Health care e-mail from the White House

[The Poojer]

Dear Friend,

 

This is probably one of the longest emails I've ever sent, but it could be the most important.

 

Across the country we are seeing vigorous debate about health insurance reform. Unfortunately, some of the old tactics we know so well are back–even the viral emails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of lies and distortions.

 

As President Obama said at the town hall in New Hampshire, "where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that's actually been proposed."

 

So let's start a chain email of our own. At the end of my email, you'll find a lot of information about health insurance reform, distilled into 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage, 8 common myths about reform and 8 reasons we need health insurance reform now.

 

Right now, someone you know probably has a question about reform that could be answered by what's below. So what are you waiting for? Forward this email.

 

Thanks,

David

 

David Axelrod

Senior Adviser to the President

 

P.S. We launched www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck this week to knock down the rumors and lies that are floating around the internet. You can find the information below, and much more, there. For example, we've just added a video of Nancy-Ann DeParle from our Health Reform Office tackling a viral email head on.

 

Check it out:

 

8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage

 

1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.

2. Ends 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.

3. Ends 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.

4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.

5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.

6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.

7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

8. Guarantees 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.

 

Learn more and get details: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance...er-protections/

 

8 common myths about health insurance reform

 

1. Reform will stop "rationing"–not increase it: It's a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.

2. We can't afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It's a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.

3. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It's a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.

4. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It's a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.

5. Reform will benefit small business–not burden it: It's a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.

6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It's myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.

7. You can keep your own insurance: It's myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.

8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts.� Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose.� Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you–and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.

 

Learn more and get details:

http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck

http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq

 

8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now

 

1. Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults–36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market–were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied...rage/index.html

2. Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. �Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html

3. Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women's reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html

4. Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes

5. Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly one-third of the uninsured–13 million people–are employees of firms with less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline

6. The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction

7. Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the age of 65–were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inacti...hing/index.html

 

# The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance–projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform. Learn more: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/assets/documents...Care_Report.pdf

[ThereIsNoDog]

8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage

 

1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.

2. Ends 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.

3. Ends 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.

4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.

5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.

6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.

7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

8. Guarantees 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.

How about instead of a 1018 page overhaul, the government requires insurance companies to do the above?

[/dev/null]

Forward that to flag@whitehouse.com

[The Poojer]

 

Forward that to flag@whitehouse.com

[Wacka]

This is the spam that the Fox News reporter at today's White House Press conference said people who have never contacted the White House for anything have been getting today. He asked Gibbs if the White House was buying mailing lists and Gibbs hemmed and hawed and didn't answer the question.

[The Poojer]

Rot, you say!!!!

 

Gibbs hemmed and hawed and didn't answer the question.

[Live&DieBillsFootball]

This is the spam that the Fox News reporter at today's White House Press conference said people who have never contacted the White House for anything have been getting today. He asked Gibbs if the White House was buying mailing lists and Gibbs hemmed and hawed and didn't answer the question.

 

Yeah, it sucks that some people are now receiving true facts about health care reform instead of being told that the bills puts in place "death panels" and other BS by the GOP.

[Wacka]

It's spam. Unsolicitated e-mails.

[The Poojer]

would you like to see some responses..with citations of page# and line # that disputes these 'true facts'...or are you able to look it up yourself...i can provide some..

 

Yeah, it sucks that some people are now receiving true facts about health care reform instead of being told that the bills puts in place "death panels" and other BS by the GOP.

[/dev/null]

It sucks that the Government is breaking its own laws to sendout those mails. I deal with the CAN SPAM act all the time and its not a good thing if the Feds catch you violating it.

 

2 Loopholes

 

Political content is exempt. And seeing how whitehouse.gov is currently just a subsidiary of dnc.org, anything from whitehouse.gov is political speech

 

If you have an existing relationship with an organization they can send you email. And if you have a social security card, paid federal taxes, or get the government cheese, then you already have an existing relationship

[YellowLinesandArmadillos]

It's spam. Unsolicitated e-mails.

Sure it is, you go on believing Faux Spews. Anyone who has signed up and sent an email to the WH probably got it.... But so what, the WH is actually trying to put out what it stands for not what the Repigs say it does or the House and the Pelosi wingnuts.

