...there are many provisions in HCR that will still be able to help you. 10,000 more clinics will be opened throughout the US. Not every ailment, treatment requires a doctor, specialist or hospital. I believe payments are based on a sliding scale. Planned Parenthood is much more affordable for Women's stuff.

I seem to remember when I worked temp that after 6 months, I was eligible to get their health insurance. Check it out.

I don't know what your skill set is, but there will be something like 4-million new jobs related to healthcare starting in the near future. You may have to update your skills &/or learn something new... ex. medical billing.

There will be free &/or no-co-pay preventative screenings like mammograms, prostate exams, pap smears, colonoscopies, etc. There are subsidies if you don't make enough money.

If your PTSD is severe enough, you may qualify for disability. Then, you'd be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid.

If you're over 50, stay in touch w/AARP. They may be able to guide you thru the system & see what's available to you. You may also want to visit your Congressperson's office & see if they can give you some suggestions.

I wish you the best.

Bird flu... swine flu... asteroids hitting the planet... earthquakes... tsunamis... terrorists... floods... lightning... mud slides... volcanoes erupting... planes crashing... pirates!!... getting hit by a car/bus/train... botulism... rioting... gangbangers... drug dealers... the ozone layer... second-hand smoke... the return of T.B... polio... smallpox... AIDS... walking pneumonia... regular pneumonia... cancer!!!!... and on & on & on & on & on &... etc., etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

I hope your gun protects you from it all. I think it just gives you a false sense of security.

I choose to spend my heartbeats thinking happy thoughts...

TWO health plans. One for Democrats. One for Republicans. Independents & non-voters can go either way.

Democrat's plan: Medicare for all available on a sliding-scale basis, based on income - or lack of it. Plan would be open to ALL the uninsured & uninsurable. Anyone who likes their insurance, & can afford to, can keep it, 30-75% increases and all. Others can change over to Medicare for all. Tax cuts to businesses who give fully-paid health insurance to their employees. Wellness care, dental and eyecare included. Donut holes will close. Access to purchasing Canadian drugs, although it won't be necessary. This plan would go into effect immediately.

Republican's plan: Status Quo, with the exception of having to pay for the 30-75% increases in health insurance and pharmaceutical drugs. The good news is they will be able to buy across state lines and, by showing their Voters Registration Card (Republican), there will be Tort Reform, and if they get in an accident, they will be S.O.L.; as will those with pre-existing conditions.

Did I miss anything?

...in a million years, it would never occur to me to equate it with whether or not they studied it, in school.

I would be meaning that they didn't understand how politics 'works'... the game playing, the deal making, the behind-the-scenes stuff. The difference between making a deal for someone's constituency (e.g., 'earmarks') or for personal profit, for example (see "Spiro T. Agnew"

Why some of it is frowned upon, some is considered unethical, or even illegal, some of it is lauded, and some of it is considered 'business as usual'...

Why whoever said, "All Politics are Local," was right on the money... no matter what country you live in.

How different people deal with the same situations. For example, Palin, Bayh and Bunning are/were all lame ducks. Palin quit. Bayh steps up to the plate. And, Bunning says "Tough Sh*t!" with regard to the plight of the unemployed. They not running for re-election, so they've got nothing to lose. That's when you see their true colors. It's just too bad that we don't see them when they're on the way in.

Specifically, my take on the Blair House Summit was different than yours. I felt that the targeted audience were the people watching at home and the Blue Dog Democrats we need to get anything through. It was also a great way to call out the Republicans whenever they were 'misinformed, or misinforming.' It also explained a lot of what was in the Bill, as well as what was not. So, in my view, it was a huge success.

If you haven't already, and can, watch the eight years of "West Wing." Not only is it great television, brilliantly written/acted, it's very insightful as to how Washington politics work. The "Josh" character is based on Rahm Emanuel when he worked in the Clinton WH. Ironically, it ends with Josh becoming Chief of Staff to the new President. Life imitates Art...

Sorry. Didn't mean to go on & on. I've never unrec'd you. Keep us posted on your travels. Sounds awesome!

