Now, Obama's campaign website is urging people to share stories about their own battles with the healthcare system and to send letters to members of Congress.

"We think there are powerful stories to be told that argue for healthcare reform," said Hari Sevugan, national press spokesman for the DNC. "Once you hear those stories, it demands reform this year."

I visited the ER at Memorial Hospital in March and without insurance.  Within three hours, I had generated almost $10,000 in medical bills.  For my 10k, I laid abed for three hours, received two x-rays which were read (although I knew the diagnosis) and was given two injections and three prescription medications (which also cost extra).

I am now slowly paying off this bill. 

I cannot imagine what I did that required $10,000 worth of medical attention.  Had I gone out and committed a crime, I likely would not have generated $10,000 in fines.  Had I hired a lawyer for three hours work, I would not have generated that much liability.  Had I purchased three hours of illegal drugs to use or even share, or had I bought a gently used car (or a new one at that) I likely would not have generated that bill.  Had I gone on a shopping spree for three hours, I would have fared better and had something to show for it.  BUT in three hours of laying in bed, I generated a $10,000 debt.

I hate the idea the government could be managing our health care system, it is a private responsibility, IMHO.  But, I have no sympathy for an industry that does this to people or for the people who create such a ridiculous liability.  At the root, I think it is the greed of sue happy people, but close behind are a lot of other greedy individuals. 

I'd like to see the health care industry reduce its own excesses before the government does so for them, but something does need to change--and fast.  The present situation is untenable for all. 

I in fact enjoy the best medical care of my life. Now that I have taken part of a very efficient socialized medical system.

What’s interesting is that my doctors within my socialized medical service. Are the same as those that most of You use.

Just this year I have had a complete MRI of my entire spinal column. An electrocardiogram. A stress test.  An angiogram. A   Cystoscopy. And a colonoscopy.
Along with those exams I have also had numerous blood test and the accompanying office visits by my primary physician along with the necessary specialists.

I use Medicare.

In addition to that socialized medical system I receive services through the Veterans Administration. This is another excellent socialized medical system earned because of my service in the Army.

Try socialized medical care. All industrialized nations in the world except America Have had a wonderful experience with that system of care.

Socialized medical care is amazing. Without it I would be in the poor house or dead.

Imagine what would happen to your family if you would suffer the medical experiences I have had. If you have a insurance policy. Check out what your copay would be if you had my experiences.

In most cases I do not use the term socialized medical. I prefer the more accurate term. Single payer system.

If one would be honest with himself. One would have to refer to all insurance programs as socialist behavior. With private insurance you are only buying  a seat at the table,  governed by a board of directors.

You are only one blade of grass in the prairie. You have no control of your destiny. You have no choices after you become ill.  You are tethered to the program you have chosen.

Because no other program will accept you once you have become ill.
(don’t get me started on the Cobra program)

My dad has received excellent care from the VA on those occasions when he has been ill.  They performed his heart bypass and also treated his cancers.  He lives in Texas.   There are many VA Hospitals in Texas.  I have often wished there was one here in Bakersfield.  Many folks take into consideration where the nearest VA hospital is when picking their retirement community.  My parents chose their retirement home in part because of how close they would be to a VA hospital.  That was in 1974.  Which was 12 years prior to my dad's retirement.  At that time he had no health problems.  He was just planning for the possibility of there being health issues in the future.   I have a friend whose father was born the same year as my dad.  He had a horrible time getting his health insurance to agree to pay for the basic health care that he needed.  This man worked in a union job for over 30 years.  He had paid his dues diligently and was looking forward to no insurance troubles in his retirement years. Sadly that was not the case.  While my friend was dealing with the hassles of fighting for his coverage I was sorry for her and her dad.  I was so thankful that the VA took such good care of my dad. 

 Imagine what would happen to your family if you would suffer the medical experiences I have had. If you have a insurance policy. Check out what your copay would be if you had my experiences.
 

Hmm.  So someone is paying for this, Tkozy.  So who is it?? Who is paying for all this excellent medical care that you are receiving??  And that one single payer is paying... Just who is paying the bill??

