I was thinking about this last night… and it’s not really on subject. but sort of… I was reading an article about an anti choice activist (if you don’t get MORE magazine you should. I love it! it’s for women over 40. great articles) who was funding a lot of what she does with millions in grants from the government designed to teach abstinence in schools. It made me think about how we manage all the money at the government level. There are billions of dollars out there in grant money. Why?? I mean really. Why??? Why are we teaching abstinence to kids in schools and funding it with hundreds of millions? isn’t that a parents job? for that matter why are we teaching anything beyond the basic sex ed we got in school back in the day… isn’t that a parents job? Why are we leaving every possible societal problem to the government to solve? I understand teen pregnancy and std’s are a problem. but why is it up to the schools and government agencies to solve those problems??? I think we need to take a real look at the programs we fund. I think we should feed and house and provide medical care to children who are not being fed, housed and cared for. But why does every single other social problem have to be funded and solved at a government level?

I work for a government office so my health care premium for myself is very reasonable, however, we have a private policy on my husband. That’s less expensive than carrying him on my group policy even though they’re both with BC/BS and the coverage is practically identical.

I am fortunate to have a great university retirement plan that guarantees me coverage (supplemental + medicare) for life. Yes, the co-pays and prescriptions have all increased in the last couple of years, but I know how lucky I am. My children are not so fortunate, however. Two are self-employed, and the others have coverage from their employers that is either inadequate or has such a high deductible that they cannot afford to see a doctor. I am furious with the government for putting so many hard-working families in this position. For a country that has so much wealth (concentrated in the hands of a small percentage of the population) it is unconscionable for health care not to be available for one and all.

Some of the stories here are heart wrenching. I don’t know the reason why health care insurance has increased so much in the last 10-15 years. I suspect the industry would say because the number of malpractice lawsuits are increasing and juries are awarding astronomical amounts of money in compensation. Is that really the reason or just part of the reason? The pharmaceutical companies say they have to charge so much in order to finance their research and development work to find new and improved drugs. Hospitals have to charge so much to cover the costs of increased overhead plus malpractice. Physicians can only charge for each procedure what the insurance companies will pay….and not much more. If we give Congress our health care dollars to pay for a government-run health care system, they will find many reasons, some even heartbreaking, on why those funds should also be spent for something else. Congress is not trustworthy and the fact that they have a cafeteria of plans to choose from for their own health care means that our burden is not a priority with them. If the American people give Congress the power to manage the health care industry, then the health care industry will soon break down. The only relief that Congress can provide is money. Allow citizens to deduct every cent spent on medical insurance and co-pays or allow a percentage, a HIGH percentage, to be deducted from the income tax. For those citizens who do not earn enough to pay taxes, they they should receive a rebate from the government for the medical insurance amounts they have had to pay. The deductible percentage for hospital and medical costs (not insurance) should also be raised.

I’m a self payer. I try to make drugs and doctor visits (the absurd costs of which are perfect incentive) an absolute LAST resort by maintaining a healthy immune system through nutrition and activity. I will be the first to admit how fortunate I am to be able to do this… But - and I know this is an outrageously stubborn and possibly downright INSANE thing to say - I really don’t want to support those big ol’ scummy insurance companies, even if it’s through my job. (I’m sure I’ll regret this once something unexpectedly major happens to me, heaven forbid. Hah.)

No one ever discusses this. Perhaps someone here can explain. Why are U.S. physicians among the richest people in our society? Is that “right”?

Only some of the specialists, such as plastic surgeons, are among the richest. The average physician just makes a decent living in return for the years of study and internship and mountains of debt they accumulate. It takes them years to pay off their educational debt, and then they must save for their own retirements. Doctors, per se, are not at all to blame for this medical mess. Look to the insurance industry, the drug companies, and the government to place blame. I can tell you right up front that I know of TWO doctors who have given up private practice because of mal-practice premiums! They were not only not making money, but they were going broke!

I am 46, almost 47. I am healthy and athletic and feel and look younger than my age. I have Blue Cross PPO and pay $436 every 2 months and think it’s crazy. Do we really need to do this just to go to the GYN twice a year and get a mammogram once a year? Crazy, isn’t it?

For those of us who are caught in this nasty health care system, with no options for escape the fear of every cost as they come is frightening at best. For many of us there will be no change and I’m not sure how we can change anything. I wish for those who must remain in almost hopeless situation that there were answers that we could have a hand in….

My mom, step-dad and dad buy mine. I’m very sad hearing some of these situations. I thought the USA was supposed to be a free country, I wish that meant that there was no taxes, water-use cars and free health to anyone!

I have no health insurance, which means I get no health care. I haven’t seen a medical professional in at least 15 years. Maybe I’m healthy because I’m NOT under a doctor’s care.

After Vulva cancer I can not afford insurance .And be able to pay my other bills .What they want from me is out of the ball park .I dont qualify for state or any other kind of care .I do not have kids .The Welfare dept told me if I had a baby I could get care .I am not the only one , several other women I know have been told the same from the health dept or welfare as I call it .This is how stupid our GOV is to tell me and other women if we had children we could get care .I am sick and I can not take care of a child ! That would be child neglect or abuse .I have even been told to foster care !?!@!!I just want to be treated like a human being .I am so tired of being treated like I dont exsist or I dont matter .When you go to get help and they learn you have no insurance you are treated like you are the scum of the earth .I wish I could make a movie about how I am treated ,and let the whole world see what I have to go threw .I am not alone, I know this .Like I said other women I know have the same problems .I have had nightmares about hospitals and doctors .I even lived a real live nightmare in 2003 when I went to a county hospital in Tennessee and I was refused care .And told sorry there is nothing we can do for you .I did a natural cure with lots of praying and begging GOD and Mary to help me .And ya know what it worked .I think a little of both the natural cure and praying .But I prayed and cried a whole year in bed .My liver and kidneys where shutting down ..I was so afraid I didnt want to die ! I was totally alone .When you have no health care you are invisable and in the dark and no one wants to see you .And you have no friends or relatives .Has everyone here signed the petition at Health Care Now .org ? Please for all of the people (women ) like me , please sign it ?