We should of course fight obesity (and smoking), but because it's good for the health of individuals and the health of the nation as a whole, not because it saves money long-term. The long-term research says eliminating obesity (or smoking) simply doesn't give any long-term cost savings.

This is a very uninformed comment. Please go read the bill at http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/public...

In those 1018 pages, it doesn't take long to come across pg16 which defines the grandfathering into the system of existing private insurance. It states very clearly that NO NEW private insurance policies are permitted after the effective date of this bill. It then says after 5 years, all private plans must be converted into Exchange conforming plans.

Here's a quick table from the bill that outlines the effective "tax" imposed on small businesses if they don't offer a public plan.

If the annual payroll of such employer for The applicable
the preceding calendar year: percentage is:

Does not exceed $250,000 ………………………………. 0 percent
Exceeds $250,000, but does not exceed $300,000 2 percent
Exceeds $300,000, but does not exceed $350,000 4 percent
Exceeds $350,000, but does not exceed $400,000 6 percent

On pg 167, the Amendments to the IRS code requiring TAXING individuals not participating in a public plan 2.5% of Adjusted Gross Income.

But of course, on pg170 it exempts any non-resident alien from having to pay such a tax.

On pg203,204 it squirms out of that nasty commitment to not raise taxes on everyone under 250k by stating;

"The amendment made by subsection (a) shall not be treated as a change in a rate of tax for purposes of section 15 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986."

There is literally line after line of oppressive government control over what were our freedoms to choose.

There goal is quite apparent once you've read this document. Too eliminate the private healthcare industry. Before you say how absurd that is, do yourself a favor and go read the bill. If you haven't read the bill, I'm not going to waste my time on your comments.

I don't think anyone who hasn't at least skimmed the major points of the House bill (which is easily accessible online) has any business wasting our time with politically motivated, uninformed bashing of your ideas. Do everyone a favor, go read the bill and then let's have a mature discussions of the merits of giving up so much of your liberty and right to choose for a little more coverage.

I definitely agree that Big Pharma pushes doctors to overprescribe but part of the overprescribing problem is the lousy state of medical records today. My mother, a nurse, had to strictly police her mother's doctors and badger them about the medicines they prescribed, they forgot they'd already prescribed medicines for the same thing and doubled her up with conflicting medicines for example. There is no electronic health records system in most doctor's offices that will flash up a list of what you've already prescribed the patient before you go to prescribe something new to the patient.

2. Under the current system, your lupus is a pre-existing condition and is not covered. Under the House bill lupus is covered, and it's *illegal* to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions — all conditions must be covered, pre-existing or not.

3. The "new" system is not a "government system" or even truly new. It retains the current insurance industry and medical provider industry but adds mandates and subsidies to make it universal. It changes nothing about how health care is delivered by private doctors and hospitals. Indeed, I am baffled as to why the current insurance industry is so upset about HR3200 because my reading is that it is a massive subsidy to the insurance industry, transferring tons of tax money into their coffers.

I'm glad you were able to make the choices you did and got medical treatment. Kudos!