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President Barack Obama is finally showing some backbone and telling Congress to make a decision on a health care reform bill that would provide coverage for at least 30 million uninsured people in America.
He suggested the Democratic-controlled Congress pass the bill, despite nearly 100 percent opposition from the Republicans, and work out the differences after he signs the bill through reconciliation, a tactic he said former president George W. Bush often used to pass his agenda when Republicans held the majority in Congress.
For nearly a year, Obama, a recent Nobel Peace Prize winner, tried to appease Republicans who adamantly oppose government interfering with private health care. In an effort to understand the other side, he entered the lion’s den to field questions at a gathering of Republican lawmakers. Last week, he held a bipartisan health care summit to get the Republicans’ input on health care reform.
But on Wednesday, President Obama demanded Congress make a final decision on whether to pass sweeping health care reform in the next few weeks.

Here is the letter he wrote to me and other email subscribers to his grass roots organization, Organizing for America:

Teneshia –

Last Thursday’s first-of-its-kind summit capped off a debate that has lasted nearly a year. Every idea has now been put on the table. Every argument has been made. Both parties agree that the status quo is unacceptable and gets more dire each day. Today, I want to state as clearly and forcefully as I know how: Now is the time to make a decision about the future of health care in America.

The final proposal I’ve put forward draws on the best ideas from all sides, including several put forward by Republicans at last week’s summit. It will put Americans in charge of their own health care, ensuring that neither government nor insurance company bureaucrats can ration, deny, or put out of financial reach the care our families need and deserve.

I strongly believe that Congress now owes the American people a final vote on health care reform. Reform has already passed the House with bipartisan support and the Senate with a super-majority of sixty votes. Now it deserves the same kind of up-or-down vote that has been routinely used and has passed such landmark measures as welfare reform and both Bush tax cuts.

Earlier today, I asked leaders in both houses of Congress to finish their work and schedule a vote in the next few weeks. From now until then, I will do everything in my power to make the case for reform. And now, I’m asking you, the members of the Organizing for America community, to raise your voice and do the same.

The final march for reform has begun, and your participation is crucial. Please commit to join with me to take reform across the finish line.

Essentially, my proposal would change three things about the current health care system:

First, it would protect all Americans from the worst practices of insurance companies. Never again will the mother with breast cancer have her coverage revoked, see her premiums arbitrarily raised, or be forced to live in fear that a pre-existing condition will bar her from future coverage.

Second, my proposal would give individuals and small businesses the same choice of private health insurance that members of Congress get for themselves. And my proposal says that if you still can’t afford the insurance in this new marketplace, we will offer you tax credits based on your income — tax credits that add up to the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history.

Finally, my proposal would bring down the cost of health care for everyone — families, businesses, and the federal government — and bring down our deficit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades. These savings mean businesses small and large will finally be freed up to create jobs and increase wages. With costs currently skyrocketing, reform is vital to remaining economically strong in the years and decades to come.

In the few crucial weeks ahead, you can help make sure this proposal becomes law. Please sign up to join the Organizing for America campaign in the final march for reform:

http://my.barackobama.com/commit

When I talked about change on the campaign, this is what I was talking about: coming together to solve a huge problem that has been troubling America for 100 years and standing up to the special interests to deliver a brighter, smarter future for generations to come.

I look forward to signing this historic reform into law. And when I do, it will be because your organizing played an essential role in making change possible.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

By Teneshia LaFaye
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President Barack Obama has tried to reach across the aisle like popular Republican presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, but it has caused his image to suffer.
By trying to compromise with his Republican opponents instead of taking advantage of the Democratic Party’s majority in Congress, Obama is viewed as being ineffective at getting his key initiatives passed, particularly health care reform.
If President Obama took advantage of his majority, he would be viewed as a socialist, which Republicans have already accused him of.
Obama is hosting a health care summit Thursday to get both sides to support his failing health care initiative. Health care reform bills have been passed in the House and the Senate, but a final version has yet to cross Obama’s desk because of uproar from Republicans and their followers and the president’s desire to reach a compromise.
I think Obama should follow the example of another Republican president, George W. Bush. Bush, the last U.S. president, used the Republican’s former edge in Congress to push through his initiatives, including three major tax cuts, and then he tried to reach compromise later in a process called reconciliation.
So Obama should be more like Bush when it comes to getting his way. He would get more done and be more respected than his idiotic predecessor.

