Why Rush Health Reform? Let's Fix Insurance First

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In 2003, a young Illinois state senator named Barack Obama told an AFL-CIO meeting, "I am a proponent of a single-payer universal healthcare program." -- Bill Moyers. There is a reason Obama is pushing his agenda, people are simply unaware of his ideology. Everyone has one and the decisions they make reflect it. Funny how a regular guy, Joe the Plummer, picked up on this when all the savants of our time were blinded. The mask comes off eventually.

Cristina of FL 4:38PM July 21, 2009

So it's ok for the price of health insurance premiums to be determined by the buyers age.

Molly of TN 4:09PM July 21, 2009

I really appreciate the point raised in the blog regarding focus on catastrophic medical insurance. What I have always found odd about typical medical insurance plans, is that they cover regular every-day kinds of expenses. My homeowner's insurance doesn't pay for my monthly electric bill, and my car insurance doesn't pay for regular oil changes. So why then must my health insurance pay for primary and preventive care?

Many would argue that if medical insurance doesn't cover primary and preventive care, then people will "scrimp" on these and just not partake. This is akin to saying, "well my car insurance doesn't cover oil changes, so I'm just not going to change my oil." Are people really that stupid? I don't think so.

Andrew of CO 3:30PM July 21, 2009

Another used-to-be-credible medical voice has sold herself lock, stock and barrel to the corporations.

She'd have you believe you can protect yourself medically for less than the price of your cell-phone---a fantasy-land lie.

She'd have everybody in American scrimping on their primary and preventive care, something not advised by any doctor with integrity.

Worst of all, she'd have you off discussing never-can-be silly stuff just long enough for the political window to close on real reform. Sloooooow dowwwwwn, she says, just when you should be sprinting to the decades-late finish line.

No thanks, Dr. Healy. You shot your credibility----for a pocketful of corporate mumbies. How disappointing!!!!!!

Muser of NM 3:06PM July 21, 2009

AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!

It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World.

STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America.

And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health.

Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust government-run public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All).

Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy.

In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES!

If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM! He’s doing a brilliant job.

THIS IS THE BIG ONE!

THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL!

Join the fight.

Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD!

God Bless You

Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS

jacksmith of TX 2:53PM July 21, 2009

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Heart to Heart

Bernadine Healy, M.D., U.S.News & World Report's health editor and author of the magazine's On Health column, is the former head of the National Institutes of Health, the American Red Cross, and the College of Medicine and Public Health at Ohio State University. A cardiologist and author of two books, she spent more than 25 years practicing medicine. In this blog, she covers matters close to her heart, including cardiovascular disease and other important aspects of personal health and health policy.

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