Health Care Reform Bill Summary

I need a summary of this article. I always have trouble summarizing things. Or does anyone else have tips on how to easily summarize something? Thanks! Here's the article: NEW YORK -- Verizon Communications Inc., the largest wireless carrier in the country, is finding there's an end to the number of people who'll sign two-year contracts for cell phone service. Verizon said today that it signed up a net of just 423,000 customers under contract in the first three months of the year. That was the lowest number in years, and below analyst expectations. Its chief competitor, AT&T Inc., also reported a relatively low number of contract customers for the first quarter when it reported first-quarter results the day before. But AT&T did somewhat better, signing up 512,000 with help from the iPhone. The results demonstrate that the engine that has kept the wireless industry booming for more than a decade is now running out of steam, as nearly everyone has a cell phone. To keep revenue growing, the carriers are now looking at other avenues. One is prepaid service, which is usually cheaper than contract plans and available to consumers without credit. Verizon lost 139,000 prepaid customers under its own brand in the quarter, but added 1.3 million through resellers. In total, Verizon added 1.55 million wireless customers in the quarter, comparable to the 1.3 million it added in the same quarter last year. But since far fewer signed contracts, they're worth much less to Verizon. It ended the quarter with 92.8 million subscribers. Wireless service revenues still grew 5.9 percent from a year ago, to $13.8 billion, helped by the fact that more people are signing up for data plans. But AT&T managed to grow revenues by 10 percent, again with help from the iPhone, which comes with hefty service fees. Overall, Verizon said its earnings fell by three-quarters in the first three months of the year, brought down in large part by the one-time tax effect of the health care reform bill. The New York company earned $409 million, or 14 cents per share, in the quarter, down from $1.645 billion, or 58 cents per share, a year ago. The results included a previously announced a charge of 34 cents per share, to reflect a change in the health care reform package regarding the tax treatment of benefits. Excluding that and other one-time items, Verizon said it earned 58 cents per share. That was two cents above the average analyst estimate as polled by Thomson Reuters. Revenue rose 4.4 percent to $26.9 billion, matching analyst expectations. In pre-opening trading, Verizon shares fell 51 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $29.05.

Answer: Verizon is getting apparently getting hit by the recession. They had the lowest number of people signing up in years, 423,000 customers. At&t, verizons competitor is low also but doing better, mostly because of the iphone, but still low. In the end of the quarter Verizon got 92.8 million subscribers.................. please help me with the concluding sentence i suck thar

Hi, I was wondering how this article relates to public opinions, political parties, politics, media, campaign or elections. Please help me on this one. Thank You A broad cross-section of House Democrats unveiled a new comprehensive immigration reform bill Tuesday, laying down an early marker for what they hope will be a major 2010 debate. More than 80 co-sponsors have already signed on to the legislation, which is authored by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and titled the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009, or "CIR ASAP" for short. The bill includes provisions strengthening border security, creating a streamlined employment verification system, altering the visa program to promote the reunification of families and establishing a commission to recommend changes to the current system of H-1B and H-2B visas for skilled workers. The measure, a summary of which is available here (PDF), also contains an "earned legalization program" for current undocumented workers, giving them the chance to get legal status if they pay a $500 fine, pass a criminal background check and show that they have made valuable contributions to American society "through employment, education, military service or other volunteer/community service." Gutierrez and several members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as well as the Congressional Black Caucus and other groups jammed into an overstuffed, sweltering House committee room Tuesday to release the bill and demand action. Standing before a cadre of activists chanting "Si, se puede," and a group of children wearing shirts that said "future voter," Gutierrez said that years of hard work and negotiations on the issue had brought them "to this bill and to this meeting, which marks the final push toward comprehensive immigration reform." Gutierrez added that the bill was "pro-family, pro-jobs and pro security ... and the time to pass it into law is right now." Immigration reform was one of the most contentious issues of the 110th Congress, when a concerted effort to reach a compromise bill failed in the Senate despite the support of key members of both parties and President George W. Bush. Neither the House nor the Senate has addressed the topic in a substantive way in the 111th Congress, as health care, climate change and the struggling economy have all taken precedence. And with unemployment over 10 percent, there has been little political will to revisit such a controversial issue. Reform advocates hope that calculus changes in 2010, even though Congress is often loathe to tackle tough issues in election years. "As a candidate for president, Barack Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform, and we have brought him the road to success here with this bill," Gutierrez said. Gutierrez is one of several House Democrats who have complained at times this year that the Obama administration was insufficiently committed to timely consideration of an immigration measure. He said in May that Obama had been "eerily silent" on the issue. The White House did send a signal to reform advocates in November, when Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano delivered a speech predicting "we will see legislation beginning to move" in the first part of 2010. Napolitano said Obama wanted a "tough but fair" mechanism to allow illegal immigrants to apply for legal status, and said border security had already been improved significantly. In the Senate, Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-N.C.) are among those who have been working on reform measures for consideration in 2010. Democratic leaders expect immigration reform to be on the agenda, but it's not first in line. "The administration has laid out several priorities including financial regulatory reform and clean energy legislation," said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). "We hope to consider comprehensive immigration reform in addition to these issues in the first half of next year." While Tuesday's unveiling was designed to showcase a wide range of support for the new reform bill, the measure quickly drew criticism from some quarters. "Any bill without a temporary worker program is simply not comprehensive," said Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) a reform supporter who has worked on legislation in the past with Gutierrez. Flake added that he was "troubled by the weakened legalization requirements in the Gutierrez bill," which does not include the tougher penalties for illegal immigrants applying to become legal that some previous legislation did, such as larger fines and the "touchback" requirement that undocumented workers go back to their home countries and then return. Rep. Lamar Smith (Texas), the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, was much more scathing.

