Which health care plan would you most like to see implemented?

I totally agree with the HC supporter, the pharmacutical companys ads cost the people who pay the outragous prices for their drugs. They dont need to advertise , thats what we have doctors for , to prescribe what we need, none of us should go to our doctor and tell them what we want or need.
when we watch those ads and see the side effects, does anyone but me think that may be what is making us sick. Cut out the ads and drop the prices. The greed is monumental.

I agree with you, medical profession perspectives have changed to profits rather than caring of a persons medical condition and the "existing conditions" crap must stop. Most everyone, especially the elderly have "existing conditions" so insurance companies are raking in money and then able to use the "existing conditions" clause to get themselves out of paying while making huge profits. The current health system is a joke in my opinion and for McCain to say he would do to the health system what they did to the financial system on national tv, does not sit well with me and I find it quite disturbing, regulation is a must and we cannot abuse the privileges of power (including deregulation), as we have all learned.

I am not for paying for every Tom Dick, Harry and Nancy's Healthcare. I think the government needs to get out of the welfare business and make people accountable for themselves. It is bad enough that we had to bail out Wall Street to keep this country afloat, Now obama wants the plan to include a bailout for the stupid people who are loosing their homes? If you are making 10$ an hour why on Gods green earth are you buying a 400,000 dollar home? Why are people so stupid? If you could not afford the home why did you try to buy it? And I also hold the banks accountable for that also. They made the bad loans let them choke on the bad loans. obama needs to stop trying to grow government he needs to shrink government. We are spending more than we take in now. You cant add a trillion dollar government run program to the budget. Hell healthcare providers dont take Medicare much anymore and military members have a hard time finding a private doctor that will take their healthcare plan. And obama wants to add another one to the mix? Come on America are you really that stupid and that lazy?

Well Joe...I have never had a fire...so I think I would like to stop having my tax dollars go to the Fire Department. And...I have never been in a tornado or hurricane, flood, or even an earthquake, so I don't think my tax dollars should pay for all the idiots who chose to live near any of those disaster zones. Do you hear yourself? You call yourself an American? "I got mine and the hell with the rest of you"
I got news for you Joe....when you have a fire...it's every Tom, Dick and Nancy that has helped pay for the firefighters to come and save your home. When you are in a flood, earthquake, hurricane, tornado...again...it is every Tom , Dick , and Nancy's tax dollars that have paid for the National Guard to rescue you. It is every Tom , Dick and Nancy's tax dollars that help your town rebuild after a natural disaster. Your car insurance premium pays for every Tom Dick and Nancy's accident....as they pay for yours. Wake up...this is called a Democracy. Take a close look at your money....E pluribus unum is Latin for "Out of Many, One."

Thank you for pointing this out to Joe.

Yes Jody....thanks for making this point. Could not have said it better.

John McCain on health care from this months Contingencies magazine article written just "before" he was aware of the crash and bailout of the banking system due to lack of regulation.....

"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would
provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by
the worst excesses of state-based regulation."

How's the removal of the "burdensome" banking "regulations" working for you?
And we want to do the same with healthcare?........

Nuff said...

Bravo Jody.

Unfortunately, too many people have Joe's selfish attitude. Perhaps when he is ready to retire he should be denied social security since every Tom, Dick, Harry and Nancy still working will be paying for it. Perhaps he should not send his children to school, slnce they pay for that, too.

Yes, it would be great if everyone could buy their own health insurance, but it is priced far out of reach of any one without benefits through their job, and as prices rise many small employers are dropping those benefits. Joe, do you have $1,000 a month to pay for insurance? I doubt it, but that is how much it costs for an individual here in NY state.

Well stated and Thanks Jody. Joe I will pray for you and your apparent apathy for your fellow Americans.

My husband and I make under $100k a year combined. I have health insurance through my employer paid completely by my employer. I am so blessed. I am not in the bracket to have my taxes raised under Obama's plan but if it would help us become a healthier country and contribute to the common good I would welcome an increase.

Obama clearly means to help our country. John McCain is not a bad person - he just doesn't get it. Sarah Palin - hypocrisy at it max. No abortions even for rape and incest - yet she doesn't support healthcare for children - you can profess to be a Christian all you want to - but if your actions don't match - then it is just words.

Oh and for the record - I am a white, Female Independent. This is one white woman who won't vote for McCain/Palin.

Jody-528809: Well said! I really get sick of Republicans spouting out that same, tired old "tax and spend Liberals" baloney when their own candidate has admitted on more than one occasion that he will raise the tax on every single person who is currently employed and receiving health care!

