ALL HANDS ON DECK!

Howard Dean and the Democrats are correct.

"a" (Toothy, Robust, Affordable, Immediate, Triggerless, Medicare-Like ) "public health insurance option” (For All Who Want It) “is more important than bipartisanship, and Democrats should pass health-care legislation that includes the option with 51 votes if necessary."

"Democrats should have "no intention" of working with Republicans if it's not the strongest possible legislation that could be passed with a simple majority." (Howard Dean)

CONTACT CONGRESS and your representatives Now! And tell them you demand ALL of the minimum requirements above. This is the time for maximal, toothy, sustained pressure on Congress to get this done. Be creative. But be relentless.

This is what WE THE PEOPLE gave the Democrats all that power to do for ALL of us.

In medicine and healthcare there is only one acceptable standard. And that standard is the HIGHEST level of EXCELLENCE! you can provide for everyone. Nothing less is acceptable for a precious human life.

And the White House is right. "Good health care reform is essentially good economic policy." (Christina Romer)

BUT HEAR ME WELL! Just as I warned you before 911. Before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And before the US and Global economic crisis.

I must tell you now that healthcare reform is now a critical matter of NATIONAL SECURITY. A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) was yet another loud WAKE-UP! call. And there is MUCH! worse lurking, and poised to strike at any moment. Working against the clock, many of us have known this for a long time now. And this is why we have been pushing so hard for so long without fully saying why. But Congress and the American people are literally running out of time.

I’ll tell you more later. But get healthcare reform done NOW!.

God Bless All Of You

jacksmith -- WORKING CLASS

Shouldn't we start pushing him to the left -- where real people live?

Hey -- I voted for him.

He's a helluva lot better than McCain (which isn't saying a lot -- but compared to Bush II is an upgrade), and he's already done a lot of positive things.

The lesser-of-two-evils thing sucks, but it might be good to start thinking of something better than that.

This is a powerful topic, and there are clear points that someone should be able to pick up on and harness.

:Tom

political capital for a true public option, you're a sucker.

We will not get health care in this country until there is a democrat in the white house and that will never happen.

"Screw the People, Serve the Corporations!" - they should replace "In God we Trust" with an honest motto.

Link in name below. Bring a Snicker's, you'll be a while. Maybe 3/4 done at this point.

Now is the time to fight fire with white-hot fire.

Start a non-profit organisation.

Collect money.

Run advertisements in radios and TVs and use YouTube to promote and display "truths" about Big Pharma and Big Insurance companies.

Tell true stories so that they can't sue the organisation.

Continue telling the people to write to their congressmen that if the bill was watered down or not voted, they wouldn't sit in Congress next year.

It needs money to beat money.

Just as $10 and $20 propelled Obama to whitehouse, do the same again to beat the Fat Cats.

You can do it America!

After reading this article, I think I feel sick. Unfortunately, as a "individual insured" I cannot afford to go see my doctor due to my high deductible and the concern that my insurance will be canceled because I actually USED it. And THAT is no joke.

Comrade 1: Today I will go to the local Office of Health to See if I can get an appointment to see the State Approved Dr. My chest is hurting

Comrade 2: Before you go did you get your preapproval notice from the Health Office Czar?

Comrade 1: No Comrade.

Comrade 2: Without this preapproval then the State Office of Health Care cannot see you.

Comrade 1: I will call immediately to get this approval.

Health Care Office worker 1: Hello, this is Chairman Obama's health care office please hold.......

30 minutes later....

Health Care Office worker 1: How may I direct your call

Comrade 1: Well I am feeling ill today and need to obtain a preapproval to se the Dr.

Health Care Office Worker 1: What is your tax ID number, voter registration number, drivers license number, loyal party member number?

Comrade 1: (after giving all the numbers)I really must see the Dr today....my chest is hurting badly.

Health Care Office worker 1: Please hold while I access your file for preapproval

30 minutes later....

