Feelings about the Government Healthcare Plan?

[angie1976]

What are your feelings, thoughts, and concerns about governmentally run healthcare?

My feelings about the current situation of healthcare in the US have recently changed. I had never really worried about healthcare before, but my sister was diagnosed with MS a little over a year ago, and my perspective has really changed. If she ever has a period without health insurance, it would be nearly impossible for her to get insurance again. That is really stupid, don't give insurance to people that are sick, and need it the most.

I don't know that the government plan is the right answer, but the system is currently very flawed and needs some kind of change. What do you think?

[TNShannon]

I agree about changing perspectives...my husband was diagnosed with diabetes, and though he was self-employed, he had good insurance through Blue Cross/Blue Shield. But when his annual renewal came up, his premiums jumped by an outrageous amount...to get the cheapest insurance they offered, with the highest deductible, would cost TWICE as much as our mortgage!

Yes, you read that right. TWICE as much.

I was stunned, shocked, dismayed...you name it. There was no way we could afford that. Now he's without insurance, and the odds of him finding any other insurance that will accept him are basically nonexistent. So we're hoping the government plan will help out on that front.

I have never had health insurance. When I was young and healthy, I couldn't afford it...now that I can afford it, I have pre-existing conditions (high blood pressure) that keep me from qualifying for it.

I don't think government-run health care is the big "socialist" problem that many detractors are claiming it is. No one has voiced that same concern about Medicare, but what do they think that is? It's a government-run health plan offered to those over a certain age. What's the difference between that and what is being proposed now?

My big concern is that any government plan will be too expensive for those of us who are self-employed, and that will lead to the same problem we're in right now. What's the good of qualifying for a health plan if you can't afford to pay the higher premiums associated with being self-employed? It's a serious issue to consider, because as more and more people are laid off during this recession, they are launching their own home businesses to make ends meet...so the number of self-employed people in this country is going up FAST.

I do think a government-run plan would rein in the insurance companies, who expect such high premiums and then do very little for the insured...and perhaps rein in the cost of health care, which is absurd. When going to the doctor is 80 bucks for a five-minute visit and seeing a specialist for ten minutes costs 260 bucks (to name a few of my most recent medical bills), something is broken...and something has GOT to give.

[Chelan999]

My daughter also has type one diabetes and I have her insured through my employer insurance plan at kaiser.
If I was self employed we would have to be on Medi-Cal as there is no way I could afford it...I feel your pain! As it is now I pay over almost $300 per month for just her and I!
Hopefully.... with the new regulations the insurance companies will be unable to disqualify you due to a pre-existing condition....which in my opinion, always seemed completely ludicris! Like people asked to have health problems like cancer and diabetes...sheesh!
Anywhoodles...I will be hoping and praying for change along with you and your family.
In the meantime...try TANF Program....temporary financial assistance for families...I just sent them an email to help with the cost of my daughters new insulin pump and supplies.
Good luck!
Chelan

[SallySue15]

The thing that I find most amazing about the government healthcare plan is that it is mainly older people, on Medicare, that are so opposed to government healthcare. Do they not understand that Medicare IS government healthcare.

I think that most people do not realize that they are literally one illness away from being in the same situation as people with preexisting conditions, and in jeopardy of not being eligible for health insurance. They do not see beyond their own little worlds and think that they will have to pay more taxes to cover "sick" people.

I do not know how this can be explained to people, but I really think that is what it is going to take in order to get some kind of government health plan voted into law.

It seems really wrong that health insurance is a for-profit industry, where executives make millions of dollars in bonuses each year by declining care to sick patients. Talk about a conflict of interests.

[angie1976]

It is looking like some changes are going to happen since the healthcare bill recently passed. I guess we will have to wait and see how long it actually takes for the American people to be affected by the changes at the governmental level.

I don't think that the Republican senators realize that they are not making any friends by only working until 2pm in protest to the healthcare bill being passed. I don't have the option of only working a portion of my day when I get upset about something that happens at work, why should they? They also make considerably more than I do.

What are your thoughts on all of the recent changes?