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Grass-roots voices speak up on health care

Full story: Columbus Dispatch

Barbara Nash, president of the Ohio Nurses Association, is glad health-care reform has lawmakers' attention.

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Showing posts 1 - 18 of18

Tommy T

Columbus, OH

Judged:

"As a hospital social worker, Ginnie Vogts said she sees a lot of the people whose insurance companies deny medical services. She's part of a national group called Results, which is pushing for a national health program that includes expanding Medicaid. The central Ohio chapter has 15 members who meet monthly at her Clintonville home." (quote from Dispatch article).

Maybe what we need in insurance company reform. If this goes through the way I understand it our life expectancy will drop because the older ones that are sick or the youngest ones will be left on a self somewhere to die.

Carol

Wadsworth, OH

Judged:

My fear is that we're going to end up with government run health care, which has been the demise of several countries using universal health care. Many of these countries have warned us not to go in that direction. Once it is established, it will be virtually irrevesible even if it proves to be disasterous. Our government has proven again and again that it is NOT in the business of running efficient large scale endeavors. If you want to wait months for a doctors appt, be denied the latest drugs that will save you from your cancer diagnosis, or be told that you are "too old" to receive premium care...then go on, advocate for universal health "care".

starr45

Cardington, OH

Judged:

These stories always interest me. People buy health insurance and for some reason they don't read what's covered. it's always the insurance company at fault. Why not read your contract and make yourself familiar with what your buying.

thymeflies

Columbus, OH

Carol wrote:

My fear is that we're going to end up with government run health care, which has been the demise of several countries using universal health care... Our government has proven again and again that it is NOT in the business of running efficient large scale endeavors. If you want to wait months for a doctors appt, be denied the latest drugs that will save you from your cancer diagnosis, or be told that you are "too old" to receive premium care...then go on, advocate for universal health "care".

Do you want to give up your Medicare benefits when you're of age, because you are opposed to government run healthcare? Much of what you say is the same script repeated by opponents of health care reform, particularly insurance company lobbyists and the legistlators who receive campaign funding from them. Last night on the Bill Moyer's show on PBS, a former Cigna insurance executive revealed that tactic and held an eye opening discussion on our current lack of access to health care. As he said, he was insulated by other's lack of adequate coverage and care, until he visited his home state of Tennessee and saw a crowded field of people receiving medical procedures in the horse barns and stalls, with no curtains or privacy. It hit him "like a thunder bolt" that this is no third world country, this is the United States. Please view that program and maybe, you might be enlightend as well.

Leave it alone

Columbus, OH

Judged:

Yet you assume if the govt runs our healthcare things will be better. What successful govt program are you basing this on? Here is the key to health care for the majority of people its this eat right, exercise, don't smoke and drink. If you chose to engage in those behaviors why should I have to pay for you?

As one of those self made high earners I am tired of paying more, I am already taxed at over 40% and it's only going up. How much do you feel i should pay? I lose time with my family to provide for them and i have to spend more time away just to mantain the status quo.

Jayle 3

Dallas, TX

Judged:

I will be delighted to have the "new healthcare universal plan ONLY if the the president and all the government employees sre on EXACTLY the same plan.

Seen This B-4

Columbus, OH

Given The History Of Most Surplus Wealth Generated By The Work Of Americans Being Relegated To Private Control By A Small Minority Of People That Love To Give Us Our Choices; I Am Not Hopeful Health Care Will Ever Really Reform...

Really, When Will We Wake Up And Recognize That "Public" Capitalism Would Be A Much Better System Of Wealth Equality and Income Distribution Than The Private Capitalism Entitlement System They Love To Tell Us Is Our Only Choice???

