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what is the point of not streaming to other countries? can't watch it from where I am. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/mad1.gif

Global internet my ass.

Is it this? http://gawker.com/5922068/lets-never...e-ruling-wrong

Generally it's an advertising, standards and content issue.

I bet if Obama (knowing that the reform passed) was watching the news to see how the media reacted, he had a photo-worthy "WTF?" face.

So come 2014 we will all see a new deduction tax on our paychecks??? And if so, how much will it be??

Are you serious?

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/002...04_xlarge.jpeg

On a more serious note no, you won't see it on your paycheck. You'll pay the tax only if you choose not to purchase a qualifying healthcare plan. If you're low income you'll get a subsidized plan so it's a moot point anyway.

Advertising and standards?

Can anyone explain what this means for US people? Is this like the NHS for the UK where everyone pays health insurance so that hospital bills and visits to the doctors are covered such as major operations etc?

Pretty sure that's right. Extra Tax/Insurance = Free or at least cheaper health care.

Uh no.

You only pay a penalty tax if you don't buy health care, and if you are under a certain income rate, it is provided through Medicare.


WHAT'S IN EFFECT:

• Health insurance providers can't cancel your coverage once you get sick – a practice known as "rescission" – unless you committed fraud or intentionally withheld facts about your health when you applied for coverage.

• Youth can be covered under a parent's plan until they turn 26.

• Children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage.

• Health insurance providers may not place a lifetime maximum on benefits.

• Insurers are required to give consumers rebates if they spend less than 80 to 85 percent of premium dollars on medical care. Insurers are required to issue this first round of rebates by Aug. 1.

• Health plans created after Sept. 23, 2010, are required to cover certain preventative services without requiring copays, deductibles and coinsurance.
• The law also expands Medicare's coverage of preventive services, such as screenings for colon, prostate and breast cancer, which are now free to beneficiaries. Medicare will also pay for an annual wellness visit to the doctor.

• If you are covered under a private Medicare Advantage plan, the law changesportions of the plan, cutting payments to some of those plans. Critics say that could mean the private plans may not offer many extra benefits that you may have previously enjoyed, such as free eyeglasses, hearing aids and gym memberships that they now provide.

• If you are older than 65, the law is narrowing a gap in the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan known as the "doughnut hole." That gap applies to seniors who have paid a certain initial amount in prescription drug costs and must then pay the full cost until they spend a total of $4,700 for the year. Then the plan coverage begins again. By 2020, the "doughnut hole" will be closed entirely.
• Starting Aug. 1, employers must provide health insurance plans that offer birth control as part of their preventative services.

WHAT'S COMING IN 2014:

• Adults with pre-existing conditions will not be denied coverage (this already applies to children).

• Most people will be required to have health insurance starting in 2014 or pay a fine. That penalty for individuals starts at $95 or up to 1 percent of income and grow in later years. For families it would start at $2,085 or 2.5 percent of household income. The Supreme Court noted in its decision that Americans could choose to ignore the mandate and instead pay the penalty, which they deemed a tax.

• People who don't qualify for Medicaid but still can't afford insurance may be eligible for government subsidies. The subsidies would be used to help pay for private insurance sold in the state-based insurance marketplaces, called exchanges, slated to begin operation in 2014.

• Applicants will not be rejected for insurance because of health status once the exchanges are operating in 2014.

WHAT'S CHANGING AFTER TODAY'S RULING:

• The Supreme Court ruled that Congress has the authority to expand Medicaid, but it can't strip states of all their Medicaid funds if they fail to participate in that expansion. Prior to the court's decision, analysts expected that about half of the people who would gain insurance under the law would do so through Medicaid. Under the Supreme Court's ruling, it's up to each state to decide whether it expands coverage to more people.
• If a state does decide to expand Medicaid, people with an income at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level would be eligible to receive coverage.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012...pheld-now-what

Did you miss that I quoted this: "what is the point of not streaming to other countries?" ?

It looks pretty good all round then? Unless you have the advantage plan and loose your extra bonuses.

What are the main things people are complaining about? Pros and Cons?

Its not been getting much coverage on the news here in England.

Nothing. The only people who complain about it have no idea what it is in the bill and are probably idiot rednecks.

Also, the Republican party is only against it because they didn't get credit for creating it.

I was asking what you meant.......I thought would have thought that was obvious.......

Sounds good then, just have to ignore the idiots (most of them seem to be on the TV News Networks!)

Any idea if it will have any affect on non residents?

For example, friends of ours visited Florida and one of them had to go to the dentist for some broken tooth or something and it cost them $3000 odd which they then had to claim on their travel insurance.

Things like that will still be the same I guess?

Travel insurance would be a darned good idea - unless your present policies cover other countries or you're rich enough to be 'self insuring'.

We have annual travel insurance from American Express which is great but I was just wondering if there was going to be anything different for non residents who go to the US with the new laws.

Advertisers target demographics and timeslots. As such, you can only charge for them on the original air date, in the original territory.

Commercial television is also governed by standards authorities, which differ around the world (certain words are and aren't allowed in different territories - when content is syndicated the purchasing network handles standards compliance).

Basically, it's a lot of effort for a US TV company to stream worldwide. They would do if they could count on enough advertising revenue from sales on international streaming.

Before you ask: Yes, sites like youtube use targeted advertising to cover their costs. Their overheads are so much lower that they can generate income from this (they don't have to finance making the programmes for starters).