I don't like it at ALL ! The papers shifting around between MY congress say that I am unworthy of treatment because I have dementia (late in the early stage.) I would like my hubby to decide whether I am to worthy of treatment, not those punks.

Boot them ALL so we can get people who represent American values, value life and personal freedom and who agree to sponse and vote for term limits.

I worked from age 14. More often than not I worked at least the equivalent of 2 jobs. I raised my family and paid my taxes. I paid my taxes rather than investing them in a personal retirement plan because I didn't make enough to do both. Now I look to Medicare and am not yet through my 2 1/2 year waiting period. And I am uninsured. And I get zero healthcare. I will die because I can't afford doctors.

That being said. If there are quote 50 MILLION people without health insurance and congress is "so concerned" - then fix things for those 50 million minus American Citizens and leave the rest of the folks alone. Single Payor is a ruse and it confuses people.

I had great health insurance at one time. It wasn't my right. I had it because I held a job that offered it and paid a large portion of it.

If Single Payor were the real concern here, congress wouldn't be talking about denying healthcare to Americans who are no longer able to "contribute."

There is a trojan horse in congress' plan and I don't want it coming through the door, whatever it is! I don't want my kids paying for it, nor do I want YOUR kids paying for it.

I'm pissed!

hm, interesting answer.

I have such mixed feelings about this whole issue. On the one hand I do not want our government messing around in health care, they can't do anything right so I know they will muck this up beyond all reason given the chance.
On the other hand leaving things to the insurance companies and big pharma is like signing a death warrent for millions of people across this country of all ages but especialy for those of us who are older and will be facing increasing medical proglems as we continue to age.
I think it says something very negative about the United States when we are the ONLY industrialized/western country on the whole freakin planet that does not have some form of health care for all it's citizens. Most of the others have the basic health care and then those who can afford further coverage can also do that but at least everyone knows they can see a doctor when they need to.]
I constantly hear comments about how crappy that socialized health care is but I also have friends living in England, Canada, Austrailia and they are totaly blown away by the fact that I CAN'T see a doctor when I need to without it costing so much it is prohibited becuase I do not have any type medical insurance. I have never heard any of my friends complain about their system of health care but they are shocked by what it costs for even simple things here like having an x-ray taken or the prices of medications.
Fortunatley my husband was disabled and on SSI before his alzneimers developed. Since he is only 56 I could never afford to pay for his medications without his medicare/medicad. His totaly drug cost each month is very close to our total monthly income.

The insurance and pharma companies have been robbing us blind for years, decades maybe even longer. Between denying coverage and charging outragous prices, these companies have gotten rich and fat.

Between my husbands dementia and my diabetes we are in for a really rough ride without some kind of help. Right now I am working 6 days a week just to pay my taxes and insurance premiums. We had to get private, indivual insurance after my huband got laid off from the job he had for 24 years. They fired him 6 months before he would have qualified for insurance benefits after retirement. (hmmmm) Our insurance is very expensive, doesn't cover a lot and has a high deductible. Every 6 months they increase the premium. I figure at this rate I will only be able to afford it for another 3 years. We don't turn 65 for 7 more years.

So Yes, I would like to see a public option for health care. Something is better than nothing and that is what I've got to look forward to. Without health care, the old and sick will just die quicker and the young and healthy won't care until they get sick.

Something must be done to fix the health care mess in the US.
The insurance co's have way too much power in saying what/when
they will cover. My Dr recently just shook her head when Humana
denied me an arthritis drug - saying I needed to use a generic of
another kind. I had used that in the past and it gave me awful digestive problems. AND the prescription drug coverage is very
unsatisfactory. The donut hole is still bankrupting people.
AND -why are these drugs so expensive here - much cheaper in other countries.
It's a mess - from every angle. So much mis-information and radical screamers on both sides.

I would like to know about the current proposals before they are
voted into law. I still don't see how things could be much worse.. especially for low to middle income people.

I do know -
Insurance co's are too much in charge
Dr's and hospitals order way too many tests... over and over
Drug companies are getting filthy rich -

It's a hot topic for sure.

I too have realtives in Canada and my daughter here was ineligible for health insurance for awhile so she was getting her meds from a Canadian pharmacy (legally with her doctors approval) and she was paying 1/3 of what the same drug cost here.

I wish they would present us JUST THE FACTS instead of all the lies and scare tactics so that we could see what the proposal really is. I KNOW I am sick of healt insurances calling the shoots. There has to be a happy medium but unless we get the real propasl how can we decide?

Deb,
I have a neighbor with Asthma who used to live in Mexico and down there he didn't even need to see a doctor for an rx. He knew what med he needed and just went in to the pharmacy and bought it at about a quarter or less the price he has to pay here now AND he didn't need that annual or semi annual visit to the doctor just to get the damn rx renewed.
The medicine was the exact same brand they sell in the states and no one can tell me why it should be something like $5 there and $25+ here. Even living here in Alaska I have friends who go to Arizona or other south western states and then cross over into Mexico and buy their drugs in large supplies to bring home to avoid the expense and that is telling you something if someone can fly from Alaska to Arizona and still save money over going to the local pharmacy. I hear down in the states with many retirees they have regular runs into Mexico for medications and they are buying the same damn thing they get here but saving a fortune by crossing the border. There is something basicaly wrong with that whole picture.