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Got me another email from the Prez today. I actually can call him that since we have become quite the email pals lately. Well actually we're not quite pals since he sends me his shit 'canned' emails but doesn't seem to want to reply to my questions or observations...

Don't understand it really, I mean just because I called him a bold face liar and said that he must not have been a very good lawyer since he seems so unfamiliar with the law... Anyway, our friendship doesn't really matter, what matter is the truth, right? Apparently not so much, since I don't seem to be getting through to him in our little email matching game, but admittedly he is a busy man. I guess you'll know if my blogging just disappears that the secret service dudes showed up at my office to cart me away (did you really think I'd give him MY home email address? Geez...)

Today his emails was to blast us 'nay-sayers' that are spreading misinformation and using scare tactics, and I quote,

"Over the next month there is going to be an avalanche of misinformation and scare tactics from those seeking to perpetuate the status quo. But we know the cost of doing nothing is too high. Health care costs will double over the next decade, millions more will become uninsured, and state and local governments will go bankrupt. "

Really, misinformation and scare tactics, you don't say? Dude, I think the majority of misinformation and scare tactics are coming from your camp. I'm just sayin...

So here is the outline of his agenda, to which I have added my comments in red (you know just based on my over 20 years in the insurance field as a licensed agent that must take 40 hours of CE every two years and all)...

THE SECURITY YOU GET from health insurance reform:

• No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions
  Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history. You know this sounds pretty good, but let's consider that American Dude A has perfect health and takes care of himself and American Dude B drinks too much, smokes, is morbidly obese with high blood pressure and diabetes. If we accept everyone in to the same pool of risks, if you were American A would you think it was fair that American B was paying the same monthly premium but usurping all the benefits and their cost of care was probably 100/1 of your cost of care? It sounds great to American B, but really is this the only choice available?
• No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays
  Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses. Okay this is my favorite of all of them. So what you are telling me Prez is that I am getting all of this quality care for FREE*? I won't have to meet my deductible, pay any out of pocket expenses or co-pays? Cool, but isn't that going to cost the country a whole bunch of money, because I think all these procedures cost money, but why do I care, your picking up the whole tab for free, right? Yearly caps on how much the insurance company can charge for out of pocket expenses. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it the doctor and/or hospitals that are actually CHARGING these out of pocket expenses? And isn't it the insurance companies that actually PAY these charges? But again, you're picking up the tab so it's free to me, so what do I care?
• No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care
  Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics. No Cost Sharing for Preventive Care! Wow this free thing gets better and better! Of course the majority of all the carriers that I market for already HAVE THESE BENEFITS in their policies, seems a little more like a scare tactic to me... Lucky for me my insurance company pays 100% of these benefits, but good thing I won't have to worry about that because once again, you are picking up the tab, thanks Prez!
• No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill
  Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill. Correct me if I'm wrong Prez, but in all the years I've been doing this I do believe that there are all ready LAWS that prohibit this practice and I'm pretty sure that there are LAWS and REGULATIONS that policies must comply with in order TO BE APPROVED BY THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT OF EACH STATE! Seriously this is my biggest pet peeve with you Prez, I know you are a lawyer, surely you know the law, and I'm almost positive you would KNOW that it is against the LAW for any insurance company to drop anyone because they became seriously ill. Could almost put my life on the fact that there are only two reasons that an insurance company can drop your insurance coverage, 1) You don't pay your premiums and 2) they cancel every policy holder, no matter what their illnesses are, that is on that same type policy. Must totally admit, I have NEVER seen that happen in the past 20 years. Just another scare tactic, we insurance lobbyist are touting, huh Prez?
• No Gender Discrimination
  Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender. Dude, I'm actually going to give you this one and say I totally agree. Never have understood why because I am female that I have to pay more for my insurance coverage than a male the same age as me. So good one dude, way to go!
• No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage
  Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive. This is awesome! We will have no worries whatsoever because no matter what the insurance company AND the government health plan (or are we just going to regulate this to insurance companies?) will have to pay every single dime of every single procedure no matter what! A little skeptical here Prez because all this limitless and free health coverage is starting to add up to some big money. Where did you say we were going to get all this money to pay for all of this?
• Extended Coverage for Young Adults
  Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26. How generous of you! Uh, hello, I'm sorry to inform you Prez, but most states already have passed a law very similar to this. You really might want to get some of the people on your team to research these laws, can't be MISINFORMING the American people now can we?
• Guaranteed Insurance Renewal
  Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick. Oh my, here we go again with this lawyer/law thingy, where did you say you went to law school again? I don't think I have ever seen a policy that didn't renew each year as long as you kept paying your premium! Oh but there is that sneaky little scare tactic about losing your insurance because you get sick, naughty, naughty Prez! Just to let you know, a little misconception here, I swear I won't tell anyone you haven't figured this out, but so sorry once again, by LAW there are only two reasons why a policy can be canceled and sickness ain't one of them. Dude, you're really striking out here. Might want to stop playing with that snoodle bar dog every night and start study that law stuff again...

If you are as worried as I am regarding this health reform bill that the Prez is trying to stuff down our throats, Please contract your local senator or congressman and tell then to STOP THIS FRICKIN MADNESS before it's too late!

*FREE - don't let this misinformation fool you, this will not be free! Not only will this cost you in premium dollars but it will cost you in tax dollars. It will also still have a deductible and co-insurance percentage that you will pay out of pocket...