More On Health Care Reform

I've had a lot of response to my last blog entry on health care reform, which I also sent directly to many of my constituents. Since the responses were sent directly to me, you didn't see them, so I thought I'd share a sampling with you here. What do you think? Sen. Dede Feldman

Constituents write:

"Some observations on Health Care Reform.
1)You cannot approach it as "let's somehow insure those not covered now." Health Care needs reform.
2)The biggest problems with Health Care is Insurance. a) The health care INDUSTRY is a major portion of the cost of health care, paying MBA's to sit on top of health care is as disastrous as electing an MBA President (ooops, I made a funny, Bush was an MBA. Case made!). b) Insurance keeps health care from being subject to Supply and Demand. That is, in the rush to avoid Socialist Medicine, the INDUSTRY has figured out a way to subvert Capitalistic controls too. Health Care costs MUST be regulated, and rolled back from current rates"….
--- DS, semi retired doctor in the North Valley

"I agree with you that there are a lot of problems in our whole health care system. I had such high hopes years ago when Hillary Clinton was working with that committee to recommend some common sense approach to the whole health care system, and I hoped that they would come up with a much simpler way to do things. I was terribly disappointed when in the end they recommended more and more government bureaucracy, which is just what we don't need more of.

I have spent about 25 years doing extensive research for my own survival in the natural health field, and I feel strongly that the number one issue in health care is prevention. It is a longer term project, but working to teach people how to eat and live to preserve good health has far greater returns in the long run than repairing them with high tech expensive methods after their health crashes because of a life of inattention to their own well being.

One of the most important political issues to me is in creating and maintaining freedom in medical treatment for both MDs, and also various kinds of natural health practitioners, who use natural health techniques as opposed to allopathic medicine to both treat illness and sustain good health. Some 12 or so states have a freedom of medical treatment act which helps to create less persecution from the establishment on natural health practitioners. I have only lived here for 16 months now, and have not had time to learn how things are here in NM with regard to this issue. I want to have the freedom to choose my own health care treatments, and I usually will choose some alternative treatment as opposed to the AMA way. Do you know if we have some kind of a freedom of medical treatment act in NM?"….
--- DM, retired electrical engineer in the North Valley

"I think universal health care is one of the 2 or 3 most pressing needs people and businesses have in this country. Businesses need it, in a way that they don't fund it directly, to stay competitive with the rest of the developed world.

So please, please, please get the insurance companies out of it. Keep them from getting any of that presently uninsured group. Don't let New Mexico make the monumental mistake that Massachusetts and California have made by giving the insurance companies a monumental gift.

I myself am a beneficiary of "socialized medicine"--I get the excellent, patient-sensitive care that the VA gives to the limited number of veterans who are allowed in. Everybody ought to get that, without the big financial and bureaucratic overhead that insurance adds to health cost."
--- RB in the North Valley

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Comments

[Candice]

American healthcare is an issue that I think mostly everyone can agree on; it needs vast improvements. We as individual Americans are faced with healthcare concerns that most people should never have to face. I think that we need to be more open minded and endure any new ideas or changes that may come. Universal healthcare has been an issue as long as I can recall. Although the idea may frighten some, I feel that in the long haul, raising taxes to cover government issued health coverage would be an outstanding benefit for all. Personal income is a very powerful influence as to who has what health coverage and the type of treatment that is covered.
Two days ago I attended an "insurance coverage" meeting. They gave us our benefits packages and the descriptions of what is covered at what price. It is a hard decision to make when I have to choose between $80 a month (health only) plus a $25 co-pay for GENERAL visits. I made sure to read the fine print and what is truly covered is a joke. I feel like individual health care is a joke. I also learned about flex accounts. Now that is a great way for big companies to make some extra cash! It is pathetic in my opinion, a downright outrage! I am hopeful with the new presidency. Obama believes in universal healthcare and I feel that if he can do for us what he said, our country would be better in all aspects.

[Sam A. CNM]

Health care across this country including New Mexico needs to be reformed. We need to make a plan that will allow every citizen to get the help that they need when they need it. And we need to provide people the assistance they need to get preventive care so that they never have to be too far away from living healthy. We should live as Britain does, we pay taxes so that everyone can have health care. The United States is prosperous enough that we have no excuse not to have a universal health care system. The insurance companies/health care providers are more focused on money than they are on actually providing affordable health care for everyone. It is not fair that just because the wealthy in this population can afford their own health care that they should not have to pay an extra bit of taxes so that it is affordable for everyone. The ultimate solution for this health care crisis is to if necessary raise taxes so that they government can supply everyone with health care. I must admit that I am thrilled Obama has been elected as our new president and I know I personally voted for him because he was willing to take the step to lead to universal health care. We cannot just overnight enact a universal health care program so I am thankful we have a president who will take the first step by making it affordable or accessible for everyone. I know I am saddened when I watch my friend nearing the due date of her first child and having to try to decide if she will be able to afford to go to the hospital to give birth or if she will be strapped with medical payments for the rest of her life. There is just no logical reason why we should have to make payments for months when we only were with the doctor for maybe 30 minutes. Our health care system needs to be for the people, and to take care of the people in this country.

