CSPAN -- Psst Gumby-outside now

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Yep the king of Grifters and Co getting called out finally after their open gov--transparency-bill on line 5 days before vote-etc cons on public- only to carry on with bills in secret-behind close doors and vote in wee hours of morning before anyone can read it.

If one wants to see some of the most sicking cons/grifts in history of politics I dare them to watch the videos below of Gumby and his queen bee--and you'll understand why CSPAN and "we the people" after the the golder grifter got the bill this far with closed door-secret meeting-vote buying/Chicago Politics are saying---PSST Gumby-outside NOW

Gumby-
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vi...are_these_negotiations_will_be_on_c-span.html


Pelosi
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vi..._will_have_most_honest__ethical_congress.html

Updated January 05, 2010
C-SPAN Challenges Congress to Open Health Care Talks to TV Coverage

FOXNews.com

The head of C-SPAN has implored Congress to open up the last leg of health care reform negotiations to the public, as top Democrats lay plans to hash out the final product among themselves.
The head of C-SPAN has implored Congress to open up the last leg of health care reform negotiations to the public, as top Democrats lay plans to hash out the final product among themselves.
C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb wrote to leaders in the House and Senate Dec. 30 urging them to open "all important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings," to televised coverage on his network.
"The C-SPAN networks will commit the necessary resources to covering all of the sessions LIVE and in their entirety," he wrote.
Congressional leaders, however, reportedly are expected to bypass the traditional conference committee process, in which lawmakers from both parties and chambers meet to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill. Instead, The Associated Press reports that top Democrats at the House, Senate and White House will figure out the final product in three-way talks before sending it back to both chambers for a final vote.
This format would seem ideal for closed-door meetings, which congressional Democrats have used many times to figure out sensitive provisions in the health care bill -- though President Obama pledged during the campaign to open up health care talks to C-SPAN's cameras.
"That's what I will do in bringing all parties together, not negotiating behind closed doors, but bringing all parties together, and broadcasting those negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are," Obama said at a debate against Hillary Clinton in Los Angeles on Jan. 31, 2008.
Asked about the request to Congress, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said he hadn't seen the letter.
"I know the president is going to begin discussions today on health care to iron out differences between the House and Senate bills," he said.
Lamb urged Congress in his letter to fling open the doors in the final stretch of the negotiations.
"President Obama, Senate and House leaders, many of your rank-and-file members, and the nation's editorial pages have all talked about the value of transparent discussions on reforming the nation's health care system," he wrote. "Now that the process moves to the critical stage of reconciliation between the chambers, we respectfully request that you allow the public full access, through television, to legislation that will affect the lives of every single American."
Lamb said his network would use "the latest technology" to be "as unobtrusive as possible" during the talks.

--more on topic


<! FIRST COLUMN STARTS HERE>
<CENTER><TABLE cellPadding=3 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="30%" align=left><TT>Dem Leaders Plan Secret Health Care Talks...

'Hiding Bills'...

Flashback: Pelosi Says Dems Will Have Most Honest, Ethical Congress... </TT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>

 

[THE KOD]

January 5, 2010
Paul takes aim at Cheney
Posted: January 5th, 2010 12:00 PM ET

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney


Paul is taking aim at Cheney.
(CNN) ? Dick Cheney is taking criticism from at least one member of his own party over the former vice president's recent and persistent criticisms of the Obama administration's handling of national security issues.

Ron Paul, the Texas congressman and upstart 2008 presidential candidate, told CNN's Larry King Monday night Cheney is in no place to criticize Obama's handling of the war on terrorism.

"I think he had his eight years, and he's caused a lot of trouble for our country and perpetuated a war in Iraq unnecessary and wrong-headed," said Paul. "I would say it would be best he not be so critical right now."

Paul was a constant critic of the Iraq war during his unsuccessful presidential run. While he is currently not seeking a higher office, his son, Rand, is seeking the Republican nomination for Senate in Kentucky.

Paul's comments come several days after Cheney released a tough-worded statement criticizing the president's response to the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day.

