Health Care Debate - Philadelphia, PA

No to the public option, the government has already bankrupted medicare.
Need tort reform
Allow purchase of health insuremanc across state lines

Everyone should be able to afford health care in this country.

JM wrote:

No to the public option, the government has already bankrupted medicare.
Need tort reform
Allow purchase of health insuremanc across state lines

What would be a reasonable alternative to p o be to help make insurance affordable by creating competition? Torte reform is something he agreed to look at. Health insurance crossing state lines? Why not? Almost everything today is done electronically or outsourced. This could be helpful to some, but I doubt if it would be enough to encourage competition. Many people still do not have access to the internet nor can they afford to, but I think it is a good idea.

Stop taking my money son, the government can't do jack anyways.

The goverment should have nothing to do with our healthcare. Everything to date has been a catastrophe, I'm athe healthcare professional, In the 25years I have worked as a nurse, I have never seen anyone turned away from the ER, or
was given lesser quality of care, because of the lack of Insurance. Instead of giving Billions of dollars to Pimp and Prostitution rings, let alone "Human trafficking" get rid of the czars, Acorn, Pelosi, Reid, Rangle, tax cheat Geitner, and "Obama" impeach them all and lets start over,as a Nation under "GOD" with the Constitution, values, and Principles, restored.

the only problem I have is the gov. should not be in compition with the free market they should regulate not compete and to those that say the insurance co. need robust compatition than I say open the doors for them to compete across state lines

I PLEDGE ALLEGIENCE wrote:

The goverment should have nothing to do with our healthcare. Everything to date has been a catastrophe, I'm athe healthcare professional, In the 25years I have worked as a nurse, I have never seen anyone turned away from the ER, or
was given lesser quality of care, because of the lack of Insurance. Instead of giving Billions of dollars to Pimp and Prostitution rings, let alone "Human trafficking" get rid of the czars, Acorn, Pelosi, Reid, Rangle, tax cheat Geitner, and "Obama" impeach them all and lets start over,as a Nation under "GOD" with the Constitution, values, and Principles, restored.

Equally, the catastrophe is people dying needlessly due to lack of insurance. Figures were reported only last week. You are naive to believe many people aren't suffering. Yes, you may see them at the ER, but how many could avoid treatment there if they could afford to see their physicians and buy their medicine. With costs rising and the added strain of higher co-pays and deductibles, there are people (and I know some) that put off or delay seeing a doctor because they cannot afford it. There definitely need to be some controls because it doesn't appear this will be a voluntary process. So, perhaps you can think of an alternative? I don't know how anyone can act like this situation doesn't exist. Remember one thing, there are no guarentees in life--you may well find yourself in a similar situation. Don't even start on the God reference, nor the constitution. Talk is cheap. Caring costs a little more.

No one is dying from lack of insurance - get your Obama loving head out of your ass. Anyone one in this world with or without insurance can walk into an emergency room and get treatment - everyone. People do this each and every day. No one is being refused and YOUR high insurance premium already reflect those who don't have insurance. If someone is ill SSI picks up their medical, rent, electric, gas, prescriptions now. I notice the people who scream "I need affordable health insurance" have money for cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, money to spend on outranous food bills to maintain their 25,000 calorie a day diet, eating out in restaurants, having many children by different fathers (while getting a check) and have many cars that require expensive car insurance, gas and maintenance. Funny thing ... if you can't afford to take car of yourself stop shitting out tons of kids you can't pay for. This is American you have the right and freedom to suceed or fail. What you decide is not my business, you should live with your life choices and I should not have to pay for any of it. It is call being an adult. Scream racism each and everytime you fail, scream racism when you refuse to better yourself and your community, scream racism when people say "fins, sit home and car .... I don't want to pay for it". Scream racism when Obama gets caught in constant lies. Sscream racism when Obama hires well documented and convicted terrorists to run this county.

Philly Resident wrote:

No one is dying from lack of insurance - get your Obama loving head out of your ass. Anyone one in this world with or without insurance can walk into an emergency room and get treatment - everyone. People do this each and every day. No one is being refused and YOUR high insurance premium already reflect those who don't have insurance. If someone is ill SSI picks up their medical, rent, electric, gas, prescriptions now. I notice the people who scream "I need affordable health insurance" have money for cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, money to spend on outranous food bills to maintain their 25,000 calorie a day diet, eating out in restaurants, having many children by different fathers (while getting a check) and have many cars that require expensive car insurance, gas and maintenance. Funny thing ... if you can't afford to take car of yourself stop shitting out tons of kids you can't pay for. This is American you have the right and freedom to suceed or fail. What you decide is not my business, you should live with your life choices and I should not have to pay for any of it. It is call being an adult. Scream racism each and everytime you fail, scream racism when you refuse to better yourself and your community, scream racism when people say "fins, sit home and car .... I don't want to pay for it". Scream racism when Obama gets caught in constant lies. Sscream racism when Obama hires well documented and convicted terrorists to run this county.

Have you never been in an emergency room? So much of what you say is so fundamentally incorrect. If you think going off in a rant makes you sound even close to being rational or intelligent, think again. There is a recent estimate 45,000 people have died in the past year due to lack of access to affordable health care. Now you can deny that all you want and b.s. about alot of things and become indignant if you wish, it tells me you are unable to debate an issue you know nothing about. Your comments about the President and racism are entirely inappropriate in a discussion about healthcare. Denying a problem exists in no way resolves it, it exposes your ignorance.

