ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

I am for all of the above, however, at what cost for health care if everyone participates. I am not for discounted health care. AND, I am not for paying for those who are illegals in this country.

All profit motives should be removed or a single payer system must be developed. Our health care problems are specifically related to corporate bottom lines. Take the corps out and put healthcare back in.

I am one year away from Medicare, and have been looking forward to having medical insurance for the first time in TEN years. I have commented before that many doctors in my city are refusing to take Medicare patients, dumping their Medicare patients, leaving a huge chunk of population with no chance to receive serious medical care if they need it. My father, who died with Alzheimer's Disease (and other ailments) in November 2008 at age 90, had nothing but Medicare, and I am still receiving huge hospital and doctor bills from his final illnesses. I cannot pay them, he left no estate, nobody is going to get paid for care he rightfully received.

I'm one of the lucky ones. I am healthy. I am still working. But ... well, I AM 64 and I am well aware that the chances of my dying quietly in my sleep at age 103 are slim. Most of us don't. Apparently many doctors won't take Medicare because it no longer covers much of anything that would give them proper diagnostic information (when it finally pays, which is incredibly slow), and most of us cannot pay the huge costs of these tests or treatments. So we sure need Medicare reform. We need medical cost reform. But we need our doctors (HEAR ME ON THIS ONE) to get paid so they will continue to stay in practice and enthusiastically treat us when we need them.

And what about those of us who truly prefer to stay at home, but we cannot get help at home to remain so? The cost of nursing home care is also huge, and not all that good, and there are lots of us who cannot/will not go there. What about allowing us to have round-the-clock care at home with Medicare assistance, if our doctor prescribes it? I, for one, am planning to erect a platform in my tree, go up there on a freezing night, and just sleep away. Okay, maybe I'm kidding. But maybe not. But I sure would like to have at least one good physical before I go from a doctor who will take the Medicare I hope I can still get a year from now.

The United States needs a single payer health care system where the healthcare providers remain private enterprises.

Insurance companies provide NO healthcare services.

Healthcare services are provided by doctors, hospitals, nurses, etc.

Insurance companies function for the sole purpose of withholding or delaying payment to providers in order to enhance their bottom line.

We must have a choice which says "Single Payer Health Care System", such as HR676 Improved Medicare for All. Get the profit-making costs out of the health care system.

Since Medicare and AARP (United Healthcare) are insurances for the senior citizens it should provide "decent" coverage for dental and optical. After all, what else do the majority of seniors have in common than those two problems that come with aging--glasses and related eye problems, and dentures or preventative dental services to try and prevent the need for dentures. This should really come under preventative health care. Many seniors cannot afford these services which are rather costly and it affects their health overall.

I want to see Universal Single Payer health care.

Going back to the law of large numbers, which dominates the Insurance industry,the same would apply to a reasonable Healthcare Plan for Americans.
Unfortunately the Politicians are not RISK managers but POLICY GEEKS.
The biggest reason HRC's plan was shot full of holes was the control by the INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
The AARP should have enough exposure via the NET and membership to WRITE a comprehensive Healthcare plan to be submitted to the Government. I find it beyond belief to allow the POLITICIANS to come up with THE PLAN.

The FED already has the buying power for approved drugs that could be purchased for distribution directly from a Physcians Computer.
Rather than a common sense approach I see the moneys being misused for fringe elements that have nothing to do with Wellness or Health care.
I can see part of the BILL dedicating money for sex change opperations for individuals who SAY their SEX is trapped in the wrong sex body. But worse than that is the LIMITING of Healthcare to individuals beyond a predetermined AGE as it is already done in other countries. Listen close to HRC and you will hear her say the same in PC terms.

I have two mmedications they are not generic. they work very well eith me. My doctor agrees with me. Why if I am willing to pay must I take generic?

availability for all. Eye exams, dental care. the young and between years, those who work in areas that are not insurance, fast food, warehousing and the stay home moms whose spouse can not afford to apply for medical. The UNDER EMPLOYED. The Part time worker. The child who cares for her elderly parent, stays home to feed and care them.. or a child who has a diseae. WE have an Autistic Grandson whose moms stays home to care for him... with no insurance for herself. We have a bi-poler grandchild as well who needs extra help for meds and dental. and the very elderly so need meds that are $100 for 4 or 5 dozes.

Need I go on and on. I know you get 1000's and 1000's of messages on the same thing..Barbara Wescott

I think we should have free health care for those that cannot afford it and all of the above, on the poll, for those that are able to afford health care. The UK has both and it is working very well.

- Simplify university medical student programs to speed creation of doctors. Lower daily residency hour requirements for doctors permitting them to work in private offices under guidance of other doctors.

- Enable RN's and PA's to treat minor injuries nationally without presence of a M.D.

- Permit everyone to purchase medical coverage nationally, across State lines creating more competition.

- Allow importation of foreign made drugs via Internet.

- Remove requirement for doctors prescriptions for most medications as in most So. American countries.

- I do not want a government employee to decide if I can see a doctor or when. There is more MRI equiptment in Boston than all of Canada.

Socialized medicine as preferred by AARP does not work. Look at the other countries that use it and see how care is rationed. The countries that use it don't as a general rule have care in all fields of medicine. Look at Canada. The waiting time for what is routine care in the US would not be tolerated. Additionally many medical situations are farmed out to hospitals in the US. Try to get major orthopedic procedures done on a timely basis in Canada. The only way to get it done in a hurry is permisson to get care here. The medical care nation wide is about 14% of the gross domestic product. Get the government out out care and prices will come down.

Is stupidity just part of getting old? Obama is going to change your health care allright, but then when you need a hip replacement or a heart transplant, they will simply say NOPE; you're too old, just like they they do in other socialist countries.

Wake up you people! The main thing we need to change is the people running this country.

jds/united states of france

Three words: Medicare for All

AARP should stop promoting socialism. All we hear from AARP is gimmee, gimmee, gimmee, for all people in the US over 50. What has happened to self reliance and people taking care of themselves. It has been proven many times before that socialized medicine does not work. Ask your Canadian freinds who come to the US for health care. Why don't you talk about how great our health care is compared to almost everywhere else in the world. Could it be because that AARP is primarily an insurance company. I am nearly 75 and would love to have back what I and my employers over the years have paid for medical insurance because I could pay for all of the healthcare costs for me and my dependents with that money and have lots left over.

