Kennedy panel introduces health bill

It's amazing that they push for this after seeing the failures of the UK and Canada. But, of course, we all know it's about control, not about everyone getting health care.

It's about controlling who gets what.

Disappointing without a public insurance plan.

If you like how the VA, Medicare and Medicade work, you'll love fat Teddy's proposal. Get use to taking a number when you need medical care. Sorry Mrs. Jones, you'll have to wait 6 months to see the politically appointed brain cancer specialist. We'll call you.

Who will be in charge to see all these great things happen, the people who looked over the financial system? I feel so safe.

This won't do it, just giving more customers to broken system ,with taxpayers picking up the tab is Not the answer. Need a government plan to hold insurers feet to the fire.

All this and all they have to do is raise the cigarette taxes another few dollars. UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE...A CRUEL HOAX!

Sounds good to me. I have V.A. care and I am grateful! Sometimes I have to wait, but it is free, so I just go with the flow. Interesting how the GOP is sooo afraid of public option, even calling it a government run system. Question: is private insurance companies called Corporate run system? Just saying!

I love how all the naysayers like to point out the few issues that arise in countries like Canada and the UK in regards to healthcare and conveniently miss the GIANT GAPING HOLES in our system. Ask anyone from the Canada or the UK whose system they would rather have? Hands down they all choose the one they have. Why you ask? Because they have good health coverage that they never have to worry about. They will never go bankrupt because of a health related issue, they don't have to worry about losing it when they lose their jobs. And guess what companies are now wanting universal healthcare because the costs are strangling them and killing their competitiveness with every other country.

The only people who don't want it, are the insurance companies and stooges who believe their ads and bought and paid for talking heads.

Just the thought of the federal government messing with healthcare sends shivers through me. They've shown what a remarkable job they can do with medicare & medicaid. I have no faith that they can fix a hang nail let alone something as complex as healthcare and insurance.

I am appalled at the negative comments here. Only two states in the US, MA and NY actually define what health insurance is to protect their citizenry. We need programs on the national level, and this first step, and the willingness to work toward a compromise that can get through the system is HUGE. I applaud the effort and hope that we, as a country, know that universal healthcare is something that can be achieved and SHOULD be achieved. Shame on you for the cheap Kennedy potshots and the overall cynicism.

Blah, blah, blah.
Through legalized bribery, Big Insurance, Big Pharma, and Big Hospital have combined to achieve defacto control of Congress. Therefore, there will always be loopholes tucked away in the fine print of any legislation, "insuring" that these nefarious entities will always be rewarded with obscene wealth at the expense of everyone else.
And they will make sure that universal health care (single payer)--proved by virtually all civilized nations as the most sensible and most fair health care ever adpted--will never, EVER, be adopted here.

PUBLIC PLAN ,REAL PUBLIC PLAN OR BUST.nothing else will work and 5 years from now people will say dems HAD CHANCE TO USE %! VOTE RESOLUTION TO GET IT AND NEVER USED IT.then it will be shoulda,coulda,woulda time because of a few southern and midwest DEMS want B I P A R T I S A N S H I P,with republican lowlifes...

How ingenious of Kennedy. Isn't this just a cut and paste of the miserable MA state plan that everyone claims is a failure.

Let’s see; I think Kennedys thought process was – point, click drag, right click, “copy”, paste. Yes another fine job by the illustrious leader from MA. Fine job you fat, drunk, dumb@ss.

This is such a monumentally flawed idea that it needs to be stopped in it's tracks. I WILL vote out anyone who arroves or in any way supports this nonsense. Only an idiot would believe that private healthcare will survive as we know it. Only the very rich will be able to afford private care and the rest of us masses will be stuck with a broken unfunded non functional system. Why would my employer continue to incur huge costs if they can just throw us in the pool. Just look at the UK if you want to know what you have to look forward to, you will be dying for services literally.

How anyone can trust Ted Kennedy on any issue is fully beyond me. But then Democrats do love their dynasties and rock stars don't they?

Will members of the Senate have to wait 3 months for an XRay?

"Ask anyone from the Canada or the UK whose system they would rather have? Hands down they all choose the one they have. Why you ask? Because they have good health coverage that they never have to worry about. They will never go bankrupt because of a health related issue, they don't have to worry about losing it when they lose their jobs"

Are you kidding me? Have you talked to anyone in the UK about this? I have. Of course I can't talk to my cousin who died there. 2 weeks before she died they were sending her home, in the fetal position carried out of the hospital by her father - because they close that ward for the weekend.

Or maybe you'd like to talk to my aunt, who has stage 4 lung cancer and is STILL waiting after 6 months for her treatment.

You don't have to worry about it when you lose your job because you'll probably be dead by then anyway.