Clearly, privatized, unregulated health care is a total bust (just ask the 46 million Americans who can't afford to buy it). Things have become so dire that there's only one way to go from here. Americans need to stop fearing new approaches and new ideas, the very things that made this country great...and realize that real and radical change (and not just the label of "change" that McCain has hijacked from the Obama campaign) is our only hope.

Specifics from the McCain camp have been conspicuous in their absence through this whole campaign. Republicans, and posters in forums like this who are apparently Republican, have yet to cite one single credible reason why it makes any sense to keep the current status quo, regarding health care...or anything else. All I've heard is vague generalities about "fixing the problems," and the usual Blame Game: "It's all because of Obama" or "the Liberals," or "the left-wing MSM," on and on ad nauseum.

I guess this makes sense, considering the dismal failure of the Bush Administration on virtually all fronts. To distance onesself from a President with whom one has voted nearly 100% of the time, and pay lip service, at least, to the concept of "change," without any clear idea of what that means or how to implement, is probably the only way left open to them.

Hey, I can give you specific reasons why Obama's plan is ridiculous and obsurd. What do you think is going to happen when we have a Universal Healthcare system like the one he is proposing? I will tell you. It is the same thing that has happened in other countries with the same thing. First of all, do you think really good doctors are going to want to go to medical school, run up more loans than virtually anyone else in order to be told that they can only charge minimum amounts for their services? No, I do not think so. Do you understand that people that have a Universal Healthcare system in other countries come to THIS country to get medical help because (even though it is flawed), we do have the best in the world.

Also, how does Obama propose to pay for this? By taxing small businesses that are the backbone of this country of course. I wonder if there is a liberal in this country that owns a small business. I own a small company. I am already taxed to the limit. With the economy now, we have no room for tax increases. If his plan is implemented, I forsee that there will be many more small business failures...especially if we are forced to pay for health insurance. I only have 4 employees, but things are so tight right now that I would be out of business to do this without any tax breaks (as McCain is proposing). I am actually shocked at how ignorant some of you are. Take a economics class. If this guy is elected president, be prepared to have the quality of our healthcare plummit.

Cheers

Hey Crystal sorry about your small business and how tough things are for you ! ? However the AMA and medical industry is general is as corrupt as the republican party. We all know how well the policies of the last 8 years have gone and there would be little if ANY change with McMummy/Mommie. I'm sorry that you have no empathy for many of us who do NOT have any health care or can't afford medical costs even if we do. Most of us have come to expect that self centered, self righteous, approach from the repug party and it's supporters.

I don't believe the doctors would flee in droves as you suggest. I'm ready to pay a little more if it can help others obtain health care. I'm OK with socialized medicine as I really have very little say as to which doctor I can go to. Not taking new patients, out of plan doctors cost are sky high, etc and the service is adequate at best.

I'm one of the 46 million who is under-insured. Is that my fault or that of my employer? Hmmmm...I'm just not sure. Let's see...I CAN'T afford the high prices that private insurance companies charge. And then, let's see, I CAN'T afford the deductibles, co-pays, still high, out of sight, costs that are charged by the medical industry.

My Mom just has surgery. Luckily, she has good insurance. Over $10,000 was written off by the insurance company. Now, let's see. Since I don't have insurance, I would have been charged that $10,000 dollars. How is that fair? Can any of you write a $10,000 check to a hospital today? I sure can't. Not today and not tomorrow! And let's see, I don't live in a $400,000 home and I don't live on welfare. I work. I pay taxes. But now it's a choice of getting sick and putting dinner on the table.

Something MUST be done and McCain/Palin just aren't going to do it for us. Let's see, how many are really going to spend that rebate on insurance in April each year. Suddenly you have an extra $2000....you're going to spend on the real stuff! So then the problem continues.

Let's have a plan that works and benefits everyone! Not just a few!

I agree...know why the very same drugs made by the very same drug companies are cheaper in Canada than they are in the US? Because the Canadian Government negotiates the drug prices and won't pay for the tv ads! Hmmmm...

YOU SAID IT -- the pharmacuetical companies are (with the oil companies) the new robber barons!

We 'socialize' education why not health care -- why not the basics

and for those people who say we'll have to wait so long etc -- I have to wait right now over two months to see an ENT specialist -- are you kidding me! and i can't get my presceiptions unless and until the health insurer feels like giving them to me.....

i love Obama's plan to eliminate tax subsidies to the health insurance companies and to make them actually provide health insurance!!!