AARP should be lobbying on behalf of the members to retain the way of life we expect after retirement, not lobbying to provide social services to the illegals, drug users and minorities. Regarding health care the Democrat plan to provide health care to everyone and reduce the cost by rationing care to the elderly is absurd and AARP should be lobbying against this instead of supporting it. When the government wants to HELP, this means high cost, corruption and inefficiency.

I agree with Linda. You know, you hear about people in countries like Canada or the UK...and all you hear is the negative. Yes, folks in those countries do pay higher taxes but at least they are all assured care...from the poor to those more affluent.

There two other important things that we need to change while we're under the current program is to provide free well-patient checkups. Think about it, what costs more; the single vist for a checkup or the costs of advanced illness?

The other thins is that when I go to my doctor today, she can only deal with one diagnosis at a time. That's an insurance rule! So, if there's a second complaint that I have, I have to make another appointment, at another time, and I'm charged yet again for what could have been addressed during the first visit! That makes no sense!

I am on Medicare and an Advantage Program. I am extremely happy with my current coverage. The health care plan that AARP supports will do away with the Advantage Plans, even though they currently promote them. I prefer the choice of Avantage Plans because I am assured a doctor. If I were on straight Medicare I would not be able to find a doctor. What good is Medicare if no doctor wants to take you on as a patient?

As a practitioner of preventive health and education services, I see an urgent need to teach self-responsibility for health behaviors. Likewise, there is an urgent need to control escalating costs in all sectors of the industry. The GNP continues to show disproportionate inflated medical care costs. Nothing has been done to systematically reduce the cost of insurance premiums, pharmacy, diagnostic and medical testing, or service fees. Fraud within the medicare reimbursement system is unmanageable, suggesting that further government regulation or assistance will only create an even more unwieldy mess. Healthcare is a "business," rather than a basic human service or need. Simple prevention is ignored, with a mere 5% of the budget devoted to these services. Ninety-five percent of all expenses are sustained in the last 5 years of life. There is a structured health department system in place that could be the go-to medium for basic health services, yet it's image is tarnished as a sub-standard means of care provision. All of these issues need to be systematically addressed in order to create an effective, streamlined and reasonable system. When it comes to medical spending, we philosophically believe we should all receive unlimited care, yet no one wants to write the check.

An uninsured friend of mine needed lithotripsy for kidney stones. The cost of the procedure was going to be approximately $30,000 at the regional medical center in Tennessee. Instead, the man flew to his native Poland, received state-of-the-art treatment there, and came home, all for about $5,000. So why is that?

There are so many powerful lobbyists in the picture, it will be difficult for any of the players to accept a smaller piece of the pie. Nevertheless, these costs are destroying our ability to live affordably or run businesses efficiently.

For a start, what about risk-stratified insurance premiums? I pay a high price personally as a self-employed individual. My personal health picture is excellent, my prevention strategies well-developed and effective, and my biological age some 20+ years younger than my actual age. Yet I am assessed a premium based upon an age-related peer group with whom I share nothing in terms of health status. This is exorbitantly unfair and each year, the thousands of health care dollars I contribute to the "system" go unused by me. My personal cost increases due to the lack of education and irresponsible health behaviors of my peer group. Would you like to pay the same rate as a high-risk driver even though your personal driving record is fine?

So, I am looking forward to joining the effort to move our population in a new direction, take contol of their lives, and reduce the disability and disease that is preventable with appropriate effort.

I notice that AARP is very "inclusive", as usual. The only choices allowed in the poll are those that expand the federal government role in health care. My choice would be "none of the above". Even better would be for the federal government to gradually wean everyone away from Medicare.

The "law of large numbers in the insurance" is the large number of dollars sucked into the black hole of duplicated insurance staffs delaying and denying coverage. One payor would eliminate that. We should all be mixed into the same system that covers our politicians. SCRAP Medicare and let us suffer in the same system that cares for Sen Frank

The United States of America sends millions and billions of dollars over sea’s to aid other countries health and welfare programs. In our own country, we have older citizens, homeless adults and children, regular Americans without the proper health care or medical medications.

It’s time we took care of our own first, give every American the same health care benefits the Congress members have. Get rid of the lobbyists, Insurance companies, and nationalize our Medication program.

Politicians treat their own people so poorly, and if the Democratic Party puts forth a program, the Republicans vote it down just because of party lines. The same with the Democratic Party. Maybe, we should get rid of all the political parties and everyone vote’s independent of a group party.

We need a single program that takes care of the needs of all our citizens in America, one we all can be proud of. One we can afford, one we can live with.

The last time I looked, it was still: We the People.

I would take the government out of the Health Care business altogether.

We should have single payer universal health care and get the insurance companies out of our pockets and eliminate all of that insurance company paperwork and expense and profit and denials and bankruptcies.

Obama's plan to socialize our nation's health care plan will make Medicare look good. He will destroy our economy and our health care. If the government cannot properly handle Medicare how are they going to handle medical health care for all Americans not to even mention the illegals we are now supporting. All illegals should be deported and not allowed to become American Citizens. The amopunt of money we have allput into SS should have been far more than what we take out if the Democrats had just allowed us to draw the appropriate interest rates instead of squandering it on themselves and their pet projects. I say NO to Socialized Medicine and give us our fair share when we retire. Make all politians retire unter Medicare and see what happens.

What we need to do is clean up our current system and get control of the costs & eliminate the fraudulent activities. Start a good wellness program that has an initial focus on preventative health care. Promote individual responsibilty and allow individuals to seek the best health care package available throughout the country so that competition is unrestricted. Companies, hospitals, doctors and others involved in the health care industry need to be able to make a profit they also need to be exposed to a competitive environment so that their fees are fair. The cost of universal healthcare run by the government is extreemly high and notoriously inefficient. Quoting Canada as an example is only good if you wish to show what can & does go wrong with a government run program and how much it costs. I personally have family and friends there and know about the long waits, poor service and inability to find or change doctors. AARP needs to STOP promoting socialism and start supporting indivual responsibilites and making sure our constitution is not being compromised.