[YellowLinesandArmadillos]

It sucks that the Government is breaking its own laws to sendout those mails. I deal with the CAN SPAM act all the time and its not a good thing if the Feds catch you violating it.

How is this breaking the law??? Stop your whining and just read the info and decide on the facts or is that part of your problem? No wonder you give credence to Fox or for that matter any one of the major networks.

[Nanker]

This is the spam that the Fox News reporter at today's White House Press conference said people who have never contacted the White House for anything have been getting today. He asked Gibbs if the White House was buying mailing lists and Gibbs hemmed and hawed and didn't answer the question.

 

Here's one I received on a shielded email address. It had an addressee's name - but it was not mine...

"In the last few months, we've made more progress on health insurance reform than we made in the previous 60 years. You can tell from the reaction of reform opponents that we're doing something right.

 

Special interests who profit from the status quo are spreading brazen lies that stir up anger, and Republican leaders are chiming in with over-the-top rhetoric that detracts from the public debate. Just last week, Rush Limbaugh insinuated that President Obama was comparable to Adolf Hitler.

 

It's a perfect example of "the old politics of fear and division" that President Obama talked about during his campaign. But there is too much at stake, too many Americans facing rising health care costs and shrinking paychecks, for us to let the politics of yesterday prevail.

 

The last thing opponents of reform want is a positive, civil debate. They know they'll lose on the merits, so they're turning to lies and division. It's up to us to expose each distortion for what it is: a lie, plain and simple. If we do that, we'll better our politics -- and bring badly-needed reform.

 

Monday, the White House launched a new online resource that could help -- a "Reality Check" site to help Americans clear up health care lies and misinformation. Visit the site today -- and then send it to your friends so that everyone you know learns the truth.

 

Whether it's a parent wondering how reform will affect seniors, an old friend confused about a lie they've heard, or just a concerned co-worker, we all know someone with questions about reform. The "Reality Check" site answers those questions and sets the record straight on lies that have been circulating.

 

But it's up to each of you to make sure they see it -- so make sure to send it their way today.

 

With news of disruptions at some town halls, it's easy to forget the progress we've made. But because of your continued commitment, the tide is turning. Supporters of reform now outnumber opponents at many town halls. And when we win the fight for health insurance reform, it will be not only a momentous accomplishment, but a sign that it's possible to defeat the angry politics of the past.

 

There are too many folks in Washington who are willing to lie for partisan gain, or engage in hateful rhetoric to score political points, for reform to come easily. We all need to step up -- and it starts with you passing along "Reality Check" today:

 

http://democrats.org/RealityCheck

 

We face too many challenges together -- we can't afford to continue the slash and burn politics of yesterday. Please stand with me and fight for the truth.

 

Thank you,

 

Governor Tim Kaine

Chairman"

The header said "The Democratic Party" and they conveniently added a linky button thingy that says "Please Donate"

Contributions or gifts to the Democratic National Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

 

What about President BO's brazen lie that the AARP supports his healthcare bill? The Dems are experts in class warfare and I hope they reap the whirlwind.

[Kelly the Dog]

What about President BO's brazen lie that the AARP supports his healthcare bill? The Dems are experts in class warfare and I hope they reap the whirlwind.

They do support it, and I will bet you any amount of money when the final bill comes out they will support it publicly. The reason they are saying they haven't officially endorsed any bill yet is because there isn't any official bill and they are just making sure there isn't anything in there they strongly oppose enough to make them go against it, specifically being the reduction of benefits for Medicare. The chances of that are remote. They are behind the thing and will be and as soon as there is a bill the AARP is going to back it.

 

Obama was probably wrong to phrase it the way he did because they have unofficially endorsed the bill not officially (in essence he is wrong in the letter and right in the spirit).

[Wacka]

You keep saying there was no official bill,then what were they rushing to try to vote on last week?

You want reform. Start open detailed hearings about each part. The hearings should last about a year, not two weeks. Start with tort reform. This will lower malpractice insurance, lowering doctors costs. Cut out all care except for lifesaving help for illegals. They don't get the free stuff, they will move.See how that works for a while. If it works, then move onto other stuff.

