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These community forums are intended solely as a tool for people to express their views. As long as everyone in the forums acts in a respectful manner, the discussions will remain unmoderated by campaign staff.
The campaign is not responsible for forum content. Views expressed in these forums do not necessarily reflect Jim Hansen's views, nor the views of his campaign.
Take them for what they are, an informal conversation about issues that matter to all Idahoans. And by all means, participate!
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Gloria Cartan
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| 08 Feb 2006 18:58 |
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| As a senior with no drug coverage, I am finding the Bush Prescription Drug Plan totally confusing and a big "rip off" for the insurance companies. After spending hours trying to compare 40 to 50 plans available to me, I decided it would cost me far more than if I purchase the drugs myself from Canada. The insurance companies can change the drugs they cover and the premiums you pay at any time. I hope, Jim, that if elected to Congress you will try to repeal this ridiculous plan and work to create a plan that is administered the way Medicare is, which works very well. |
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William Brudenell
Posts:3
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| 11 Feb 2006 22:34 |
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Posted By wnbruden on 10 Feb 2006 16:36
HEALTH INSURANCE
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with a brain tumor in October. It was surgically removed; then, she had 35 radiation doses. She is now taking a chemotherapy that, according to the pharmacist, has a price tag of about $5000. per month. The anti-nausea medication that she takes has a price tag of about $500. per month. These medications, as well as the surgery and radiation, are being paid, almost entirely, by Medicare and a supplemental insurance. The premium for the supplemental insurance is about $100. per month. We are so thankful that she and her husband do not have to pay much of these gigantic bills. They are on a very limited income and net worth. However, so are many younger people with children in school, high rent, transportation costs, utility bills, etc. Why don't they have such great insurance also. Most working poor have no health insurance and are too young to qualify for Medicare. It seems to me that young families, with low income and net worth, should have good health and dental care, just as the elderly do.
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Diana Pauls
Posts:7
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| 23 Feb 2006 5:45 |
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My husband works in ag so his hours/income is substantial during the summer season but below poverty during the winter season. I am a stay-at-home mother. His employer does not provide health insurance and there is no way we could afford it privately. I guess I could get a job and we could incure the expenses related to my employment just to pay for insurance but that really doesn't make sense, does it? Before my last child was born, my job DID provide health insurance but we decided that it would be more affordable for me to stay home after the costs of child care, gasoline, vehicle maintenence, etc. were tallied. We are not eligible for State assistance because our annual income is too high. But we can barely pay our regular bills during the winter much less any insurance costs.
We have four children and no longer have health insurance. My children haven't had their eyes tested nor visited a dentist in years. My husband and I have both had to have teeth pulled because we couldn't afford other options after neglected cavities required major dental work. We both require glasses but have only been able to see the eye doctor every 10 years or so.
Health care is so much more of an issue that affects our families than same-sex unions/marriage!! Why are our politicians ignoring the issues that truly DO impact our lives and spending so much time on pet issues such as abortion and homosexuals? Put me in a neighborhood that provides quality education with well-paid teachers and affordable health care... and I wouldn't care if each and every teacher, nurse, doctor, etc. were ALL in same-sex marriages!! I would be happy!!
{But Mr. Cheney has his own personal medical team which follows him on his quail hunts... what's up with that?} |
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"You can't leave footprints in the sands of time if you are sitting on your butt... and who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?"
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Jim Hansen
Posts:21
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| 23 Feb 2006 15:50 |
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Thanks for sharing Diana, Bill and Gloria... This is such a critical issue. I can speak from the perspective as a small business manager too. We are able to keep good people working for us because we insist on providing health insurance, but we are at the mercy of their annual increases. Many years they are double diget increases. Congress takes so much money from the insurance industry, health care industry and drug companies that it is paralized and won't make any decisions. Meanwhile, more people lose their insurance, more small businesses are forced to drop their insurance just to keep the doors open, and more communities are hurt.
Virtually everyone I talk to around Idaho has a health care-related story. Encourage others to share their stories here. If more people tell their stories maybe the insiders in DC will start to realize there is a huge cost to their close relationships with the big money interests.
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Diana Pauls
Posts:7
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| 23 Feb 2006 17:38 |
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Thank you and I will pass it on...
It is quite frustrating to see how corporate health care (insurance, HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, etc) have been allowed to suck American citizens dry. I'm so fortunate to live in a small town with a family practitioner who truly treats us as humans and not insurance forms. He has worked with my family in a way that is above and beyond the call of duty. |
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"You can't leave footprints in the sands of time if you are sitting on your butt... and who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?"