OBAMA / BIDEN '08

Joe people like you would be happier in a dictatorship and if you manage to elect Chaos McCain & 6-Pack Abuse-of-Power Palin you will certainly get your wish!

Trust me LS "Joe" the anti-american can't afford that stuff either -- he just never got sick yet or had to choose between health care and food .... etc. -- wait until someone in his family actually has to use the worthless health insurance he has, or until he has to provide his own health insurance or buy prescriptions......

It's insane that in america most of us can't get the health care we need EVEN THOSE OF US THAT HAVE INSURANCE

how is that being free? free to work at jobs we hate for the health care insurance and hope we don't get sick or need an MRI or anything alternative because we wil l never have the time to fight with the insurance company for approval because we work ... and the insurers know that we work and can't fight their denials...

ever heard of someone fighting with insurance companies from their hospital bed? certainly you have

and joe you are ok with that?

joe you are the hate-filled misguided base that Chaos McCain and Palin the Axis of Evil appeal to

McCain / Palin believe Americans are stupid and evil

Obama believes Americans are intelligent and good

I truly hope Obama is right

OBAMA / BIDEN '08

You should get YOUR head out of your a**. Health care that covers EVERYBODY in the same pool with the same prices won't hurt small business. What hurts small business is not having a larger "pool" to share the risk with. THAT is why big business gets such a cheap rate and small business gets the shaft. If health care "risk" is from the same pool for EVERYBODY there would not be the premium discrepancy from large businesses to small businesses.

For instance, in the company I work for, the employee premium for the "family" plan is $1089 per month because our company has had 3 or 4 big medical claims in the last 5 years. But, because we have not had another "big medical claim" recently, we got a reduction this year and it is now $976 per month. My monthly gross is $1700. After I pay for health insurance and taxes I don't have much left when I pay my $600 mortgage payment! I also get paid only once per month. The insurer is Blue Cross/Blue Shield. And John McCain wants to tax me on the $976 that I can't afford already? Guess I'll be looking at foreclosure sometime next year if McCain/Palin are elected.

Large businesses, that are self-insured, can avoid all of the state mandates, and tailor a plan to meet their needs / budget. That is largely why their rates are lower. Small businesses have to offer plans that provide for everything their state requires due to mandates.

Insurance rates are never going to back to $75 a month for a $150 deductible plan. We, the consumer, demand too much in the way of technology, pharmaceuticals, compensation when something goes wrong, etc. to ever be able to go back to those days.

Eliminating insurance agents will make life hard on those will claim problems. Most agents work hard to help their clients save money and make sure claims are paid appropriately. I can get in touch with my insurance agent on one, quick phone call. Ever try to call a government agency?

Eliminating insurance carriers will save their administrative expense one time - and only one time.

Then what?

Have you ever asked medical professionals you know if they are going to be happy working for the government?

If I may quote Pogo, "I have met the enemy, and it is us."

I am a business owner.

I started this journey (the election) thinking that universal healthcare was to big a task to tackle, and to big of a burden to bare for the US.

None the less, I started to do research because I was also in the middle of renegotiating our company healthcare insurance with the provider, and have faced an increase in cost that totals 300% in just under 6 years (including the just negotiated increase). I also live very close to Canada, and hear them talking about their healthcare system, and how we are "insane" to have ours the way we do. To be sure, nobody is thrilled with any healthcare, but to the person, they tell me constantly that their system works much better than ours

So, I started researching what Canada does, what we do, what the rest of the 1st world does, and what I found, astounded me and blew out my preconceptions:

Did you know that the US pays more for health care than anywhere in the world?
Did you know that in spite of our high cost, we are ranked 74th in quality (just above Slovenia)
Did you know that ALL of the other 1st world countries have universal healthcare?
Did you know that the people in these countries live longer than we do? (proof in the pudding)

Boy I didn't....

As it turns out... Universal healthcare is actually CHEAPER than the way we do it now.. and has BETTER QUALITY than the way we do it now. It also has LESS RISK for small businesses like mine, as our insurance won't skyrocket based on a catastrophic illness of one or two employees (something that actually happened to our business).

I know it is counterintuative. It was for me to. But please, do as I did and look at the data. Do a little research. I am reasonably sure you will find the same thing I did. What finally dawned on me is that the other countries aren't doing this to be nicer.... They are doing this because it is a "strategic advantage" and that it is just good business for their countries, when competing against the rest of the world.....

