In health care push, Biden asks Americans: 'Bust this myth'

By Christina Bellantoni on Aug. 31, 2009 into Bellantoni

Vice President Joe Biden starts the week with a renewed health care push, asking supporters to join the White House in its efforts to debunk rumors and imploring Americans to send in their personal stories to showcase the need for reform.

"The biggest myth of all is that our health insurance system is just fine, that there's no serious need for reform," Biden says in this 2-minute Web video, linked at WhiteHouse.gov.

The vice president asked people to upload their own videos and "tell the defenders of the status quo why health reform is important to you."

Some of the videos will be featured at WhiteHouse.gov, Biden said.

White House health care czar Nancy-Ann DeParle, told people signed up for presidential emails they can take a quiz to find out what health care will mean for their families.

"Help the Vice President debunk this myth," was the subject line of the message.

She wrote:

Our latest Reality Check video features Vice President Joe Biden addressing the biggest whopper of all: that our health insurance system works just fine and Americans don’t care about reform. Nothing could be further from the truth.
So we’re trying something new. You can help the Vice President debunk this myth by uploading your own video on why reform matters to you. This is an opportunity for Americans of all backgrounds and situations to make the case for reform in your own words.
Watch the Vice President’s video and then respond with your own.
Need some help? We also have a new online quiz to help set the record straight about health insurance reform. Find out what’s in reform for somebody like you by answering a few questions.
What does reform mean if you already have insurance? What if you don’t? What does it mean if you’re young? If you’re a senior? If you have children?
Take the quiz and then share it — simple tools like this are a great way to cut through the noise and get the facts about reform: www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/quiz
Thank you,
Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform
P.S. No matter your age, where you work, whether you have insurance or not, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll get out of health insurance reform. But don’t just take my word for it — take the quiz:www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/quiz

I took the quiz and here's what the White House tells me:

Here's What You Will Get Out of Health Insurance Reform

Reform will bring down costs generally and make insurance more affordable and accessible, ensuring more choices for quality coverage
Reform will allow you to keep the coverage you have if you want to
Reform will streamline and simplify paperwork and cut the bureaucracy for you and your doctor
Reform will be accompanied by an agreement to end the "donut hole" in Medicare Part D, dramatically reducing both the costs and anxieties associated with purchasing prescription drugs
Reform will end discrimination based on gender - a healthy 22 year old female can be charged premiums 150% higher than a healthy 22 year old male under the status quo
Reform will ensure you always have choices of quality, affordable health insurance no matter how often you move or change jobs
Reform puts a cap on what insurance companies can force you to pay in out of pocket expenses, co-pays and deductibles
Reform will prevent insurance companies from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive

In case voters are worried about the president collecting personal info through the Web site, the Web team notes on the quiz: "The White House will not retain or store any of the information volunteered through this quiz."

— Christina Bellantoni, White House correspondent, The Washington Times

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Comment

There are 13 Comments

cndfox

This is great. I knew that the White House would figure out how to counter all the lies, deceit and misinformation all the lobby groups of the rich corporations and far right pundits were putting out there in cyberspace. Those that understand the need for reform will win out in the end.

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cndfox

I've said it before and I will say it again. The more informative and "cerebral" the topic, the less number of comments that result on this blog. I wonder why that is...?

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hipshot

If it dosen't work well, how easy will it be to dismantle? Have the Democrats fully considered all the options, or did they just come up with this plan and refuse to consider anything else and refuse to involve the people in the decision-making? Put differently, is this a paternalistic approach? Whats the rush? Why not debate this over the winter and make decisions next year. What will happen to the profits of doctors? What will happen to the profits of lawyers? Who pays for people who don't currently have insurance? Who pays for the illegal aliens, and their families, once amnesty is passed? Will this reduce or enhance competition between insurance companies? Will the government be competing with the insurance companies in any way? Is it really discrimination when a female has more medical expenses than a male and females are charged more for insurance? Are you just using the word "discrimination" to bully fence-sitters into joining your side?

