Blogger: Obama proposal will improve disability coverage
September 17th, 2009A small group of parents protested this week that the Obama health care legislation would lead to the rationing of services for their children with disabilities, a charge that was refuted by some disability advocacy organizations.
Politico’s Ben Smith writes that such accusations are “simply not true,” and said the Obama proposal will actually benefit people with disabilities. Smith said the proposal will improve health care accessibility, prohibit insurance companies from setting limits on coverage, and prohibit the denial of coverage based on preexisting conditions. An excerpt:
The hard truth is, rationing exists right now in our health care system. Under the status quo, health insurance companies decide what care you can and can’t have, based not on which treatments you need, but what type of insurance you have.
But the health insurance reform that the President has proposed will mean the opposite — expanded coverage and lower costs. It will offer more choices for care for those with disabilities, not fewer. It will bring more stability and security to families of those with disabilities who currently have insurance, and it will expand coverage for those who don’t.
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September 20th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Tom, sitting in Canada and watching this health care sideshow is boggling. And so are the conclusions people come up with. It’s as though the rest of the world doesn’t exist. “You can’t fly, man’s not made to fly!” while planes zip around the rest of the world.
We look after a lady with disabilities. The dollars moved her way are substantial , enough that most people could live well on the figure. Her healthcare is free, she has discounts on her expenses everywhere and many envy her lifestyle. Of course my healthcare is free too.
Those that believe that public healthcare must be rationed aren’t aware of where it is being used successfully. I find that rather puzzling…. You’re actually making a case for NOT taking care of each other and just going on doing what you’re doing.
September 18th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
The hard truth is, the Obama Administration supports abortion, even late-term abortion. Families could very well find a counselor informing mothers and fathers of the hardships surrounding raising a child with disabilities, prompting the abortion of a child with disabilities.
The hard truth is, while rationing of health care does exist in today’s health care system, under any kind of public option – dollars will be watched like a hawk. People with chronic health conditions or disabilities that require consistent health care will be equally watched, and their health care restricted.
The hard truth is, even with regulation of the health insurance industry – money is still money. Money has consistently been placed before the very lives of nondisabled persons, let alone the people with disabilities in America who have experienced stigma, prejudicial demeanor’s,employment bias, and non-stop poverty in this nation.
While there may appear to be benefits to the Obama plan, will it *really* be all that much better? I doubt it very much. Until money is no longer a factor in health care, something that is not likely to happen any time soon, it does not matter how this nation arranges the pieces. People with Disabilities will continue to experience the prejudices of a nation that cannot seem to realize that money is not as important as the lives of human beings.