Corbett, one and done!

Can't be too soon for me!

Finally, some real leadership!

Good for him! Setting up state-run, health insurance exchanges would ensure PA taxpayers fund this bureaucracy for decades to come. Yes, PA has many residents who don't pay taxes so don't much care, and his courage may cost his re-election. All the more reason to applaud his decision.

The more we read it to see what's in it the worse ObamaCare becomes.

"expanding government bureaucracy to create a system that forces costs to go up while quality goes down is not the answer".

Bingo.

What does Corbett care. He has health care and we pay for it. One Monday night my friend could not afford to get her 14 year old a migraine prescription filled because it was $300. Yes she has a job, 3 kids & works over 40 hours a week. Makes $35K a year. NO she does not qualify or receive any public assistance. I bet none of his kids never went with out prescriptions because he just didn't have it. She also went with out oil until December. I am not kidding. Rent $1200 a month.... 3 kids, you do the math. It's so easy to judge, please show me the facts on PA residents who don't pay taxes. MY 86 year old mom pays taxes.

Charlotte please stop the lies!! Your friend does qualify for benefits! Your friend also qualifies for a federal liheap program to help her with oil! Also your so called friend that has 3 kids and makes $35,000 a year qualifies for SNAP know to most as FOODSDAMPS! Your friend also qualifies for child care! Seriously, there are millions in PA who pay no taxes and sit on their asses all day collecting SNAP while living on section 8!!!

john, I am serious. if she qualifies please post docs here to verfify & i will forward to her. i do not want to have a debate I only know what she told me.

John I don't know what country you live in but making that much a year does not qualify for Snap and if it did then whoever the caseworker is, is hooking them up and I need to call them. The problem I have is the people complaining about Obama care and having to pay a bit of healthcare insurance and you are working. It will go by your income and if your employer offers it you need to have it unless you qualify for government insurance and yes some of them will cost you 5, 10 15 or 20 dollars compared to a working person making good income and paying for what the company offers. It's not ok to sit home and keep getting free services for your health and the doc not get anything for it. Do you know how much money they don't get because of the free services? I don't find anything wrong with it and I think you complaining people need to get off your butts and do something for yourself. The whole damn family sitting there reaping free benny's while I'm working, paying for you to receive them while paying for mine too.

And it's the same healthcare quality they have been receiving for free! If the quality is bad then the doctor is bad.

We need Quality Affordable Health Care. Not forced payments to insurance companies for mediocre healthcare. We as average americans are going bankrupt funding insurance company profits. I am not for obama care. I'm for pennsylvania having it's own single payer system. Everybody in Nobody out. Health Care for life from the day you are born to the day you die.
Here it is - http://www.healthcare4allpa.org/index.html
Many other countries use the single payer system. If you want to know how other countries cover their citizens check out "The Healing of America" by T. R. Reed. You can probably get it at the library. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Healing_of_America

Smed

I just looked all over the net and I could not find any thing with regards to qualifications. I called the county because now I am curious about this.
I left a message to please send me info to my email. I know is Alabama the cut off is $23K a year. because I just saw this on CNN the other night. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/11/soledad-obrien-jeff-sessions-food-stamps_n_2277902.html
This is who I called: I could not get a person I called several times.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Montgomery County Assistance Office
1931 New Hope St Norristown, PA 19401 | Get Directions »
610-270-3500

We spend over 17% of our GDP on healthcare in this country, currently leave 47 million uninsured, and have basic health outcomes that are consistently worse than other OECD countries. You cannot reasonably expect any real systemic improvements when insurance companies do nothing but push paper and then take 10-20% off the top. The same applies to how we deliver care in this country. Everybody is just "doing their own thing" because they fear a nationalized plan, above all else. Every other civilized country in the world has some form of nationalized healthcare. This allows them to make systemic improvements and to afford those improvements by having one large risk pool instead of many small risk pools like the US.

You can see all the data at the OECD websites: (http://www.oecd.org/els/healthpoliciesanddata/49105858.pdf)

Finally, Republicans always say they favor the states calling the shots. But, now that they have the opportunity to actually call those shots, they run and hide. Corbett's kicking the ball back to the Federal government so that he'll have another cheap-shot wedge issue to campaign on. It's politics, not leadership.

Corbett is playing politics. The GOP lost the election because everything they said was Fact check. They said the facts didn't matter. remember? well the facts do matter. And the intelligence of the American public was grossly underestimated by the GOP. There are a lot of people in PA who need health insurance. 62% of Americans polled wanted government healthcare. ( every poll except FOX news polls, they make up their own numbers and make fun of people who disagree with them ) They are good people who go to work everyday. And they are NOT living off of the governments dime. And pay taxes. Every time you go into a retail store to buy a Christmas gift the odds are that the person does not have insurance if they are the head of household. Corbett is playing politics.
Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, plans to begin denying health insurance to newly hired employees who work fewer than 30 hours a week, according to a copy of the company’s policy. I guarantee you 90% of their workers will now work 29.5 hours a week at a bit above min wage. Walmart is a perfect example of what happens when a state loses bargaining rights for wages and benefits. .