This is certainly a stacked poll. I pay more for my 13 prescription drugs than I care to and I pay more on co-pays and owe more on non insured procedures than I prefer to. However, there is no free insurance not now, not ever. One way or another there are costs associated with everything. Someone is going to have to pay.

Being one who is on limited income and will have to pay taxes on his social security because I make too much money but not enough to deal with health or personal emergencies or what I would like to do, I don't like "soak the rich", "somebody else pays", "the government must solve all my problems" schemes. Various groups, including, sadly AARP, seem to be promoting class warefare.

AARP's approach to every social issues is a "stuck in the sixties" "let's protest" mentality that is nothing less than group think. AARP wants us to love the new Big Brother. Government control of everything is not freedom. Government is no longer the people and the people are nolonger the government.

Surely there has to be a solution that will preserve capitalism, provide health care, not reduce medical providers and care givers to financial slavery and maintain something resembling freedome of choice. How many times have we heard people say that they don't want the government in their bedrooms, their wombs, etc.? The very same people want the government in our wallets, minds and our vhoice of how we live.

How can we take control of health care or anything when too many people are asking the government to do it all? We won't be taking more control of our lives, the government will! I no longer trust the government. It is too intrusive in people's live already. Everyone who is crying for "free health care" is just making it that much easier for the new dictatorship of the political class to control the individual. If I wanted to live in Europe, I'd move to Europe, if I had anything left after the government confiscates my money, my rights and my freedom of though.

I don't trust Obama, Frank, Kennedy, Durbin, Pelosi, Reed all most all rank and file Democrats and a good many Republicans. The gimme gimme gimme comments of some AARP members shake my faith in the future of this country. I suppose that ultimately, like Winston Smith, I too will learn to love Big Brother, but not yet. Obama: lies you can believe in!

I don't think that the Elite Left Wing Liberals want to provide health care especially they just want to replace capitalizim with Socializim. Just check out other countries that have Universal health care systems. The quality and availability goes down. We have the best health care system in the world. I agree that it is too expensive and something needs to be done to get it lower, but I don't want the government involved. They have not been able to make the Post Office work after all these years, think what they will do when they can dictate who will recive treatment and when. No more relationship with your Doctors. Why do you think that people in Canada come here to get timely and better quality of medicle care.

I am so tired of AARP who is in the pocket of OBAMA telling me to call my congressman to vote for this CRAP. I pay me dues and want my voice heard. This Administration is going to Bankrupt this country and turn it into Socializm is OBAMA is the GREAT Savior.

In your MicroPole above, you left out my choice: None of the above! The AARP is a Service Organization NOT a political arm of President Obama and his drive to socialize our medical care. I do not believe any government operation can function better than our free enterprise system, weather it is power generation, car manufacturing, banking, insurance, AND medical care! Just look at the US Postal Service and Amtrak. Even the Congress of the United States can't read the bill they vote upon.

If you ask me what's broken, my answer is the US Government, especially the Congress! We should work to keep them OUT of our business!

I believe that intergrative health care is the way to go. I started integrating naturalpathic healthcare into my lifestyle about ten years ago, mainly because mainstream healthcare could not determine what was wrong with me, and I am amazed at how good I feel. I feel better at 54 then I did at 44. Currently the A.M.A. strongly discourages M.D.'s from integrating naturalpathic measures such as the use of botanicals, like lemons for for detoxification, and energy medicine, like meditation to reduce stress. There is alot of great information and studies out there on the use of natural measures to improve and maintain ones health. Mainstream healthcare is great for tramas and surgery but they have fallen way short on chronic conditions. I feel we need to get the ball rolling and integrate these natural measures into our Dr.'s offices, so that we can keep people out of the hospitals and off of the costly medications. I has worked for me.

Let's start by calling it Wellness. Then let's stop this nonsense of the medical profession telling you that 'they can't take new patients'!! You can't get in to see a physician anymore. You get a primary care person, and if you're not happy have 45days to change, or if they decide they don't want you as a patient anymore, they just transfer you after 'discharging' you as a patient, and not telling you about it or why? How is that health care? How is it affordable, when you pay for the insurance, and a co-pay on top of it. When your income is limited, there is no break in taxes for what you've spent unless it's over $5,000. I don't have much more than that all year to live on. None of it is working if the 'medical' field thinks they have a say in who it is they can or can't see as patients. Where are the rights of all seniors?????????????? Nowhere!
Wellness is a check-up. Healthcare is a word that means someone else is in charge of what or when you can get anything if at all. Fed-up! And tired of AARP asking me to donate? Donate to me, I've worked hard all my life and have to start over, because our system quite frankly sucks! I am now a Wellness Practitioner, and will not turn away anyone if they do not have the funds, or insurance. If the focus is changed to wellness,we won't need the care. Anyone else understand this??

I will not support a call to my representatives to vote yes on health care reform without knowing the details of the actural "reform". I will never support a one payer system because I believe it will lead to rationing of care even for critical cases as I have observed in a specific case in Great Britain. A friend of mine who lives about 50 miles north of London had an operable brain tumor diagnosed when it was quite small. The waiting list for brain surgerey meant a 6 month wait for treatment. By that time the tumor had grown to the size of a soft ball and the treatment required removal of a segment of his skull and insertion of a steel plate. The permanent damage seems almost certainly to be greater than would have been the case if treatment had followed within a short time after diagnosis. Ironically this friend had lived in the United States for more than 20 years before returning to Great Britain a few years ago. He and his wife regularly schedule visits to the U.S. for dental care because they believe it is too restricted under the universal health care provided in Great Britain. But they had opted to depend on the universal system for other health care. That is not the kind of health care system we need in the United States.