Answer: Immigration reform makes strange bedfellows. Many Democrats and Republicans find themselves not in their normal party lines. Because of that, the normal result is to loose too many votes in the President's party to be made up by votes coming in from the opposing party. The last time we had significant immigration reform was under a popular Republic President with a Democrat dominated House and Senate, under Reagan. Many now see that effort as a failure because it did nothing to help the long-term situation. Bush came close to passing something, again with a Republican President and Democratic Congress. We'll see if Obama can pass anything significant. I have my doubts. It's a tough area. I don't think he'll push it seriously unless he thinks it has a shot, but if he does, the political implications would be that any bill that passes would be bipartisan. That's a benefit. It will also attract the latino vote, which tends to be a swing group (really it's many groups, some of which lean left, some right, and some, like Florida Cubans, have been in flux lately).

Health care reform bill would provide immediate benefits http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1914020220100319 Timeline: When health care reform will affect you http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/23/health.care.timeline/index.html Health Care Reform Bill Summary http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000846-503544.html reform bill details & summaries http://dpc.senate.gov/dpcdoc-sen_health_care_bill.cfm WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF ENACTMENT *Uninsured adults with a pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health coverage through a new program that will expire once new insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014. WHAT HAPPENS IN 2014 *Health plans no longer can exclude people from coverage due to pre-existing conditions. How soon will the premiums on the "new program" become unaffordable, and it will need regular bailouts to keep it afloat? After 2014, will insurance companies exit the free market for health insurance (and sell other kinds of insurance instead), or will they start gettng regular bailouts "in exchange for a government stake in their business?" How soon will these bailouts become habitual, and all health insurance is nationalized? How will this be different from universal health insurance? Cinner, that's what I said. He will TRANSFORM existing insurance companies into socialism by NATIONALIZING them with bailouts. Dennis, that's what I said. He will transform insurance companies into socialism by nationalizing them.

Answer: It would be my best guess that the private health care insurers will start to abandon the health care policies before the new limitations go into full effect. The public option will have to be addressed to cover the vacuum left by their removal of private policies. That will eventually become the only option available. The public option was abandoned with the knowledge the private insurance companies could not withstand the added costs of the new requirements and that it would eventually have to be added. The only other option would be for the government to cover the cost variance and guarantee the insurers a limited profit. That would require more bureaucratic involvement in private industry and more costs incurred by the administration of those funds.

"Let me get this straight. We're going to be gifted with a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president who also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke. What the hell could possibly go wrong?" Look up "Maxine sums up the health care bill". I can't add links for some reason without the question being hidden.

Answer: thanks. That was funny. Maxine is too wise. I cant say the same for our legislators.

Will the people who enroll in the high-risk insurance have to pay the full cost of providing their benefits? Or will this plan be subsidized by tax funding? Health care reform bill would provide immediate benefits http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1914020220100319 Timeline: When health care reform will affect you http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/23/health.care.timeline/index.html Health Care Reform Bill Summary http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000846-503544.html reform bill details & summaries http://dpc.senate.gov/dpcdoc-sen_health_care_bill.cfm WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF ENACTMENT *Uninsured adults with a pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health coverage through a new program that will expire once new insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014. When you have a program for people who ALREADY HAVE pre-existing conditions, won't the benefit payouts be INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE?

