Health care not a right

" USAF Mr. Ellis,
Then your on a system ,VA, socialized for your good the first being, in the late 1700s early in America for our seamen That was not a right then or now.
MEDICARE you have only been paying into from 1965. So everyone who agrees with you and are against a change should just Tea bag your Medicare. I think your comfortable. You should also call and get a Quote on if you had to buy it at your age or had Cancer . That would save us money. But alas you forget some of us do have Cancer or chronic illness or run our own business and cannot get private heath care. Because we are a liability. So I am for a private
Program you will have a choice to join or keep your plan oh yea your V.A I forgot. "

" I would like to know if Mr Ellis is currently receiving his health care from the VA or Tricare for Life, if so he has very little to complain about and no reason to wish others not to have the same advantage he does. "

" How about the Air Force? It seems to function.

TARP, as a matter of fact, has done pretty well--a number of banks have paid it back and the government's continuing stake in Citigroup is worth $5 billion more than what they put in.

But you are correct about one thing (and not much more): health care is not a right, but it should be and, God willing, will be. "

" This guy has obviously never paid a Health Insurance Premium in his life!! Our Premiums have risen 10% to 15% for a long time. Are we healthier than any Canada, France, Germany, Japan, etc. ?? "

" I am afraid that the straw that broke America's back has already shown itself - for the past 8 years. Now we have to mend America's broken back. There are groups of our citizens for whom health care is indeed a right - veterans are the largest group. Those who criticize government run health care are criticizing the health care given to our nations best - our veterans. Are these critics saying that citizens who refuse to serve our country deserve better care than those who do? The private sector has shown what it can do in this regard. It has created a non-system that is a disgrace to the Western World. There is alot of talk about Social Security, Medicare, etc. being "broke". But the checks keep coming. I suggest those who worry about essential programs being "broke" do the right thing - fund the programs at a higher level like they do in any other civilized country. "

" Just another FOX "news" brainwashed person who is happily receiving VA and/or Medicare and Social Security and has the time (doesn't have to work due to gov't benefits) to spout misinformation. Irene has it right... Please give up your government benefits and try to buy coverage within the for-profit insurance market. Good luck. "

" I totally agree with Mr. Ellis. I do pay insurance premiums; and a fair amount. This country is going to lose our freedom and become a socialist country. Our friends came from Canada to get the better health care. Kath had cancer and was not going to get treatment for over two years. I would be putting flowers on her gravesite if she had not come to the United States. Why does everyone want something for nothing? "

" The government ran the military you retired from, the planes you flew and the medical program you received and still may be receiving. Many of the other programs you mentioned have worked for decades but are victims of changing times and age distribution much of which is a result of the baby boom from a government run WWII that was pretty successful. TARP, while hastily and ill conceived by the former administration, may still have a hand in breathing life into the economy. As for the stimulus bill, it’s just now starting to have in impact but, with an emphasis on developing renewable energy, its real effects will be felt for years to come. The Cash for Clunkers Program is in fact a great and demonstrable success. As we speak it’s reviving the auto industry, giving hope to auto workers and helping to reduce the demand for foreign oil.
In fact, we don’t have the best healthcare in the world, only the most expensive. While I am a firm believer in our market system, medical companies (like the deregulated banking system) are on a mission of greed that is itself creating the need for reform. Those of us that have to pay for our health insurance have seen incredible increases for only the barest of coverage. Is heath insurance a right? Maybe not. But it’s not right to let people suffer and die because there’s not enough profit in letting them live. As a leader in the free world, is that what we’re reduced to as a nation? There are plenty of models on which to build a quality healthcare system that lower costs and give people access to the medical care they need without undue restrictions. All we have to do is stop bickering long enough to make it happen. "

" BA-name calling is for children and falling for Obama is ridiculous. Have you bothered to read his health care? Either has he.
It doesn't work. That's why Canadians are coming here and many are literally dying, waiting to be seen. Read before you name call and get your facts staight.
Fox news is the highest rated news show btw. MSM is basically lying, so...figure it all out, read the bill and still don't name call. "

" PS-You think he overspent now? Watch your paycheck if you are working and if you are, you are on company's time? Get back to work, or give me your job. There are no jobs, so if any of those writing on company time, well, maybe take advantage, because, keep an eye on your dwindelling paychecks. Yes, he is wonderful. "