I did allot.. of research, and their are sites out there (mostly insurance company and doctor group backed groups in the US) with an agenda to keep things the way they are. I have seen many of them, and they take great joy in producing whatever they can against universal healthcare because they will make less money.... I have seen them, but also understand they have an agenda.

There are sites though without an agenda...

www who org (World Health Organization)
Has all the factual statistical data (in detail) of healthcare cost and quality (per country)

www wikipedia com: Search universal healthcare.
They have complete breakdowns, history, variations, etc. per country. Pay special attention to Canada. I believe they are the best correlation to the US both because of the country/economy/people, and because of the system that is being proposed (universal insurance) is very similar to the universal healthcare proposal on the table fro Obama.

I am sure there are other sites, but these are good "independent" sources of info

Do the research before deciding what you think... Especially if you own a small business. Research for yourself before you listen to anyone (including me). Do it... You will be surprised...

We had a balanced budget and a surplus until the Repulicans took office 8 years ago and got use into a wars that should have never been. deregualted the banks( thank you Mr Reagone!) talk about greed and you have an issue with health care, guess what they are regualting the banks and invetsment commuinty agian since they can not act in a reasonable way... eight is enough!

Nice retort..

My head is not up my @@s by the way. But thats awefully nice of ya. So much for civility.

You have no idea what I have read and what I know.

All I'm proposing is that we get this country back on a path to a growing economy, get back to a balanced budget, display some fiscal responsibility in the wake of a 7000 bailout.

I'm not the one that needs to read here.. Where did you miss that I'm not all for it. IF we can save money by doing it then I say full steam ahead but lets not create another government beacracy that wastes a lot of money.

If we had nationalized/universal health care, small businesses could thrive much better than they do now. If they didn't have to worry about providing health care for their employees (or even if they did, but for a very nominal premium/fee), they could expand by hiring even more employees. And many more small businesses in the concept stages could start up, actually hiring several employees right at the beginning rather than holding off or not even getting off the ground because of the high start up costs. Health insurance premiums are a major cost concern for those small business entrepreneurs, among others. I realize that there are many other expenses/obstacles to starting/running a small business, but no, or very low premiums could help offset those other costs.

The insurance companies rule the world. Instead of insuring risk they take your money then manipulate everything so they don't have to pay when its time. Not only health insurance but all forms of business insurance are too expensive and too limited as to what circumstances they will pay for. The only people that are exposed to any risk these days is the people that work for a living. Everyone else seems to be able to hedge it away or call their friendly congressperson and have some laws changed to mitigate the risk to them. Do you even realize how much insurance companies shape the world you live in? Try and put on an event or open a business and you'll find out. The insurance companies and others also function as a gate keeper to the world of business. You can't just start up a company on a wing and a prayer and make it go with hard work. You have to have the required 'entry' fee of insurance costs, govt fees taxes and other crap and join the right groups CofC etc. Basically get roped into all kinds of things that separate you from your hard earned money. Some call it cost of doing business. I call it an entry fee. Another way to limit competition which is what this country was built on.

I don't think the question asked which was more affordable. It asked which plan was the best. And since it's under a Repube president who has had a HUGE hand in getting us into this financial tragedy, I don't expect to hear any more from "conservatives" about expensive programs, at least the programs aim to help the average American who are hurting rather than the average CEO who is hurting average Americans!

I digress...

Health care isn't my forte, but I do know that as a single parent of a 4 year old/full-time student/volunteer, there aren't alot of comprehensive nor affordable health care plans available to me and my son. I have heard a lot of good things about nationalized health-care from articles and friends who live in Europe, but I am also of the mind frame that our government run programs can be some of the poorest managed and most neglected of all programs out there.

Obama's plan to his defense/detriment is not nationalized. I don't believe health care should be such a hassle. People shouldn't have to be under 30 & 100% healthy in order to receive good coverage. I think employers should have to pay for health care, because they are making their money based on whether the employee performs well, thus they should help to ensure the worker is healthy enough to perform well.

Brett has it right. Do we really want to change a system that satisfies 85% of the population to accommodate the remaining 15%? And it may be less than that once you subtract out illegal aliens. My guess is we need some change, but having spent much time in both Europe and Canada - definitely not systems we want. Remember in Canada if you earn 50k per year you are in the 52% tax bracket! Their health care is far from free. And the educated eye will see that it is not very good.

What I don't get is how my insurance premium (paid partly by my husband's employer and the rest by us, almost $1000/mo) keeps going up along with my copays and yet my limits and coverage decreases each year? You would think that a Fortune 250 company with THOUSANDS of employees would be getting a really great rate!