Some other things I liked were:

the President's ACME Insurance story

Max Baucus talking about Orbitz (in reference to putting up the Exchanges like Orbitz does for price comparison); and asking that Hospitals list their rates for different procedures. (Is that in the Bill? I LOVE that!)

On the break, a reporter asking Dick Durbin about "gapping the bridges" and Durbin chuckling & saying, "Oh, that's Eric Cantor... I prefer to think of it as bridging the gaps." LOL

"She wore her dead sister's teeth!" (Is Dental included? I didn't think so...)

Eric Cantor channeling Carrot Top...

The creative ways people were called 'liars.'

******************

In my opinion, the Summit was targeted to the people at home & the Blue Dogs. I don't think the President ever thought he'd get the republicans on board. It was, however, a great way to call them out on all their BS lies.

...and the brain-dead (Schiavo). Everyone else in-between is pretty much on their own...

...if we waterboarded HIM, he'd probably confess to the Lindbergh baby kidnapping!

...you'll be grateful that the rest of us were willing to fight for healthcare reform, including Medicare which, by the way, is not free... it's based on a sliding scale.

Lucky for you that you found someone willing to work with you on fees, etc. That only leaves about 46,999,999 others I have to worry about.

And, now that you have a pre-existing condition, even if you win LOTTO, you won't qualify for private health insurance (unless there's healthcare reform), so I guess I have to worry about you, as well.

...going off half-cocked & overreacting to everyone/everything without regard for the consequences?

Hmmmm... you may be right.

I, for one, can live with that.

I love having a smart President! I love that he understands nuances & subtleties & that things aren't black & white. I love that he brought back the Constitution and Science. I love that he listens to all sides so that he can make informed decisions. I love that he treats everyone respectfully, even when he's not afforded the same respect. I love that he takes the high road. I love that he's pragmatic. I could go on & on.

A while back I made the decision to support him, even when I don't understand his reasons. I know he is privy to a lot more information than the rest of us & can, therefore, see the bigger picture.

I trust his judgment & know he's got our backs.

Anyone who voted against the stimulus would not receive any money for their state; no extensions of unemployment benefits, etc.; anyone who votes against healthcare should exempt their state from receiving it; and so on...

I would call their bluffs. If they don't want it, they can't have it. No more ribbon-cutting ceremonies/photo-ops on shovel-ready projects, etc.

Let's see how happy their constituents are then, come November.

...then you haven't been paying attention.

For me, the biggest difference between the Vietnam War & the current ones is that back then there was a Draft. Now, it's an all-volunteer army. Anyone who is over there joined willingly. Since then, of course, many have had second thoughts.

I think we were way more passionate about our causes back in the day, for the most part. We got the voting age lowered from 21 to 18 so that we could vote.

I think the kids nowadays are much more lackadaisical about it. I hope you and your friends turn out in force in 2010 to vote. It's important that you do.

...if the person I voted for to represent me got to Congress & did nothing but sit on his/her fat ass the whole time! How do they justify their behavior to their constituents? It's not just the blue states that are hurting.

I double-dare any candy-ass Republican to vote NO on something called a Jobs Bill!

People go to hospices to die comfortably. They may not be up for 'activities.' While you're there, be an advocate for your person. If they need something, or are in pain, let someone know. Make sure they've eaten. Ask them if they want to write a letter to someone. Depending on how they're doing, they may have to dictate it to you. Maybe there's a book they always wanted to read & didn't get the chance yet. Find it & read it to them if they can't. Or, some special music they want to hear it.

They may just want to talk about the old days... let them. You'll learn some things you never knew you never knew. Remember, not all memories are happy ones.

Everyone is different. Just observe, listen & take your cues from the person. If they're tired, let them rest. Just your being there will be a comfort.

Just be yourself. I'm sure the experiences will be rewarding for you & your new friends...

...& run for Pres. Obama's old seat. It's friggin' golden... LOL

Seriously, I am in love with Ron Reagan. He's sooooooooo smart, actually listens to other people & then takes no prisoners in record time.

If MSNBC doesn't scoop him up, maybe the Obama Administration will.

A great mind is a terrible thing to waste...