merrill, (9/7/2009 4:04:52 AM)

The insurance industry is full of crooks and liars aka white collar criminals! Only people who believe in profits from injury,cancer and other illness are insensitive profiteers. Medicare Insurance for All will not have millionaire CEO's,advertising budgets, shareholders, a $100,000,000 anti reform budget and will not contribute tons of corrupt dough to political campaigns.

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Health insurers have forced consumers to pay billions of dollars in medical bills that the insurers themselves should have paid, according to a report released yesterday by the staff of the Senate Commerce Committee.
The report was part of a multi-pronged assault on the credibility of private insurers by Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.). It came at a time when Rockefeller, President Obama and others are seeking to offer a public alternative to private health plans as part of broad health-care reform legislation. Health insurers are doing everything they can to block the public option.
At a committee hearing yesterday, three health-care specialists testified that insurers go to great lengths to avoid responsibility for sick people, use deliberately incomprehensible documents to mislead consumers about their benefits, and sell "junk" policies that do not cover needed care. Rockefeller said he was exploring "why consumers get such a raw deal from their insurance companies."
The star witness at the hearing was a former public relations executive for major health insurers whose testimony boiled down to this: Don't trust the insurers.

"The industry and its backers are using fear tactics, as they did in 1994, to tar a transparent and accountable -- publicly accountable -- health-care option," said Wendell Potter, who until early last year was vice president for corporate communications at the big insurer Cigna.

Potter said he worries "that the industry's charm offensive, which is the most visible part of duplicitous and well-financed PR and lobbying campaigns, may well shape reform in a way that benefits Wall Street far more than average Americans."

Insurers make paperwork confusing because "they realize that people will just simply give up and not pursue it" if they think they have been shortchanged, Potter said.

merrill, (9/7/2009 4:11:26 AM)

Smart Medical Insurance Improves Our Quality of Life And Our Wallets!
National Health Insurance would not remove competition from the actual health care industry. It will be alive and well. Profits will be based on customer service and clinic performance based on the clients experience. This is my perception of competition.

How many of the vocal minority out there supporting the most expensive medical insurance in the world are employees and/or shareholders?

How many are receiving corrupt campaign dollars?

Some of our reps on all sides of the aisle say “Let's slow down a bit”. I say consumers have been waiting for more than 60 years for fiscal responsible medical insurance how much slower can it go?
What could possibly be more american? Providing americans with the choice of National Health Insurance. HR 676 is the only equitable approach that includes all of us.

Shouldn't taxpayers have the choice of Medicare Insurance For All? Absolutely!
HR 676 would cover every person for all necessary medical care including:
*long term care such that cancer demands
*prescription drugs
* hospital
* surgical
* outpatient services
* primary and preventive care
* emergency services
* dental
* mental health
* home health
* physical therapy
* rehabilitation (including for substance abuse)
* vision care
* hearing services including hearing aids
* chiropractic
* durable medical equipment
* palliative care
* long term care.

A family of four making the median income of $56,200 would pay about $2,700 in payroll tax for all health care costs.

HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save hundreds of billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

jhill2, Tulsa (9/7/2009 7:54:41 AM)

Emily,

I'm in pretty much the same boat as you, health and insurance-wise, and share your frustration.

The calls to slow the debate down come from those with a vested interest in continuing the current train wreck. Clearly their intent is to stall it for long enough to kill it.

The debate on health care has been going on since the Roosevelt administration (FDR for sure, perhaps even Teddy). We've seen pretty clearly where going slow will get us.

The time is now!

my view, Sand Springs (9/7/2009 8:02:46 AM)

Emily,

You won't get health care with the government in control either. With you they will weight the cost and the length of life remaining. You'll be one of the first to be given an asprin and fitted for a wheel chair.

Government control of health care is not the answer, affordable health care is, the government could do a lot in that regard.

You might want to look in to Medicaid to help you at this time.

merrill,

Did Obama run on not raising taxes on those making less than $250,000 a year. He already broke that pledge once with the tobacco tax. Now your supporting that he do again.

That's not how you win re-election, ask the first Bush how it work for him.

