5 Freedoms You'd Lose in Health Care Reform

[rebeccajo 14]

You have no idea what I have been through. Lets just say that $19,000 is a mere pittance compaired to what my family had to endure. Just because someone has to pay for services rendered is no reason to ask the government to take the burden.

Gary - I'm surprised to see you allude to having once had a lot of medical bills to pay. It seems I recall you once stating that during times of unemployment you always secured insurance for them.

I remember you telling us once some of the tough stuff you have been through. It was not my intention to imply you have never experienced hard times. But I was under the impression that you never endured economic turmoil coupled with a health crisis. My apologies if that is not the case.

Anybody out there got a $19,000.00 hospital bill you are trying to pay off?

After it was reduced (as 'charity') by 25% of the original cost?

What is your point? Good health care is expensive.

We have all kinds of different insurance to cover us from catastrophic costs that would otherwise bankrupt us and leave us in financial ruin. The point RJ is making is that health insurance premiums are unaffordable by many Americans who are only one health crisis away from financial ruin. The whole issue right now is that we need everyone in the pool and we'll all be better off for it. No one should ever have to be faced with an astronomical medical bill that will ruin them financially. You couldn't afford that to happen to you and most Americans cannot.

Life is full of risks. Our health is just one of many. I don't think that any of them should be handed over to the government.

Do you really believe that? That our health is 'one of those risks'? In this country, the leader of the free world, the health of it's citizens should be a 'risk'?

[GaryC 7]

You have no idea what I have been through. Lets just say that $19,000 is a mere pittance compaired to what my family had to endure. Just because someone has to pay for services rendered is no reason to ask the government to take the burden.

Gary - I'm surprised to see you allude to having once had a lot of medical bills to pay. It seems I recall you once stating that during times of unemployment you always secured insurance for them.

I remember you telling us once some of the tough stuff you have been through. It was not my intention to imply you have never experienced hard times. But I was under the impression that you never endured economic turmoil coupled with a health crisis. My apologies if that is not the case.

In 1975 my mother got colon cancer. My father had a top of the line insurance from his union. Without going into all the details, she ran out the million dollar limit and my father was left without a wife and about $400,000 worth of medical bills. He spent the next 20 years of his life paying it back. He paid every last dime without any help from the government or charity. It cost me and my siblings a chance to go to college and forced us all to go to work to support ourselves at a relitivly young age. I asked my father the other day what he thought of a government run health care system. His answer? I hates the idea.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Anybody out there got a $19,000.00 hospital bill you are trying to pay off?

After it was reduced (as 'charity') by 25% of the original cost?

What is your point? Good health care is expensive.

We have all kinds of different insurance to cover us from catastrophic costs that would otherwise bankrupt us and leave us in financial ruin. The point RJ is making is that health insurance premiums are unaffordable by many Americans who are only one health crisis away from financial ruin. The whole issue right now is that we need everyone in the pool and we'll all be better off for it. No one should ever have to be faced with an astronomical medical bill that will ruin them financially. You couldn't afford that to happen to you and most Americans cannot.

Life is full of risks. Our health is just one of many. I don't think that any of them should be handed over to the government.

Is that what you'd tell your insurance agent? Life is full of risks...why should I need insurance? Government insurance would be no different than private insurance except that it is non-profit. Insurance companies pay you when you have a personal crisis...your home burns down, you're in a car accident that totals your car and puts you in the hospital, you've become permanently disabled and cannot work the type of work you do now. That's all anybody wants - is some assurance through affordable medical insurance.

[rebeccajo 14]

Anybody out there got a $19,000.00 hospital bill you are trying to pay off?

After it was reduced (as 'charity') by 25% of the original cost?

What is your point? Good health care is expensive.

We have all kinds of different insurance to cover us from catastrophic costs that would otherwise bankrupt us and leave us in financial ruin. The point RJ is making is that health insurance premiums are unaffordable by many Americans who are only one health crisis away from financial ruin. The whole issue right now is that we need everyone in the pool and we'll all be better off for it. No one should ever have to be faced with an astronomical medical bill that will ruin them financially. You couldn't afford that to happen to you and most Americans cannot.

It's the cost of premiums that stop a lot of people from covering their families. Cost is never tied to the wage of the worker. A company buys a plan and the premiums are set. If a lot of the workforce are low-wage earners, they simply cannot afford the coverage.

Where I work, a lot of the administrative staff earn in the neighborhood of $10 an hour. Most of these people do not buy the company insurance. The premiums are so high that their take-home pay would be under the minimum wage.

Edited July 29, 2009 by rebeccajo

[GaryC 7]

You have no idea what I have been through. Lets just say that $19,000 is a mere pittance compaired to what my family had to endure. Just because someone has to pay for services rendered is no reason to ask the government to take the burden.

Gary - I'm surprised to see you allude to having once had a lot of medical bills to pay. It seems I recall you once stating that during times of unemployment you always secured insurance for them.

