trillion over the next decade. However, many believe this cost estimate is wildly optimistic and a similar program in Massachusetts estimated to cost $200 million, now costs $700 million. Once the bill is passed the benefit will never be taken away but the costs will skyrocket pushing up taxes and the deficit.

2. Rating: +4

   

   Obama’s health care reform includes a broad provision that’ll tax medical devices and equipment. How will this affect me and my family?

   Pacemakers, artificial limbs, defibrillators, automated wheelchairs: Under the new health care reform bill, all of these medical devices will be subject to heavy taxes implemented by Obama in an attempt to “reduce” the cost of health care while increasing the cost of these necessary items. Increasing the cost of these materials puts a higher price on devices that save and lengthen lives, making them less accessible to patients in need.

3. Rating: +5

   

   Why should I be opposed to “reducing inefficiencies” in Medicare and where is it written that the "elderly will not be able to get treatments like hip or knee replacements or even heart bypasses if they are very old"? How does that translate to "scarce medical resources will go to younger people with a longer remaining lifespan?" If we're talking about saving money through "reducing inefficiencies", Why are you opposed to "reducing inefficiencies"?

   We don’t believe anyone is opposed to “reducing inefficiencies.” After all, who could possibly be in favor of sloppy government bureaucrats wasting taxpayer dollars? But our government is notorious for being wasteful. Just ask any Katrina victim who’s waited months – YEARS – for their government rebuilding checks. It’s simply not believable for our government -- the very same government who is responsible for the current $500 billion worth of waste in Medicare -- to just clean-up their $500 billion in waste. But everyone knows, when the numbers don’t add up on government-run health care, the budget will be cut. And it’s always the service never the bureaucrat who takes the hit. The elderly, who are the largest consumers of health care, will be hit hardest.

4. Rating: +1

   

   Does GenHope receive funding of any kind from insurance, pharmaceutical companies or lobbyists?

   GenHope.com and its sponsor, the League of American Voters, does not receive funding from insurance and pharmaceutical companies or donations from their lobbyists. We are funded by small, individual contributions from concerned citizens across America. It's worth noting that a chief proponent of the President’s plan is powerful Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D). He is the #1 recipient of PAC money from HMO and Accident & Health Insurance lobbyists, hauling in $141,250 since 2004 (Source: Center for Responsive Politics). He’s on the failed insurance giant AIG’s “Favorite Senators List,” too.

5. Rating: +13

   

   What does President Obama have planned for Medicare for the elderly in this new health care plan?

   According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the House Democrat version of the President’s plan cuts Medicare for the elderly by $535 billion. With these staggering cuts in Medicare funding – called “reducing inefficiencies” by Washington politicians – elderly will not be able to get treatments like hip or knee replacements or even heart bypasses if they are very old and the scarce medical resources will go to younger people with a longer remaining lifespan.

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