[PastaJoe]

You keep saying there was no official bill,then what were they rushing to try to vote on last week?

 

They were trying to get Senate bills out of committees, so they could be reconciled into one bill. Obama's setting deadlines keeps the ball moving. No deadlines would just drag things out, like Iraq.

 

You want reform. Start open detailed hearings about each part. The hearings should last about a year, not two weeks.

 

The debate has been going on since the Truman administration. Dragging it out another year will result in a watered down bill at best, given that historically no major legislation is passed right before an election.

 

 

Start with tort reform. This will lower malpractice insurance, lowering doctors costs.

 

How about having the insurance companies change their practices so that good doctors don't have their insurance cost raised when bad doctors get sued, and just raise the premiums on the bad doctors.

 

Cut out all care except for lifesaving help for illegals. They don't get the free stuff, they will move.See how that works for a while. If it works, then move onto other stuff.

 

No health care for illegals is not going to make them move. Their lives are still better here than in their country of origin. And what about their children who were born in the U.S. and are therefore American citizens?

[Alaska Darin]

Yeah, it sucks that some people are now receiving true facts about health care reform instead of being told that the bills puts in place "death panels" and other BS by the GOP.

Somehow I doubt anyone is receiving "true" facts. In my experience, that's rarely how it works.

[Kelly the Dog]

Somehow I doubt anyone is receiving "true" facts. In my experience, that's rarely how it works.

There is a ton of legitimate concern about the health care reform, especially the cost, and the adverse effects of potentially good ideas, and how the private insurers will react, and the specifics of the public plan, and the ineptitude/waste of the government, etc...

 

BUT...

 

From what I have seen, which is a LOT, the vast majority of the problems people are having with it come from misinformation, ignorance (not necessarily faulting people they just don't understand what it is), and outright lies and gross distortions from opponents.

 

I truly believe there is a large portion of the public, maybe a third, that just doesn't want it to happen for very legitimate reasons, mostly concerning money and deficit. But I also truly believe that if the general public actually knew what it was really about, without the left or the right spinning it, it would have overwhelming support.

 

It won't be close to being great, it won't address a dozen things that desperately need addressing, it won't fix fundamental problems with the system, it won't eliminate waste or come close to eliminating waste... but it will make it substantially better for the 300,000,000 million Americans overall as opposed to doing nothing.

[Erik]

There is a ton of legitimate concern about the health care reform, especially the cost, and the adverse effects of potentially good ideas, and how the private insurers will react, and the specifics of the public plan, and the ineptitude/waste of the government, etc...

 

BUT...

 

From what I have seen, which is a LOT, the vast majority of the problems people are having with it come from misinformation, ignorance (not necessarily faulting people they just don't understand what it is), and outright lies and gross distortions from opponents.

 

I truly believe there is a large portion of the public, maybe a third, that just doesn't want it to happen for very legitimate reasons, mostly concerning money and deficit. But I also truly believe that if the general public actually knew what it was really about, without the left or the right spinning it, it would have overwhelming support.

 

It won't be close to being great, it won't address a dozen things that desperately need addressing, it won't fix fundamental problems with the system, it won't eliminate waste or come close to eliminating waste... but it will make it substantially better for the 300,000,000 million Americans overall as opposed to doing nothing.

 

Am I out of line in thinking that the cost is the only big issue here? I mean no one actually thinks that we don't need health care reform right? The numbers don't lie, our health care coverage is embarrassing to the rest of the world. Why are we wasting so much time on trivial things like whether or not death panels exist and hammer out some numbers and get this thing down. It really seems like the only thing to be done here.

[RI Bills Fan]

What the !@#$ are you rambling about? Im talking about what possible FEDERAL LAW MAY or MAY NOT have been broken by its' distribution.

 

Unsoilicited mail that violates CAN SPAM can get a marketer in deep sh--....and if the Obamanista's broke that law by distributing that mail, thats pretty !@#$ed up, no matter WHAT the mail contains.

 

Translation: I wants to B word, I are gonna B word, ain't nothing says that my Bitchin' gotta make sense! So FOAD you spineless liberal weenie! Nyah! And the battery car you drove in, too!