Health Care Debate - Cincinnati, OH

[Meg]

A public option plan is what will keep insurance companies honest. My premiums have jumped so high (to about $17,000 a year)that I had to drop my insurance coverage, at 55 years old, when I needed it most.

[jnickson]

lived in england for a while. it will not work

[LauraSue]

I find it funny that every one is crying about the government being involved in there healthcare program. Until I explain to them that Medicare is a government program. Ignorant that most are not aware of this simple fact!!!

[LauraSue]

Our healthcare systems is one of the largest monopolies going. There are just a handful of companies who set the cost, the acceptance of whom they will pay claims on, and the type of treatments one will receive. They are closly linked to pharmaceutical companies where America's cost are more than 5X's more than Europe and even larger than that by some states. That is why I am not for a state by state option you would still have the same monopoly in charge not really bring ant change to the cost of this issue.
No one gets out alive the only thing you can hope for is not to have any serious medical issue. When you do you will finally be educated on the myth you have been clinging to.
Educate yourself now.

[LarryVT]

The more the state and federal government are involved in the health care system, the higher the cost and lower the service to the consumer. Obama's plan is not about delivering better health care, it is about unionizing the health care industry workers.

[Meg]

The healthcare system in the U.S. is in big touble. It's not working. The greedy insurance companies are mostly at fault. Who should be called on to remedy this massive and complex problem affecting peoples' lives? If not the government, then who? Should we call maybe the PTA?
If I get really sick, I could possibly lose my house, because health care is not cheap. I can't afford to pay $17,000 a year to the health insurance company for premiums, since I only make around $28,000 a year.(self employed) I have shopped around. I have one pre-existing condition, am otherwise healthy. Can't buy insurance at an affordable rate, NOwhere. There are lots of people out there like me. I believe that healthcare should be affordable to all Americans, don't you? What's your solution?

[Anonymous]

Do you remember the old phrase, "If treated early..." ? http://stories.barackobama.com/healthcare... I looked in on the stories for my area. The basic theme is that a small problem went untreated, and eventually turned into a big problem. People who are uninsured, often have treatable symptoms which are indicative of larger problems. "If caught early," many of these cases could've been addressed at a mere fraction of the cost. These people uninsured, will most likely end up defaulting on their hospital debts. That means everyone who follows and seeks care, pays for their care *anyway*. These same people with affordable insurance, would've had their illnesses addressed long before the point at which emergency room care became necessary; and long before ultra-expensive procedures became necessary. For example Instead of a $147,000+ heart transplant and it's associated write-offs, may have only a few thousand dollars worth of doctor visits and drugs regimens under an affordable insurance program they wouldn't have had. Most illnesses and diseases have warning symptoms, symptoms which often for cost reasons, people ignore. Ignored because the costs associated early treatments are themselves exorbitant. Treated early, costs would be cut into a mere fraction.

[bigdogdaddy]

Here we are in a very struggling economy and they just keep trying to make the hole bigger. This plan is not good nor makes any logical sense right now for this country. This plan doesnt save money it just shifts it back to the government to absorb. I understand he wants to make things better, but hey lets slow down and think this thing through for crying out loud. Im about sick of the gov. puttin their hands in everything. All they do is make it worse. I agree insurance is expensive and it sucks to pay those high costs when your one who rarely sees the doctor every year, but there has got to be a better way to deal with this. I pay high costs to cover those who see doctors 24/7 how fare is that. There should be an incentive for those who r healthy. Just like car ins for those who drive safe.

[bigdogdaddy]

Just more money for the gov. to absorb which in the end we all know the tax payers absorb. Ridiculous! Good for Obama, not good for America(the people)

[Ronald]

People are dying!

[Anonymous]

Due to preventative maintenance, I've been able to maintain my car in near perfect health over the past decade. When a problem crops-up, I take care of it before it leads to other problems which only add to the expense. Took care of pulsing brakes by redoing the caliper slide-mounts and machining the rotors. This allowed for even stopping during the Fall & Winter, reducing and possibly preventing situations that might've resulted in a wreck. Vehicle was loosing coolant. Rather than just keep adding coolant I discovered a leaky headgasket issue that would've resulted in totally ruined engine. Overheating can also result in a damaged radiator and other cooling system parts. Replaced knocking tie-rod ends before failure. Replaced knocking steering rack so I could tell when the tie-rod ends are need of replacement. Replaced timing belt instead of waiting until it broke.

This list goes on. I avoid letting issues pile up; addressing them as they come. No expensive towing + rental/cab bills, time off work, etcetera as a result. That list goes on.

But the end result is I am saving tens of thousands in costs associated with additional maintenance, wrecks, insurance and total vehicle replacement.

Believe it or not, health care is very much the same folks...
http://stories.barackobama.com/healthcare...
...the basic theme being, "If caught early..." (see "Anonymous" poster above)

Whether through an emergency room surgery and it's defaulted debts, or early treatment and their relative inexpense under and insurance program, we're going to pay for others' healthcare regardless. But with the planned changes laid out, in the long-run the savings will be substancial. Yes, initial investment will be staggering. But this is nothing that other nations health plans which we've studied, haven't already dealt with.

[Tmade]

Even the gov'ts financial experts are saying that this plan will INCREASE the cost of healthcare to everyone...not reduce it.

[UBE]

The gov't themselves, medicare, has had the most denied claims of any insurance. CBO says it will actually increase the costs rather than decrease and put an unfair tax burden on the already strapped middle class

[trainmanw]

we have a mess now and we new something better

[jmullinix]

toomuch gov telling us when what and how.

[jmullinix]

too much govnment.. tell arent taking it wonder why?

[Ken Francis]

When it came to abortion, Obama said he government should not be making that decision for women, but now he wants to make ALL health-care decisions for Americans, even saying the elderly shouldn't have it. Hypocrite!

[toots]

Call your congressman and senators saying no. athough they do what the administration tells them You think this is bad watch out for cap and trade. another way to put people under the thumbs of govenment .the price will sky rocket but thats what Obama wants.. more under his say so.. the whole bunch needs to be out . where are the jobs promised they dont care as long as they can eat.

[call to freedom]

Wonder why no news is telling people about the ad Obama is running on the desecration of our American flag,trying to pass health are bill. goes to show how low they can go to pass a bill that the people dont want. I blame the news station for being so scared and afraid to stand up for the men and women that has shed blood for freedom and that flag to fly.. goes to show the disgrace of this administration... call local stations and ask about the hiding of this.

[jonesz]

we need health care for EVERYONE...yes, you too will benefit from health care reform.