I remember you telling us once some of the tough stuff you have been through. It was not my intention to imply you have never experienced hard times. But I was under the impression that you never endured economic turmoil coupled with a health crisis. My apologies if that is not the case.

Anybody out there got a $19,000.00 hospital bill you are trying to pay off?

After it was reduced (as 'charity') by 25% of the original cost?

What is your point? Good health care is expensive.

We have all kinds of different insurance to cover us from catastrophic costs that would otherwise bankrupt us and leave us in financial ruin. The point RJ is making is that health insurance premiums are unaffordable by many Americans who are only one health crisis away from financial ruin. The whole issue right now is that we need everyone in the pool and we'll all be better off for it. No one should ever have to be faced with an astronomical medical bill that will ruin them financially. You couldn't afford that to happen to you and most Americans cannot.

Life is full of risks. Our health is just one of many. I don't think that any of them should be handed over to the government.

Do you really believe that? That our health is 'one of those risks'? In this country, the leader of the free world, the health of it's citizens should be a 'risk'?

Yep, without any doubt.

[rebeccajo 14]

You have no idea what I have been through. Lets just say that $19,000 is a mere pittance compaired to what my family had to endure. Just because someone has to pay for services rendered is no reason to ask the government to take the burden.

Gary - I'm surprised to see you allude to having once had a lot of medical bills to pay. It seems I recall you once stating that during times of unemployment you always secured insurance for them.

I remember you telling us once some of the tough stuff you have been through. It was not my intention to imply you have never experienced hard times. But I was under the impression that you never endured economic turmoil coupled with a health crisis. My apologies if that is not the case.

In 1975 my mother got colon cancer. My father had a top of the line insurance from his union. Without going into all the details, she ran out the million dollar limit and my father was left without a wife and about $400,000 worth of medical bills. He spent the next 20 years of his life paying it back. He paid every last dime without any help from the government or charity. It cost me and my siblings a chance to go to college and forced us all to go to work to support ourselves at a relitivly young age. I asked my father the other day what he thought of a government run health care system. His answer? I hates the idea.

I'm sorry to hear your family went through that.

And it causes me to be very surprised at your father's opinion. And yours as well.

Given what you have just told us - I don't know any argument we could offer you which would convince you that a system which DOES NOT cause this kind of hardship on families would not be a boon to society.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

As a Canadian Gary I can tell you that Universal Health care is such a gift. Leaving Canada and the health care was the hardest thing I ever had to do.

When I moved here I was scared to death for my life, scared that if I got in a car accident I couldn't afford the bill.

I have had horrible back problems and I couldn't afford to see a doctor. Now I'm paying 600.00 a MONTH on healthcare for my husband and I. He is out of work and I am making the money. It's insane.

I'm sorry but the health care in the United States isn't working.

Back home in Canada I could go to the doctor anytime I wanted and I didn't worry about the bill. I didn't have to wait either. Car accidents, giving birth, surgery....FREE.

Not just the rich are covered, everyone.

I know so many people here in the U.S. who haven't been to a doctor or dentist in YEARS simply because it's too darn expensive.

What are you afraid of? What does your freedom have anything to do with giving health care to everyone?

The United States needs to get it's nose out of everyone else's business and start taking care of their own citizens.

The children, the elderly, the young couple having their first child.

My father was diagnosed with bladder cancer and was treated and had the tumor removed by surgery within 2 weeks of being diagnosed.....free.

I pray for Universal Health Care here everyday. I guess until you live with it you have no idea how amazing it is...I took it for granted and now I miss it and need it so very much.

[rebeccajo 14]

You have no idea what I have been through. Lets just say that $19,000 is a mere pittance compaired to what my family had to endure. Just because someone has to pay for services rendered is no reason to ask the government to take the burden.

Gary - I'm surprised to see you allude to having once had a lot of medical bills to pay. It seems I recall you once stating that during times of unemployment you always secured insurance for them.

I remember you telling us once some of the tough stuff you have been through. It was not my intention to imply you have never experienced hard times. But I was under the impression that you never endured economic turmoil coupled with a health crisis. My apologies if that is not the case.

Anybody out there got a $19,000.00 hospital bill you are trying to pay off?

After it was reduced (as 'charity') by 25% of the original cost?

What is your point? Good health care is expensive.

We have all kinds of different insurance to cover us from catastrophic costs that would otherwise bankrupt us and leave us in financial ruin. The point RJ is making is that health insurance premiums are unaffordable by many Americans who are only one health crisis away from financial ruin. The whole issue right now is that we need everyone in the pool and we'll all be better off for it. No one should ever have to be faced with an astronomical medical bill that will ruin them financially. You couldn't afford that to happen to you and most Americans cannot.

Life is full of risks. Our health is just one of many. I don't think that any of them should be handed over to the government.

