Ok, have had the summary below & linked here forwarded to me 4 times by 4 different people over the past 5 days.  Have you gotten it, too?  Do you know who actually wrote it and what that person's background is?

In any case, I figure why take someone else's word for it, especially an unknown someone, who could very easily be part of one or another group that wants the plan dead because it threatens the status quo, in other words, one of the dreaded Special Interest Groups.  Why not actually read the objections below and see if they have some basis in reality in the bill being proposed.  BTW, my background is not in health care or law; I own a small computer business that does provide health care for a few employees. So I am certainly not an expert and welcome any comments or additions, please!

So here goes ...

> The information is pulled out from the healthcare bill, please refer to the actually bill by page number for further details
>  
>  Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!

Like many of the comments below, this objection is wildly out of whack with the proposals actually on the pages cited.  It's unfortunate the writer cited page numbers, not section numbers, which are much more precise.

For example ...  the wording on P22 has to do with establishing premium rates by conducting a study of current employer-provided health insurance. There's nothing on that page about employer mandates, either through self-insurance or any other kind of insurance.

Elsewhere, in Section 312, beginning on P144, the employer options are laid out.  Generally, all companies except those with payrolls below $250,000 per yr, are required either to offer insurance or pay a fee.

>
> * Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!

What's on P29 is a proposed formula for determining cost-sharing & co-payments.  There's nothing about "health care rationing".

> * Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and >benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)

At least this comment actually has to do with what's on this page.  The committee proposed is not a government committee; it's a public advisory committee chaired by the Surgeon General & with the following membership: 18 members, as worded in the bill, "who are not Federal employees or officers" and up to 8 members "who are  Federal employees or officers".  So two-thirds of the committee are explicitly not govt, but private sector.

> * Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health> benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.

The proposal on p42 has to do with the duties & authority of the new Health Choices Commissioner, not what type of coverage we may obtain, or what choices we have.  More generally, each citizen is required to carry health insurance that meets certain standards.  But we are not required to get it from the new public plan that much of this bill has to do with.  We can still get insurance from employers or obtain insurance privately.

> * Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.

There is no such statement, here on P50, or anywhere else in the bill.  In fact, there is a completely opposite proposal: Section 246, on page 143, which explicitly excludes "Undocumented Aliens" --- "Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States."

> * Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.

well, yes ... to show you have coverage of some sort.  We also have to show a driver's license, registration and an auto insurance card to drive in this country.

> * Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.

well, yes ... to allow us to pay for coverage if we choose the new public plan.  It's called EFT.  You use it to pay bills.  Welcome to the 21st century.

> * Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)

kind of a cheap shot here .. the page and section have to do with providing coverage for retirees who are not yet eligible for Social Security ... whether they are SEIU, UAW, ACORN, or members of the NRA or pro-life lobbies.  Prior employer is not relevant, nor should it be.

> * Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.

Yes, there will be rules.  That's what bills that became law is --- rules.

There are more items, but you get the drift. Will pick this up later.  In the meantime, pls don't hesitate to comment!

thanks,
Charlie