"He seems to think if he gives terrorists the rights of Americans, lets them lawyer up and reads them their Miranda rights, we won't be at war," Cheney said in the statement. "He seems to think if we bring the mastermind of 9/11 to New York, give him a lawyer and trial in civilian court, we won't be at war. He seems to think if he closes Guantanamo and releases the hard-core al Qaeda trained terrorists still there, we won't be at war."'


White House Communications Director Dan Pffeifer later responded the president "is not interested in bellicose rhetoric, he is focused on action."

Filed under: Dick Cheney ? Popular Posts ? Ron Paul




300 Comments | Permalink



Michael January 5th, 2010 11:49 am ET

Mr Cheney seems to think that if he comes out often enough with wrong-headed criticism of Obama's policies, we might forget what a lousy job he did advising the President in response to 911; He seems to think that if he tries to resurrect the fear and paranoia he fed us during his 8 years in office we might forget about the monumental disaster he and Bush led us into in Iraq; He seems to think that if he casts enough doubt on Obama's ability to do his job, we might believe he knew what he was doing when he spent our blood and money on a useless war in Iraq and ignored Afghanistan where Bin Laden was hiding.
Well sorry Dick, we really don't want to hear from you any more. You need to come to terms with the fact that you are simply irrelevant.


BB January 5th, 2010 11:49 am ET

Thank you Mr. Paul. You have my respect.


John, a proud veteran January 5th, 2010 11:49 am ET

CNN made clear last night that President Obama has been clear from his inauguration speech onward that we are at war with al qaeda. It seems that Cheney and Rumsfeld were just pretending to be fighting al qaeda back in 2003. Otherwise, they would have made the commitments that
were requested to kill or capture bin Laden in the Toro Boro Mtns when we had a chance.
After 2006 Pres. Bush stopped listening to Cheney. No one should listen to him now.


Edna January 5th, 2010 11:48 am ET

I am not sure why Dick Cheney does not go back under his rock and stay there. He had eight years to do damage to our country and he did a good job of it. He evidently has not been listening to the President and just enjoys lying. The President has constantly used the words terrorist and war in speeches and talks throughout the months that he has been in office. The problem with Cheney is that he knows that his time in office was a total disaster and he thinks by blasting the President, people will forget about it. We won't. I don't know if he realizes how ignorant he sounds. Republicans who continue to resist everything this administration is trying to do to make this country better will one day remember their "no" attitude when the people of this country will be successful no matter what the Republicans throw at us. And the 2010 elections will not be as successful for the Republicans as they think.
.................................................................

This is why I like Paul

the guy is not afraid to call a moran a moran

Rep party be damned . If President Cheney is being stupid , Paul will say so.

you guys need more like him

of coures hedgehog dont know that Paul lives in Texas :scared

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

WTF has Ron Paul/Cheney got to do with Gumby getting caught with the BIG GRIFT once again?


Let me give you another look from Gibbs trying to explain the grift yesterday--

Here is video of Gibbs -entitled "Gumby- You Lie"
Good to see all the repoters climbing on

http://video.foxnews.com/v/3961322/c-span-calls-out-obama

Almost forgot --whats Gumby got to say on accusations of lying about transparency/bi partisanship and presenting bills to public 5 days before voting--

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100106/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

Obama prods Congress to pass health bill quickly


<CITE class=vcard>By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer Erica Werner, Associated Press Writer </CITE>? <ABBR class=timedate title=2010-01-06T00:00:09-0800>Wed Jan 6, 3:00 am ET</ABBR>
<!-- end .byline -->WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama is prodding House and Senate Democrats to get him a final health care bill as soon as possible, encouraging them to bypass the usual negotiations between the two chambers in the interest of speed.
Obama delivered the message at an Oval Office meeting Tuesday evening with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his No. 2, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., joined in by phone.
They agreed that rather than setting up a formal conference committee to resolve differences between health bills passed last year by the House and Senate, the House will work off the Senate's version, amend it and send it back to the Senate for final passage, according to a House leadership aide, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the private meeting.




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[THE KOD]

sorry DTB but I cant read your links anymore.