If We Have Learned Nothing Else; We Should Have Learned;
That Is "OUR" Surplus Created By "OUR" Work and We Need To Make Better Choices....

eshaw

Dublin, OH

We need to get market forces into the process. When you do not pay the bill, you do not care what things cost. Look at auto insurance. You can shop around and get a good rate. If an insurance company turns out to be a bad plan, you change the plan. The government’s job is to regulate the insurance companies and to set up a grievance process.

thymeflies

Columbus, OH

Leave it alone wrote:

Yet you assume if the govt runs our healthcare things will be better. What successful govt program are you basing this on? Here is the key to health care for the majority of people its this eat right, exercise, don't smoke and drink...

I agree that most health problems are because of lifestyle decisions which affect heart disease and lung cancer, but one can treat their "body as a temple" and still have the rug pulled beneath them because of the natural aging process (arthritis), environment (air quality) and unforseen accidents. What then, after using more health services the insurer is not making a profit on you anymore, they can pull your coverage.

One of the points in Bill Moyer's program topic is that health insurance companies are not beholden to their premium paying policyholders, but to the stockholders. The profit factor is their key purpose for existing. Health insurers fear losing a large pool of paying customers to the competition of univeral option healthcare, therefore the quagmire getting any reform.

I am not assuming that any government program is run well. I only pray that the best practices (and there must be something that works besides higher taxes) in Canada, the U.K. and Scandinavian countries will be looked at closely and adapted for the U.S. I feel strongly about this issue because though I pay for my "affordable" individual coverage now, the likelihood that my insurer will increase the premium over the years will make it beyond my reach. I have lived within my means because I had to; I am not a high wage earner nor given generous perks through employment.

Leave it alone

Columbus, OH

thymeflies wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree that most health problems are because of lifestyle decisions which affect heart disease and lung cancer, but one can treat their "body as a temple" and still have the rug pulled beneath them because of the natural aging process (arthritis), environment (air quality) and unforseen accidents. What then, after using more health services the insurer is not making a profit on you anymore, they can pull your coverage.
One of the points in Bill Moyer's program topic is that health insurance companies are not beholden to their premium paying policyholders, but to the stockholders. The profit factor is their key purpose for existing. Health insurers fear losing a large pool of paying customers to the competition of univeral option healthcare, therefore the quagmire getting any reform.
I am not assuming that any government program is run well. I only pray that the best practices (and there must be something that works besides higher taxes) in Canada, the U.K. and Scandinavian countries will be looked at closely and adapted for the U.S. I feel strongly about this issue because though I pay for my "affordable" individual coverage now, the likelihood that my insurer will increase the premium over the years will make it beyond my reach. I have lived within my means because I had to; I am not a high wage earner nor given generous perks through employment.

So even though you feel no govt program is well run your are hoping they get it right this time? Remember the def. of insanity. Ok (arthritis)currently treated by generics, environment (air quality)90% of all respiratory diseases are caused by smoking. Your cost are high because of market forces govt intervention will not help your case. Hope for tort reform and the ability to purchase insurance across state lines. Think Auto insurance you can pick and choose based on your risk. The cost is high right now because you have limited options. And lastly you never ansnwered the question if you are a low wage earner and I am a high wage earner already paying over 40% how much should I be expected to pay before I cash out?

thymeflies

Columbus, OH

Leave it alone wrote:

<quoted text>
So even though you feel no govt program is well run your are hoping they get it right this time? Remember the def. of insanity...

Not to get off topic here, but I had to look up the average age of our U.S. Senators (62) and Congressemen (58), because seeing some of those old-timers in their 80's, I am thinking, step aside, you have been there too long. It is going to take some new brash thinking that doesn't follow what was done before, as well as alot of exposure as to who has a vested interest in keeping the status quo.

And, sorry, I honestly can't answer what is the "appropriate" percentage you should be paying in taxes, but really, if both my father who worked two long careers till age 70 and Warren Buffett agree that the highest paid income bracket should pay more, because they can without suffering too much, then, dare I say it, so be it.

average_guy

If the government gets involved in providing health care, everyone will pay much, much more and the quality and availability of health care will be not as good as it is now, by far.

