Robert Gibbs publicly admits a 4-year delay in implementing the adult preexisting condition rule. [View All]

[seafan]

WH Press Secretary Robert Gibbs acknowledged today during his press briefing that the rule prohibiting insurance companies from excluding adults for preexisting conditions will not take effect for another four years.


This is the first time I have heard this publicly stated by an official of the administration.


Today. Three days before the purported vote.



Now, the question is, will our media report this to the American people before this debacle of a vote?


Somehow, I don't think most people will take this little piece of shrouded information lightly.


With all the celebration going on about how 'historic' this bill is, the people are finding out that they will not see any benefits for 4 more years for one of the mainstays in how this monstrously flawed Senate health care bill was sold to us.



So, for 4 more years, the lives of adults with preexisting conditions will be destroyed by the backroom deals made between the president and Big Health.


Are they hoping for the ink to dry on this bill before the people find out?


Don't the people of this country deserve better than THIS?

MR. GIBBS: .....

Tom.

Q I have two quick questions.

MR. GIBBS: Yes.

Q First, earlier this week -- sorry, I have two questions. First, earlier this week, both Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore pointed out that the preexisting condition provision of the legislation doesn’t take effect for another four years, and I’m wondering if you could tell us, was that a concession, and if so, who fought for that and what did they -- what did you get in return?

MR. GIBBS: There is --

Q For adults, that is.

MR. GIBBS: Right. Well, again, the -- as I described earlier and as the President has described, there are certain things that cannot be instituted until you have everyone in the system. Obviously this is a piece of legislation that phases in over the course of many years those changes. And as a result of that phasing in, when that's done, preexisting conditions for adults will be outlawed. But understand this -- when this becomes law, an insurance company will no longer be able to discriminate against a child that has -- that they believe or says that has a preexisting condition.

Q That’s on day one.

MR. GIBBS: Right.

Q Children. And so it’s pegged to the mandate then, is that fair to say?

MR. GIBBS: Yes.

.....

Notice that Gibbs did not answer the question of 'who pushed for this, was it a concession, and what might he have gotten in return.....'



Four more years of greed by insurance companies in the face of hardship and helplessness of sick people?



Oh, it's just because it will take that long 'to get everyone into the system'.


Not at all like expanding Medicare might accomplish right away, you see.




I just cannot describe the sense of betrayal we are enduring.