How Now Brown Cow

I feel like the characters in "The Graduate" at the end of the movie sitting at the back of the bus. I was so excited that the health care bill passed, but now I wonder, what exactly passed. We've heard a lot of stuff that was supposed to be in the bill, but what actually made the cut. There is no public option, boo hoo. Insurance will now be mandatory, ok, I guess. I'm a big girl, I know nothing comes for free. Is that going to be like car insurance? Will my rates go up if I need surgery? Do I get a no smoking discount? Will they be able to ask if I smoke, since they can no longer refuse to insure me even if I smoke? Is this going to make it easier for smokers or more difficult? Has this been an elaberate sceme by the insurance company to scam me? I always feel that if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn't true. Don't get me wrong, I'm estatic that it passed--ANY reform is long, long overdue, but how will this affect ME, Al Frankin.

I heard on the radio a small business owner stating that there are tax incentives and deductions that go into effect right away that will be a big help to small businesses. Three years ago this was the most that I could want from health care reform, so that is a very good thing. But then the concept of a public option was dangled in front of me (probably to make conservatives feel better about accepting something less than a public option--haha, silly politicians). Now I miss the public option that I had never thought of before.

My conservative friends claim that there will now be long, long lines at the doctor's office. I'm hard pressed to view that as any different from before, since I have routinely waited and waited and waited whenever I've gone to the doctor. My general doctor doesn't have any appointments for three months. When I had a really bad cough, it was going to be a week to see my own doctor, 2 days to see her partner, but luckily there was a cancellation to get me in the next day (thank God it wasn't a more serious malady coughing my lungs out and pucking). The "lucky" cancellation doctor turned out to be rather a jerk, but I digress. I'm not seeing the dire predictions of terrible service as anything I'm not already living and paying through the nose for the privilege.

But I know down to my toes, that nothing is free. I am thrilled that my nephew with his pre-existing condition and most likely an independent consultant type of career in graphic design is going to be able to get health insurance. But how much will it cost. Now that everyone has to have insurance, there are a whole bunch of people in my house who cannot afford health insurance. If it is now required, where are they going to magically get the money to pay for it.

As sure as I am of death and taxes, I know that the insurance companies are going to get paid and they are going to make a profit. That is a given. Now we will see if I can afford it.

P.S. Now maybe congress can take a breath and deal with estate taxes--that law is in turmoil and nobody seems to care. yikes. Do not die this year--I'm serious. It will not be pretty.