$500 Billion dollars is being taken OUT of Medicare to pay for the just passed Healthcare Reform Law. And 30 million people will be added to the system. What does that mean for those of us who receive SSDI and Medicare as a result of bipolar disorder? Higher premiums, lower standards of care, and long waits to see a doctor. Just like all those other wealthy, industrialized nations  who have a "universal system."

Insurance companies will be mandated by this bold, fresh, steaming piece of legistlation to cover people with pre-existing conditions. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Nobody will be denied coverage. You'll be able to wait until they're wheeling you into the ER before you start paying premiums.  Sort of like purchasing auto insurance rightafteryou have gone ninety miles an hour down a dead-end street.

So, why would any healthy, sane person buy insurance if he cannot be denied for a pre-existing condition? My advice to non-bipolars? Save your money. Only a fool pays for health insurance when he's healthy. Wait until your hospitalized to get coverage. That'll teach those evil insurance companies. Put ‘em right out of business. And put everybody onto Medicare. How high on the list of priorities do you think bipolar will be when there are 300 million people on Medicare?

American citizens will be mandated to purchase insurance under this law. If you think that is a good idea, then I must ask, "What else would you like the government to FORCE you to buy?" And this might be an antiquated notion, but I don't see anything in the U.S. Constitution that permits the federal government todictatethat you purchase anything. I know, it's an ancient document.And the Law of the Land!Still. If you don't like it, there is an amendment process. A process that has nothing to do with the U.S. Congress and President ramming a bill up the opposition of the large majority of Americans who have repeatedly and loudly said that they don't want it. If Obama and Pelosi can break the Constitution, then, when the money runs out, they can break any law that says you must be provided medical and/or psychiatric treatment.

What does this bill mean for doctors? Lower reimbursement rates. What does that mean for us? Fewer doctors. What person in his right mind is going to put himself through the exorbitant time, money, stress, and damn-hard work to become a doctor when he is going to end up getting paid and controlled like a government mule?

Fewer doctors. Millions more on Medicare. Longer lines. Less care. What's a nuclear-melting-down-bipolar to do?

Yeah, this bill is a real triumph. Whatever its flaws, we currently have the best healthcare system in the history of the world. And Obama, Pelosi, and Reid are hoping to change it into France – where you don't have to be bipolar to need an anti-depressant.