Where do most of the uninsured live?

Sorry!

That was my attempt at humor, and sarcasm.

I'm not a nurse yet, but I have worked in the ER for quite a while and I also watch the news almost all day every day. Here's my take on things.

1) Those numbers for the amount of people who are uninsured, while accurate, do not tell the whole story. I forgot the exact percentage, but some huge percentage of the "uninsured" are really people who have nice, 4-bedroom homes, 3 cars, go on expensive vacations, and yet don't want to "waste" money on things like health insurance. So...why should my tax dollars pay it if they can afford it but don't want to?

2) I do think we may need some type of healthcare reform, just not the kind that's being shoved down our throats. It will take a lot longer than a year to come up with a plan for the reform that we would need.

3) It would be GREAT to be able to pay for every person's needs in this country, but considering we are on the verge of bankruptcy, do you really think we can afford the costs of paying for everyone's healthcare? I mean, just as it would be lovely to be able to pool our taxes together and pay for every person in the world to eat, and have medicinal and healthcare needs taken care of...this is not realistic. We simply cannot afford this.

4) I also forgot the statistic of the number of doctors who say they will retire if healthcare reform, as it currently is being described, passes. Some ungodly number that would put us into an even greater crisis.

5) Look at the countries that have government-run healthcare and see where they go for major surgeries. That's right. They come here. Because our system (regardless of whether or not it is able to take care of every single person) works pretty well and provides the best healthcare in the world.

6) Those greedy health insurance companies? 3.4% profit. That is so incredibly low. Soft drink companies make nearly 20%.

I would like to see a link to th source regarding insurance conpany profits.

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/20.../anthem-hikes/

http://www.latimes.com/la-fi-insure2...,5632237.story

I don't have the reference for the percentage because I saw it on the news. I found this link which states slightly different numbers, but same idea.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blu...finds-them-ane


Regardless of increasing health insurance, I don't know if insurance companies can do much about it because of the expense of malpractice insurance, cost of medicine, and all those other costs that factor in. I don't think you can expect cheaper healthcare when we provide some of the best healthcare in the world.

Maybe the executive salary, perks, and severence pay is considered an expense?

As someone whose father's recent medical bills accrued to nearly a million dollars, and also whose cousin's medical bills over the past 2 years did add up to a million dollars, it seems that the quality of our healthcare is what is so expensive. The fact that my father and cousin have survived because of excellent healthcare when they probably would not have made it (or still be on a waiting list, like they would have in some countries with government-run healthcare) makes me realize how first-rate our medical care is in this country. This is the reason why many excellent doctors and nurses leave their countries in order to practice in the United States.

If we want cheaper healthcare, I think we will pay the price for it.

I am very glad your father and cousin were able to receive the car they needed.

I think all our loved ones deserve the same.
Thse multimillion dollard in compensation are NOT part of the profits. They ar a business expense.

Is this Angela Braly person the exec who just testified in congress about the huge premium increase that they are planning for their Cali individual policy holders? And isn't she just one of dozens in just that one company alone who were paid millions of dollars in compensation packages each year? And what was the corporate profit for that group last year, even after those amazing salaries and bonuses and stock options are considered?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010...d_on_cont.html

Yes we have the best health care in the world...its just that increasing numbers of people cannot afford to access it and it costs us 16% of our GDP.

I want to be clear that I do think some type of reform is necessary. I just think what the kind that is in the works currently will DESTROY the great medical care we have currently. It will most likely mean lower quality healthcare. It will take a lot longer than a year to form a plan to get the kind of reform needed.

With our current congress it will take longer than a year...