On Healthcare, Primary Opponents Differ Less Than Parties Do

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Any national health care proposal that requires people to purchase health care insurance is missing the point. The value of a good health care insurance plan isn't recognized until you need it; much like car and flood insurance.
How long can we ignore the mental helath problem in this country? It is one of the major drains on our current health care system because it is not managed.
A significant issue that is not addressed in any proposal is the cost of drugs. Doctors and nurses will provide free care but we can't get the drugs our patient's need unless we pay for them ourselves. One month of birth control pills is $30. Thats a lot of money for a 15 year old who confides in her doctor that she is sexually active. The co-pay for a Medicare recipient on Remicaid infustions for severe arthritis is $1,700 per infusion.

Judi of MI 7:37AM March 30, 2008

There are differences between the candidates when it comes to mental health and addictions treatment. For those of us living with these conditions or loved ones who are, healthcare is not being addressed unless it includes the whole self. For more information on the candidates' positions on mental health and addictions treatment, see www.wholehealthcampaign.org.

Tammy of DC 3:26PM February 05, 2008

Bottom Line:
Like all of you. I know that health care is the most critical, and important issue facing the American people. Now, and in the coming elections. And like the vast majority of the American people, I want HR 676 (Medicare For All) passed into law NOW! "Single payer, Tax Supported, Not For Profit, True Universal Health Care" free for all as a right. Like every other developed country in the world has. See: http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm
“HR 676:
For church goers: less money to insur. companies and more to the church- lots more.
Srs on Medicare: save way over $100/wk. Because no more medigap, long term care & dental insur. needed. No more drug bills.”
But if we the American people fail to bring enough pressure on our current politicians to get HR 676 passed into law before the elections. We will have to identify, and replace all the politicians standing in the way of passage of HR 676. And, I think the best first place to start is with the politicians that blocked the bipartisan SCHIP bills for the kids. Passed by congress twice.
But what about the President. It was Bush after all that blocked the bipartisan SCHIP bill passed by congress to assure more health coverage for Americas kids. So which of the presidential hopefuls do I think will be most supportive of implementing the demand of the majority of the American people to have HR 676 (Medicare For All) passed into law immediately!
We have some very fine presidential candidates who would make good presidents. But none of the top Presidential candidates directly support HR 676, the only true Universal Health Care plan. So I am supporting Hillary Clinton. She is the only top candidate that has ever actually fought for universal health care before.
I have enormous admiration, and respect for Hillary Clinton. She fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds back in 1993. To prevent this disastrous health care crisis that is now devastating the American people, and America. She fought so hard for the American people that she risk almost completely destroying her husbands presidency. I haven't forgotten her heroic effort. If any Presidential hopeful for universal health care deserves my support, it's her.
Also, if we the American people fail to bring enough pressure on our government to give us HR 676 which we all so desperately need NOW! Then we will need the most skilled politician we can get on our side to broker the best health care plan for the American people that we can get. Though it will be less than we need, and less than we deserve. The politician I think to best do this is Hillary Clinton. The Clinton's are probably the most skilled politicians in American history.
The insurance industry, and medical industry that has been ripping you off, and killing you has given Hillary Clinton so much money because they fear her. They have also given Barack Obama so much money because they fear Hillary Clinton. They think they can manipulate Barack Obama against the best interest of the American people better than they can manipulate Hillary Clinton. There is no race issue with Hillary Clinton. The Clinton's are the poster family for how African Americans want white people to be towards African Americans.
As always, African Americans are suffering, and dieing in this health care crisis at a much higher rate than any other group in America. The last time there was any significant drop in the African American death rate was when Bill Clinton was president.
My fellow Americans, you are dieing needlessly at an astounding rate. In higher numbers than any other people in the developed world. Rich, and poor a like. Insured, and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. And we the American people must stop it. And fix it NOW! Keep Fighting!!! Never! give up hope. There are millions of lives at stake. Bless you all... You are doing great!

jacksmith of CA 12:19AM February 05, 2008

What do you mean persuade young adults to buy health insurance? There isn't a man, woman, or child in this country who doesn't want good health insurance. But, when you're 22 or 23 and still looking for a good job with quality health insurance benefits (increasingly rare nowadays) and just getting financially situated and starting to pay off thousands of dollars in student loans and credit card debt, how on earth are you going to find the money to pay a $2000 or $3000 health insurance premium? Especially when you are in the prime of your life and need only see a clinic for an annual flu shot or pap smear? The only answer is this: make it MUCH cheaper or better yet free. Furthermore, with all the talk about mandated health insurance, there is a big difference between simply having a health insurance plan and having a good health insurance plan. There are still millions of INSURED americans who still don't really have realistic access to affordable health care. Not when you have a several hundred or thousand dollar deductible and the mountain of paperwork waiting on you when you get there, if (and thats a big IF) your treatment gets approved. Single payer may or may not be the answer right now, but it would certainly be much, music simpler for consumers to understand and utilize.

platoc of MO 10:09PM February 04, 2008

I am curious to know - how much has this healthcare issue been considered in terms of the more holistic environment into which it would be slotted. There are clearly economic strains on people at the moment, which an expectation that they will sharpen - so dropping mandatory requirements into that mix - what will it create? Is mandatory cover or some other viable alternative, something to be slowly worked towards as the environmental conditions are stabilized so as to support it without causing undue harm? Also, another question about economic assumptions. It seems to me that the mantra has been, for some time, and continues to be an assumption of companies looking for greater growth and wider and wider and wider profit margins. Was larger and larger profit margins always the wedded belief? Did we ever have a more balanced belief between profit and people - and if we did, how were people doing then - what was their quality of life - not simply financially (debt levels being a big one) but family, emotionally? How skewed was the wealth in the country then? Do we needed to challenge some of the assumptions that have become normative? If we don't challenge some of these assumptions will a parasitic monster be the result that sucks anything worthwhile out of life? I think the world needs to find it's balance again - re-check it's assumptions. In a way - the planet is leading us in the right direction - getting us to think about sustainability within our own boarders. I think this is a direction that will have many many positive consequences.

Jay 5:30PM February 04, 2008