As a physician in PA, these dialogues are quite interesting...currently our practice treats a fair number of under insured patients for little or no compensation. We do this voluntarily, because it it's good for our community. However, we have had serious discussions, and even attended a practice management conference, looking into exiting the insurance arena altogether and joining a "concierge" network next year. This would mean an all cash practice, limited to patients who are willing to pay in full at the time of service. Analysts believe that many of the most sought after specialists will elect this route rather than face even more mandated chaos, and less pay. I'm torn, but will end up doing whatever is best for my family.

Thank you, Dr S. Republicans understand that medical providers have something in common with chimney sweeps, hair-cutters and roofers: no one can force them to provide services. Not even the government can say, "Dr S, you must accept Medicare patients." Contrary to Charlotte's false claims above, GOP candidates including Romney-Ryan would assist the under-uninsured issue by opening up free-market competition across state lines among insurers + eliminate preexisting conditions clauses. Good affordable plans. Free market ambitions! Where would we be without? Still driving horses or Model-T Fords. Every advancement from this nation was the direct result of competition, for individuals' personal gain. The American way. As did Marx - she who believes expanding + trusting government to fill all needs for all citizens misses this most basic human condition. Yes if you are physically incapable of working, for many decades here you were entitled to a basic safety net. Otherwise for want of better services or nicer things - sorry bub, you earned it.

US News & World Report Top Docs already went concierge. Mine did in 2004, closed + limited practice. Answers his cell + replies to emails within hours. Meets me in his office on a Sunday if problems arise. We'll grow old together. Check out MDVIP.com.

You're a good man wanting to heal and serve people; this comes from your heart. But ultimately you cannot care for yourself or others if not properly compensated.

Obamacare=FAIL.

America was founded on the principle of equal opportunity, not equal outcomes. Many who avoid early reproduction, and value education & hard work will improve their odds of success. Why does the person who has worked hard all his life, deferred gratification and made sacrifices owe anything to those who don't? Kids who spend their school years getting high and pregnant are going to have a difficult time in life. It sounds harsh, but that outcome is needed to motivate most people.

how does a conversation about healthcare reform focus so much on entitlements? do any of you realize this has virtually nothing to do with free anything? wanting the ability to purchase affordable healthcare has absolutely nothing to do with your personal work ethic or income level. There are people at all levels of income that need this reform, my husband and I are small business owners, we wouldn't qualify for any "handouts" but we are a business of 2 people so we also don't qualify for employer insurance. My husband is diabetic, and as we run our business and have to purchase insurance privately, there is currently nothing requiring insurance companies to provide him coverage. it isn't a matter of discounts, its not even about the pcp doctor visits, those are simple, what isn't simple is the knowledge that if something serious were to happen, if he were in an accident of some sort, or god forbid got cancer, we have absolutely no protection. For a plan that isn't even in place yet, there is an awful lot of "negative impact" and it all comes from fear of the unknown. Change is necessary, we are the ONLY industrialized nation that does not have a healthcare system in place. Basic healthcare is a human right, this isn't a smart phone or a flat screen tv (sadly i imagine both those items are more prevalent in our society than decent healthcare) open your eyes, and educate yourself before you spew crap that you know nothing about.

Your example Maria is eloquently (if not rudely) stated. Neither political party and no candidate to my knowledge, and I follow it closely, ever denied there is a problem. It is a mistake comparing the US healthcare system to other countries, unless you'd like to include Greece, Spain, Russia, and other abject economic system failures. Yes there is a problem. Affordable Healthcare Acts are not the correct solution for THIS, OUR country. Foisting 3.8% surtaxes on small businesses does not magically create enough doctors to suddenly care for 30 million uninsured people. Robbing $800 billion from Medicare does not get our moms in to see specialists who are today, right now, denying Medicare patients. There is a workable solution. Obamacare isn't it. Which you and everyone else is or will soon learn the hard way. Spew all the gut-wrenching feelings you want. Health care is a business, and business decisions are not made based on emotion, nor does a bleeding heart make payroll or educate doctors or pay medical malpractice insurance bills.

lets see, maybe the fact that i actually received a refund check in the mail from my insurance company because they did not meet the new criteria for percentage of premiums actually spent on patients. Oh, and my insurance premium actually went down this year.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2012/10/02/the-ratio-of-obamacares-medicare-cuts-to-new-benefits-is-fifteen-to-one/

Patrick, anything else to add?

Your spin, Patrick, does not alter the reality that in every state, swelling percentages of doctors are no longer accepting Medicare patients, nor do your false claims negate Dr. S's post above. Believe in fairy tales, keep blogging and spinning, go ahead, get the last word. And hope the older folks you care about don't get too sick.

What amuses me the most about the GOP is the selfishness that you all have. The party boasts "Christian Values", "family morals", etc., yet when it comes to things like healthcare you all sound hypocritical.
Why should we work hard for others? I work for me, etc. Doesn't sound like the Christian way to me. I don't mind paying more for others who have less. God forbid, if I were to lose everything, I know I'd be cared for too. The concept of Obamacare is to give everyone a fair shot at getting affordable healthcare.
Sure the majority of us in this area may be able to afford healthcare, but believe me, I work in the inner-city and there are a lot of people who do try very hard to make ends meet. Majority of these people can't afford healthcare. There are a lot of people stuck and trying very hard to get out.