If you were to lose your job today or tomorrow, who would pay your healthcare bills? That is why we need reform because the economy is now on shaky ground and jobs are going under left and right. So, if you did lose your job, one could still receive healthcare. What is wrong with that?

A. health insurance is expensive; medications are expensive; people chose to not take proper care of themselves such that they develop poor health and then can not afford the high cost of blood pressure medications, diabetes medications etc... true to a certain extent.... there are generic medications for a number of disease states.. generics are affordable... if you can pay a cell phone bill or satellite TV bill every month you can afford generic medications

B. ERs are filled with people without insurance who do not have primary care doctor... true.. but there is medicaid insurance.. it's horrible but it is better than nothing at times..

C. no tort reform it is all a waste of time.. and it doesn't have to be caps on claims.. loser pays will solve the entire problem.. now anyone can file a lawsuit for anything.. if the repercussions for losing were high legal fees the frivilous sleep and fall or other bogus lawsuits would end..

D. Other industrialized countries have their citizens pay higher taxes and they get a service for that tax.. Americans have been brainwashed that higher taxes are bad.. so we don't raise taxes we just add fees to everything.. that way we don't call it a tax.. or we "tax the rich" ... like they really don't have accountants to get them out of paying taxes... and the "poor and middle class" get killed anyway.... because they voted against being "taxed" --> what idiots the middle class always shows itself to be..

Julie wrote:

If you were to lose your job today or tomorrow, who would pay your healthcare bills? That is why we need reform because the economy is now on shaky ground and jobs are going under left and right. So, if you did lose your job, one could still receive healthcare. What is wrong with that?

You will pay my bills. You (the American tax payer) always has and always will pay my bills. Don't stop!
Barack Hussein Obama mmm …. mmm …. mmm ….

Hey John
A. You are brilliant – well said!
B. Correct
C. Yes, say it!
D. True! True!

I can’t believe Topix let your 1000% correct comments be posted.

John wrote:

A. health insurance is expensive; medications are expensive; people chose to not take proper care of themselves such that they develop poor health and then can not afford the high cost of blood pressure medications, diabetes medications etc... true to a certain extent.... there are generic medications for a number of disease states.. generics are affordable... if you can pay a cell phone bill or satellite TV bill every month you can afford generic medications
B. ERs are filled with people without insurance who do not have primary care doctor... true.. but there is medicaid insurance.. it's horrible but it is better than nothing at times..
C. no tort reform it is all a waste of time.. and it doesn't have to be caps on claims.. loser pays will solve the entire problem.. now anyone can file a lawsuit for anything.. if the repercussions for losing were high legal fees the frivilous sleep and fall or other bogus lawsuits would end..
D. Other industrialized countries have their citizens pay higher taxes and they get a service for that tax.. Americans have been brainwashed that higher taxes are bad.. so we don't raise taxes we just add fees to everything.. that way we don't call it a tax.. or we "tax the rich" ... like they really don't have accountants to get them out of paying taxes... and the "poor and middle class" get killed anyway.... because they voted against being "taxed" --> what idiots the middle class always shows itself to be..

John, some of what you say may have a grain of truth in it, but there are many things we are genetically predisposed to and high blood pressure and diabetes (the two that you mention) definitely fall into that category. Please don't be so smug to believe that people that take "good care" of themselves don't become ill--that is simply a falacy.

In case you're not aware of this, not everyone without health insurance is eligible for medicaid.(as a matter of fact, it is not easy to get on medicaid) Yet they cannot afford to buy it, either. That is what this healthcare reform is all about. The fact they show up in the emergency rooms for primary care is costing everyone.

None of us know when a tragedy or a serious illness can strike us or our family members. Think about that. Anyone can lose a job along with their health benefits. Any health problems would be deamed "pre-existing" and most likely, rejected by a new insurer.

I don't even know where you're coming from with the tax issue you described. Are you saying you want to pay higher taxes in exchange for more services? There are some that express a fear of "socialism" with some of the proposed h.c. bills---I would hate (or love) to see their reaction to that idea. Actually, I don't feel "brainwashed" but rather sure I have always paid my fair share of taxes. You must then be in favor of larger government. Interesting views.

Carla wrote:

<quoted text>
Have you never been in an emergency room? So much of what you say is so fundamentally incorrect. If you think going off in a rant makes you sound even close to being rational or intelligent, think again. There is a recent estimate 45,000 people have died in the past year due to lack of access to affordable health care. Now you can deny that all you want and b.s. about alot of things and become indignant if you wish, it tells me you are unable to debate an issue you know nothing about. Your comments about the President and racism are entirely inappropriate in a discussion about healthcare. Denying a problem exists in no way resolves it, it exposes your ignorance.

Carla -- please stick to the kiddie forum -- WHERE YOU BELONG!!!!!

Will destroy innovation and quality of our healthcare system. Does not address cost drivers such as tort reform and opening up competition by allowing purchase of insurance across state lines

Of course I support President Obam on HealthCare and all the other wonderful things he is trying to get done. That is why we need to get the 22nd amendent repealed so we can keep him for at least until 2024. Then have his wife run and anoterh 16 years ofthe Obamas. Wo! what a wonderful thought!

Not supporting accessible healthcare for everyone is very elitist.

Government can't run any program effectively-look at the Post Office,Medicare,etc.

Government can't run any program effectively-i.e Post Office,Medicare,etc.