Senate Healthcare Bill a Mixed Bag for Consumers

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This is more about government control of our lives. If it was really about cost, the Democratic controlled congress would introduce tort reform, open competition across state lines, allow the people to pick and choose from the private sector the type of options and amount of insurance that they need. Then, you would see cost come down, not up.

Gary P. of TN 4:54PM December 17, 2009

This is ridiculous. I used to be a fan of Joe Lieberman and voted for John McCain in 2008, but no more. Obama is too politically correct and doesn't want to offend Wall Street,the Insurance imndustry or Big Pharma.say take risks. I say, take some risks, pass health care with some risks to adding to the debt. Amerixca has got to put the common good over maximization of profits, which is somthing I learned from "B" School. Put the insurance industry under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, consider getting drugs from outside the U.S., and put all the 47M uninsured under FEHBP. It's time for bold action by Congress and the president. Put the twin impediments of ideology and political correctness in the ash heap. The time to pay down. the debt is when we get prosperous. I'm a Jacksonian democrat when it comes to spending, and the Federal Reseserve must be reined in. Creative thinking must replace political correctness when running government, and I can offer solutions if only Congress and Obama will listen.

Jack Golding of KS 4:53PM December 15, 2009

This is ridiculous. I used to be a fan of Joe Lieberman and voted for John McCain in 2008, but no more. Obama is too politically correct and doesn't want to offend Wall Street,the Insurance imndustry or Big Pharma.say take risks. I say, take some risks, pass health care with some risks to adding to the debt. Amerixca has got to put the common good over maximization of profits, which is somthing I learned from "B" School. Put the insurance industry under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, consider getting drugs from outside the U.S., and put all the 47M uninsured under FEHBP. It's time for bold action by Congress and the president. Put the twin impediments of ideology and political correctness in the ash heap. The time to pay down. the debt is when we get prosperous. I'm a Jacksonian democrat when it comes to spending, and the Federal Reseserve must be reined in. Creative thinking must replace political correctness when running government, and I can offer solutions if only Congress and Obama will listen.

Jack Golding of KS 4:53PM December 15, 2009

Obama doesn't care what's in the ridiculous health care bill as long as it is passed so it can be said that he was able to accomplish health care "reform" in his first year in office. Once more the American people are screwed!

ss of VA 9:59AM December 15, 2009

It is painfully clear that our senators and representatives don't have a clue about the American people and the problems they encounter with health care and just plain everyday living. They are so wrapped in their own little worlds and the monies they receive from special interests groups they can't see the forest or the trees. This bill is loaded with earmarks that probably have nothing positive to do with healthcare. The only answer is for the American voter to get them all out of office and get someone in their who really gives a darn about the people and our country AND who will stand up and be counted.

Pat Flanagan of IL 3:50PM December 14, 2009

Greed is killing our country. Until we enact public financing of elections, very little will change, in health care or anything else our government should do for us.

Ray of CA 2:24PM December 14, 2009

When reviewing why premiums have gone up, you need to think logically how this occurred. Premiums are impacted directly by Medical Service Costs... I was really sick about 9 months ago. I had a fever for 3 days that wouldn't go away and was becoming uncontrollable. I couldn't see my PCP for like 3 weeks, so I decided on a Saturday to go to the Emergency Room at the local hospital. I had PPO insurance. The visit took a total of 18 minutes. They took a chest X-Ray and some doctor asked what was wrong with me. I said I had a fever and a caugh. He said you maybe have pneumonia but the x-ray isn't showing much. He gave me Pneumonia Medication. All in all, that 18 minute visit cost was $1,155!!! The medication cost was about $95.00.
The ridiculous prices of medical services and prescriptions is what is driving healthcare premiums through the roof.
Watching a documentary on French Medicine, a doctor in France was getting paid about 3/4 of what one here gets paid. He pays more taxes than we do here but he still had a nice Audi, a nice big place, and all the nice expensive things that we all want. He said though that in America, Doctor's don't want to live that way. Doctors want 3 Audis. Doctors here want 4 nice houses. Doctors here want a BIG SCREEN TV in every room, including the kitchen and restrooms...
It's nice that these people get paid so much, but how much is really enough.
If we want a public option to pay for medical services, who is really paying? WE ARE... Our tax money is going to cover those expenses... And it's the MIDDLE CLASS TAX Dollars that covers it... Not the wealthy who get away with tons of tax breaks... Not the poor who don't make enough to even provide a meal to their family... It's us, the Middle Class who gets screwed once again...
If we want to really solve the issue of premiums and the cost of insurance, we need to look at the root cause of all these premium increases, and it's Medical Service fees. If we can control the costs that Hospitals charge for services and the amount pharmaceuticals charge for mecication which costs 75% less in other countries... Then we can solve this crisis....
Just by blaming insurers and moving the cost burden over to Middle Class tax payers doesn't clean up this mess where Medical Service fees continue to skyrocket...

THINK4YURSELF of RI 12:57PM December 14, 2009

As a Doctor I suggest MINNCARE is a good working program in Minnesota already subsidized by the Federal government for many years. Expand it to insure anyone regardless of assets at an inexpensive co-op sliding scale group rate as they already do. This is a good working program that needs to be expanded and adopted in all states. Use this as a proven working model!
Strengthen Medicare, care for the elderly! 65 and older. Extended care should be included such as nursing homes, home care etc. The elderly deserve services since they are the people who helped build this country, fought in wars to keep us free and so on. My opinion about abortion should only be in extreme cases.
We need a Strong, Robust, And Single Payer Affordable PUBLIC Non Profit Health Care Option now. Without Mandatory Requirements or Penalties. We need solid Health Care Reform now! It should be available to buy if you need it NOT mandatory to buy or be fined. The protest in Washington should have made that clear.
Thank you

Dr Michael Smith of MN 7:57AM December 14, 2009

Would you be so kind to clarify if the $2200 is annual premium or monthly premium. When you put the facts, it is useful to be clear.

PK of TX 8:59PM December 13, 2009

Conservatives should stop obfuscating the much needed healthcare insurance reform that is needed to allow affordable and good healthcare for everyone! You need to step out of your narrow-minded, self-righteous and health-industry-promoted idealogue and get with the program. When it came to cost and expensiveness you never said boo to the 6 trillion in debt that GWB ran up during an eight year tenure. But 1.2 trillion over 10 years for something as beneficial as a universal health care reform act, which will stop insurance companies from price gouging premiums,is too expenseive in your twisted reasoning? - Get real!
Jack
New York City

Jack of NY 7:25PM December 13, 2009