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Bruce Hansen
Posts:5
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| 17 Mar 2006 16:09 |
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| As long as medical care costs are high, so will be medical insurance, and our tax burden to support Mediacare. We need a way to curb the run away costs of the medical industry. We took our daughter to a cardiologist last week for chest pains, ( we suspected inflamation of the paricardium). Just for twenty minuets of his precious time, no tests or X-rays, it was $265.00! As a farmer, I have people competing hard against each other to provide me the best deal on: fertilizer, machinery, and consulting services ect. In turn, when I sell my commodities, I have to compete on a fierce global market. Competition has us selling wheat at prices not much different than a half century ago. The supply of physicians has been so succesfully rationed, that we beg to get in, wait for ever in the waiting room, only to be herded through like cattle for our 15 minuets with the doc. Why not help fund the establishment of more medical schools? Is not that something our government should do for us? Then in stead of us begging to see a doctor, they would be competing for our business by provideng, competent caring service at a reasonable price. |
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Anne Hopewell
Posts:1
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| 27 Mar 2006 14:52 |
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Congress could certainly use someone like Jim Hansen to bring focus to this critical issue. As a health policy analyst in the District of Columbia I witness first hand the chipping away at the safety net that is needed to support our hardworking low income families, many of whom are one pay check away from financial catastrophe. The idea of "health savings accounts" is just another boondoggle to create tax advantages for the wealthy, and greater obstacles to accessing care to the poor and infirm. Is this any vision of compassionate conservatism?
With the baby boomers' retirement and ever increasing Medicare expenditures we have created an unsustainable system that needs courageous vision to create a system of health care that is equitable and sustainable, not just for the good folks in Idaho but throughout the rest of the nation as well. I know Jim can make things happen. |
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Tom von Alten
Posts:2
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| 02 Apr 2006 17:06 |
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Since I left my job with a big corporation 2+ years ago, I've been "flying without a net" (or "self insuring" if you like). I'm fortunate enough to be young and healthy and not using much of any health care, but I know these are all temporary conditions. The variety and complexity of insurance programs is mind-boggling, and it simply is not reasonable for the ordinary person to navigate the maze. I would guess that 99% of the people who do have health care insurance either have it provided by their employer, or the government, or have given over decision-making to an insurance agent.
The small business owner I do some contract work for initiated a discussion of individual and group policies, and we're working with an agent to get us covered. In a small group, the fundamental tradeoff of insurance is exposed: if we're all in the same "risk pool," we'll get the same rate as individuals or as a group, but we'll have to give up some freedom of choice to be grouped. Any one of us who is in a "better" risk pool can get a cheaper deal going it alone (or even opting out). Those in the "worse" pool want "cheaper" people included, to lower their rates.
As a society, we've made the decision that we're not going to let people game the system for auto insurance. Perhaps some states still allow uninsured motorists, but Idaho does not. You must have insurance to drive legally in our state. Individuals, insurance agents and companies, health care providers, and the myriad others involved in this industry all have their own angle to minimize their payments or maximize their income in this system, and it creates tremendous waste.
Universal health care insurance is the only way out of the maze. This is more than just "out of the box," we need to take the box away from all the players who are working their private angles. Every proposed tweak and change must be stripped of loopholes and complexity, and judged by simple standards: does this move us closer to universal coverage? Does this make the existing system simpler, or more complex?
It'll never get done while lobbyists are writing legislation, that's for sure. This will not happen with a 1,000 (or even 100) page bill that representatives and senators never actually read in its entirety. Put the best people on this and write a five or THREE page bill with a one paragraph summary that every voter in the country can understand. |
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Jessica Cavalieri
Posts:5
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| 11 Apr 2006 23:50 |
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| I just got bad news about my uncle. He has cancer and has no health insurance. My aunt and uncle are hard working Americans who are unable to afford insurance and are now at the mercy of programs that may help cover some of the costs-MAY being the keyword. My own health insurance will be running out Saturday, as I turn 25, and will be kicked off of my step-dad's awesome insurance. My uncles situation, as well as my own, only reconfirms my beliefs that the insurance crisis in America needs to be addressed NOW. |
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"Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace." ~Charles Sumner
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Vanessa Martins
Posts:1
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| 01 Aug 2008 9:33 |
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Wide Circles
[url=http://www.inspire-itsolutions.com]Guaranteed ROI[/url] |
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