It makes me crazy

So I just post what I am interested in , in your threads.

It works for me

 

[shawn555]

sorry DTB but I cant read your links anymore.

It makes me crazy

So I just post what I am interested in , in your threads.

It works for me

Thanks Scott I only read your posts and skip over DTB's.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Thanks Scott I only read your posts and skip over DTB's.

You might want to follow his handicappping also--and hope for the tax payors to support you.

Oh and you might want to get some stock tips from him--I'll look for the march thread where he said he was out for rest of year--it his "Da Base" investment philosophy sell low-buy high



--more reading material for you--

COUNT THE LIES: OBAMA VOWED 8 X TO TELEVISE HEALTHCARE

 

[shawn555]

You might want to follow his handicappping also--and hope for the tax payors to support you.

Oh and you might want to get some stock tips from him--I'll look for the march thread where he said he was out for rest of year--it his "Da Base" investment philosophy sell low-buy high

So you attack Scott's betting and stocks?

This is why I do not read your nonsense.

 

[THE KOD]

So you attack Scott's betting and stocks?

This is why I do not read your nonsense.

.................................................................

I am not sure what DTB black gumby is talking about which is not unusual.

I have not been buying or selling in the stock market for over two years . I have been holding what I have.
:shrug:

 

[shawn555]

.................................................................

I am not sure what DTB black gumby is talking about which is not unusual.

I have not been buying or selling in the stock market for over two years . I have been holding what I have.
:shrug:

Maybe he saw it on the top of drudge?

Just like all the other links he posts.
:shrug:

 

[THE KOD]

obama-really-promise-televised-healthcare-negotiations/"]COUNT THE LIES: OBAMA VOWED 8 X TO TELEVISE HEALTHCARE[/URL]

................................................................

You think this is such a big issue.

thats just bullshit.

The Republicans would open their doors and let America watch them trying to prepare a bill that will work. :SIB They are just pissed they are not a part of it.

no way DTB black gumby

You think Obama lied about this. You know that every President once in office changes their mind about things.

you try to make him look bad over it.

The Neocons just want attacking points they could play over and over during any discussions that were had. Dems aint that stupid.


you have never said shit about the lies that Bush and President Cheney told.

not once.

you still think their shit dont stink

But what you dont realize is that the shit is so far up your brown nose that you cant smell anymore.

:142smilie

 

[THE KOD]

AP sources: Obama OKs taxing high-end health plans

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama signaled to House Democratic leaders Wednesday that they'll have to drop their opposition to taxing high-end health insurance plans to pay for health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.

In a meeting at the White House, Obama expressed his preference for the insurance tax contained in the Senate's health overhaul bill, but largely opposed by House Democrats and organized labor, Democratic aides said. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.

House Democrats want to raise income taxes on high-income individuals instead and are reluctant to abandon that approach, while recognizing that they will have to bend on that and other issues so that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., can maintain his fragile 60-vote majority support for the bill.

Pelosi and four committee chairmen met with the president Wednesday as they scrambled to resolve differences between sweeping bills passed by the House and Senate. The aim is to finalize legislation revamping the nation's health care system in time for Obama's State of the Union address early last month.

Despite the dispute over the payment approach, Pelosi, D-Calif., emerged from the meeting expressing optimism.

"We've had a very intense couple of days," Pelosi said. "After our leadership meeting this morning, our staff engaged with the Senate and the administration staff to review the legislation, suggest legislative language. I think we're very close to reconciliation."

Congressional staff members stayed at the White House into the evening to continue work and a conference call of the full House Democratic caucus was scheduled for Thursday.
.................................................................

Change we can believe in !

TAX DTB BLACK GUMBY UNTIL IT HURTS ! :00hour

 

[THE KOD]

The French Health Care System

The public health insurance program in France was established in 1945 and its coverage for its affiliates have undergone many changes since then. One of the major changes has resulted in the expansion to all legal residents, under the law of universal coverage called la couverture maladie universelle (universal health coverage). It is based on the principle of solidarity, guarantying financial protection against life?s contingencies for everyone.

