Jonelle's Blog

OH MY GOD!!! We can't cover ILLEGAL ALIENS in the new health care bill! NEWSFLASH- We already do!! And honestly, would you want it any other way?? Would you want to live in a country where if a person went in to the emergency room who was badly bleeding, or had a broken bone would be TURNED AWAY and told "Sorry, we can't treat you, you're here ILLEGALLY!" Would you want to live in a country where people would be let die just because they don't have "proper documentation"? I certainly hope not. This is an article I came across from a very reputable bi-partisan source. The claims that are being made by opponents of health care reform are nothing but lies, and it was passed around in a very large chain email to try to scare people. Here are just a couple of my favorites. See the link at the end of this article for the full story from FactCheck.org.

• "YOUR HEALTH CARE WILL BE RATIONED!" FALSE!!!! It says nothing whatsoever about “rationing” or anything of the sort. Actually, it’s favorable to families and individuals, placing an annual cap on what they could pay out of pocket if covered by a basic, “essential benefits package.” The limits would be $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for a family.
• "A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE WILL DECIDE WHAT TREATMENTS AND BENEFITS YOU GET" FALSE!! Actually, the section starting on page 30 sets up a “private-public advisory committee” headed by the U.S. surgeon general and made up of mostly private sector “medical and other experts” selected by the president and the comptroller general. The advisory committee would have only the power “to recommend” what benefits are included in basic, enhanced and premium insurance plans. It would have no power to decide what treatments anybody will get. Its recommendations on benefits might or might not be adopted.
• "ALL NON-US CITIZENS, ILLEGAL OR NOT, WILL BE PROVIDED WITH FREE HEALTHCARE SERVICES." FALSE!! That’s simply not what the bill says at all. This page includes "SEC. 152. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE," which says that "[e]xcept as otherwise explicitly permitted by this Act and by subsequent regulations consistent with this Act, all health care and related services (including insurance coverage and public health activities) covered by this Act shall be provided without regard to personal characteristics extraneous to the provision of high quality health care or related services." However, the bill does explicitly say that illegal immigrants can’t get any government money to pay for health care. Page 143 states: "Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States." And as factcheck.org has said before, current law prohibits illegal immigrants from participating in government health care programs.

I'm so tired of the scare tactics and lies. And I really don't understand - WHY is everyone so 'scared' of a public option?? As the video from my last post points out, a public option is simply competition. If it's better and more affordable, then it works, and we all win!! If it's NOT, then it will simply fail. The reason 'everyone' (ie. the insurance companies and everyone who believes their lies) is so scared, is because then they might actually have to be FAIR with people. They might actually have to STOP DISCRIMINATING against people with pre-existing conditions (like me). They might actually have to PAY for preventative care for people in situations like mine. Please take a few minutes out of your day and read the full article from factcheck.org. Educate yourself on what the bill ACTUALLY says. As always, please feel free to comment.

This video is a good, simple terms idea of what the "public option" really is, to follow up on my post from yesterday. It's less than 2 minutes long - Please take the short time to watch it, and feel free to comment with your thoughts if you want.

MY situation: I’m among the millions and millions of uninsured Americans. I’m 27 years old, and extremely healthy. I hardly ever get sick. I eat healthy. I exercise. I’m not overweight (at all!). I don’t use any prescriptions. I am a non-tobacco user. I’m completely, 100% LOW RISK with one exception. 5 years ago, I had a spot of melanoma on my back. I go to the dermatologist to get checked twice a year. If I have any more melanoma, It will likely be caught very early, and will be a very minor thing (a small surgery to remove the spot and a 2” section around it) as it was the last time.

ANY past history of melanoma = AUTOMATIC DECLINE for ALL insurance companies. And even in “high risk pools”, such as Utah’s “HIPUtah plan”, my melanoma is excluded for a minimum 12-month period. This means, even if I sign up for this RIDICULOUS policy that covers very little, and is very expensive (OVER $400/month for even reasonable coverage!!), if within 12 months of coverage, I get another spot of melanoma, no costs associated with it will be covered. Any costs associated with even getting CHECKED for melanoma within that 12-month period will not be covered. Do the insurance companies want me to NOT get preventative care, and to potentially let what would otherwise be a very minor thing turn into something that could be a lot more serious, just so they don’t have to cover it? The simple answer is YES! They don’t really give a shit about me. They only give a shit about their bottom line.

I’m self-employed. I’m a real estate broker, and an “independent contractor”. I don’t have an employer-based option for health care. Even if I did, my ‘pre-existing condition’ would still be excluded for a certain period of time. I was browsing online today, and came across an article that had the headline: “REALTORS Covered by NAR With New Limited Health Insurance Program”. Sounds pretty good – right? Well, turns out that by “limited”, it actually means “COVERS NOTHING”. They are basically taking money for almost nothing. The list of “Plan Limitations and Exclusions Applicable to All Benefits” is so long it took me almost an hour to read and digest. One of the “exclusions” reads as follows: Treatment or removal of warts, moles, boils, skin blemishes or birthmarks, bunions, acne, corns, calluses, the cutting and trimming of toenails, care for flat feet, fallen arches or chronic foot strain; I called an agent with the company who administers this plan, and told him my situation. He rudely told me “NOPE, won’t be covered”. Not only WON’T they cover me, they won’t let ANYONE on their plan get checked or treated for melanoma. Checking for melanoma involves the removal and testing of abnormal-looking moles. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, but is almost 100% curable if caught early. These people would prefer if I DON’T EVEN GET CHECKED!!! Wow… I guess that’s the “free market” on health insurance. Pad the bottom line. Screw the patient!!!