Health Care Office worker 1: Comrade it seems as though you were late on your loyal tax payment 2 years ago and with out this payment being current preapproval is impossible

Comrade 1: I paid my taxes you must be wrong...my chest is really hurting now, I feel...I feeeeeeelll...(comrade drops over dead)

Health Care Office worker 1: Comrade...Comrade...(mumbles to themselves) he was not a loyal party worker anyway, he voted for a republican 8 years ago when we still had elections...click

Insured #1: I wish to know why my claim for a second hearing implant for 2-year-old daughter has been denied.

Insurance Officer: Sir, may i know your policy number and details

Insured #1: My policy number is xxx-xxx-xxxx and SSN is xxx-xx-xxxx

Insurance Officer: Please hold on while i pull out your records.

Waits listening to soothing music for 24 mins.

Insurance Officer: Sir, can you please confirm your date of birth, mother's maiden name and the gender of your child?

Insured #1: WTF? OK, here goes the information...

Insurance Officer: OK i see your information now. Thank you for being a valued member for over 12 years.

Insured #1: Just tell me the information and what do i do to get my 2-year-old hearing fully hearing again.

Insurance Officer: Sir, your wife last made a claim 6 years ago for yeast infection. According to our research, yeast infection can affect an unborn child.

Insured #1: But that was 6 years ago. My child was born 2 years ago. Do you think my wife carried this child for 4 years??

Insurance Officer: Am sorry sir. But the policy here states that ear implants in both ears are not covered by your policy. Please read page 44 of 265 paragraph III, section 4, subsection b. It states that ear implants are not covered for both ears for children IF either of the parents had made a claim before the birth of the child.

Insured #1 : But that is ridiculous. I have paid you for 12 long years, never made a claim till 6 years ago, and now you are saying my 2 year old daughter cannot have a second ear implant because of an unrelated infection my wife had 6 years ago???

Insurance officer: Actually sir, we do not permit any claims to be made during the first 10 years of the policy. That is why you have a low deductible of $3500/-. We permitted your first claim 6 years as an exception. We also made another exception this time for one ear.

Insured #1: Look. My daughter is 2-years old. She can hear only in one ear and your doctors said that unless she can hear with both ears her growth and capacity to learn will be stunted.

Insurance Officer: Am sorry sir. But this is our corporate policy.

Insured #1: I have paid you over $60,000 in the past 12 years as premiums. The only claims i have made are TWO in the entire period which do not exceed $35,000. This is less than the amount i would have paid if i had not had insurance.

Insurance officer: Am sorry sir. But this is our corporate policy. Do you want me to transfer you to my supervisor?

Insured #1: Please do. Thanks

Insurance Officer: Please hold.

Waits for another 46 mins waiting for someone.

Supervisor: Good Morning. This is Mindy. How can i help you?

Insured #1: I was transferred to you by Officer xyz. I wish to know how do i get insurance claim for my daughter's second year implant.

Supervisor: Please hold while i check your information.

Insured #1: OK...

Waits for another 12 mins

Supervisor: Hello, i see here you have been a member for 12 years. Thank you.

Insured #1: Just tell me the procedure to get my claims paid.

Supervisor: Didn't anybody tell you?

Insured #1: Tell me what?

Supervisor: We canceled your insurance 6 years ago. According to our policy you can make a claim only after 10 years of having a policy. It seems our officer at that time had made an illegal exception to your case and reimbursed your wife for a claim she had made 6 years ago. We discovered that during our audit and terminated your policy and disciplined the officer.

Insured #1: WHAAAT ?

Supervisor: Yes, and this claim for the first hearing implant, has been denied now due to non-availability of insurance. You need to reimburse the hospital directly for the operation.

Insured #1: WHAAAT??? How dare you cancel my insurance when i have been paying you for so long?

Supervisor: Actually sir, we need to disconnect you now, since this telephone line is for paying customers only.

Insured #1: BUT AM A PAYING CUSTOMER

Line disconnected.

Three weeks later Insured #1 received two letters at his home. One from the Big Insurance company stating his insurance policy has been canceled with retrospective effect 6 years ago. The letter also states, that according to corporate policy they are unable to refund the premiums John Doe had been paying for past 6 years, but will definitely look to serving him again. The second letter is from the Hospital. A bill for $86,000 for one ear's implant.