Have you guys ever looked at the line by line charges on a hospital bill?  I have.  Back in the nineties I spent several days in the hospital.    Each day I was given a Tylenol prior to receiving my IV.   The hospital was charging $8 for each Tylenol that they provided to me.  I started refusing their Tylenol and began providing my own from home.  The nurses thought it was strange but why should I pay that much extra for a Tylenol just because a medical professional handed it to me?  The hospital was also charging me a daily fee for having a TV in my room. I complained because although there was indeed a TV there was no remote control to use to change the channels or volume or to turn it on or off. Therefore I could not watch the TV.  I was in an intensive care ward.  Most of the other patients there were too sick to even be awake.  They were not watching TV and yet they were being charged about $3 every day for the privilege of having TVs in their rooms. 

It's quite simple: Either the government creates a health care system that can protect the population or it legislates that all employers have to carry insurance for their employees because a good portion of us cannot afford it. One of these will be more expensive in the long run, and it ain't the government plan. The insurance companies have robbed us of our health and our wealth.

The government is supposed to protect the citizenry, is a influenza virus any different than a terrorist? We spend three quarters of a trillion dollars to be able to kill some guy with an AK-47 in Iraq with a million-dollar missile, but we let people face the choice of death, bankruptcy, or both? Right now, I'm more concerned about cancer than Osama Bin Laden.

Mexico,

The reason you dislike Medicare and VA benefits is because you are ignorant as to how they work.

No one receives Medicare services unless they have paid for their benefit on their own. No one receives VA services. Unless they have paid for their benefit themselves..

I paid for my VA service with 7 ½ years of military service.  A service that protected this nation and your right to post on these blogs.

I paid for my Medicare services through  Medicare deductions on my paychecks and a Medicare premium of apx $100/month.

Where a lot of people get confused is with the term benefit.

Benefit does not mean a freebee. It does not mean someone is getting something for free. It means the same as receiving a benefit from your membership in a private health plan.

The benefit is the result of ones membership and personal contributions.    

Medicade/Medical is a welfare service. People who work and find themselves in a temporary hardship. Receive benefits due to their contributions to the general tax fund they made during their working years.

Now of course there are the disabled. Some of whom disabled at birth that will receive free Medicade/Medical.  Those like you seem to feel these unfortunates must receive a few lashes with a whip and tongue lashing or so along with their medical care.

Then there are the dead beats. I have no excuse for them. And you have no solution to stop their pilfering of taxpayer funds. They are fact of life that will not go away. They are a reality the Societies have faced and will continue to face for eternity.

Now go back to your Republican dream book and continue to pretend a gas chamber and a hole in the ground in the middle of the Mojave dessert will solve the world problems.

So what happens when the amout that you take out in benefits exceeds what you put in??  Do you then have your benefits cut?  Or is someone else then on the hook for paying for your benefits??

So what happens when the amout that you take out in benefits exceeds what you put in??  

The same thing that happens when your private insurance claim exceeds your premiums.

You really don't "get" this insurance thing, do you? 

Look, here's your *BIG* chance to prove the silly liberals wrong.  Let them have the public option, and point when millions of people flee to Blue Cross to get the "better" coverage the private sector offers. 

Only thing is...you know perfectly well that won't happen.  Because the private coverage will be inferior in every way.

Mexico,

So what happens with your private Plan when you take out more that you put IN.

Medicaid is an insurance service no different than private plans. The whole Idea is to protect one from catastrophes. If one was limited to drawing from a private plan no more than one had paid in. What would be the point in having a private plan? Why not just put your premiums into savings?

Medicaid is much more efficient than private plans. Overhead for Medicaid hovers around 3 to 4 percent.

Private insurance is in the 30 to 40 percent range.

Up until just recently. Private plans would negotiate services at a much lower rate than Medicaid could. This was done at the expense of the Medicaid and Medicare programs.

While Medicaid/Medicare programs paid on a level of about 66%.

Private insurers where paying as low as a 25% rate. And still pay directors and employees ungodly wages.

What’s important to understand. Is that those who chose to put money into savings and pay for their medical care on their own. Where charged the 100% rate.
 

Statistics independent of the president's comment are those of increasing insurance rates. Americans pay about double the amount of other western countries and get less for the money. Premiums increase faster than wages or cost of living. Trouble is, the more people are charged, the less they get for their money.

Many people fall for the simple deception promoted by the insurance Czars.

Many think that their employer supplied insurance comes to them free of charge.

I would challenge anyone who has negotiated a wage in the last 10 year to prove that the cost of insurance was not a consideration when the amount of cash wage increases was being determined.

Many people have accepted little or no pay increases and actually received a reduction in insurance coverage in return.

In recent months people have been forced to take pay cuts.