By Teneshia LaFaye
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Democrats in Congress are leaving Republicans out of closed-door meetings to blend the Senate’s health care bill and the House’s version into a final draft to be voted on later this month or early February to make the biggest changes to health care since Medicare and Medicaid were passed in the mid 1960s.
Personally, I’m an Independent after turning in my Republican card a year ago, and I think it’s great that the Dems are leaving the Repubs on the outside because it’s imperative that health care reform be passed so that tens of millions of uninsured Americans can finally get the care they need and stop being stuck with high medical bills that force them into bankruptcy. And the GOP and its supporters have done nothing but try to hinder health care reform.
This issue really hits home with me because I was a top-selling health insurance agent until I looked at all the people I was hurting when my insurance companies used loop holes to leave my customers stuck with $20,000-$60,000 in unpaid medical bills and potential clients were refused coverage because of previous medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart surgery. The individuals who could get coverage in spite of their health were willing to write me a check for $500-$1,000 per month and the company still found ways out of paying their medical bills.
So now, I’m a top producer in Medicare and mortgage protection, which help more than harm my clients.
A few days ago, I ran into a former client who luckily has a successful catering business that has enabled her to pay most of the $60,000 my former insurance company left her to pay after having a major surgery. That same day, another former client’s wife called me because she couldn’t find any insurance companies to cover her husband who suffers from diabetes.
Individuals covered on their jobs don’t deal with these issues because employer group plans overlook pre-existing conditions and have true maximum out of pockets, meaning limits on the amount an individual is forced to pay.
Once health care reform is passed, individuals who don’t have employer-sponsored insurance will no longer be turned away for pre-existing conditions and insurance companies won’t be allowed to leave clients with massive hospital bills.
However, reform won’t be implemented until at least 2013 because it will take a few years to put the system in place and to raise the necessary funds for subsidies to help an expected 30 million uninsured with the cost of paying for their own insurance coverage.
Republican arguments include the fact that health care reform won’t be implemented for another three years and that wealthy Americans will be paying for the health care handout. But their claims are unfounded as I addressed in a previous blog.
Right before New Year’s, I spent a few days with a young millionaire who is a Republican, and his only argument against health care reform is that he doesn’t want more of his money to be taken away in increased taxes to pay for the new health care. But I got him to agree on health care reform, just not on raising his taxes.
Most of the GOP and its supporters just doesn’t get it. There are self-employed Americans and people working two and three jobs to pay the bills, and they just can’t afford health care coverage or they are being turned away because of their health.
I get it, and that’s why I switched back to Independent, away from a party in which individuals think about helping themselves rather than others.
So for their selfishness and insensitivity toward the millions of workers who are suffering without health care coverage, Republicans deserve to be left out of the loop so they can’t screw up much-needed health care reform.