Originally, professional activity (being in employment) was the basis of the funding and benefits of the French public health insurance system known as the S?curit? Sociale (social security). The main fund covers eighty percent of the population. There are two additional funds for the self-employed and agricultural workers.

Reimbursement is regulated through uniform rates. The financing is supported by employers, employee contributions, and personal income taxes. The working population has twenty percent of their gross salary deducted at source to fund the social security system.

The contribution of financing through personal income taxes has gradually increased and its purpose is to make up for the fall in remuneration, reduce price changes on the labor market and allocate the system?s financing among citizens equitably.

Employer and union federations jointly control the funds under the State?s supervision. This involves an intricate collaboration between the various entities of the system.

About seventy five percent of the total health expenditures are covered by the public health insurance system. A part of the balance is paid directly by the patients and the other part by private health insurance companies that are hired individually or in group (assurance compl?mentaire or mutuelle, complementary insurance or mutual fund).
The State
The State sees that the whole population has access to care; it dictates the types of care that are reimbursed, and to what degree, and what the role is of the different participating entities.

The State is in charge of protecting patient?s rights, elaborating policies and enforcing them. It is responsible for public safety.

Health authorities plan the size and numbers of hospitals. They decide on the amount and allocation of technical equipment (such as MRI, CT scans?). Through its agencies, the State organizes the supply of specialized wards and secures the provision of care at all times.

In recent years, regional authorities have taken a growing role in policy-making and negotiation.
Hospitals
There are two general categories:
The public sector, which accounts for 65% of hospital beds. Public hospitals are responsible for supplying ongoing care, teaching and training.

Private hospitals are profit oriented. They concentrate on surgical procedures and depend on their fee-for-service for funding.
There is no significant difference in the quality of care between public and private hospitals.

In France, there are 8.4 hospital beds per 1,000 people.
Health Professionals
Health professionals and physicians usually work in both public hospitals and private practices. About 36 percent of physicians work in public hospitals or establishments. They are in essence public servants, and the amount they are paid is determined by the government. However, 56 percent of physicians work in private practices because of the difficult working conditions in hospitals.

Experts set the relative price of procedures that are then negotiated by physicians' unions and public health insurance funds. Around ninety seven percent of practitioners conform to the Tarif de convention (tariff references) which sets prices. Tariff references are the fixed rates to be used by doctors set by the national convention for all health services. Medical practitioners and clinics/hospitals who are not conventions (complying with the tariff references) have to display their prices.

In some situations, certain medical practitioners (such as surgeons with extra qualifications or experience) can charge more than the Tarif de convention. The extra fee is called a d?passement.

There are 3.37 physicians per 1,000 people.

There was a reform in July of 2005 which put in place a process of coordinated care. The patient first visits his/her m?decin traitant (general practitioner). This physician has been previously registered at the caisse d?assurance sociale as the one in charge of the coordination of care for the patient. In case the physician or his substitute is unavailable, the patient can consult another physician and inform his/her caisse d?assurance - this does not affect his/her entitlement reimbursement. The patient is free to change to another general practitioner but has to report the change.

The m?decin correspondant (correspondent doctor) is the physician to whom the patient has been referred and is usually a specialist. With the authorization of the patient, this physician sends the relevant information to the m?decin traitant in order to follow up and coordinate care.

Several specialists have direct authorization for passing on information relevant to care, such as gynecologists, ophthalmologists and psychiatrists.

The service of gynecologists, ophthalmologists and dentists are covered by the State without a referral by a m?decin traitant (the patient does not have to go to his/her General Practitioner first).

The patient has to present his card called "Carte Vitale" which transmits all transactions to the caisse d' assurance where he/she is registered. All medical procedures (hospitalization, laboratory tests, x-rays?) have to take place in the locality of his/her caisse d?assurance. However, the patient can buy medicines anywhere in France and have the reimbursement later deposited on his/her bank account, usually within a ten-day-period.