Thunder196, Tulsa (9/7/2009 8:04:29 AM)

Merrill
When I see the long rambling postings, I figure you really don't care about health care reform, you have an agenda to push, thus ultimately to line your pockets. What industry do you work for?

Michael Phillips, Tulsa (9/7/2009 8:31:09 AM)

I don't have a problem with the government regulating health insurance. I don't have a problem with health insurance companies being forced to accept everyone who has the premium to pay for it and require that pre-existing conditions not be considered. I don't expect the government to control prices. Premiums won't go down, if the company is required to cover people they don't want. Premiums are sure to go up.

I do have a problem with the government offering it's own policy. If the government starts offering their own insurance the private companies will go out of business. Who will regulate the government when the government is running the health care industry?

Woofenburger, Hominy (9/7/2009 8:43:40 AM)

Good letter Emily.

As it is we are all just sheep to be shorn by the health insurance companys.

Public health insurance NOW!

maggie, Tulsa (9/7/2009 8:58:45 AM)

It would be health coverage; not insurance. Insurance is based on risk-assessment and payout.

In the healthcare system, I wonder why drug companies spend millions on advertising to the public. That just adds to cost and we cannot prescribe drugs for ourselves. When congress includes no public advertising for drug companies, no courting doctors to prescribe with huge gifts, the systems cost will be reduced a great deal. A couple of million here and a couple of million there and pretty soon you have a trillion dollars for health coverage.

PhoenixIX, Jenks (9/7/2009 9:26:54 AM)

My View,

RE:"Emily,

You won't get health care with the government in control either. With you they will weight the cost and the length of life remaining. You'll be one of the first to be given Emily,

You won't get health care with the government in control either. With you they will weight the cost and the length of life remaining. You'll be one of the first to be given an asprin and fitted for a wheel chair.

Thanks to the "higher ups" from which you have formed your ideology Emily isn't even offered
"an aspirin and a fitting for a wheel chair."

Skeptic, Tulsa (9/7/2009 9:37:38 AM)

"You might want to look in to Medicaid to help you at this time." - my view

It's interesting that you oppose a government option for health care, yet refer the letter writer to a government option for health care.

Your response shows what, I think, most other "birthers" believe: They really don't have a problem with government run health care. They just don't want it to be President Obama's idea.

The letter writer has learned what many of the rest of us have already experienced. The time for change is now.....not 20 years from now.

wildcat, Glenpool (9/7/2009 9:45:42 AM)

I find it amusing to read postings in places including TW that the person wants nothing to do with government managed healthcare. Some of those screaming the loudest are sitting there on Medicare. What do you thing Medicare is?

We have the Rush, Palin and other opinions stating what healthcare reform would be. It is just that...their opinion. Read the facts and understand for yourself instead of listening to all of these people who have their own agendas.

wildcat, Glenpool (9/7/2009 9:49:45 AM)

My View,

"You might want to look in to Medicaid to help you at this time"

And what do you think Medicaid is? A government health care plan. The big difference is most working people or those without small children cannot qualify for Medicaid. It is designed as a low-income plan.

redbeard, Stillwater (9/7/2009 9:54:58 AM)

Emily hit the nail on the head with her letter.

She's lucky that she CAN pay the 600.00 per month for insurance because many folks can't afford to do that right now.

What good is all this great medical technology and care we have in the US if millions can't afford to go to the doctor?

quixote, Tulsa (9/7/2009 10:07:09 AM)

Look, I hate to be this way, but you people that are saying that a government run program would not give you good health care and would pull the plug on you -- are STUPID. I have been on Medicare for several years and couldn’t be better cared for. If they were going to pull the plug on anyone it would have been me because of some threatening medical conditions.

I will add that I can see where Medicare could save costs by coordinating the care given by the several physicians that I see. This would not reduce the care given me but would reduce the number of scans, x-rays, and blood tests that currently aren’t being shared among my Docs. Yes, that might be called rationing, but it’s not a reduction in service. You want rationing, you get that from the insurance companies. Read the letters from the many people that this happens to.