Under Obama’s plan, there would be NO DISCRIMINATION against people with pre-existing conditions (ie. ME!). INSURANCE COMPANIES could not drop coverage on people when they get sick. It would create a new insurance marketplace, “The Exchange”, which would create a real competitive market. It would offer a PUBLIC OPTION (Hallelujah!) for people like me!! It would IMMEDIATELY offer low cost coverage to people with preexisting conditions (ie. ME). It all MAKES SENSE!!! This isn’t just about me. There are millions and millions of Americans in similar situations. Yet some ass holes in congress are fighting tooth and nail to block this plan. They are so deep in the insurance lobby’s pockets it’s sickening. They are spreading treacherous lies, and propaganda, and using the same old BS “Scare Tactics” to try to block real reform from happening. ONE OF THEM even had the audacity to actually YELL FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR “You Lie!” to Barrack Obama as he spoke. This is definitely a new low in American politics, and is SO disrespectful it’s beyond words.

So here’s my plea, to all who read this: Please, Please, PLEASE, call your congressmen. Tell them to SUPPORT Obama’s plan, and make a real change. This can’t wait ANY longer.

Click here to see details on the plan and send a letter to your congressmen.

Click here to contribute to Rob Miller’s campaign. Help him defeat that dick head Joe Wilson, who had the audacity to heckle president Obama from the house floor.

Participate in events and vigils to help pass real healthcare reform. And, if your congressmen don’t listen, VOTE AGAINST THEM IN THE NEXT ELECTION! ORGANIZE for their opponents. Donate to their opponents’ campaigns. That’s one thing that WILL get their attention.

Please pardon my language in this post, as you can certainly tell if you’ve read this far, this is something I’m extremely emotional about.  As always, please feel free to comment.

Here are five ways you can lower your impact on the environment this thanksgiving!
1) Buy locally and regionally produced food!  Most farmers markets will carry locally and organically grown sweet potatoes, carrots, home made jams, cheeses, breads, and much much more!  If you're family tradition includes a turkey, look for an organic, free-range turkey.  Yes, it does cost a few bucks more, but it's also much healthier! 
2) Minimize your use of Plastics!  Use re-usable leftover containers instead of disposable plastic wrap, and even tin foil wrap!  Try to avoid using plastic plates, silverware, etc.  Plastic never fully breaks down, so if you MUST use plastic, make sure it gets recycled.
3) Celebrate at home!  Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel weekends of the whole year!  Why not help to reduce global warming?  Skip the stressful holiday travel, and celebrate an eco-friendly Thanksgiving at home.  If you MUST travel, be conscious about the environment.  Drive as little as possible, and take your most fuel efficient vehicle. Carpool whenever possible. If you're flying, consider purchasing carbon credits to help offset your portion of the carbon dioxide emissions. 
4) Don't OVER Cook.  While Thanksgiving leftovers are great, most people end up THROWING OUT over half of their leftovers  Spend a few extra minutes planning, and try to cook only what you and your family will be able to eat.
5) Here's a great way to give back on Thanksgiving.  Consider donating to a local charity or food bank, or give a donation to The United Way. Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for everything we have - why not help by giving back to those who need it most?
Please comment on my BLOG if you have any questions, or ideas I can share with others!

I have just finished reading in detail the Obama/Biden health plan... and what do you know - it makes SENSE!!  Finally, self employed individuals, such as Realtors, will have access to health coverage at a decent price... and here's the best part!  Insurance companies will NO LONGER BE ALLOWED to exclude people for pre-existing conditions!!! 

This is issue #1 to me this time around... It has gotten absolutely outrageous!  I am a 26 year old, very healthy, active, non-smoking female, who can NOT get health insurance coverage because of a small spot of Melanoma that I had removed from my back over 3 years ago.  It's considered an "uninsurable condition", and I've been declined numberous times. 

My ONLY option in the state of Utah is a state insurance pool called HIPUTAH.  They have to accept anyone, but they are still allowed to exclude coverage for a period of time on whatever the "pre-existing" condition is/was.  And for me, a single, 26 year old, non smoker, coverage is a WHOPPING $400 PER MONTH, for CRAPPY coverage.  I mean crappy, it has high deductibles (you can opt for lower ones, but a LOT more $$), it does not cover chiropractic, and physical therapy, and does not cover most preventative treatments.

It is absolutey outrageous that the United States is still the only civilized nation that does not provide health care for all of it's citizens.  This plan is definitely a huge step in the right direction!

For more information, and to download a full pdf of the Obama/Biden health plan, visit http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

Yes... "that one" definitely has my vote!

Park City has always been known as a great resort community with CLEAN mountain air!  A new study, however, shows that Park City's air pollution is on the rise.  Summit county residents need to get on board to nip this problem in the but before it becomes worse.  Salt Lake City has some of the worst winter air quality, and Park City residents need to take steps to prevent our great community from getting the same problem that Salt Lake has.

CLICK here for the story from KSL.

A great way to help is to get involved with UTAH MOM'S FOR CLEAN AIR who are coming together to help improve the air quality throughout the state of Utah.

As always, please feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add!

Here in Utah, Summer temperatures are still hot!! But the nights are starting to cool off, so instead of cranking your AC all ay, instead try opening windows at night, and using a fan to help bring in some of the cool night air!  Then, in the morning, close your windows and the house will stay cool most of the day!  You'll save energy, and $$!

 

As always, feel free to comment with questions or if you have anything to add!

How's the market in your state?

Here in Utah, as is true with Most places I think, the residential market has slowed down significantly in volume.  Prices haven't plummeted here in Utah the way they have in some areas, but we are seeing more and more REO properties, and short sales.  I think it's a great time for people to make a lateral move in our market, or for people who want to upgrade a bit.  The next few months, between now and a year from now, It will be a great opportunity for buyers to get some real 'deals'. 

As always, feel free to comment if you have anything to add, or with any questions!