In my work related travels, have had better experiences with the health care systems in the UK, France, Canada and even China than I can now expect to get here in my own country. And I can guarantee you that an "average" citizen of any of these countries would not trade places with me when it comes to health care.

mtbr1975 -you've got to be kidding--if you are diagnosed with breast cancer,
regardless of the stage, you wait months for surgery and they ration your chemo. If they decide that you're too old, you don't get it at all. You wait 6 months for hip replacement. If you can't work in that 6 months, that's too bad. So what happens to your job then? Maybe the surgery is free, but you don't have home to go to. We have the best healthcare system in the world, a you want the govt to take it over? We'll stop attracting the best and brightest from all over the world and will discourage qualified candidates from going into the field. My grandchildren will be paying for this latest fiasco by the current administration. The last thing they need is more to screw up.

Anyone who continues to say we have the best healthcare coverage in the world should check the world health review, we're at the bottom of all industrial countries. In addition we pay more for our poorer quality health care. We need government run single payer national health care. Nothing less. Joyce A, Wa.

If the Canadian system is such a failure as US Republicans contend why is it only 3% of Canadians when asked would favor moving to the US system of healthcare?

Roger D.

I just want the same coverage as Congress.

mtbr.....you are wrong. I am friends with a UMASS professor that just retired, a canadian citizen returning to canada to live out his golden years.....do you think he dropped his state health care plan? No, he chose to keep it and pay the premiums in case he ever has to return here for health care since he knows how long it may take him to get treatment in Canada.

Now show me the facts that made you make your ridiculous claim.

I would like to know what 97% of Canadians you are talking to when you cite the only 3% of Canadians who would like the US system. As a citizen of both countries who has lived in both, I can say that each system has its faults, but there is no doubt that the quality of care in Canada is far below that of the United States. Large numbers Canadian with serious illnesses come to the United States for care because they cannot receive it in Canada. As of a few years ago, there were more MRI machines in southeastern PA than in ALL of Canada. The quality of care and technology between the two countries is VAST. Just look at Natasha Richardson, Mt. Tremblant, where she sustained massive head trauma, is a major ski resort, the biggest in Quebec, except when she injured herself, she was unable to get proper care there, and it took them hours to drive to Montreal where the nearest trauma center was because there was no medivac. Ya, great system they got up there. Now, the US system has its own problems as well, but a massive public system trending toward Canada is not what we need, it will reduce the quality of care and tech. significantly. Just look at all the private clinics opening up in Canada, more and more each day, people want to pay for good healthcare. We need a competitve system that rewards good care and punishes waste and corruption. Competition is the only way to promote innovation and keep quality care.

Single payer universal has gotten slimed by the health care insurance lobbyists. The administrative fees of private health care offerers are 25-28%, the administrative fees of Medicare are 2-4%. Medicare is single payer. Look it up yourself. The mantra of NEOCONS is that we will have the government between us and the doctors. The truth is that now we have the insurance companies between us and the doctors restricting coverage and invoking pre-existing conditions all the while paying huge executive salaries and upping the premiums @ 20% annual rate.

H.R. 676, single-payer national health care, is the best way out of this mess. Not the failed ‘Massachusetts model.’ Why not?

1. It fails the “universal” test. Current estimates suggest that, of the 670,000 who were uninsured before mandatory coverage went into effect in 2006, more than 200,000 remain uninsured.

2. It fails the “affordable” test. Health care premiums in MA have risen overall by 10% - 12% a year, about twice the national average. Health insurance costs an average of about $17K a year vs. under $13K nationally, for a family of four. Health-care spending in the state has increased by 28 percent. And the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council ranks MA dead last in the U.S. for business-friendly health-care policies.

3. It fails the “accessible” test. Higher demand for primary-care physicians has nearly doubled waiting times since 2006. Spiraling premiums have made under-insurance rampant, so more people are opting out of care that falls under deductibles or high co-pays.

The only ones doing just fine are the private health insurers, now rolling in subscribers since mandatory coverage became law.

So exactly what part of this program qualifies as “reform”?

If its anything like the massachusettes plan - everyone over 18 forced to have health care or pay penaltiy. Otion for affordable is bad. Don't forget the federal Poverty level and other calculations that determin benefits awarded. You will pay like the lady who only makes $25,000 a year. She has to pay $100 a month. How may of you know how little $25,000 gets you these days and being forced to pay for health care at a govt determined rate based on gross income. It becomes a choice of food vs rent and utilities.

Just follow the money. Look who is opposing the plan in congress and see how much money they get from the insurance industry. Republican and Democrats alike are guilty. Democrats should be more ashamed though...they are completely screwing the middle class. The naysayers are bought and paid for.
And for all the stories of how bad it is in U.K. or in Canada, there are a countless number of worse stories here in the good old USA. I mean when it's bankruptcy or death what kind of choice is that???

I have family and many close friends who have lived in Canada, the U.K., and other forign nations. My family has served in the US Military. I was a Military dependant who "lived under government-run health care". I have read the proposed plans and this is my opinion:
1. Health Systems in Canada and the U.K. are more than sufficient. Friends and Family under these systems DO NOT wish for the US system. A close friend did not have to wait for a MRI when she had need. I never had to wait for a X-ray as a military dependant.
2. Focus in these systems is on PREVENTATIVE CARE. People do not have to become desperate for care before they seek medical advice.
I urge those who are undecided to look at the sources of negative opinion and thier probable motivations. Thank you for your time and attention.