Will private health insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield, etc.) still be available or will we all be forced to switch to the new program? What are the chances that companies will elect to stop offering private insurance, instead forcing employees to use the new program?

My question -
If health care reform is such a pressing issue, how come the reforms will not take place until the year 2013?

Even though I support many of the aims of the reform, I wonder why they don't step back and do it little by little. I think this is clearly a case of trying to do too much at once.

So I'd ask (and have e-mailed my Congressman) why they can't enact these changes piecemeal instead of in one massive bill that will never get any kind of consensus.

This whole 'debate' is a sham. There is other proposed legislation that makes insurance more affordable, allow the uninsured to get coverage, all without increasing the deficit (this is backed up by the CBO), nor creating a huge bureaucracy. Why isn't this legislation going anywhere? (I know why - it was crafted by 'junior' Dem and GOP representatives and not Pelosi, Reid, & Co., and it doesn't increase government control over our lives)

Great questions so far! Thanks. We'll come back to a few of these in a separate blog entry so stay tuned.

But first, to Jay Davis on why health care reforms won't go into effect until 2013:

Some of the reform measures, if passed, would start immediately. Under one of the bills, for instance, it would be illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing medical conditions as soon as the bill is signed.

But most measures would take longer to implement -- the House proposals set a time line that goes until 2018. Lawmakers say far-reaching changes to the nation's health care system take time to implement, from establishing rules on how much insurance companies can spend on premiums to raising taxes to provide enough money to pay for expanding health insurance coverage to the uninsured and other costs of the overhaul. Here's a good timetable of how it might work. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32013032/ns/politics-white_house/

Of course, opponents of the plan note that 2013 is after the next presidential election and question if the need for reform is so great? Why not rush it.

Hope this answers your question. Keep them coming!

I keep hearing that we must cut down the cost of health care. Why not do this first before we add millions more to this costly program.

The only reason the debate is confusing is because the proposed legislation has to work around the continued existence of the entity that constitutes the major reason we need reform to begin with: the health insurance industry. We are the only industrialized country in the world that has not adopted some form of single-payer program. The insurance companies contribute nothing to the delivery of health care - they just add an extra layer of bureaucracy and take most of the cost in profit. Wake up America!!!

Can you clarify exactly how many americans are without health insurance?
From what I gather, about 15% of the population are uninsured. Republicans say that's nonsense and the real figure is much lower when accounting for illegals, persons freely opting away from insurance, etc. Are there constitutional restrictions on forcing people to become covered?

Throw The PUBLIC OPTION Obstructionist Out!

The proposed Baucus bill is a legislative OBSCENITY!

More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.

According to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!

We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. And the most costly. Costing over twice as much as every other county. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.

I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get, without a robust government-run public option available on day one. Co-OP's ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION. They are a fraud being pushed by the GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry that is KILLING YOU!

YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE A DISASTER. AND UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.

These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!

Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it's President Obama's fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS!

But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.

But you don't have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.

Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections.

There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this.These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.

I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!

You have been AMAZING!!! people. Don't loose heart. You knew it wasn't going to be easy. :-)

God Bless You

jacksmith — Working Class

Twitter search (#welovethenhs #NHS #hc09 #hcr #healthcar #obama #p2 #topprog #) Check it out.

Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ

John Garamendi on the Public Option and the Grassroots: http://bit.ly/TJMty

Krugman on heathcare (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)

Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.

* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah

Ozzielee: Good question on the uninsured numbers. There has been a lot of debate about the exact figures. Here's an earlier post I wrote about the issue along with the very latest Census figures. Hope this helps. : http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/health/2009/09/health_insurance_census_uninsu.html