By Teneshia LaFaye
Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/teneshialafaye
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The Senate approved its health care reform bill as promised on the eve of Christmas to help cover most of the estimated 50 million Americans shut out because of high premiums and pre-existing medical conditions.
The bill wasn’t supported by any Republicans, who think the government should stay out of the insurance business. But it was backed by the American Medical Association, which normally opposes health care overhaul.
However, the battle for universal health care isn’t over yet. It’s just beginning because now a committee has to merge the Senate’s newly approved health care bill and the bill from the House, which was approved in November.
A final health care bill that meets the approval of the House and the Senate is expected to be drafted and voted on by the end of January so that universal health care is officially approved in time for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.
Contrary to the lies spewed by members of the Republican party, universal health care will not be a hand out as Medicaid and Medicare have been since being passed in 1965. And those who prefer private insurance and like their job benefits can keep their current insurance.
Health care reform is for the tens of millions left without insurance because it’s unaffordable or they have been turned down by insurance companies because of their health conditions.
Participants will be required to pay monthly premiums.
Yet before universal health care can be passed, the House and the Senate must agree on the final bill.
So far, the two groups in Congress agree on the following:
-government subsidies to help families making less than $90,000 per year pay for coverage
-health insurance exchanges to create a risk pool of small business, the self-employed and the unemployed to provide lower premiums
-insurance companies can’t turn a person down for pre-existing conditions or raise premiums because of medical history.
However, the House bill costs $1 trillion while the Senate bill costs $871 million, and they disagree on where the money will come from. The House would like to place higher taxes on individuals with annual incomes more than $500,000 and families making more than $1 million. The Senate wants to increase taxes on insurance companies for their higher-end health plans and increase Medicare payroll taxes on individuals making more than $250,000 annually. Both would like to make cuts to Medicare.
So the lies about working Americans footing the bill for the new health care are untrue because it’s the wealthy who would see increased taxes under the House and Senate bills.
As a successful insurance agent, I think it’s fantastic that insurance companies will no longer be allowed to turn individuals away because of their health and will no longer be allowed to jack up premiums after someone has a major illness.
And I don’t see a problem with wealthy Americans paying higher taxes to help uninsured Americans pay for, not be handed out, health care coverage. As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is required.
What’s the point of being wealthy if you don’t help people who are trying to help themselves. Besides, the money isn’t going with the rich when they die, so they should use it for a good cause instead of booze, fancy houses and cars and women.

By Teneshia LaFaye
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I’ve been a successful agent in the health insurance industry for the last four years, and even I have been confused by Congress’ ongoing meetings about health care reform since the summer.
But I do know this. The Democrats received the 60 out of 100 Senate votes necessary to move closer to passing a health care bill that will enable 30 million of the estimated 50 million uninsured Americans to purchase affordable health insurance without being turned away for pre-existing conditions. The final vote for the $871 million health care overhaul is on Christmas Eve.
This is huge because, over the years, I’ve seen individuals unfairly pay $1,000 a month for health insurance because of their pre-existing conditions, and I’ve seen vibrant young men turned down for coverage because of a surgery they had in their past.
Now, those people will get a break because our country is deciding to take care of the regular working class by providing affordable, accessible health care.
The poor, the disabled and the elderly have already been taken care off by Medicaid and Medicare since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed those programs into law in 1965.
And soon President Barack Hussein Obama will sign a bill to take care of the millions of Americans who make too much to qualify for Medicaid and are too young for Medicare.
Once the health care bill is passed, I hope the insurance exchanges work similar to the new Medicare Advantage program that was passed in 2003. Medicare Advantage offers dozens of plans for senior citizens to choose from to cover hospitalization, doctor visits, surgery, dental, vision and prescriptions for no premium to a low monthly premium. Enrollment is Nov. 15-Dec. 31 of each year.
I look forward to learning more about the upcoming health care exchange so I can educate uninsured Americans as I have done with the senior community to provide peace of mind that health care coverage is available when they need it.

By Teneshia LaFaye
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U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy died on Tuesday night without witnessing his dream of health care for all Americans.
Senator Kennedy is the last of four brothers including President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy in the country’s most famous political family. He spent most of his 77 years championing for universal health care. He often reached in his own pocket to pay the medical expenses for others.

Senator Kennedy had been working on a bill that would provide health insurance for the nearly 50 million uninsured Americans when he was diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this year. He began fighting for universal health care after exceptional care provided to U.S. senators helped him recuperate from a plane crash in Massachusetts in 1964 and right before his 12-year-old son, Teddy, was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1973.
During Teddy’s treatment to recover from cancer, Senator Kennedy witnessed families without insurance begging for health care.
President Barack Obama, who Ted Kennedy endorsed instead of frontrunner Hillary Clinton, has made health care reform and coverage for all Americans his main objective.