Conversely, some years ago when my Dad was in his early 80's he had an episode with kidney stones. At the time the machinery to pulverize kidney stones in place using an ultrasonic device was very new. But one was available even in Mississippi where my Dad lives. His income is quite limited being only the quite small monthly payments, from Social Security based on his lifetime as the operator of a small farm. His medical "insurance" consisted of Medicare and a supplemental policy from AARP which he still has at the age of 92. Within a couple of hours of diagnosis, he was treated using the very latest existing technology for the purpose. His lack of ability to pay was not a roadblock to his getting critical care. He later received a notice of the cost of treatment, not a bill. His remark to me was, "I don't know how those folks in Washington can come up with this kind of money. I hope they know what they are doing."

I agree that we need an extended discussion of how to improve our system. But, the wholesale adoption of a single payer system because some believe the insurance companies are demons will "throw the baby out with the bath water".

A number of people have made good points about needed improvements in practices related to health education and preventative care. Those are issues that we need to expand upon.

Please - let's have and demand a detailed public discussion. Do not just call on our politicians to "vote for health reform" without looking carefully under the hood.

Hi,
My husband is 55 years old and has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. We have 4 daughters, two grown and two we adopted that are now 10 & 8. Needless to say, this has put an incredible burden on our family resources.
He is at the point where it would beneficial for all involved to place him in a facility, however my health insurance will only pay 100 days of "rehabilitive care" same as Medicare. Last time I knew Alzheimer's wasn't rehabiliitive. (sarcasm!)
I am frustrated at this point because I will have to change our current middle class lifestyle to pay for his care. As this is disease is getting more prevalent we need to help families meet these expenses without financially breaking them. I know I'm not alone.
Carol

The idea of "choice", of options where healthcare is concerned,tends merely to distract from the issue--we don't need a choice of options, we need the best available healthcare for all administered under a single payer system with no private insurance companies involved at any level. Any system that forces choices(under the rubric of giving options) on people, most of whom do not have enough knowledge to make critical health decisions and many of whom are often in no condition to do so anyway, stands on a foundation that actually destroys the health of many, actually distresses them to the point of hastening their death, while claiming to offer "better access to health care." As for whether a universal single payer system is capitalist or socialist, nothing could be more irrelevant--whether capitalist or socialist, the quality of such a system depends on the integrity and knowledge of the workers within it. The sooner we have good healthcare for all in a single payer system, the better.
03/26/09

After having read John Grisham's book, "The Rainmaker" and having seen the movie as well, we all know that the health insurance industry is very profit driven answering to investors on the bottom line versus actually taking care of us. Are there some insurance companies out there really trying to point us to preventative care? Yes, but unless individuals follow through on recommendations, it does not happen as it should.
Most of us have genetic family dispositions towards many conditions that no matter how much we work to avoid, still may come back and haunt us.
Some people above made comments about the healthcare systems in the UK and Canada. However, France is vastly different. People don't have long wait times for doctor appointments. They get the care they need which is very similar to ours. However, the red tape in offices is almost non-existent and one goes to a doctor's office and takes a number and is seen when called. Appointments may or may not be necessary. Sweden is also a very socialist country and we have never heard anyone complaining about their system there. Do they pay lots of taxes? Yes, but then they get the services and are covered for everything.
We also need to look very closely at statistics of other countries ( industrialized or not as much) and also look at infant mortality rates. This information probably can be found through the World Health Organization site. The United States is not at the top of the list for the least amount -- we are actually higher than many countries.
We need to closely examine the best and worst health care systems in other countries and "cherry" pick what we like the best.
We need to expand electronic medical records very quickly --not only for our own benefit, but also so that there are fewer errors--ie fewer prescription errors in no handwriting errors, no mix-ups with other medicines being taken as examples--also in having surgery as well--no operating on wrong side of body or wrong limb. Also if we are not at home, the information could easily be provided to the local provider and also sent back as well.
Eliminating red tape and the profit aspect of health care along with a far greater emphasis on preventative medicine could go much farther in extending our dollars. Would a single payer system benefit us--100% yes. Instead of premium dollars going to too many sources--if it went to just one and costs for services were pre-determined, there would be far fewer problems.
Also medical students should be subsidized because the cost of their educations are extraordinarily high as well.

Hi folks,
PLEASE talk to people from the U.K. or Canada if you are a senior citizen before having the AARP back this idiotic national health care that Obama is proposing. If you are over 65 and have a condition develope that will cost over $250,000.00( not all that hard at today's prices and the cost of open heart surgery ). You take your useful life minus your age, in this case 10 years, and divide it into the cost to find the effective cost of the procedure, in this case, $25,000.00, and if it is more than say $10,000.00, you are left to die. After all we do have to make this a cost effective system, don't we?

I am against any attempt by our government to become more involved in the U. S. health care industry or to institute any kind of system that in any way resembles those that have been set up in Canada and England and various European countries. A government controlled system system will surely discourage private investment in hospitals and the physical and infrastructural aspects of the health care industry. As a consequence, as the cost of health care rises, which it surely will, given the inefficiencies and incompetence of most government bureaucrats, more money will be poured into the system to deal with complaints, which will also begin to increase for the same reasons, and money needed for new physical facilities and better doctors and nurses will be syphoned off for administrative overhead and to pay the increased cost of union employees. Our government run health care system will begin to resemble our government run postal system and, as is true in England and Canada, our government run hospitals will begin to crumble and become over crowded and people will begin to die due to lack of proper care.

I have a few problems with the way AARP seems to avoid the issue of Illegal Aliens and our health care costs, and the efffect they have on our Social Security Benefits. Everyone agrees that all of the benefits listed in the poll above are ideal. What very few people agree to is giving those same benefits to illegal aliens. Its about time AARP members starting speaking up about this issue.

The value of employer provided health benefits should be included as taxable income to employees coupled with an annual tax deduction per individual of some amount. A $5000 deduction has been discussed. I don't know what the correct amount is but this approach would increase non covered individuals incentive to obtain coverage and make them equal to those individuals whose employer provides coverage.

You don't need to post this, just wanted to know why you are editing these comments? What is your criteria for editing?

Politicians continually talk about the high cost of healthcare and at the same time say that taxpayers should keep more of their money. Why aren't the tax laws revised to accomplish this? For example, reduce or eliminate the 7.5% of AGI that is taken from healthcare costs before such costs are deductible; or at least have insrance plan costs as direct tax deductions. Being able to have more money as a result of these deductions will improve the individual's ability to choose the coverage that is best for them, NOT the governemnt.

