Lets get this board hopping gang...
what are your thoughts here? share the good, the bad and suggestions for change...If we dont use our voice on this NOTHING will change....
Alan, where are you?
Posted at Thu Jan 31 2008 04:42 PM
I have a question for everyone: In your opinion, which Presidential candidate would be the best for the job in terms of health care?
Posted at Fri Feb 01 2008 01:25 AM
It's quite apparent to me (especially after viewing the Republican and Democratic debates this week), that the only candidate who has a plan to cover ALL U.S. citizens with health insurance, is Hillary Clinton.Over the past several years, I have written to both of my U.S. Senators (The Honorable Carl Levin (D), and The Honorable Debbie Stabenow (D), and my Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives (The Honorable Vern Ehlers (R), regarding the lack of health insurance for millions of Americans. My Republican Representative has NEVER responded, while both of my Democratic Senators have written, and agree that EVERY U.S. citizen should be covered with health insurance. They also have mentioned that as long as a person's health insurance is linked to their employment, the system will NEVER work! I couldn't agree more! However, they usually go on to tell me that they could never muster enough votes in the House or the Senate to pass such a measure, and even if they could, the President would never sign the legislation. Instead, he would VETO it! I have also written numerous times to the White House, with no response to date. It is indeed a very frustrating and sad situation - one for which as a country, Americans (in my opinion), should be ashamed!
Posted at Fri Feb 01 2008 07:16 AM
I TOTALLY agree with you, Alan! I too watched the debates, ans believe if we want a Universal Healthcare program, Hillary is the way to go. This is a VERY important issue to me. I AM one of those people without health insurance. I haven't been to a doctor in over 2 years! I don't currently work, and I make "too much money" to qualify for either Medicaid or Fidelis...but, I can't afford to pay out-of-pocket to go to the doctor when I am sick or injured! I WILL be receiving Tricare, the military health insurance for the year that my husband is gone, but that is something I will lose once he comes home. It is horrible when people have to stay sick because they can't afford to pay the doctor!
Posted at Sat Feb 02 2008 10:30 AM
Military health insurance must have changed since I was on active duty. At that time, a service member's entire (immediate) family was covered during the whole enlistment period, not just when in a "hot" spot, like Iraq or Afghanistan. In my time, the "hot" spot was Vietnam.As you said, many people can't afford to visit a doctor, so if they have a problem, it's likely to get worse until they are eventually forced to go to an emergency room, and by then, the costs will go through the roof! Receiving timely medical care in the United States is becoming a system that only the fortunate can use. Instead of health care being a "right", like it is in all other advanced nations, it's a "priviledge" in the United States, that fewer and fewer American citizens are allowed to participate in.
Posted at Mon Feb 04 2008 06:52 AM
You're right...and the way the economy's going, les and less of us are able to afford it.
I myself am supporting Sen. Clinton, just wondering what the general consensus is.
Our community's been raising money for a young boy who has cancer, and his parents need a lot of help with the medical costs. They have some coverage, but what their son needs is overwhelming. I'm also worried about my brother-in-law. He cannot work anymore and if he ever loses his coverage, he will be in big trouble...his medications alone would be thousands of dollars monthly. He is a juvenile diabetic and has all kinds of medical issues because of it.
Posted at Tue Feb 05 2008 02:16 AM
I'm with you 426 - fewer and fewer people are able to afford health insurance, and most Americans who have coverage, could care less about those who do not!Isn't it sad when a family has to "beg" for help from a community when they have a sick son or daughter? They not only must worry about the well-being of their child, but also how they'll pay for the costs of treatment (often, life-saving treatment). ONLY IN AMERICA is this allowed to occur!Years ago, my family had private health insurance that we could afford. Then, I had to have an operation to save my life, and as a result, the insurace company tripled my premium - they knew that I wouldn't be able to afford this, and would therefore drop the coverage. This, in my opinion, should be illegal! I've heard several National legislators say for years they wanted to change this practice, but no one ever quite gets around to doing it!The situation of your brother is very common. Under the current system, there are no good answers - one can only pray that his coverage continues, or that he won't require any expensive medical procedures.It's no wonder that America's infant mortality rate is higher, and the overall life-expentency is lower, than most Western European countries...
Posted at Wed Feb 06 2008 07:14 AM
Presidential Candidates' positions on Health Insurace for U.S. citizens:HILLARY CLINTON: Rollback President Bush's tax cuts for the very wealthy - Coverage will be mandated, and Premiums based on income.BARRACK OBAMA: Rollback President Bush's tax cuts for the very wealthy - Coverage will not be mandated, but made affordable, and encouraged. Insurance for children may be required.JOHN McCAIN: Make President Bush's tax cuts for the very wealthy permanent (in hopes of creating more jobs), with no plan to cover all, or most U.S. citizens with health insurance.The information above was obtained from news reports, candidate websites, and recent press conferences. Details of individual plans may vary over time.
Posted at Mon Feb 18 2008 10:19 PM
are you all watching the debate tonight?
Posted at Wed Feb 27 2008 06:04 AM
I watched the debate Emme, but didn't hear anything new. Clinton still wants to insure everyone by mandate, but hasn't explained how she'll force all U.S. citizens to buy it. Obama also wants to insure all the American people, but will only mandate it for children, which would (according to most experts), leave about 15 million people out. And, McCain has no plan whatsoever to insure anyone - with McCain, Americans will still be on their own, with their health insurance tied to an employer.
Posted at Thu Feb 28 2008 05:30 AM
SO,THIS IS REALLY GOING WELL, ISN'T IT?
Posted at Tue Jun 24 2008 02:28 AM