[Gise]

In my opinion we can fix the American Health care for families by approving a system in which everyone pays a little bit more of taxes, giving a portion of their money, such as a national sales tax, that will help collecting the money to pay for everyone’s health care. Also, the insurance companies should be regulated and there should be a special agreement for major illness coverage. In this way, there won’t be cases of people going in bankruptcy for paying their medical bills. At this moment, the insurance and drug companies are the ones who have control over health resources. Indeed, a friend had an experience when he lived in Minnesota which can be an example of the high costs of insurance companies and their control over health; when him and his family lived there it cost them $180 to visit the doctor being insured and nowadays it costs just $30 and without insurance; the costs have reduced more than 50% and doctors make more money by being independent. Government should sponsor research and give tax breaks for eating healthy, going to the gym so that there is less need to go to the doctor and people can have a better health. They should spend more money in health issues rather than in war.
In the case of the presidential candidates’ proposals, I personally like Obama who has a plan in which all Americans will have affordable health insurance options and he is extending the State Children’s Health Insurance program to 3.2 billion uninsured children. Besides, all young adults under 25 are allowed to be covered on their parents’ insurance.

[Terry N]

I believe that the United States is in dire need of Medical Reform, although doing so will be a difficult process. I believe that American leaders have forgotten the premise on which our country was founded “for the people, by the people, of the people.” It seems that Americans need to take a stand and demand that our interests are put forth and that as one of the wealthiest countries we demand health care. Economically, universal health care that is balanced would work the best. Employers and citizens would both benefit. Citizens would be healthier because they would be able to see a doctor when hey are sick instead of waiting until they absolutely have to go. Also, employers would be more productive because they would have healthy employees.
The major obstacles in the way are the health care insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies who have a vested interest in keeps medical costs high for the majority of Americans. Personally I understand how not having insurances can increase stress in families. My family fell victim to our vicious medical coverage cycle while my wife attended college. We as many Americans my family did not make enough to purchase insurance but made too much to qualify for assistance from the State. This left my family hoping for health in one of the riches countries in the world. I hope to never be in that situation again.
I feel that in this case the presidential candidate that supports heath care for all receives my vote on this issue.

[David]

I'll admit that to this point I have been ignorant as to the issue of healthcare reform. Two years ago i was in a motorcycle accident, and had to pay nearly 5,000 dollars, out of pocket, (That was a wake up call, I do have insurance now.) for a twelve hour stay at a New Mexico hospital, that in my eyes, was basic medical care. I have since wondered why it was so expensive, but now my eyes are opened. Waste, for profit organizations, and demand, fuel this broken system. The system i would like to see adopted, is a kind of hybrid of the Japanese German and Swiss systems. Like auto insurance, basic health insurance should be mandatory. If one is capable of life, they are capable of injury, and someone has to pay for that. These should Be co-payed with employers, and be non-profit, but there needs to be multiple choices of providers. Focus should also be put onto preventative care, perhaps with a discounted rate for non-smokers, or those who have maintained health. Like the Swiss system, basic healthcare is covered, but for those who want better coverage, they can elect to carry another, better, for profit, policy. I'm very much a capitalist at heart, but there are some basic needs that should not be for profit, and basic healthcare is one of them. Pharmaceutical and other lobbyists have too much power over this nation, and we need to take that power back. Make this a nation for the people, not for profit.

[jordan]

I have such high hopes in the years to come when it regards to healthcare reform. Although I have never had to personally worry about having healthcare, it does scare me that people don't have it when they need it. I think universal healthcare is something we can do, but I think we should look at other countries and see the effectiveness of it. Not just assume that it would work for the U.S., but perhaps take different aspects from different countries that way it would be most beneficial to us.

