Health Care Fight, Dems Chasing Votes: Join the Live Chat
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Tonight on 360°, the health care endgame. Will Democrats have enough votes to get the bill passed? Plus, Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks down what's in the legislation and how it could impact you. We also take you to Haiti to see what's being done to help clean up the camps washed out by rain. Actor and activist Sean Penn is in Port-au-Prince with the latest developments.
Want to know what else we're covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
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maybe if these people voting and making life changing decisions for us, the gen public, stopped playing games and acting like spoiled children they could come up with reform that will help we the people. makes u wonder who is pulling their strings.
Sean Penn you are doing a great job..thank you!!!
@Suan, NJ your church donated these to Haiti? That's great.
It is a sad state of affairs when we can't even protect the health of our citizens. Affordable health care should be a right, not a privilege. I know many people who aren't covered now. How can anyone NOT want to change that. This bill may not be perfect but at least it is a start. The only reason for NOT wanting to start to change our health care system is if you are the ones making big profits from the current system.
Where are all those trailers that were used in LA after Katrina?
Ronnie,
I am sorry your loss, My heart goes to you....... Hope you will take new heart for transplant as soon as possible, I can understand how you felt pain. I hope you will get back again. 🙂 Thanks for your comment.
What are we supposed to do about Haiti? It is overwhelming...
@Emily, "All of the other celebrities have moved on it seems. They went to the Oscars, and it seems that most have forgotten about Haiti. ;("
That is exactly what happened. They should have cancelled the Oscar parties and sent the money to Haiti instead.
I think the people should leave; I think the people should want to leave!
in re : jane WI....couples making less than $88,000 yr are subsidized.
Sean, thank you for your investment in your fellow man. ( I know that your rewards are personal. ) The world can only be better for your efforts. May you stay well and continue to do for all of us what we should be offering to do ourselves.
I just wonder do the Republicans belive that Health care cost will go down by itself? WE all deserve affordable Health Care and if the rich folks have to pay just a litle more in Taxes, I'am sure they would not mind, because it's the middle class people who keep them in business and go to the movies to watch the Stars and make them Rich as hell in the first place. WE all need Health Care, Republicans stop being bias and open your eyes to what the American people really want, Affordable Health Care. I do believe once you Republicans start working with our President instead of aganist him, the faster our recovery to positive things in this Country will be!!!
@Ronnie,I'm so sorry for your suffering.I hope things will change for the better.
I hate Sean Penn's politics, but of all the celebrities, he appears to be walking the walk.
The whole Haiti thing is mindboggling and so tragic. I continue to admire people like Sean Penn, great actor, better person.
The "resilience" of the Haitian people is really an overadaptation to enormous poverty and economic abuse. They should be much angrier at their situation and hold people accountable for the massive corruption.
I honestly hope and pray that this bill does go threw... it will make life a lot more easier for people.
Haiti- the government is trying to buy farmland from other citizens cause there is no where to build they new areas to relocate people.
My vote as 'standing by' senator yea
Is there Violence?
I have no med ins...haven't had for 18 yrs....income of 900 a month...how do you buy insurance and LIVE??? Medical care should be a right not just for the well endowed. I don't want to say wealthy...because I know a lot of people have insurance and pay huge amounts for it...I don't know what to think..the people reporting and the Washington people...WE pay for the Washington people's medical/dental....this should be for their people not their slot.....
It's good to hear the update on Haiti–and the efforts to help. The misery there seems never-ending, though.
@ JoAnn: I think these celebrity types have too many parties and newspapers to pose for to really care for human life.
Did you all see the pig? He is right a home.
Once again it appears Haiti is unable to govern itself. The UN should declare it a failed state and move in and take over.
It’s really frightening how easy it is to delude the masses. The fact is, Americans pay twice as much for Health Care, per capita, as the countries with well run Health Care systems, and only have half as many doctors. This makes American health care 4 times more wasteful than the countries that do it right. All those people that fear this bill will cost money, relax. As the Congressional Budget Office has pointed out, America will be on course to save over a trillion dollars once this excellent legislation is passed.
@Jo Ann,
All of the other celebrities have moved on it seems. They went to the Oscars, and it seems that most have forgotten about Haiti. ;(
Our church has donated 600 semi permanent houses that have wood and tin components.
I lost my job in May 2009 and ran out of insurance a few months later.Due to a pre-existing condition called Ashermans Syndrome, hopsitals and doctors treat me like I am an alien and except I have close to $9000.00 cash for a same day procedure, I don 't even get audience. It's a terrible feeling and it is highly unfair that you cannot do anything to help yourself when you know you need help and no one is willing to help either. That's why the only glitter of hope I see for millions of Americans is the healthcare bill. The bill shows that soemone cares .