President Obama had hoped to sign a health care bill before Congress took a break in August, but instead the debate has spread to mainstream America, where Republicans have disrupted town hall meetings to speak against universal health care.
Several senators have said Kennedy’s presence has been missed during the ongoing health care debate because he was a master at getting Democrats and Republicans to compromise. And some say that universal health care just may be passed as a tribute to Senator Kennedy.
Passing a health care bill to cover all Americans certainly would be a fitting tribute to a man born of privilege with excellent health care who made providing universal health care for everyone the cause of his life.

By Teneshia LaFaye
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While working-class Americans are worried about their health insurance coverage, wealthy right-wing nuts are using scare tactics and spreading lies about President Barack Obama’s Universal Healthcare initiative.
These right-wingers are disrupting town hall meetings in which U.S. senators and members of the House of Representatives are graciously trying to explain details of proposed health care bills while gathering input from citizens.
But instead of politely cooperating, these right-wing crazies aren’t even allowing the Congress men and women to speak at their own meetings and some of the loonies have been arrested for their disruptions.
I’ve switched back to Independent by the way after being a Republican for a couple years because I no longer wanted to be part of a party with some members who spew hatred that has led to the killing of an abortion doctor and now is trying to kill the hope for the 50 million uninsured Americans to receive government-subsidized health care.
These right-wing Republican lunatics, including 2008 Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, are spreading rumors that part of Obama’s health plan calls for a “death panel” of doctors who will influence senior citizens and the chronically ill to end their lives to save on healthcare costs. But this is false.
The suggested health bill actually has Medicare foot the bill every five years if an elderly person desires to have an in-depth conversation with doctors about living wills, a health care proxy, hospice care for the terminally ill and pain medications for discomfort of chronic illnesses.
President Obama and several members of Congress have debunked the “death panel” rumors and said the bill is only an option for seniors who want a deeper dialogue with doctors to compensate for the brief doctor-patient visits that currently take place that don’t allow the elderly to get necessary answers or solutions to their illnesses.
As I’ve said before, I am a top-selling health insurance agent with a specialty in Medicare, and I support the government’s efforts to enable senior citizens to get the answers they’ve been seeking and to cover the 50 million Americans without insurance because of pre-existing conditions or the high cost of having health insurance.

By Teneshia LaFaye
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Opponents of President Barack Obama’s quest for Universal Health Care must be happy because the U.S. House of Representatives can’t agree on how a public healthcare plan will be funded and what exactly the plan will entail. Even if the House does agree on a bill, it will then be scrutinized by the Senate. So it’s very unlikely President Obama will see a public healthcare bill by his August deadline.
The president has pushed for the House and the Senate to design a bill for a public health plan that he can sign next month.

President Obama wants Universal Health Care to cover the estimated 50 million Americans without any health insurance coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions or due to unaffordable insurance premiums. If passed, the plan will cost an estimated $1 trillion over the next 10 years.
So far, rough drafts of the health care bill require that the government pay for half the plan and the other half be funded by increasing taxes for Americans who make $1 million or more annually.
Opponents don’t understand why the president wants to provide Universal Health Care to cover 50 million uninsured when there are more than 100 million Americans who have insurance.
Some are worried that the government will dictate to doctors and decide on treatments, force plan users to switch doctors and cause companies to drop coverage for their employees. But, that’s already being done by private insurance companies who deny treatments to their members to cut costs, force members to use network doctors and raise premiums once or more per year, which has forced many employers to stop providing insurance coverage. I have first-hand knowledge of these practices because I’m a successful health and life insurance agent.
President Obama is not seeking to tell doctors how to do their jobs and he has said countless times that Americans are welcome to keep the health care plan they already have. Universal Health Care is just another option to help the 50 million who are left without any health care coverage because of their medical history or meager earnings. So those who don’t want to participate in Universal Health Care, don’t have to take it, unless they don’t have health care coverage to begin with.