[kateri]

Universal Health Care is affordable health care coverage which is extended to all eligible residents of a governmental region.
At present, between 40 and 50 million Americans are without health insurance. After watching the film, do you believe that providing universal health care should be the policy of the United States? It sounds like a good idea but i'm sure that's not what will happen. I think that people will not like the fact of paying high taxes.
Include any related health care stories or experiences that you or your friends and family have to share so don't be shy, tell your story. One story was when i was 5 months and i had to go to the hospital i was having bad cramps i thought that i was going to have my baby in the shower but when i went to Presbyterian ER i felt that they didnt want to help me until i told them that i was pregnant maybe because i was native american and IHS was paying for pregnancy (I Dont Know). So the doctors didnt know what was wrong with me until 3 days later and finally they discovered that i need to take out my gallbadder. Which was pretty scary to me because the doctor told me that i may have my baby early. So now that i have Presbyterian Health Plan and go to the doctor they seem nicer to me but since i cant afford 120.00 for both me and my son i have him on a salud program and when i take him i feel like the doctor treats him way different then if he had a helth plan. So what i'm getting at is if everyone has health care and some dont have to have to pay for it how are they going to be treated. When i take him to IHS it seems like they care more than when i take him to Presbyterian.
From your work last week, which presidential candidate’s health care policy proposals did you prefer and why (don’t forget the why.) Barack Obama plan is good because he wants to have helth care for everyone and for the ones who already have health care the cost will be lesser. I like the fact that if you lose your job and go to a new one your coverage goes with you. I like that because then you dont have to start all over by meeting you deductable over and over again or meeting you out of pocket.

[dstixrud]

Reform in our healthcare system is necessary and soon. National Health Insurance has been a mantra heard time and again during this campaign season. Yes, National Health Insurance would bring soaring costs for prescriptions and other health related items under control. I am employed by the largest not for profit hospital in the Albuquerque area and pharmaceutical representatives and representatives from other health related businesses frequent providers. these reps with come the intent to "wine and dine" with catered lunches or brunches to market their products. Couple this with the costs of TV ads for prescription drugs and watch costs soar! The US should follow the example of Norway and only allow OTC's to be publicly advertised. A decrease in the cost of prescription drugs would surely follow.
Many of President elect Obama's opponents feel that a National Health Insurance model would have a negative impact on our healthcare system leading to decreases in qualitative and quantitative care. Out of curiosity, I chose to investigate the Norwegian healthcare system. Norway is one of the wealthiest and most highly educated countries in the world. It is also considered the most gender equal in the world. With that in mind I compared maternity benefits. In Norway, a mother receives 42 weeks paid maternity leave from the National Insurance Scheme ( the name of Norway's National Health System). This is paid at 100% of the weekly wage the mother was earning! If the mother was not a wage earner six of ten months prior to pregnancy she would receive NKr 33,584 or $4, 866.54 from the NIS to insure she was able to nurture her child without excess financial anxiety. Here in NM any form of maternity leave would be at the employer's discretion. When comparing these policies, a statement is made by both of these countries. Norway's voice is loud and clear: We value our children, we guard our future. What does the US policy say?

[Marcus D'Ambrosio]

Although the U.S. is advanced in many areas, I believe it is very sad that our health care plan ranks 37th in the world. I believe we could learn a lot from Great Britain. They pay about half as much as Americans, have a longer life expectancy, and everyone is covered. The only drawback is that waits for surgeries like a hip replacement might be lengthy. The NHS in Great Britain is working out these issues to better the program as a whole. I like that insurance cannot lead someone into bankruptcy in the U.K. People also aren't punished or turned away for having pre-existing conditions. As a self-employed epileptic, I have dealt with insurance rejection plenty. Uninsured my epilepsy medication costs nearly $400 a month. I am on independent insurance and pay a very large amount because I cannot get on a group plan being self-employed, and have a pre-existing condition. I am just grateful to have a fairly steady income otherwise I would be without my anti-seizure medication . I was mostly impressed with Obama's plan because there is guaranteed eligibility and easier access to generic drugs.

[Teresa D]

I believe that the government should start taking care of the people than taking care of eachother. In some ways it feels like the people of the government are doing just fine so they don't worry about anyone else. They have jobs and in turn means they have health insurance, so why do they have to care about me. I got in a really bad car accident and broke my neck it wasn't my fault but I was driving and now I'm debt like $600. Most of my bills were covered because I am under my dad's insurance but I still owe a lot. I am a student trying to work, get an education, and take care of my family but that is a lot of money to pay and interest is growing. Other countries cover more people and waist less money. They say that all the other countries are spending too little money on health care but, all the people are taken care of. The U.S. would not like Great Britian's system because of the taxes but maybe another syatem might work like The NHI or the Bismark model. I agree with president Obama's preposal on health care it is made to work for the people who need it and not the drug and insurace companies. It is not set on people getting rich but helping people. Thats what the country needs to get back to taking care of people and not getting rich.