An average of 70 percent of the cost of a visit to a family doctor or specialist is refunded. Reimbursements are on average of: 95 percent for a major surgery, 80 percent for minor surgery, 95 to 100 percent for pregnancy and childbirth, 70 percent for x-rays, routine dental care and nursing care at home. Reimbursements for prescribed medicines depend on the type of medication and range from 15 percent to 65 percent.

The percentage that is to be paid by the patient and not reimbursed by the S?curit? sociale is called ticket mod?rateur. This fraction varies following each individual?s obligatory regime set by the tariff references allocated to various medical treatments and associated fees encountered.

A patient can receive 100 percent coverage under certain conditions, such as having a chronic or acute medical condition (including cancer, insulin-dependent diabetes, heart disease?), requiring long-term care, having a long-standing condition, requiring a hospital stay of more than 30 days.

Beneficiaries of the RMI (revenu minimum d?insertion, minimum revenue of introduction) are automatically affiliated to the social security system. They are several requirements to qualify, but essentially every legal resident in France who earn less than a certain amount are entitled to this financial aid. As soon as they are affiliated, they also entitled to the health coverage. Those individuals are entitled to a 100 percent reimbursement of medical and hospital costs.
Complementary Insurance
Since health expenditure is growing in France, there has been ongoing concern about the deficit of the S?curit? Sociale and governments have been inclined to reduce the degree of reimbursement. As a result, more individuals are turning to l?assurance compl?mentaire (complementary insurance). This health insurance covers all or part of the costs not reimbursed by the health system.

The complementary insurance offers an extensive range of plans. The patient has to select the one that is best suited to his situation and needs to take into consideration his/her state of health, medical consumption, family, income and place of residence.
Expatriates in France
Since 2007, there have been some changes for EU citizens residing in France, introducing restrictions in their access to the health care system. This affects inactive individuals (not in employment) that do not have a professional activity (not working) or are looking for work, or students. The reason for those limitations is that France has to conform to the European community rules, like the other countries in the community. The new conditions of the right of stay have direct consequences on the social benefits in France.

Right of stay for inactive residence (not in employment) depends on two conditions:
They need to have a reasonable level of income in order not to become a burden for the State.
They need to have health coverage.
The conditions for inactive EU residents already living on France before November 2007 remain the same.

Students and retired people need to have medical coverage. Students usually have medical coverage from their country of origin or through the French Social Security for students; this applies to students under 28 years of age. Retired individuals, in most cases have health insurance from the country where they worked.

If an EU resident becomes sick and does not fulfill those two conditions and has been residing in France for less than three months, this person is entitled to dispositif soins urgent (emergency care device ). If the person has been residing for more than three months, he/she is entitled to l?Aide M?dicale d?Etat (state medical aid).

Inactive EU residents can receive the couverture maladie universelle (universal health coverage) known as CMU if they are legal residents (stable and uninterrupted).

CMU de base (basic CMU)

Basic CMU helps anyone living in France who is not covered by another type of insurance get access to medical care and reimbursement of services and medication. People from all levels of income are entitled to it. The affiliation is not automatic and the person has to apply for it. It covers part of the medical services for the legal resident and the people in his/ her household. It covers typically seventy percent of a doctor's visit.

CMU compl?mentaire (complementary CMU)

Complementary CMU facilitates access to health care for people with low income residing in France for more than three months, in a stable and uninterrupted manner. These individuals have one hundred percent coverage without advance payment for the health services or medication (they are fully covered, no money upfront needed). The income of the individual?s household must not exceed a maximum amount. The spouse or partner of the individual, as well as the dependents under 25 years of age are also included in this coverage. It is renewable on a yearly basis.

If a person is a foreign national, outside EU member states or Switzerland, he/she must justify their right of residence in France in order to gain right to the State healthcare.

After five years of legal residence all EU nationals gain permanent right of residence and therefore become fully entitled to the CMU.

Any EU expatriate not officially retired (under retirement age), not working, and not having lived in France for more than five years will lose their right to the French state healthcare except for those who have been living in France since before November of 2007.

Life expectancy in France topped 80 years in 2004. The French health care service is certainly costly to maintain, but it remains one of the best in the world, offering a large choice of general practitioners and healthcare specialists.
...................................................................