There's probably a backdoor bonus to the CEO, which we seem to get a new one every couple years as the old one is walking out the door with million$$ retirement package, perks (houses, cars, etc) and a pension for only having worked 3 years with the company. Eh, don't get me started....

Either plan will allow the government to decide who gets treatment. Those deemed not worth it will not receive treatment. Human life will be a commodity.

chipgiii where is this illusory 85% of the people you are talking about?

I have insurance (Oxford) and I am very very very dissatisfied -- I am certainly not in some disgruntled minority on that!

where did you get that ridiculous 'satisifed' so called statistic from?

MMM you are confused the plans are not for the government to take over health care insurance

Obama however does plan to make health care insurance companies actually provide health care insurance which would be nice

You are currently not taxed on your health care benefits as you stated in comment. Your health insurance premiums are taken out of your paycheck on a pre-tax basis. Maybe you do not realize the cost that employers incur on behalf of their employees to offer them health insurance. All employees at small businesses already pay a huge premium because they don't have the negotiateing power that larger companies do. I don't think Senator Obama's plan will bring the cost down. It will bring about a whole new slew of problems that socialized health care can cause.

unfortuanly plymouth you do not understand the plans either -- not that they are easy to understand

but Obama's plan is far from socialized health care -- it is a step in the right direction but it is not universal health care -- unfortunatley not yet

if you are so anti-socialism i trust you went to private school and send your kids to private school and your entire extended family only attends private schools b/c you will not take part in american's socialized educational system

You got it, Mike. Well put

What I noticed/learned between the two candidates this past week was that McCain seems to have a "trigger-finger" when it comes to how he would act and react in crisis; spouting out and then having to back peddle. He came across as nervous and panicky and for some strange reason immediately pointed the finger at Obama instead of being mature and intelligent when addressing the people. "Passing the Buck" is not leadership, addressing it is...and I say this as a profiler.

Obama on the other hand, was collected, organized, calm, optimistic, and confident, characteristics to look for in a true leader.

Obama also couldn't give an answer. He is nothing without his speech writers and teleprompters. Also, what do you mean he doesn't pass the buck. I was watching him stumping last week and all he could do was blame McCain. Not once did he put the blame where it should lie, on congress (democrat majority).

If I remember correctly contesa, Obama in his speech said that "everyone needs to pull together and work together" and he proposed six elements and gave an exceptional answer. Further, it was McCain who kept looking DOWN at his speech, not Obama and many professionals will tell you this. In "passing the buck" McCain was blaming everyone including Obama when it is not time to place blame, but to pull together. THIS IS LEADERSHIP whether reading from teleprompters, cards or speechs, this is what they do and I am sure that you can get up there and do any better than Obama because you are speaking from experience? Please spare the crap. Last week all McCain did was eat his words and put his foot in his mouth. Which is why the polls are rising in Obama's favor.

Thank you so much for setting Contesa straight!!! When "low information" voters like her parrot that kinda of stuff, you wonder how they handle their own lives!??!?! I cannot believe that people like that would rather go through another bout (4 yrs.) of lies, and deceit, instead of voting for change!!! McCain has for the last 20 years been a de-regulator and has surronded himself with the same people that brought down wall street!!! Can you say KEATING 5!!!!

McCain had over 20+ years to make a change and chose not to and in my humble opinion he reminds me of story of "The boy who cried wolf," yes?

So corporate welfare is better for you? Might I remind you who got us in this mess? That's right ..the idiot you voted for. I see you are okay with the Government giving $700 billion of your tax dollars to the corporations, to which the CEO walked away with $20 million, but really not okay with helping your neighbors who might be losing their home because their kid got sick and their healthcare premiums got so expensive that they had to file bankruptcy. Hmmm

Joe,

It amazes me that -- after the past decade of Republican idiocracy -- there are still a cadre of benighted fools who blindly attack those who are trying to rescue America from the brink of doom.

Assuming the flawed e-voting process doesn't allow McCain/Palin to steal the Whitehouse (as W did twice), you will lose the election and yet win a president -- Obama -- who will make healthcare affordable, even for the intellectually bankrupt.

Excellent views. I am in total agreement. No more welfare, No more government internvention in our lives and no universal health care.

Good Idea. So let's also stop all company health benefits (as McCain wants), also tax all medical care provided by insurance (as McCain advocates), and leave the premium setting to insurance and pharmaceutical companies in unregulated ways. We have seen how that works.