There should be NO national healthcare system. I've travelled often to Canada, the UK and other countries that have government run healthcare systems. THEY DON"T HAVE THE LEVEL OF CARE THAT WE HAVE IN THE US, just ask the pepole who live there.

I agree with Howard Baker. I've heard & read a lot of war stories about Health Care Systems. I believe the problem with our system, is that the people who get all the perks are the Illegal Aliens who come into our country & get everything free because this is the USA way. We need to change that law that says we will take care of all aliens who enter our country. We don't get that when we travel to other countries, WE HAVE TO PAY for services rendered. I think when we change the way we do things, when it comes to other countries, we'll find money to take care of our own. Lower cost for health care for all 100% U.S. CITIZENS. Let's take our country back & take care of our own. No other country take care of visitors like we do.

I think that we have the finest medical care system in the world. I am 69 years old, on Medicare and I have it administered through Humana.
During the past three months, I had three expensive medical situations develop. First, I passed a kidney stone. A morning in the ER at the hospital and I went home feeling fine. Cost me only a small co-pay. As a result of the kidney stone episode, my blood work-up revealed a high PSA reading. I was sent to the Urologist ($30 copay) and was told the digital exam revealed that my prostate was abnormal---a biopsy was necessary to examine tissue samples. The biopsy revealed prostate cancer, stage 7 on the Gleason Scale. I opted for radical prostatectemy. While this was going on, I developed an infection in a tooth. It was determined that the tooth's root was cracked and the tooth needed to be removed. I was sent to an oral surgeon who removed the tooth and later inserted a titanium screw in my jaw so that a crown could be later installed. I had dental insurance, but an $1,100 co-pay was required. I delayed the installation of a new crown until next year because the insurance had a $1,000 annual limit of coverage.
I drew on a MSA (medical savings account) that I had set-up years ago. It had a balance of around $3,000 in it and it easily covered the $1,100 that I was required to pay to the oral surgeon.
After the tooth removal and titanium screw, I went on to my radical prostectomy. My Urologist had privileges atsSeveral hospitals in the area. I called my first choice, asked if they accepted Humana's schedule of terms and payments. They said no. I did the same with my second choice. They said yes. On March 10, 2009, I underwent the radical prostectomy procedure and everything went fine. My cancer was removed. I had a $950 co-pay for the stay in the hospital. Again I drew on my MSA to cover that.
All of this is to support my contention that normal, average people can make plans to cover their medical expenses within the constraints of Medicare and Dental Insurance. There must be some advance thinking, of course. But isn't that our responsibility! Have we devolved to the level of simple organisms that cannot plan for the eventualities of life? I am not wealthy. My wife and I have always lived simply. I don't own a boat, snowmobile, motorcycle, second home, RV, big screen TV or anything like that. We don't jet off to Europe, Mexico or other exotic places. But, we don't want for anything because we have planned and saved all of our lives.
I cannot agree at all with AARP's constant efforts to get more out of the Federal and State governments for our benefit. I belong to AARP because my membership gets me discounts for various things.

What should we do about our healthcare system. First of all, don't destroy it! Secondly, before handing out freebies to everyone, make certain that they consider healthcare the number one priority in their lives. If you smoke, quit. If you are obese, lose weight. If you don't exercise, get off your fat ass. If you think that you cannot afford supplemental insurance, evaluate your priorities and get rid of non essential things before crying for a handout.

One of these commentaries talks about the great health care systme in France. I have lived in France. One of my young children had a high fever. I called a local doctor and he came to my apartment and diagnosed and treated my child. I paid him directly, i.e. outside of the state system. He was happy to interact directly with me outside the controls of the state. Everybody who had a few francs to rub together did the same thing. The State system was deplorable. I have a friend from Ontario, CA. I told him of my prostate situation. He asked how it was diagnosed. He said that in Canada, you cannot even get a PSA test unless you can prove a family history of prostate cancer. What a great system, eh.

People who want us to jump into a state controlled health system are idiots. They either cannot or will not take any responsibility for their personal lives. We should not be condemned to tender mercies just because they are so lacking.

I firmly believe the pharmaceutical companies should not be allowed to waste money on television commercials and should be heavily regulated by the government. They always cite the high cost of research and development for the high cost of pharmaceuticals, I do not believe it! I think they should be made to prove it before charging the outlandish amount of cash for pills! I am taking Janeuvia which is costing 260.00 per month, folks, that is just too high for a pill! The cost should more closely reflect the cost of actual production!

I DEFINATELY BELIEVE THAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDS TO OVERHAUL ITS CURRENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BUT I VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE GIVING CARE TO ILLEGAL ALIENS. I ALSO OPPOSE SOCIALIZED MEDICINE LIKE EXISTS IN CANADA. IN THAT SYSTEM PATIENTS WITH NO CLOUT DO NOT GET HELP. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE FAMOUS CASE OF THE MAN WHO HAD BRAIN CANCER AND COULD NOT GET AN MRI. OTTAWA IS ALSO EXPERIENCING ISSUES WHERE ONLY THE HIGHEST INCOME PEOPLE REALLY GET MEDICAL CARE. THE SYSTEM IS ALSO VERY SLOW. WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY IS TO CUT OUT THE GREED OF THE PHARMACISTS AND MEDICAL CARE PROVIDERS. WE HAVE THE MOST EXPENSIVE PRESCRIPTIONS IN THE WORLD. MY BROTHER BOUGHT A PRESCRIPTION FOR HIS ALLERGIES IN ITALY AND IT COST HIM $6 ... HERE IT COSTS HIM $60. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN NEWS ARTICLES ON PUBLIC TV SHOWING HOW AMERICANS ARE GETTING SURGERIES IN INDIA FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST THEY CHARGE IN THE STATES. THIS BLATANT PIRACY OF THE SICK IN AMERICA MUST STOP. WE HAVE GREAT MEDICAL CARE IN THIS COUNTRY AND ACCESS TO PHARMACEUTICALS BUT THE SYSTEM IS PURPOSEFULLY WASTEFUL THRU DUPLICATION OF SERVICES AND OVER CHARGING ON ALL HEALTH RELATED SERVICES JUST SO THAT THE PROVIDERS CAN GREEDILY LINE THEIR POCKETS WITH MONEY IN THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHERE ONE CAN STILL GET RICH OFF OF OTHER PEOPLE'S SUFFERING. BOTTOM LINE -- STOP LISTENING TO THE LOBBYISTS AND DO A MEANINGFUL WASTE CUTTING AND COST CUTTING REFORM OF OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE LITERALLY KILLING PEOPLE!