Answer: Not necessarily. I have diabetes. I go to the doctor, get my prescriptions, my lab work, and I have my feet checked. That's it. The doctor, nurses, lab technicians, receptionists, and everyone working behind the scenes get some more job security. The insurance has to deal with me once every three months to get my medications which cost them about $150. I only need to see the doctor annually. I am not draining their coffers. Neither will the 10 million more people who will be added to their pool. Remember that these people are still living and many of them are not actually on death's door. This means that they will get the care they need and it won't cost that much in the long run. Also, the remaining people getting insurance won't be doing anything other than giving the insurance companies money every month. This means that the insurance companies will be just fine. Don't let the rhetoric fool you. This is a blessing for the insurance companies. It was good when the Republicans wanted it in 1993 and it's good today.

(And not a summary or a "interpreted" copy?)

Answer: Here is the full text; http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3590enr.txt But if you really needed help just to FIND it, you silly goose, I don't think you'll be able to read it!

The new health care plan fostered by Obama, Nancy Pelosi, etc. is the most anti-American legislative law passed in recent days. In reality, this plan in it's aspects is a socialistic ideas infringing on the average American citizen. This law must be fought by the Republicans and moderate and Conservative Democrats across this great land. Obama's plan is a health reform that will cost taxpayers millions, and millions of dollars in the next 10 years. The so-called health reform law that Obama signed is against the American way of life. It is unconstitutional praying upon the individual to take out health insurance which he is not obligated to do so unless he wants to. It is unconstitutional to the different states for which it is imposed upon. Therefore, it is unconstitutional in it's script and must be attacked by the American citizens in writing to their Congressman, Attorney Generals, etc. The above mentioned so called health law will benefit drug companies, doctors, hospitals, and primarily illegal immigrants who are not citizens of the USA. The illegal immigrants will have entre' to emergencies at Hospitals without having legal insurance. I have listened to various conservative talk show hosts such as Michael Savage and Sean Hannity and they have spoken in great depth and time about illegal immigrants coming into the United States. Naturally, Nancy Pelosi will accept illegals, convicts, to the shores of the United States. She is a socialistic minded person who is in accord with President Obama whose background is viewed as a Marxist. In summary, although I am an average American Senior Citizen, MediCare will be cut $500 billion over the next few years. Obama does not really care about the majority of the American people who dislike this bill but he'll do anything illegal to push this war into the people of the United States. ~Signed FG

Answer: ONLY the special interest groups and Congress gain anything from it. In other words, anyone on the take.

Do you agree with this summary of events? Because of the bad economy, people have to spend less (which includes renewing health insurance policies). Not wanting to go through hard times like everyone else (with the exception of the big banks), the big insurance companies/HMOs had their puppets in Congress devise a way to guarantee them growth and profitability in a bad economy by making every American buy health insurance via mandate and via more taxpayer handouts to cover the customers who used to cost them money (i.e., using tax dollars to cut their losses/expenses). Thus, the bad economy had resulted Americans (employers and individuals) dropping their health insurance in record numbers, but this "health care bill" now insures that the insurers will be making up for lost profits through an unprecedented and artificially induced rise in demand--while also being able to keep the customers with conditions that they would have normally dropped since taxpayers will be stepping in to cover this "expense" for them. Your thoughts? Is this just another bailout disguised as "health reform?"

Answer: If you are looking for the cheapest or best health insurance in your area, use this site http://Best-Health-Insurance-USA.blogspot.com/ its the best way to find an affordable health insurance with a reliable company. Best Wishes,

I want to read the health care bill, in its entirety. I don't want summaries and I don't want the proposed bill -- I want to read the bill that was passed Sunday night.

Answer: http://www.google.com/search?q=final+health+care+reform+bill&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

I've heard a lot in the news and from people about what is in the new bill, but I want to see it. Is there anywhere to find an unbiased summary of the bill or the actual bill? I want to find out for myself so I can form my own opinion on the topic.

Answer: EVERY bill pending before Congress is ALWAYS posted on the LIbrary of Congress website within a day or two of introduction. Yes. EVERY ONE. http://www.thomas.gov/ HR 4872.