Of course, we should also do away with the armed forces as they invade our lives with high taxes to pay for them, by paying soldiers on the federal payroll, and by requiring expensive building maintenance throughout the US.

Great ideas, thank you.

Nice spelling and you call Nancy Pelosi an idiot?

I work in the health care industry and can understand the frustrated comments about not wanting to pay for other people's health insurance. However, I pose these questions:

What about uninsured children? Now we can have an argument about their parents' responsibility, but what about the immediate? Allow the children to simply not receive health care?

What about hard working employees whose employers disbands with health benefits? People with pre-existing conditions, like diabetes or asthma, will very likely be turned down for independent insurance coverage? It matters not that they have the money, they are what is considered uninsurable. They would have to find a new job to receive benefits (not always easy and quick in this market). What happens to them, no health coverage?

Again, I can understand the frustration that many have, that "I work hard, I pay my taxes, I shelter my children…why should my taxes pay for health coverage for some lazy guy." But you have to realize that that tends not to be the majority of the under or un-insured. It is children. People with pre-existing conditions.

Not to mention, all these people who are under or un-insured. Guess up what happens when they don't have health insurance? They end up at the hospital emergency room, generally in much worse and more expensive conditions then they would have been had they received preventative care. And guess who pays for those emergency room visits….the taxpayer.

Something to think about……………

Tell me Bonnie... what's better for America's uninsured children... remaining uninsured or being on a Universal coverage plan that includes preventative care, check ups, shots, doctor visits without having to go to the ER...

What's better for our kids, Bonnie?

Bonnie, we have medicare and medicaid? Tricare for active duty, so please don't tell me we don't have government paying for medical care. What waiting list? and what gov telling you what treatment y ou get? That not true. I am originally from Europe. Healthcare system is much better. You can ask me and I am going to tell you that you bullsh*t. Remember right now your insurance telling what treatment you get, not your doctor. if you don't believe me try it getting something that doctor wants you to get and insurance says oh its not covered. get facts. What mccain got? no plan.

Well well Bonnie...tell me..have you been to Canada? Have you actually talked to a Canadian about healthcare? I thought not. No ...you too have had a drink of the Republican kool-aid and just keep repeating the same stupid lines. Well..I lived in Canada for 35 years. Had lots of surgeries, broken bones, some of my family members have all had at some point a bout of cancer related illness. The one thing I can tell you...and you did say...ask a Canadian...is that...not me...or anyone I know...have every waited for treatment or ever got a bill. We went to any doctor...any clinic..any hospital.
You know what the Republicans are really scared about if Universal Healthcare comes to be?
The cash cow from the HMOs would be over. If the HMOs can't keep charging what they want, the Repubs won't keep getting their big money for keeping them there. So, they keep trying to convince you that the care would be bad so you won't want it. Universal healthcare would be simular to car insurance...everyone pays for everyone...which makes it cheaper.

Oh and by the way..Canadians live longer than Americans....but that must be the cold weather...couldn't be the healthcare!

Bonnie,

you have been fed the propaganda of the Fat cCats who profit from present system!

But don't feel bad! Most American people are scared to death of the word "socialist", or universal health care! They never question who feds them this lie!They just swallow it. Have you been in other civilized countries of Europe, Japan, New Zeland? Those people know what they got, and they would never trade places with Americans! Never! And they are not a bunch of freeloaders. Their people are productive, and their standards of living above ours.

It would help for you to study the facts!

We are going through health problems and insurance right now and let me tell ya, Why we cannot learn from these other country's on this is beyond me. My husband works every day and the taxes they take out on him is unreal! And we are finding out that one hospital stay can ruin you and then the threats from the hospitals and doctors are horrible. We have insurance and we pay a little over 400.00 a month for it and while they sit back and go over everything in there sweet ole time we are being threatened by the hospital and doctors. We have a huge deductible also. We are very lucky that we have insurance, but the company that he works for , every year they take more from us because they don't want to offer insurance. I think that the government should do some thing for the people of this country and help them when it comes to health care. It works for other country's so why can't it work here? And just because I am saying this does not mean I am a free loader and want some one else to pay my bills. Our government is to free to spend our tax dollars where ever they see fit and the American people has no say!

JoJo,

Your story is so much like many others.

People, hard working people are suffering, and being burdened beyond measure! This should have never been allowed to happen! Our government has failed to enforce rules that are just and fair to protect it's people.It is a national tragedy and shame, and whole world sees the hypocrisy of our greed and corruption driven system. God help us all.