I do not approve of socialized medicine. I believe that we should all carry our own weight and not expect hard working people to carry the load for people not willing to work for a living. Unable to work is a different situation and they need help. I feel that our Congress should get the same social security and health care as everyone else without all their perks. The people we've elected have to be treated the same as we are and then changes would be made for the good. If you want good competent Doctors, you can not salary them as a salesperson. They have too many years, too much money invested and too much responsibility to downgrade our medical profession. We do need change, but not the kind this country is heading.

FYI: I believe the Government ran VA Health-care system could be classified as a pure Socialist operation. A good percent of these Veterans would be denied Insurance by private, for profit companies and termed bad risks if the VA did not exist. Correct me if I'm wrong but I remember reading that each Vet costs the Government under $ 2000 a year. If the amount your paying gives you a feeling of being ripped-off, it should, your most likely paying twice that amount for your co-payment. Health-Insurance and it's maximization for profits is a main reason the US is not globally competitive at anything any more. Thank god the VA exists for those who have put their lives on the line for you. Bottom line, the Government is good at providing heath-care for a very low price and oh by the way the Veterans medical records have been on-line for a number of years now:

If care by Naturopathic Physicians was included in Medicare it would result in a much healthier population by emphasizing preventive care and use of natural medicines -- both would SUBSTANTIALLY lower health care costs.

All those who want a government run single payer health care system, watch out.
Doctors who are the best will go to private practice for those who have the money to pay for personal treatment. Companies will use private practice healthcare as incentive to keep the best employees.
The current system is far from perfect, but it can get worst with goverment intervention.

If you live downwind from a close neighbor who burns firewood on a daily basis, use charcoal grill frequently during summertime, chain smoking around daily, spraying pestcides excessively and nasty things like that, you ought to have a right to tell your neighbor to stop doing it .. There is no law or regulations dealing with such nusiances like those and they are serious threats to your health... I have a neighbor doing exactly all of the above with possible intent to do harm to me, I guess. I am slowly murdered by my neighbor but no one is coming to my rescue..

I would like to see to get Medicare at age of 62, so I can retire early instead of 66, because you will never know when I die. Also, I am sick of tired for working for someone else. They do not use common sense how to run their company and they take away our benefits, so they hurt us badly. They do not care about the little guys, but themselves.

Government services should be that of overseeing supply/demand compliance and educating consumers, rather than legislating prices. Only governments pay too much for hammers, toilets or anything!

Affordable economies operate properly when supply and demand operates solely between the consumer and the manufacture. Wiggle either side, and prices will move up or down. I suspect there is enough people who would like to become qualified physicians, but medical schools have not produced them. Who benefits here? Additionally, excess demand has been placed upon the health care system by people unnecessarily using, maxing out, company provided health care services. Who benefits here? Use it because it is free, is not true!

The essence of my comment is this: People must demand that their elected officials insure compliance with law, legislate good law, and fire those that do not. Pay attention to what your elected officials are doing, always vote and communicate with them. Fire those that disobey and/or self serve. Teach your children and others to do the same. Then, and only then, should government be allowed to interfere with free market prices.

We already have health coverage in Medicare but don't call it insurance. It is not. It is all old sick people like me. Insurance companies insure the well who don't need much paid out as well as sick people who do. You have coverage in Medicare but if everyone was paying the premium as well as the payroll tax when working, and only the sick are using the services, it would be Insurance. I am an old hard line fiscal conservative but on this issue there are no more bandaides. I am going to be politically incorrect now...The real problem with healthcare is that hospitals and doctors must make up for those who don't or cannot pay, in particular non citizens. Between a war that is costing us billions and non citizen services that is costing the same, we have killed the goose that paved the golden streets my ancesters came here to walk. Except for medical reform I'm mad as H... about the spending that has destroyed my children and grandchildren's future. No pre-existing illness clauses and a portable insurance plan....NO MORE BANDAIDES. I guess I am a grumpy old man.

Healthcare should be available to everyone. Preventive care saves money and reduces the need for hospitalization. Universal care facilitates the provision of preventative care.

At this time, even basic treatment is not equally available. Yes, there are limitations to universal health care, but there are clearly even bigger limitations to pay as you go health care when insurance companies are reaping benefits rather than the patient. Remove government and the prices will go down? I doubt that - as long as there is a profit motive and the insurance companies ccontinue to play that middleman role, where the profit is maximized, it seems highly unlikely.

We do not have equality now - what is available in one state isn't always available in another state, often creating an impetus for patients to move to an area where there is more availability and putting more strain on that area and its residents. Nationwide availability of basic health care is essential. Studies have demonstrated repeatedly that preventive care saves money, often costing less than 1/10 of treatment.

If Mr Obama and his cohorts would concentrate more on getting the thirty million plus illegals out of our country and off the free medical care rolls medical cost would go down.

I wish they would look at preventative care more closely. Preventing serious illness can be as simple as having access to well visits or as complex as offering dental care to stop the onslaught of illnesses brought on by not having proper dental care. If you are a disabled or elderly adult who depends on medicare or medicaid for insurance you will not be allowed dental care. Without dental care they teeth will deteriorate and cause problems. Not just cosmetic but real health issues. An unrepaired cavity will turn into an absessed tooth which can enter the blood stream and become septic or create a clot to travel to the brain, lungs or heart... now you are really in the need of health care. Wouldn't fixing the cavity be cheaper? We have to really look at long term. YOu can say preventative is making people make good choices, that won't work and is just wrong.