Currently, the residents of other countries come to the USA for health care if they have the means. There is a reason for that. That reason will disappear if the government takes over health care.

Government health care means that those who are deemed to be productive citizens will be first on the waiting list, and it will be a waiting list. Those who are not so fortunate will be at the bottom of the list, with the government hoping that they will die before they have to provide care.

Government health care gives the government control over life and death, simple as that.

average_guy

Tommy T wrote:

"As a hospital social worker, Ginnie Vogts said she sees a lot of the people whose insurance companies deny medical services. She's part of a national group called Results, which is pushing for a national health program that includes expanding Medicaid. The central Ohio chapter has 15 members who meet monthly at her Clintonville home." (quote from Dispatch article).
Maybe what we need in insurance company reform. If this goes through the way I understand it our life expectancy will drop because the older ones that are sick or the youngest ones will be left on a self somewhere to die.

This is exactly what happens in other countries who have government health care. I am personally aware of someone who had a resectable tumor who was under National Health in the UK and was left to die, simply put, because it took several months to reach the top of the waiting list for surgery based on the indivudal's demographic. In the USA at the same time this happened, we were doing this surgery immediately with over 50% survival rate.

thymeflies

Columbus, OH

Let's get back to what this universal care option is intended to be, an expanded Medicare single payer program that everyone is already paying into (if they are having payroll deductions). Horror stories of waiting lists and letting people die "on the shelf" are not clarifying but muddying the issue.

The key word is option. You are happy with what you have, keep it. Or you lose your job and can't afford COBRA. If you don't have insurance and you make the difficult decision that you should have coverage, universal option healthcare will help you if you were previously denied because of pre-existing conditions or because buying through the individual health market makes the price too high. Having access to affordable health coverage not dependent on an employer or professional association, allows you more freedom and job mobility (if you wanted to leave a stagnant job or move geographically) with financial security.

Army Parent

If oBOZO takes over health care will it be passed out like the porkulus bill ? Most will go to its supporters and opponants will be on a LONG waitting list. To oBOZOs fans, would you trust Bush to run heath care.NO! Why should anyone trust the new socialist.

Tommy T

Columbus, OH

thymeflies wrote:

Let's get back to what this universal care option is intended to be, an expanded Medicare single payer program that everyone is already paying into (if they are having payroll deductions). Horror stories of waiting lists and letting people die "on the shelf" are not clarifying but muddying the issue.
The key word is option. You are happy with what you have, keep it. Or you lose your job and can't afford COBRA. If you don't have insurance and you make the difficult decision that you should have coverage, universal option healthcare will help you if you were previously denied because of pre-existing conditions or because buying through the individual health market makes the price too high. Having access to affordable health coverage not dependent on an employer or professional association, allows you more freedom and job mobility (if you wanted to leave a stagnant job or move geographically) with financial security.

What it is intended to be and the way it has worked in the past in other countries is not the same. If we don't learn from history we are doomed to repeat it.

zaralynn

Gainesville, FL

Jayle 3 wrote:

I will be delighted to have the "new healthcare universal plan ONLY if the the president and all the government employees sre on EXACTLY the same plan.

Hey I'd be really happy to have access to the health care plan that the president and government employees have now. There is no proposal on the table for "healthcare universal plan" at this time. I wish it were so. As long as PROFIT is the reason foe health insurers to exist, we will have a substandard healthcare system like we do now.

zaralynn

Gainesville, FL

Army Parent wrote:

If oBOZO takes over health care will it be passed out like the porkulus bill ? Most will go to its supporters and opponants will be on a LONG waitting list. To oBOZOs fans, would you trust Bush to run heath care.NO! Why should anyone trust the new socialist.

I'd trust "OBOZO" before I'd trust the PROFIT DRIVEN health care insurers to decide life and death issues about my health care like they do for so many americans everyday. what planet do you live on?

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