I believe the blood of many people are going to be on the hands of those in power who turn their eyes away and pretend this evil is not happening. And they do it just so they would appease those for whose interests they pass those corrupt laws to give them power to leach and rob the people of this country.

I have never seen such injustice an hypocrisy in my life! And to think taht so many who call themselves Christians endorse this kind of injustice, is appalling! It throws mud on true Christianity! But, o boy, will there be some surprises!

Universal health care the way you describe it is not much different than an HMO that many of us with no other choices have now, except that we pay out the a@@ in premiums each month. I doubt if our out-of-pocket costs would be equal to or any higher with universal -- probably much less. Why don't you pull your head out and do some real research.

I am an American who has been living in Canada for more than twenty years. While the health care system here is far from perfect, it is FAR better than in the united States! Indeed, even my parents who have always lived in the United States would prefer the system up here over the one there. And though I sometimes consider moving back, the health care system there is one of the first things that keeps me in Canada.
I can choose my own doctor, hospital, or clinic - no HMO limits my choice. We never saw a bill for the delivery of our children, for their immunizations, for any hospital or doctor visits. The quality of care we receive here is every bit as good as in the U.S. The biggest problem that I have seen here is that for some tests or procedures there is a waiting list. HOWEVER, if there is a need to have a test or procedure done sooner, the patient does receive that care immediately. THERE IS NEVER A BILL! We do pay monthly premiums, often deducted from our paychecks, but it is very reasonable, about $88.00 a month for a family of four! We may choose to augment this coverage, (for private or semi private rooms, etc.), with other insurance companies at a reasonable cost. (Ours is $41.00 a month). Of course, cosmetic surgery and dental plans are not covered. Other insurance is required for that. Another problem here is the shortage of doctors and nurses. Some doctors and nurses have moved to the U.S. for higher pay. This is an illustration of what I see as the root of the problem with health care, (and the economy, etc.), GREED. Simply put, the health care system in the U.S. is corrupted by greed. Is this necessary? No one benefits but the hospitals, doctors, insurance and pharmaceutical companies! Everyone else suffers - and suffers again. Regulation of the entire health care INDUSTRY is essential. Look what deregulation has done already! Are you better off?

Greg,

it seems that you're the one who needs to pull your head out and get informed. You've been fed the present system's propaganda so you don't have the true picture of what is out there in the other civilized world. America can not go on the way it's been going. The lack of regulations have proven to be disastrous for this country.

What the heck do we even have government for if they won't enforce rules that benefit the people of the country? All they have done till now it's always for the benefit of the corporations, in this case for insurance and pharmaceutical companies, while American people are dying for the lack of the care they as human beings should not be denied.

Australia even has a health care program for all! I have a friend there and says that it is a great program and she even asked why we don't have something like that here. And my mother pays more then half her SS check towards medicine, and there has been a time or two where she has had to refuse treatment because of cost. The elderly cannot even get there teeth fixed or eye care on there plan. Sad. Our gov is not here for the people they only look out for their own interest and our country is going down the tubes and they are taking our taxes with them.

It would replace Medicare....Universal Healthcare would be the same as medicare....but cheaper...and for everyone.

What, and pay for all of the illegals and unemployed? Not with my tax dollars. You obviously don't pay much in taxes or you would see things differently. You must be one of those people who waits for the Obama-like handouts . . .

I am right there with you in your figures, so you are not the only one and I am a single mom with four children getting no financial assistance from anyone including no child support...my 17 year old daughter who will be 18 next month has cancer now and there is no health insurance available for her...NONE. She cannot get assistance, is not covered under mine and for millions of individuals like her, this is really a bad situation.

:( I am sorry for your daughter's illness.

Nothing to do with politcs, but as a caregiver for my mom who had cancer, please PLEASE make use of the American Cancer Society as they are chock full of referrals. Additionally, my mother had no insurance as the small business she worked 35 years for simply couldn't afford it. The medicine she took for her cancer was $2,500 P/MONTH. I was able to get her enrolled in a patient assistance program through the pharmaceutical company and she was able to get the medication for free.

Please look into this!

I wish you and your daughter the best.

Blessings,
Melissa

THANK YOU so very much for the info and blessings Melissa! I love this site for this reason and it is my belief to find one thing every day that I didn't know in the morning when I woke up! Thanks so very much again! ;o)

I hear you.