I think that the focus needs to change on the way the system is "working"?? I have to wonder why a lot of these things are so very expensive to begin with and why "the system" makes it so difficult for people to get their own SS that they have paid into for so many years while they just decide to "GIVE" it to illegal allians. It is cleat that changes need to be made and soon but I do not thnk that socialized health care is the answer. These problems need to be brainstormed and something entirely new needs to be put in place as soon as possible that once again makes sense of life. Regulate insurance companies control and costs--- They need to stop dictating what a person can or cannot get for care.

The Obama administration is planing to ration health care to senior citizens. They have a plan, which I have not yet seen, to assess if a medical procedure for a senior citizen is cost effective. If they determine it isn't it's goodby grandpa. I would have never imagined that I would live to see the day euthanasia used in the U. S., except for abortion. AARP says they will fight euthanizing senior citizens, but as yet I have not seen them strike a blow against it and I doubt if I will. Why do you want to see the best medical system in the world destroyed?

I don't think much of the choices. I want UNIVERSAL SINGLE PAYER health care such as that in all the other industrial nations. And I am sick of hearing that they have "socialized medicine" - they have "civilized medicine.” Our current system is extremely wasteful and inefficient because of the plethora of insurance plans with different coverages, premiums, co-pays, deductibles. The billing costs to hospitals and doctor's offices to wade through that jungle are enormous -plus the doctors have to spend time arguing with insurance companies over needed treatments - time better spent treating patients. Then there are the enormous emergency room costs paid for by local and state governments (i.e., taxpayers) for the increasing numbers of uninsured and underinsured who end up there in much worse shape because they did not have access to health care at the onset of their problem. And a catastrophic illness will pretty well wipe out anyone - can lose job, home, go bankrupt.
If businesses were not expected to cover health insurance, they might hire more employees and expand their businesses. They could contribute via a fair tax that would be much less.
Private insurance companies will not solve these problems - they are designed to make a profit.
We need a system where everyone pays a premium based on ability to pay, and the savings from the above could better cover those who could not afford anything before they get to the emergency room.
A private study of different plans in Colorado found the state could save $1.4 billion with single payer.

But, I don’t expect AARP to support this idea as it is teamed up with health insurance companies and health care providers, sells their products (among many others) and gets corporate royalties for doing so. Check out http://archive.nlpc.org/pdfs/AARP%20Special%20Report.pdf
companies, health care providers,

We need a change of Presidents, at least one that knows what he is doing...This man is going to bankrupt America....imho

Socialized medicine is a joke, I am a former Canadian and Try to get a doctor appointment when you need one!! My Aunt had a lung infection and was told she had to wait for 2 months to see her doctor, what kind of health care is that?? I would have been tearing down the walls if I was able to (and I'm not). That's why I immigrated (legally mind you)to the USA because of their health care for one thing. I have an HMO (Cigna)plus Medicare and I am very happy with it. My doctor visits & eye exams are zero dollars...My medications are $5.00 for generic and very reasonable co-pays for out patient surgeries. If our President gets his way all this will change for the worse, I might as well go to the UK or Russia etc.

1) Limit profit on a per patient basis from insurance companies. (there go the lobbyists)
2) Regulate all costs-hospitals, doctors, prescription drugs, insurance, etc. Determine average for each cost globally & set that as the limit.

The two suggestions above will require the doctors, hospitals, insurance companies to go back to the only way to show a profit....
volume.

They will HAVE TO compete for patients to be profitable.

Patients will be in the drivers seat.

Stop the drug companies from advertising prescription drugs and use that money to lower the prices of drugs.

What would I like to change? For starters, the President. Is everybody getting the change they can believe in? You can believe that they tried to make every GI pay for his or her own healthcare as a vet, only after an outpouring of rage did that get stopped. Can you believe that they are going to spend our way (as a country) into bankrupcy? Nothing is free, including health care; someone is paying for it through taxes, to pay taxes you have to earn money, that includes normally having a legitimate job. I'm all for everybody having free health care including me; sign me up. Still, someone has to pay for my healthcare, and yours. Who's going to volunteer first? I'm all for entitlements, but again, who's going to pay? Is it me and you through higher taxes? If I'm going to have to pay, then why do I need the governement to decide who I see and when I go?????

I think the first thing that has to happen is standardized billing. Everyone pays the same price regardless of insurance carrier. Secondly, there must be tort reform so that the cost of practising medicine isn't so high. The fear of malpractise results in many unnecessary and costly procedures, as well as pushing many excellent doctors out of the profession altogether.
I think pharmaceutical companies should not be allowed to advertise on TV. That just adds to the cost of prescription drugs, as well as doctors prescribing new drugs when older or generic drugs work as well.

If the President, the Senators and Congressmen, the liberal media, and organization like AARP would just quit lying about the state of the US healthcare system and address the real problems, then the cost of healthcare would become affordable to everyone. First, the medical industry is not broken and most prudent people would agree that you don't fix something that ain't broke. How many of you people take your car to the tire store to get a flat fixed when none of the tires are going flat?

The big lie, "Millions of Americans can't afford healthcare."
The first big truth; law forbids turning away anyone seeking medical care based on their inability to pay.
The second big truth; truth number one gives free healthcare to 30 million or so ILLEGALS at the expense of real Americans.

Three problems to fix:
1. Get the government out of the healthcare discussion! There is not one word in the Constitution guaranteeing the Right to Free (or even affordable) healthcare.
2. Get the insurance industry out of the healthcare question. Does anyone really believe that they keep selling policies because they lose money on them? Oh, if you think it's high now, wait until a law forces you to buy it, then they can charge any price their greedy butts feel like.
3. Force the government to perform the function the Constitution said that it would. Uphold and enforce the laws (Know what the definition of ILLEGAL is?), secure the borders, and provide for the military defense of the nation.

Problem solved.

Many argue that health insurance companies contribute to the high cost of health care. This is true. What else is true is how the high salaries of medical doctors add to the high cost of health care. Doctors do not need to make $350,000, $500,000, $750,000, $1,000,000 per year. That is greed. Doctors are not worth that much money. They should get help with their medical school costs and they should be paid fairly. All these doctors want to set up private practices to maximize profit. Then there is lack of communication between these different practices so patients who change doctors get poor continuation of care and duplication of services. So the patient pays more. Doctors are more interested in their practices than they are in their patients. Compassion is lacking.