If you oppose the health insurance fix at least be honest and admit it’s because you don’t like having a black President and want to see him fail, you’re a republican and want to be back in power, or because your business interest might suffer if costs are saved in providing the same care. Your health care under a fix won’t suffer, and the country can work on reducing the cost of health care. It will take some time, but things will only get worse if nothing substantial is done.

Eagle 4, Tulsa (9/7/2009 10:12:02 AM)

Cold, hard facts cause much discomfort to prevaricators and prognosticators alike.

Well said, Emily.

my view, Sand Springs (9/7/2009 10:30:51 AM)

Skeptic,

Medicare and Medicaid are already part of the system. It's not a new program that will add that much more to the cost. As a full blown overhaul of the our health care system. That would add trillions more dollars, that we don't have to spend.

But if your getting jollys by twisting my words, go ahead.

I'll also have you know I'm not a birther and I'm on record on this very thread about my belief's that the President was U.S. born.

I also know that the birther's make up a very small group that you far lefties like to paint all conservatives with their stupidity. You know that there is small group of far left wacko's that believe the government blew up the buildings in New City on 9/11. But I don't think for a minute that's widely held view on the left.
The lefts argument on univeral health care is not working you need to try something else.

And when Emily finds herself at the end of the line regarding her health care she won't buy your argument either.

PhoenixIX, Jenks (9/7/2009 1:22:08 PM)

My View,

RE:"And when Emily finds herself at the end of the line regarding her health care she won't buy your argument either."

You or I do not know about Emily's position at the " end of the line".

But, for now, thanks to the greediness and illogicity of person like you -She is certainly in "LIMBO"!

Skeptic, Tulsa (9/7/2009 1:29:19 PM)

my view, talk in circles all you want, but in your response to Emily, you stated "Government control of health care is not the answer, affordable health care is, the government could do a lot in that regard. You might want to look in to Medicaid to help you at this time."

So what you are saying is "government controlled health care options are bad, but Emily, you should seek out government controlled health care options because they are good."

Typical twisted logic that has kept us in this mess.

We need change on all fronts of the health care monster. Double talk was a ploy of Bushco. It's a different world now. Facing the issues rather than burying them with semantics is the change we need. And it's coming!

my view, Sand Springs (9/7/2009 5:22:41 PM)

Skeptic,

It's coming huh, your losing.

Faith, (9/7/2009 5:33:56 PM)

What Skeptic posted at 1:29 PM.

Faith, (9/7/2009 5:38:23 PM)

It surprises me that some people don't seem to know that Medicare/Medicaid, the Senators Federally funded health care plan paid for by us are Government run plans along with the health care you get if you are employed by a corporation or the Veterans Insurance through the Military.

Faith, (9/7/2009 5:43:53 PM)

Cobra used to be very high after one month and was designed for people when they lost a job. It is suppose to help you until you get another job temporally and not for any length of time as it is very high.

I do think this Administration has made it a little better due to the economy this year, I thought I had heard.

The problem is hard to find a full time job making close to what a person previously made. Most want part-time to begin with.

Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (9/7/2009 9:01:10 PM)

Be sure you get everything you ever wished for, your grandchildren will be paying for it.

Stupid is, as Stupid Does, Owasso (9/7/2009 10:47:47 PM)

Emily, your point would be better taken if you provide what two pre-existing conditions that you have. Explain to us if they are natural or brought on by a faulty lifestyle. If you smoke, drink alcohol excessively, due illegal drugs, or your obese (which brings on a multitude of health conditions), then I really dont think you have a leg to stand on. But if these were brought on by genetics or something. I would support you 100%.

Stupid is, as Stupid Does, Owasso (9/7/2009 10:56:28 PM)

Before I am attacked for my last post. I want everyone to know that I am in the middle. I agree that cost need to brought under control, I agree that insurance reform (and tort reform) needs to happen. I believe that those that have lost jobs need help keeping their insurance. I just dont think it should all be lumped into one bill. I think the rich should pay more but I think everyone should pay at least something. The poor needs help but don't bring the exhorbant cost of faulty lifestyles to the table and expect them to be paid for by the tax payer. If you paid for any health care reform with a national sales tax, everyone would be contributing.