The input from both of you (as well as Jody) is much appreciated, thanks for the insight and maksim, you gave me my morning laugh!! Definitely a good one you came up with above! ;o)

Although the pharma industries and malpractice ins/suits do play a role in the skyrocketing costs of healthcare they are not the sole reasons. The reasons are complex and I'll add just a few for you all to consider. Yes, drugs cost a lot, and malpractice insurance costs alot. But there are other driving forces, and until they are addressed the problem will keep getting worse. In the current system, competition and technology advances actually drive costs up because each entity needs to attract and keep "consumers" (not patients anymore). They have to advertise; they have to have the latest and greatest technologies even if those technologies don't really change outcomes much, if at all. For example, in my mid sized community of about 150,000 people there are 4 hospitals. All of them have MRI's and CT scanners, in addition to independent MRI centers. Each hospital is trying to "specialize" in the same things and very expensive services are duplicated thereby increasing costs. This does not actually benefit the consumer.

Then there is the issue of tertiary care vs. prevention and treatment of chronic illness. Here in the U.S we won't pay for healthcare visits for prevention and treatment of hypertension, but once you need a pacemaker for congestive heartfailure because of your untreated hypertension we'll take of that. It is backward here. People need to have access to primary PREVENTATIVE healthcare. BASIC HEALTHCARE for EVERYONE. That is what we need. That is what will decrease costs. And of course we need to cover those with catastrophic illnesses as well. I don't know anyone personally who could pay for a heart transplant for their child and still make ends meet.

What govt. regulations are you talking about? It is because of lack of the regulations on greedy insurance& pharmaceutical companies that peoples' premiums are going higher and higher. Have they not been given a free hand in doing whatever they want? And as far as lawsuits go: yes, there should be laws against frivolouus lawsuits, but when a person is messed up for life, they should get fair amount to compensate for all the years work of will be lost due to their disability. All you need to do is to look and see who is ending up with the spoil, and there is your problem. In other western countries they don't have the corporate mafia like we have here, witrh all the power given to them to do as they please!

Democrats naive? I do not know if you have noticed yet or not but we are in the middle of an economic meltdown ALREADY and it is because of a Republican who has been in the office for 8 years with no leadership skills that I certainly never voted for either time. He has further destroyed the middle class, made the poor poorer and destroyed our countries surplus with little interest in "the people." I am an investigator, and also work for the government and have researched this thoroughly, perhaps you should as there are those like maksim and Ross here who come from another country and "get it"...reading these blogs I can see how the United States is so very behind when it comes to education, unbelievable.

All the facts are on Obama's web site. Check it out if you really want the answers.

Well, Contesa, if McCain has his way, we'll be in Iraq indefinitely...guess how much that costs this country each and every day. Don't hear you complaining about that.

He'll get it by enacting regulations which will force wealthy people with your mindset to pay their fare share in taxes like the rest of us workin stiffs have to.

We are currently spending enough in Iraq each day to cover most of the health care needs in this country.

The enlightened governor of Illinois has expanded medicaid to almost everybody in Illinois, unfortunately it is breaking the budget, people cant get service because the state is months behind paying their bills. State run health care is bankrupting the state and the providers who still accept patients. How do i know? I am one of the providers who still accept the plan and it is putting enormous stress on my practice. Here's the real irony, I am a conservative who feels it is my duty to help people. While our politicians who do very little out of their own pocket plunder our country for their own gain.

Every state's budget is busting Carlos because of the "trickle down domino-affect" coming from Wall Street and Washington, it is not just Illinois or the governor's plan that is the sole reason for the state's budget issues.

Thanks for enlightening me but prior to the tremendous expansion of benefits we had a much more manageable program, somewhere along somebody has to pay and it will be each one of us, who pay taxes.

No, here in Alaska, we're doing just fine. Just got our Permanent Fund Checks will an additional $1200 to help on this winter's heating costs. Yep, the rich state of Alaska, the one that has given Sarah Palin such a knowledgeable view into the country's economy. Of course she WAS popular up here. What's not to like when you open your mailbox and find a check for $3200?! Please America, Wake up!

Right on Carlos
Any time the government decides to "help" us--Well we better be careful. They do not have a very good track record right now on programs they have implemented.
And the idea of blaming Bush and the Republicans for all the mess we are in---Which party has been in control the last 2 years? And they promised us things would be different than when Republicans were in. It's just more of the same.
Until we get all those greedy congressmen out, we will just have more of the same.
Also where in the constitution does it say health care is a right??
We are in this mess partly because too many people think they have a "RIGHT" to anything they desire.

Who is going to bail out the government when it over commits itself to providing benefits (as they already have), the taxpayers of course!