Wit, Wisdom & Wonder

As I'm tired of the rampant fear-mongering going on so here's the list of what the new health care reform act will do, broken down by year.

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF ENACTMENT

*Insurance companies will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated and annual limits are to be restricted.

*Insurers will be barred from excluding children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

*Young adults will be able to stay on their parents' health plans until the age of 26. Many health plans currently drop dependents from coverage when they turn 19 or finish college.

*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.

*A temporary reinsurance program is created to help companies maintain health coverage for early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. This also expires in 2014.

*Medicare drug beneficiaries who fall into the "doughnut hole" coverage gap will get a $250 rebate. The bill eventually closes that gap which currently begins after $2,700 is spent on drugs. Coverage starts again after $6,154 is spent.

*A tax credit becomes available for some small businesses to help provide coverage for workers.

*A 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services that use ultraviolet lamps goes into effect on July 1.

( Click for Specify )

I made Josh one of my super deluxe four pan dinners, which turned out sort of "meh" but that's another story. During dinner, we went over our ballots and discussed the various initiatives. Decisions were made, votes were cast and now I've two envelopes to hand deliver to the USPS tomorrow.

Aurora, the lovebird, has learned yet another trick. While filling up a large boiler to make penne pasta she flew over, perched on the rim then jumped in for a swim. Apparently, she's not content with the small bathing bowl on her cage!

Sadly, we arrived too late to the bus station and so missed Alfrecht. Wandered about town, with a side trip to the baking shop (nope, he wasn't in there: I was *most* thorough) just in case we could find him. I think we ran into just about every 2nd Jew though, in our wanderings downtown. There's something about a man all decked out in MC gear that seems to draw attention. Speaking of which, the sissy bar and back cushion are now installed on the bike.

One of the mini-rex girl buns has an eye infection, so we'll be taking them to the vet on Friday. Sort of a double duty trip to pick up Flash from his teeth cleaning and get Noir eye drops. Because she's housed with Nyx, we're bringing her in, too. All healing energies for bunny vision welcome!

Really your blood went cold when Obama voted against an emergency funding bill for soldiers in Iraq?

Cause your husband voted against it, too. Then, he voted against the new GI Bill. Not that your son needs the GI Bill, obviously, but most of our nation's military family members do. Including mine.

Btw, Mrs. McCain - Obama voted for another emergency funding bill that had a date for troop withdrawl. And your husband didn't.

Lay off the bleach, lady, its sinking into your brain.