Hi AC,
congress should hang it's collective head in shame for their lack of respect for their constituents. a comprehensive healthcare bill is essential for the health of the majority (read the working poor, the "middle class", etc.) of citizens. Pres.Obama campaigned on this issue, but I guess half of the Senate wasn't aware. They were all asked to contribute to this bill. They offered nothing. They can only blame themselves, not the Pres, not the Dems. We, the people, need to vote them out of office. The only one who seems unconcerned about being re-elected is the Pres.
I have high blood pressure , I am a working 58 year old woman, I pay for insurance $110.00 per month. They( the insurance company )denies all claims(pre-exiting condition). I owe my doctor $750.00, I owe the hospital for test $5200. I can not afford my medicine. I can not afford to go to the doctors. We need health care reform. I will not be covered by insurance until September.
Good evening AC 360;
I don't understand why preexisting condition laws take effect in months and years from now, it should be immediate! In fact as soon as President Obama was sworn in a bill should have been ready for him to sign to ban being denied coverage because of preexisting conditions, plus the cap the insurance companies put on coverage should have been banned last year already. Then they could have started working on the rest of this bill after that. This will give these companies ample time to purge their rolls of whomever they want until then.
I believe that the children should be taken away if they are in harms way... from the Dominican Republic we have a close view of the situation in Haiti and though Haitians are a hard working people they are also a disorganized and untamed society... it´s difficult to function as a whole under those conditions... so yes, any help that they can receive is good but they need more than just rice. They need to become self-sustainable... and I´m so happy to hear that Sean Penn felt so strongly, as to go to Haiti to help!
Haitian relief has received over 2 Billion dollars, where are the permanent buildings and shelters as a result? Appears to be ZERO.
God bless sean penn for the work he is doing in haiti.
i truly fear for the people of haiti, especially disease.
again, the gov. and politics are the enemy.
please, please people, don't give up on haiti. i think i will go through the clinton foundation or their recommendations for my future donations.
@ megan and kim-thanks for your posts
The people of Haiti can not be forgotten. There are human beings who need so many help.
To hear that these heavy rains have hit Haiti, it is very sad.
Thanks! @starr (formerly known as vincent)
I'll be checking in over the weekend to see how this all turns out. I think it'll pass, though there may be a lot of 11th hour wrangling.
The people and the nation Haitian as a whole are lost and need much help.
Why can't the people of haiti be evacuated from there.Also that weak corrupt government need to be taken down.All that money pouring into haiti and the government of haiti still have not done anything for haiti.What a pitiful shame.
I have several pre-existing conditions,degenerative arthritic discs in my back and neck,bi-lateral carpal tunnel,and two open heart surgeries,what am i supposed to think,nobody will insure me and i am on S.S.disability so i can't afford insurance anyway,i personally hope the healthcare bill passes.
Has CNN given information about health organizations–doctors, interns hospitals– that support health reform? Have you covered this subjet, and I possibly missed it? I think this would be important information.
The Brazilian actress Maite Proença, described what he saw in Haiti, after spending a week in volunteer work: "I saw the devil laughing. It is as if the whole thing was a great irony of the devil."
I have a high deductible plan. What in this bill will guarantee me that my doctor and hospital will charge me lower fees? I pay the first $5000. What I need is lower charges from my doctor. Is that in the bill?
As a Disabed Veteran, Who is NOW in the hospital, and awaiting a new heart, I want to say that IF this bill is not passed I feel that I will not live long enough to have it stated ALL over again. ( What kind of Crap is that)We have needed this type bill to be passed for years, and those that are fighting it, well to me it seems that they either or a family member has not been in this situation.
this is a nightmare for the Haitians again...especially for the children. What is our country doing to help?
@Gloria,
"Wild, this health care is getting more and more interesting!"
Boring it is not! That is for sure.
I think that it has gotten others interested in politics who would not be so otherwise also.
I have to give Penn a lot of credit, but where are all of his celebrity buddies?
I really don't understand why people say that the public doesn't want health care reform. We need reform and we need it now. It is a drag that to try and get votes there is a four year wait for adults on reforms in the health care bill. I have a good job and health insurance, but even I am not completely happy with it. We need to get rid of caps, denying coverage because of preexisting conditions, and preventative treatments should be covered 100%. Just because you have insurance doesn't mean that everyone does and I for one want to see my tax dollars helping them.
@Jason, this is only the beginning. Hopefully we will get it.
Anderson,
As always I love your show. However, on the issue of pre-existing illness, I am a 48 years old male. I have suffered from polycythemia since 1986. With the proper medical treatments I should live a normal life. Due to this illness that insurances list as a terminal illness, I have recently been denied medical coverage. Currently, I have lost my job and I have no medical insurance and the costs of medical treatments are destroying me. I turned to my regular insurance agent State Farm with whom I have had car and home insurance for years and they also denied me because the illness is pre-existing.
It is so sad politicians are fighting against what is right when Americans are dying because we cannot get medical coverage.
Thanks for being there for America!
How devastating again for Haiti!