So john q. Who worked hard all his life deferring gratification and owes nothing to those who don't, what about those who work 10 hours and volunteer at their churches for another four everyday. All the while, still unable to afford decent healthcare and get their family out of a bad place.

The GOP is terrified of the word "taxes". They hate Obamacare because of the forced "tax" you pay if you opt out. That "tax" was called a "fine" when Romney came up with Obamacare. Now we sit here and watch the republicans fight continued tax breaks on those making $200,000+. If I made that I'd be fine doing the "Christian thing" and paying more in taxes. If I'm making $85,000 and someone is making $30,000 I'm fine with increasing my taxes too to help those less fortunate. God forbid we all look out for each other.

@ Socialist: members of both parties share a common interest in providing healthcare to all in need. The dramatic difference is the business of achieving it. You are quite emotional, and wrong. PS - Jesus supported himself as a carpenter and paid taxes to Caesar while giving out free healing to all who asked.

I forget that Romney had a "new healthcare plan". Which had the same promises as Obamacare without the taxes. Unfortunately, he never did lay out that plan on where the money would come from or how it would work. The one thing I do like about Romney is he did do a good job in creating Obamacare. As for Jesus, I strongly agree. He clearly was a Liberal.

Then under Obamacare all you must do is convince tens of thousands more smart people to enroll and pay for medical school, and convince them that at the end of that horrendous journey, after serving no-sleep low-paid residencies for years, they'll get to pay upwards of $175,000 per year per doctor in malpractice insurance, then join practices that accept anyone and everyone regardless of what The People's Insurance Plan compensates the doctors.

Watch what happens now. Competent docs migrating to Concierge, closing their practices and refusing to accept The People's Insurance Plans. Pay out-of-pocket. You thought the gulf between the Haves and Have Nots was wide before Obamacare. Health care is like any other business. And what happens when government squeezes business owners? Pass it down. Everybody loses. But please, keep defending it. Still a free country. For awhile.

LOL, the Heritage Foundation. If you'll recall, in 2008 there was no Obamacare. If you'll recall, Democrats controlled two of three branches of Federal government when they rammed through these two acts without a single nod of support from any conservative members of the House or Senate, Pelosi saying "We must pass it to find out what's in it." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE1R-xH5To

Making up "facts" as you go does not alter the actual facts, Charlotte. Nor does it help solve the problem.

I don't recall ever going to the polls and voting for Heritage Foundation for US Congress. Heritage Foundation isn't the boss of me. It generates air.

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml bi-partisan support? No.

I like how you ignored Pelosi and the substance, and facts.

Anyone truly interested in learning about the two Acts which comprise "Obamacare" may find this Congressman's links and website useful. He is an M.D. and one of the first to read, digest, and publicly speak out against these Acts, distilling down into language we can all understand what effects they would have, and what is the viable alternative. http://fleming.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=8486

"We can improve our health care system by putting patients in charge of their own health care, through health savings accounts and other forms of tax-deductible savings programs. Insurance premiums can become more affordable for everyone by allowing consumers to purchase insurance across state lines and encouraging, but not requiring, young healthy individuals to purchase health insurance. Programs that expand choices in Medicare, such as Medicare Advantage, should be strengthened, so that seniors can choose the benefits packages that best suit their needs.

There is no doubt about it; health care in America must be improved. The answer, however, is not an intrusive and expensive government administered health care plan for Americans."

He is so right.

Give it up Minster....NOBODY is buying your nonsense. This is the same guy that predicted a "Romney landslide" and used fake polls to "prove" his points. I saw he had something in the Mercury the other day saying "if all the suburb districts "only got 5,500 more people to come to the polls and vote Republican, Romney would have won PA"! What he doesn't realize is these people DON'T EXSIST! The MAJORITY of people are moderates who don't support a racist party for of NRA gun toters who care more about guns and an invisible man they worship than actual human beings!

Hit the road Jack!

What you described Joseph was the way things worked before Obamacare's passage. What is happening since is summarized in a 100% accurate timeline presented by Rep. Fleming: http://fleming.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hc_timeline.pdf

The issue is up in this thread, starting with Dr. S's post. He's now facing the wall. Many doctors have already stopped accepting Medicare patients and various insurance plans. Can't make this stuff up. Google a little or better yet interface with more doctors, ask them. Bottom line, no one can force anyone else to work, or accept $X dollars for services. You say I still maintain my own plan (meaning insurance). True. Premiums doubled as soon as Obama got elected in '08, and deductibles increased. You say I still maintain the same relationship with my doctor: not true. I now must pay $2K cash out-of-pocket to remain in his practice. It's called Concierge Medicine. I get newsletters from MDVIP adding dozens of new docs each edition. Spreading like crazy. Cause-effect. I feel like I'm repeating myself, so go ahead and get the last word.