4 big health reform myths cloud national debate

[usregimechange]

THE POLL: 45 percent said it's likely the government will decide when to stop care for the elderly; 50 percent said it's not likely.

THE FACTS: Nothing being debated in Washington would give the government such authority. Critics have twisted a provision in a House bill that would direct Medicare to pay for counseling sessions about end-of-life care, living wills, hospices and the like if a patient wants such consultations with a doctor. They have said, incorrectly, that the elderly would be required to have these sessions...


THE POLL: 55 percent expect the overhaul will give coverage to illegal immigrants; 34 percent don't.

THE FACTS: The proposals being negotiated do not provide coverage for illegal immigrants...


THE POLL: 54 percent said the overhaul will lead to a government takeover of health care; 39 percent disagree.

THE FACTS: Obama is not proposing a single-payer system in which the government covers everyone, like in Canada or some European countries. He says that direction is not right for the U.S. The proposals being negotiated do not go there...


THE POLL: 50 percent expect taxpayer dollars will be used to pay for abortions; 37 percent don't.

THE FACTS: The House version of legislation would allow coverage for abortion in the public plan. But the procedure would be paid for with dollars from beneficiary premiums, not from federal funds. Likewise, private plans in the new insurance exchange could opt to cover abortion, but no federal subsidies would be used to pay for the procedure...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_fact_check_health_poll


:eyes:

[NYC_SKP]

1. That tells us what to focus on in the debate.

Challenge these four myths, educate the populace.

And, concentrate on the savings and that we'll be more competitive in the global economy.

[usregimechange]

2. Well we did it with Iraq, it took a year or two but we did it

[Hello_Kitty]

3. There should be coverage for undocumented immigrants

And every person here who supports a mandate is being disingenuous by not addressing the fact that millions of people will STILL be uncovered by a mandate. In states like mine, Arizona, we have a large number of undocumented workers and they need and deserve health care as much as everyone else. Most of them would qualify for state aid, which is one reason that I think there should be a mandate on employers to pay into the fund if they don't offer insurance to their workers. No exceptions because you're a small business or whatever either. If you make enough to hire a worker you need to be contributing toward his/her health care and not externalizing that cost onto the community.

[usregimechange]

4. I think we need to educate the public to obtain what we are seeking now, than we can

reach for more after that.

[patrice]

8. Agreed. And there's going to be a bunch of us not forgetting about that there "reaching" AND

we'll be building something to reach from.

[usregimechange]

11. I just wish the public was not so easily mislead, frankly it scares the crap out of me.

[patrice]

12. Me too. It's sad. Everything begins with families, so there's a problem there about

how children are educated and taught critical thinking, but that problem affects the schools, so the schools are doing a piss poor job of educating competent citizens, and churches figure in the equation somehow too, since we're talking ethics and the moral dimensions of society here. Families, Schools, and Churches are producing some dangerously stupid people. It's scarey and sad.

[Omaha Steve]

5. K&R!

[usregimechange]

10. Nice graphic though

[excess_3]

6. 1 and 4 seem kinda true

1. there is always someone to pull the plug
on the money. if it ain't the gov't, who is it?

4. abortion is covered, or not. which is it?

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Per the Hyde Amendment federal funds cannot be used for abortion.

It will not be covered under the plan unless an insurance company already covers them. Which brings up an interesting question of whether or not insurance cos. that cover the procedure will have to stop since they'll be taking taxpayer subsidies.

[excess_3]

9. laws can be repealed

(thanks for that info, BTW)

just my opinion, but I would prefer if people would
be straightforward in their discussion
of these difficult issues (of abortion and
end-of-life)