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hipshot

If you want to believe Biden, then consider the following: In 1986, we had a compromise on immigration reform. In exchange for amnesty, we were promised (1) enforcement and (2) no more amnesties. Enough said.

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hipshot

If we equalize the insurance rates for 22-year old men and women, then as an older male, shouldn't I be paying the same life insurance rates as a 25-year old female? How about a female my age?

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hipshot

Will you eventually regulate our pharmaceutical, biotich, and medical device companies to the point that they effectively become one company? No? Is that a promise? What will keep you from breaking that promise?

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hipshot

Post a summary of the major and controversial parts of the bill, along with arguments of the yeasayers and the naysayers on the door of every tavern in the country. Let the people read and decide.

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cndfox

hipshot, That is why we elect representatives to answer those questions. But that can only happen if they quit playing obstructionist games. "Let the people decide"? LOL! And what "century" would we get the final draft? Your logic is typical procrastination, misdirection negative and obstructionist in its content.

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hipshot

cndfox, Thanks so much for reading my notes. You first mock us for not posting notes. I post about six notes with questions, suggestions, and concerns, and now you rag on me with a bunch of name-calling? Please.

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cndfox

hipshot...I think it is time for conservatives to learn "name calling" from "criticism of BEHAVIORS". The two are not the same. And I am sure you know as well as I that the answers to your "questions" would have so many ifferent subjective interpretations, that nothing would ever get accomplished. That is why we have representatives and not "direct rule democracy".

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hipshot

cndfox, next time you make a posting, be sure to start it with this line: The following is a sucker punch. You did sucker me into it!

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dgm432

A lie is a lie no matter who is telling it or how they color it with words and test. I will send you a story about Health care...the facts may be hard to prove but it will be like a movie...or a best seller novel. The fact is we can look at other countries that have public health systems, we can hear from those that do wait in lines for health considerations. We can hear from those that pay a lot more for health care through taxation than their Government had told them. Fact is simple...no business can compete with the Government...NONE! They can sell to the Government through competitive bidding...which generally goes to the bidder that has a few Congresspeople in his pocket!! We have in Office a person that has changed our Government for the worse and people will not fall for it any more..NO MORE ACORN's, NO TO KKK or BLACK PANTHERS, NO MORE Misrepresentation in Congress, and the White House. NO MORE Appointments of ZCARS...without Congress OKing them through normal process. NO TO Government run Health Care...here is what Ronald Reagan had to say about Public Health Care: http://patriotroom.com/article/video-ronald-reagan-nails-every-aspect-of-obamacare-nearly-50-years-ago

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impeach_obama

Cndfox: You could not have read the poposed bill, if you feel all of the ordinary people who are fighting against it are distortionists and liars. The bill is an insult to us and a play to stel our freedom. Ever since Bozobama bobbed to the top of Chicago political cesspool he has pushed policies to take our freedom and force Government into every aspect of our lives. Health Care is but the latest and most profound socialist grab. Please scan House Bill H.R. 3200 to be informed. It is not hard to read, if you stick to the parts that do not reference other bills. It is an aggressive and diabolical grab for more government control. It establishes 32 new agencies, commissions, trust funds (think social security trust fund), and big spending programs. It includes provisions for School Based Clinics, to bring the Government and its PC rules and preferences into local schools; unelected panels to decide on treatment, rates, and plan premiums. It provides that seniors be charged twice the rate of others. Also it levees a sir tax of 2.5% on anyone who changes plans and does not change to the Government plan ($2,000 for a $80,000 income). It also provides for unspecified "entities" to do community organizing and education efforts (think ACORN on a grand scale). Most of all, it leaves much definition of standards, rules, and organization for after the bill is passed, by Government strap hangers. Worst of all, it really DOES allow Federal funding of baby killing through abortion. Fight it with all you have. September 1, 09 On Tea Party express

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