Do you really believe that? That our health is 'one of those risks'? In this country, the leader of the free world, the health of it's citizens should be a 'risk'?

Yep, without any doubt.

Why?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

As a Canadian Gary I can tell you that Universal Health care is such a gift. Leaving Canada and the health care was the hardest thing I ever had to do.

When I moved here I was scared to death for my life, scared that if I got in a car accident I couldn't afford the bill.

I have had horrible back problems and I couldn't afford to see a doctor. Now I'm paying 600.00 a MONTH on healthcare for my husband and I. He is out of work and I am making the money. It's insane.

I'm sorry but the health care in the United States isn't working.

Back home in Canada I could go to the doctor anytime I wanted and I didn't worry about the bill. I didn't have to wait either. Car accidents, giving birth, surgery....FREE.

Not just the rich are covered, everyone.

I know so many people here in the U.S. who haven't been to a doctor or dentist in YEARS simply because it's too darn expensive.

What are you afraid of? What does your freedom have anything to do with giving health care to everyone?

The United States needs to get it's nose out of everyone else's business and start taking care of their own citizens.

The children, the elderly, the young couple having their first child.

My father was diagnosed with bladder cancer and was treated and had the tumor removed by surgery within 2 weeks of being diagnosed.....free.

I pray for Universal Health Care here everyday. I guess until you live with it you have no idea how amazing it is...I took it for granted and now I miss it and need it so very much.

[rebeccajo 14]

As a Canadian Gary I can tell you that Universal Health care is such a gift. Leaving Canada and the health care was the hardest thing I ever had to do.

When I moved here I was scared to death for my life, scared that if I got in a car accident I couldn't afford the bill.

I have had horrible back problems and I couldn't afford to see a doctor. Now I'm paying 600.00 a MONTH on healthcare for my husband and I. He is out of work and I am making the money. It's insane.

I'm sorry but the health care in the United States isn't working.

Back home in Canada I could go to the doctor anytime I wanted and I didn't worry about the bill. I didn't have to wait either. Car accidents, giving birth, surgery....FREE.

Not just the rich are covered, everyone.

I know so many people here in the U.S. who haven't been to a doctor or dentist in YEARS simply because it's too darn expensive.

What are you afraid of? What does your freedom have anything to do with giving health care to everyone?

The United States needs to get it's nose out of everyone else's business and start taking care of their own citizens.

The children, the elderly, the young couple having their first child.

My father was diagnosed with bladder cancer and was treated and had the tumor removed by surgery within 2 weeks of being diagnosed.....free.

I pray for Universal Health Care here everyday. I guess until you live with it you have no idea how amazing it is...I took it for granted and now I miss it and need it so very much.

((((laura))))

[GaryC 7]

You have no idea what I have been through. Lets just say that $19,000 is a mere pittance compaired to what my family had to endure. Just because someone has to pay for services rendered is no reason to ask the government to take the burden.

Gary - I'm surprised to see you allude to having once had a lot of medical bills to pay. It seems I recall you once stating that during times of unemployment you always secured insurance for them.

I remember you telling us once some of the tough stuff you have been through. It was not my intention to imply you have never experienced hard times. But I was under the impression that you never endured economic turmoil coupled with a health crisis. My apologies if that is not the case.

In 1975 my mother got colon cancer. My father had a top of the line insurance from his union. Without going into all the details, she ran out the million dollar limit and my father was left without a wife and about $400,000 worth of medical bills. He spent the next 20 years of his life paying it back. He paid every last dime without any help from the government or charity. It cost me and my siblings a chance to go to college and forced us all to go to work to support ourselves at a relitivly young age. I asked my father the other day what he thought of a government run health care system. His answer? I hates the idea.

I'm sorry to hear your family went through that.

And it causes me to be very surprised at your father's opinion. And yours as well.

Given what you have just told us - I don't know any argument we could offer you which would convince you that a system which DOES NOT cause this kind of hardship on families would not be a boon to society.

I have zero faith in the government to do what is right. I would rather go broke than hand over this kind of control over me to the government. It is as simple as that.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Gary, you under the presumption that everyone can afford health insurance and anyone who doesn't have an income high enough it is there own damn fault or just tough luck. That's a very callous attitude with regard the 40 plus million Americans without health insurance.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

If the government was serious about affordable health care and keeping costs down, it would get serious about tort reform. But, laws are written by lawyers, so fat chance of that.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I have zero faith in the government to do what is right. I would rather go broke than hand over this kind of control over me to the government. It is as simple as that.

Wait a sec. You have zero faith in fed gov't. sponsored health insurance, but believe state sponsored health insurance could succeed?

[rebeccajo 14]

I have zero faith in the government to do what is right. I would rather go broke than hand over this kind of control over me to the government. It is as simple as that.

Well, damn - I dunno.

I'm sort of thinking (at this point where I am without health insurance for like the third or fourth time in my adult life) that any help with paying a hospital bill would be better than nothing.