There is alot I like about France

It was voted the Number 1 country in the world to live by a international vote.

China was not on the fawking list anywhere

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

So you attack Scott's betting and stocks?

This is why I do not read your nonsense.

I hate too see you responding to a thread you don't read-

I personally think your in good company with Scott--
---a guy that is whining one day about how he's still having to pay his wifes medical bills because he didn't have insurance--and speaking of loading up on sports wagers the next--should be perfect mentor for you. If true that would make him "Da Base" poster boy--but I suspect he just has the Gumby syndrome per above and can't seperate fact from fiction-its one or the other--you as his diciple just have to figure out which

carry on--

 

[JOSHNAUDI]

DTB
I'm very disappointed in the Obama Cspan promise not being fulfilled and even though we have different vernacular in describing how we feel, I do believe that it means that I agree with you on this issue

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Its getting unanimous--with exception of nbc/msnbc

--the latest

Cnn Jack Cafferty--Gumby- you lie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pO1oJPps1I

CBS- Gumby you lie
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/06/eveningnews/main6064298.shtml

 

[THE KOD]

I hate too see you responding to a thread you don't read-

I personally think your in good company with Scott--
---a guy that is whining one day about how he's still having to pay his wifes medical bills because he didn't have insurance--and speaking of loading up on sports wagers the next--should be perfect mentor for you. If true that would make him "Da Base" poster boy--but I suspect he just has the Gumby syndrome per above and can't seperate fact from fiction-its one or the other--you as his diciple just have to figure out which

carry on--

................................................................

I play with the books money you dumb ass

I know you come to a gambling forum without gambling but geezzz

get your facts straight DTB black ass gumby

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

The books money--:mj07: :142smilie

Maybe you could answer question I posed to 555 above.
Answer has to be one or the other--could you inform of which it is--the poster boy or the grifter.

---a guy that is whining one day about how he's still having to pay his wifes medical bills because he didn't have insurance--and speaking of loading up on sports wagers the next--should be perfect mentor for you. If true that would make him "Da Base" poster boy--but I suspect he just has the Gumby syndrome per above and can't seperate fact from fiction-its one or the other--you as his diciple just have to figure out which



--and as far as my gambling-you may want to do search

 

[Skulnik]

The books money--:mj07: :142smilie

Maybe you could answer question I posed to 555 above.
Answer has to be one or the other--could you inform of which it is--the poster boy or the grifter.

---a guy that is whining one day about how he's still having to pay his wifes medical bills because he didn't have insurance--and speaking of loading up on sports wagers the next--should be perfect mentor for you. If true that would make him "Da Base" poster boy--but I suspect he just has the Gumby syndrome per above and can't seperate fact from fiction-its one or the other--you as his diciple just have to figure out which



--and as far as my gambling-you may want to do search

Sounds like that money is for Gambling, not his BILLS, does sound like Da Base, maybe he can get some of that Obama Cash.

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:142smilie

 

[THE KOD]

Entrepreneurs
Health Insurance That Won't Make You Sick
Maureen Farrell, 01.08.10, 05:11 PM EST
Getting non-employer-sponsored coverage at a (relatively) fair price is tough. Follow these tips.


Betsey Berger spent years searching for the ideal place to live. An independent management consultant to technology manufacturers, Berger travels within the U.S. two to three weeks each month, so home can be anywhere. Tired of Raleigh, N.C.'s muggy summers, she was thrilled to find new digs in Evergreen, Colo.--until she tried to buy a health insurance policy. "I get there and find out I can't afford health insurance," says Berger, 58.

In North Carolina Berger qualified for a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan with $219 monthly premiums and a (relatively high) $5,000 deductible, above which the insurer picks up 100% of the tab. In Colorado Berger was only eligible for so-called high-risk plans because she takes blood pressure and cholesterol medication. The cheapest plan she could find charged $1,100 per month, with a $1,200 deductible and only 70% coverage after that. This, says Berger, even though "my health hasn't changed since I left North Carolina."