By Teneshia LaFaye

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I don’t understand the opposition to President Obama’s quest for government-run healthcare.
Opponents argue that it leaves lesser choices in doctors and reduces the quality of care, and it creates a long wait to receive necessary medical exams and procedures.
And I say to those who feel that way, keep paying high monthly premiums to wealthy private insurance companies so you can keep your choice of doctors and seek as much medical attention as you like.
In fact, Obama keeps making the same point. If you like your health insurance, keep it. If you like your doctor, keep her or him.
The plan the President wants and that Congress is in the process of designing is to help the 50 million Americans who don’t have health insurance because they can’t afford it or can’t get approved because of their health conditions and therefore don’t have a regular doctor that they worry about being able to keep.

And even though, I sell health insurance, which has enabled me to build my first house, pay off debt, save money and go on great vacations, I think it’s great that if Obama’s new government plan is passed, I no longer have to tell a person to write me a $500-$1,200 check to cover their first month’s premium for health coverage because of their pre-existing conditions. And I won’t have to offer a $3,000-$10,000 deductible to keep the person’s premium down to make them responsible for all of their medical bills, not the insurance company they send their monthly payments to, until they’ve met their deductible.
Medical bills for the average American cost about $7,200 per year, which is not much more than the annual insurance premium. Then, add in the high deductibles and the insurance companies are able to shirk their financial responsibility while the individuals foot most of the bill.

With a government-run plan, people who haven’t been able to afford those high premiums or who have been turned down because of their health conditions, can obtain health coverage for preventative and catastrophic care at an affordable price, and they may also get subsidies (free money from the government) to help pay their premiums.
Obama’s quest for a new government-run health care plan recently received an endorsement from the American Medical Association, which has more than 200,000 doctors as members. Watch his well-received AMA speech:

The U.S. government already has public health programs, such as Medicaid, for low-income workers, and Medicare, for the disabled and citizens age 65 and older.
Obama’s plan probably will be similar to the Medicare program in which most individuals have a $96.40 premium deducted from their monthly social security checks in exchange for health insurance to cover hospitalization, doctor visits, surgery, blood work and exams. Additional benefits for dental, vision and prescriptions can be added for little or no premium.
Senior citizens and the disabled can opt out of Medicare coverage altogether. And for those seniors that want more choice and quality of care, they can buy a Medicare supplement from a private insurance company for an extra $40-$250 per month.
So for people who want to complain about Obama’s new government health care plan, they can opt out and continue to pay for their high-priced health care through a private insurance company.
But for the 50 million Americans who don’t have insurance, I hope they get the affordable coverage they need to get the health care they’re missing. And it would help if opponents move out of the way and continue paying for their over-priced private plan.

By Teneshia LaFaye
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If you’re one of the 50 million Americans without health insurance, don’t wait around to see if Congress will pass President Barack Obama’s universal healthcare plan.
Get involved in the planning and the push for it.
President Obama said it’s crucial that the government implements an affordable health insurance plan for all U.S. citizens this year possibly because Democrats control the law-making Congress.
Government-run health care is just what Americans need because insurance premiums are way too costly and some who can afford a plan don’t qualify because of pre-existing conditions.
Democrats have pushed for universal health care ever since Bill and Hillary Clinton’s unsuccessful healthcare reform package in 1993, but Republicans who controlled Congress during Clinton’s presidency and most of his successor George W. Bush’s tenure blocked passage of a government-run healthcare program.
The United States is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not provide universal healthcare, and the country has a lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality than countries that provide universal health care for its citizens.
If you would like to help President Obama plan and push forward universal healthcare, sign up to attend a healthcare reform meeting in your town on June 6. You can find a Healthcare Organizing Kickoff in your city by visiting www.barackobama.com.
By the way, I’m a registered Independent after being a Republican for a few years, and being a health insurance agent, I see firsthand that Americans need universal healthcare. If you’re one of the millions without insurance, don’t sit on the sidelines of this healthcare reform process.
Get involved.

By Teneshia LaFaye
Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/teneshialafaye
Add me on Myspace: www.myspace.com/tlafaye