Why is no one at AARP suggesting that the exorbitant profits made by drug manufacturers, medical equipment/supplies, etc. be examined? (Drug manufacturers spend more money on advertising than they do on research.)

I have asked this question of members of Congress only to be told that "we don't like to use price controls". Well, Medicare uses price controls every day by telling doctors, hospitals, etc what they will pay for a given procedure/medicine.

We don't need FREE health coverage, that would only be abused by the same people who go to an emergency room when they should be going to a doctor's office. The ER is free to them - no insurance and/or they have no money.

Start fixing the health care problem where it begins not where it ends.

I totally agree with the comment on 3/26/09 by J.F Elbrecht. The only viable long term solution is to get the insurance companies out of the picture and have a single payer program under Medicare. The Physicians for a National Health Plan web site (www.pnhp.org) has a comphrehensive plan which I wish AARP would start backing.

What is wrong with us as people ? Why can't we see that the problem is the system ? What I mean is look at the unholy alliance between the insurance companies, the drug companies, the FDA, the AMA, the American Bar Association, and ... shocker ... congress ! We the people MUST force or shame or somehow get our current and former elected officials to receive the same social security and healthcare benefits as the rest of us. It's just that simple. Once they have to get by like the rest of us ... all our problems will ... MAGICALLY ... go away. Trust me ... that's all it will take !!!

More than changes in the system we should change the attitude of doctors who do spend enough time to listen to patients problems. They are after money & look at the watch to make more money in the time they spend in their office. They should be asked to renew the pledge to serve the community by their knowledge they gain at the expense of community to get their M. D. degree.

In order to have universal health care, we must have universal Medicare.
Like so many others in this blog have mentioned, doctors are refusing to take Medicare patients. The effect is devastating to seniors.
I suggest that we enact legislation that says: If a doctor refuses to take Medicare patients (his/her right to do so), then he/she
cannot practice at any hospital that takes Medicare/Federal funding. Similiarly, if a hospital knowingly keeps a doctor on its staff that refuses to take Medicare patients, it will loose its Medicare/Federal funding.
To be fair, we must also have an independent audit of why doctors feel they cannot take Medicare Patients. Are they being greedy? Is Medicare being unreasonable? Why is it that doctors and hospitals want to charge patients 4 times what the insurance companies and Medicare ultimately pay them for the same services?

Since AARP is an organization who is supposed to be supporting it's members, I would like to see a poll of it's members about whether or not the members support it's position on health care reform.

My husband was laid off in August 2008. He is diabetic and cannot be without health insurance. In Arizona, unemployment pays a whopping $225.00 a week BEFORE taxes. COBRA health insurance costs $427.00 a month. Because of his field of expertise, working in the construction field for over 30 years, he is hard pressed to find a job because there are none to be had due to the economy and housing market. What about free health care for those laid off until they can get back on their feet? The government is giving away billions of dollars to stupid people/companies that got us in this mess who only have put the bailout money in their own pockets by way of bonuses as a reward for their making financially bad decisions, and now we are faced with higher taxes, additional taxes, higher utility bills, grocery bills without the income, but yet we have always made prudent financial decisions, done without things to pay our bills. I am tired of being punished for someone else's stupidity. No one is bailing me out, but just taking more money from us, when we now have a whole lot less to live on. Oh! Yeah! I have confidence in our elected officials . . . NOT!!! What has happened to common sense? If our government had only given the bailout money to the general public, it would have infused the economy, and we would have all been better off - not so many people would have lost their jobs, homes and health insurance. Stupid people doing stupid things . . . a/k/a Government and CEO's of big corporate America. Thank you for losing our retirement monies that we pinched and scrimped to set aside over many years. We now have enough to buy a loaf of bread in our old age.

First of all one has to understand this is a war and they, the insurance industry is the enemy which has been ripping you, us off for years. They are the middle man, the biggest hog in the trough, strictly in business to generate maximum profits. Most people mindlessly think there is a right and wrong, in business it is about profits, there is no hell waiting for a business if they do wrong. Our political elected parasites can change this, get in their face and demand that you want a health-insurance package just like the one that they have and you paid for. Insurance companies lobbyist own these political water boys, but they can't vote, you can and let them know you will make it a personal goal, if they don't vote your way you will toss their sorry a--es out in the street period! Enough is enough!

I am against AARP backing Obama when he is planning to ration healthcare for seniors. Who do you think are your customers? You should be spokesperson for the elderly. You can bet in socialism is the elderly who will be left out. Why are you taking this stance?
Ann Eason

none that I read, talk about seniors suffering of dental huge expenses. The funding available for low income seniors does not include bridges or root canals or anything more serious.

At our age after 60, we need to refurbish all our old dental work, but most of the health insurances HARDLY COVER that type of work like Dominion Dental and Federal Domiion Dental which only offers a small reduction on dental work.

I myself have invested most of my retirement money just keeping abreast of my expenses on dental work.

The Fairfax County does not help on this either. I am so tired of this problem and I am sure other seniors are too.

As of last week, I had to pay almost $8,000 to repair dental problems and keep me healthy.

And some done last year have produced problems too than now I have to worry constantly in paying again thousands of dollars on top of the ones I paid before.

Is there any monetary assistance for seniors like me that I could access ? -- please advice... thanks, maria

I would strongly suggest the AARP rethink their support for obamacare as it is the worst think to happen to this country in the last 100 years. Rationing of coverage is a certainty which means that seniors will be left out in the cold. I don't think you are representing your patrons with by supporting this abomination.
Yes, reform is needed but it can be done without destroying the current system entirely as this bill will do. People are always talking about competition being needed then open the borders of the states so that all the insurance companies can vie for everyone's business this is a solid way to decrease costs and improve service. A single payer system will do nothing more than put all these companies out of business and place all of us under the thumb of governement.

Please reconsider your support for Obamas health care bill.

thanks and God Bless,

Charles