" I agree and disagree. Health Care should not be a privilege. It is necessary, but should not be run by the government unless they go by all MEDICARE rules. Medicare plainly states that "what ever is medically necessary and ordered by your doctor....." if this rule was followed there would never be a fight or a law suit. I have sued the State and HMO's three times in my life. I have won every case. It has been very costly, but I have had the other side ordered by the court to pay my attorney fees. Having a son who everyone thought he should live @ 15 weeds early on all kinds of machines, now pay about a half a million dollars a year for him. He, after 21 years of life, still on the same machinery, but able to walk and talk, would be one of the one's not served. This is murder. All you hear from special interest groups from the Christians is "KEEP EVERY INFANT AND HUMAN ALIVE". Fine, live with the costs associated with what you have done. This is not a result of a parent or one doctor. This is a result of society. I will not jeopardize my son's home, health, mental state, or his spirit he has in the condition he is in to have the government literally kill him. Being so involved in the care of people since I was 17 years old makes me believe there are ways to fix the system. We are the riches country in the world. We do not need to give Federal funds to every cause or country before we take care of ourselves. Everyone could have health care and have what ever they needed with out any change what so ever, except the feds making large insurance companies take people who are sick and not on a plan. Costs could be done on a sliding scale for payments to those companies. Cutting out the middle companies and having the insurance companies do the job they are paid to do would save billions. If the insurance companies are clearing more than $100,000.00 in each state every year, which they do, then I would say there is a problem. There is no way any company should make that amount of money and not have to reinvest some it back into the system. This alone would cover every American. The real trick to all of this is to follow the rules of Health Care that are already on the Feds regulations. I can not believe we need any kind of change in those precious rules that already protect us from not getting the care we need. Getting the others on Health Care should be taken care of on the State run programs which are funded by the Federal Government. And with everything, not only Health Care, all States and people should be treated equal. That is in the Constitution of the United States. Why can we not live by these few true words? Because of greed. Corporate America is out of hand and needs some rules to live by just like the rest of us live by. We pay our fair share of taxes. Tax them at the level we were taxed per dollar and this country would be even richer. Legalize Marijuana and put a tax on it like everything else and we would be extremely rich. let the non violent, no victim people in jail out and we would even be richer. After you are privileged to be in America and run a company, put a capita on the amount of money a company can make before they must reinvest 10% of their earnings each year and we would be even richer. These ideas can go on for ever. There is not a reason in the world we as a county, supposedly of high intelligent, should be poor at the Capital. REAL DUMB PROBLEM!!!!!! REAL EASY SOLUTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wake up America. "

" Dylan I can give you my Cancer l but not a job, because small business owners with preexisting cant get insurance. Also Dylan get a quote for a 26 year old single who has Cancer right now and made 30,000 a year. But got laid off and is sick and see how fast it you go bankrupt when you let profit get between you and your care. "

" Col. Lewis, thank you for your past and present service to our country. I, too, am a vet but do not qualify for VA health care. Better to send those limited funds to those vets that require it more than I. As a former small business owner, less than 10 employees, we provided health insurance for all our staff. Our employees paid for their dependent coverage, It is available. It is a benefit paid by employers and employees, not by unborn taxpayers. America is waking up. "

" Mr. Ellis needs to go away. I love how these folks disparage everything about the government but watch out if their medicare stopped or their social security. Mr. Ellis loves to think the governement only does harm. If that is the case why not leave the country and go live somewhere else. Health Care for everyone is a right,,. Or is it because you are well off and doing ok so screw the folks who are unemployed or poor? Go crawl back under the rock you came from moron! "

" I'm guessing Mr. Ellis works for one of the OH SO RICH private insurance companies that are buying oil companies while they deny payments for letigimate claims. You know, one of those companies who find ways around paying your claims because they KNOW you just can't fight them and that you will pay the bill just to make the issue go away. Don't you understand that WE pay for those who are do not have coverage??? C'mon. Get Real. There are years of abuse and an out of hand, greedy , corporate America that needs to be changed and the private insurance industry is at the top of that list! I would certainly rather see Government employed Doctors making decisions than the insurance company cronies who don't understand any illness but a cold! Sarah Palin can take her ridiculous Death Panel statement and lose herself into the wilds of Alaska. No wait.....she kills too many animals to put her there. "

" 47 Million People are Uninsured. But, 33% have an income greater than $70K, 15% are illegals, 20% are eligible for Medicade, but haven't applied. Talk to the people in Canada, and hear how if you're over 50 yrs of age, they consider you've lived your life and can't get a transplant, dialysis and you could die waiting for cancer treatment. Is this what you want? NOT ME! Less Gov't. in my life is better and cheaper! "

" Mr. Ellis, I agree with you in large part -- Medicare is not a shining example of a government-run health care program. I wish we would hear more from the current administration about cleaning up the welfare and Medicare fraud, rather than starting up another social program.

That being said, I do feel that those of us who are fortunate enough to be healthy and employed have a moral obligation to help those less fortunate. To that extent, I believe in supporting health care for those who have no other option; I just want it to be well-run and not abused. I have had cancer over the past year and I was grateful to have private insurance; I don't think I would have had the quality of care through AHCCCS and might not have been here today to write. I would have definitely been bankrupt without some sort of insurance; my bills have gone over $170,000 and my home isn't worth nearly that much. In other words, I could have sold my home to pay the bills, only to end up homeless AND bankrupt!

I disagree with the folks who blindly trust the current administration in Washington. I think President Obama is a refreshing change in some aspects, but time will tell if he is going to be the great president some people are already claiming. I'll wait and see.

I, too, want to thank you for your service to our country, Mr. Ellis. There is no free lunch -- any benefits you have through the VA were paid for up front by your service. You have my appreciaton and respect. "