Berger (her real name has been disguised) decided to keep seeing her doctor in North Carolina and to maintain her old policy, even though insurers are not allowed by federal law to sell across state lines. The thought of paying a $200 plane ticket a few times a year and a higher deductible seemed more palatable than eating an extra $10,600 in premiums. And if she got really sick and the insurance company decided to take a closer look at her real address? "I don?t know what I'd do," says Berger. "I keep thinking that I?m just seven years away from Medicare."

In Depth: 11 Health Screens To Think Twice About

Words Of Warning: The Seven Scariest Hospital Complications

If health care legislation passes this year, it likely will have the most dramatic effect on the Betsy Bergers of the world--the 16 million Americans who buy health insurance on the open market (along with the 46 million who are totally uninsured). The U.S. health care system is divided into the employer-sponsored insurance market, regulated by the federal government, and the individual and small-business markets, regulated by the states.

While the federal government offers a wealth of consumer protections, like coverage for preexisting medical conditions and maternity benefits, the states are a crap shoot. The Commonwealth Foundation, a New York health policy research fund, estimates that over the last three years, nearly three-quarters of people who tried to buy coverage in the individual market never purchased it, because they couldn't afford one or were turned down for preexisting conditions.

"The insurance companies hold all the cards," says Karen Pollitz, a research professor at Georgetown's Health Policy Institute. "When you really need coverage, they will investigate everything about you, and if one little thing is out of order, they can deny you." Also, you can't buy insurance on the individual market with pretax dollars, as you can with employer-sponsored insurance.

Congress will spend the coming weeks wrestling over details, and most changes won't take effect until at least 2013. (More immediate tweaks include mandating coverage of children with preexisting conditions and establishing rules that make it more difficult to rescind policies for people who get sick.)

In the meantime, there are steps you can take to make sure you get a--relatively--fair deal on health insurance. It will take some research, but traversing this territory is worth the effort: The consequences of choosing the wrong policy at the wrong price are too great.


1. Briefly familiarize yourself with state law. In New York and New Jersey, for example, you're entitled to health insurance even if you have a life-threatening condition like cancer; not so in Texas and South Carolina. (One caveat on "guaranteed coverage": It comes at a price and with few plan options.) Start by looking at sites like statehealthfacts.org, administered by the Kaiser Family Foundation, or your state's department of health insurance.


2. Lay out your options. Good individual plans are hard to find, so make sure to canvass the landscape. Three key sources of information include Web search engines like eHealthinsurance.com, insurance brokers that work with multiple carriers, and the insurance companies themselves. (You can find carriers on your state's department of insurance Web site.) Group buying may be an option, too. For example, some local chambers of commerce allow business owners to buy insurance through their associations; freelancers unions offer a similar service for individuals. Beware, though: Associations often deny individuals with preexisting conditions.


3. If you think you understand what you're paying, check again. Each individual plan has a flurry of befuddling details, including coverage exceptions (hospital costs, prescription drug benefits); the number of hospitals and doctors per plan; and the number of doctor visits allowed each year. Look, too, for any "riders" that nullify coverage for treatment remotely related to certain conditions. If you've had a history of migraines, for example, you could be denied coverage related to headaches, sinus infections and other vaguely related problems. Women should also find out whether the plan covers maternity benefits. (Most individual policies don't.)


4. Decide what you can afford and what you are willing to pay for. Low monthly premiums tend to come with higher deductibles or co-payments. Consider two theoretical policies--one with a $200 monthly premium and a $5,000 deductible, the other with a $400 premium and a $1,000 deductible. While the first policy will save you $2,400 a year in premiums, you could end up spending an additional $4,000 to cover your deductible. Net loss: $1,600. Low-premium policies may also offer no prescription drug benefits or a limited number of doctor visits. Also be sure to understand your policy's maximum annual payment and lifetime limit: While you might be excited to save a few hundred dollars a year in premiums, if total coverage maxes out at $100,000, an extended hospital stay could bankrupt you.


5. Finally, be honest about preexisting medical conditions. Even tiny discrepancies can void your policy. Remember: The less insurance carriers pay out, the more money they make, so they're looking for those mistakes.
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