To me, it is the insurance industry that needs to be changed. If there weren't so many frivolous lawsuits, then doctors wouldn 't have to pay so much in malpractice insurance and could therefore charge us less. I have heard horror stories of how long people wait for health care in socialized health care systems and it terrifies me. When I was sitting in the ER waiting to find out that my appendix was about to burst, 2 hours felt like 3 days. I can't imagine what would happen if I had been left sitting there for 6 hours and it actually did burst!

I absolutely do not support any system that requires me to use it and pay into it. Currently, my employer has informed me that I am required to use $80 a month out of my benefits package to pay for Williamette Dental (dental insurance) despite the fact that my husband is a dentist and I don't need insurance! (I was hoping to use this toward my medical insurance instead so that I didn't have to pay as much out of pocket). Just to pour salt in the wound of completely wasted money, when my husband graduated from dental school, we went to a recruiting event where Williamette Dental was there telling dentists how they don't have any quotas for the day because "we get paid whether people come in or not!" AHHHHHHH! I just kept thinking - that's my money they are talking about!!! What a horrible system.

I think it is a really good idea. First of all many people already have long wait times for mediocre care. Others pay way more than they can afford. At least if the government was running health care everyone would be able to afford it (at least in theory). Is it fair that the Ceo of a company has the same health care costs per month as a entry level employee? For the same exact coverage? No I dont think illegal immigrants should be covered.

s a person in the healthcare field, as well as the wife of a nurse, I can say there are other consequences many people don't see. Right now we are in a shortage of nurses as well as physicians. Many Doctors won't take medicaid because of the fact that the govt doesn't pay a good portion of the time. Also, Imagine a socialized med for doctors and nurses. Nurses would be paid about the same as a cashier at Mcdonalds, doctors paid also on a set rate. Where is the incentive to go to school and become a doctor or nurse? Yes, we are in this to help others, but we have bills to pay as well. Right now it is a strong occupation, but in my opinion, we would end up with even a larger deficiency of nurses and doctors. Add to that higher taxes and lower services, and count me out.

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What your nurses are making compares right now to what a starting wage is for an LPN nurse who has only a certificate, a RN(2 year or 4 year) usually makes considerably morwe than that. IN fact 2 year degree RNs start @ $120, 000 a year. Figure in cost of living differences and you see your nurses and doctors aren't making as much as it seems. And yes, Mcdonalds cashier are usually paid about $9 hr here. LPNs start around $14.

I've been a nurse for 11 years and make alot more than that. Sadly when you compare cost of living with the nurse's salary I live in the state that is the 49th worth paying state. It has to do with Medicare reimbursement which is lower than other states with the same population or less of elderly people.

1.do i think its good? absolutely not
2. do i think there needs to be reform to the insurance companies and pharmacutical companies? absolutely.
3.do i think illegals should get free health care(wich they already are getting by the way)? absolutely not... if you want to come to this country then do it the right way.
4. i don't think the government running health care is going to solve anything they can't handle alot of the issues at this time and you really want them deciding your fate when it comes to your health?? i sure as heck don't

I don't like the idea of universal health care. I think Health Care should be affordable to everyone, but i dont think that's the answer. I think there should be something in between.

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No to universal healthcare.

If premiums on employer supplied health insurance policies are tax deductible, then premiums on privately purchased policies should be, too. However, the whole idea of group health insurance provided by employers should be eventually abolished.

The government should erase the tax loopholes for medical providers to inflate their rates then write off huge (and I mean HUGE) amounts from their taxes for all the 'uncollectible' portions of their fees. Ever see your statement of benefits on a medical claim? That portion that says 'write off' is lumped in with all the 'free' healthcare the business is supposedly providing illegal aliens.

In my opinion, nurse and healthcare workers are simply taking the low-man-on-the-totem-pole hit for the outrageous salaries that are paid to lobbyists and administrators by the medical industry. I have no problem with my doctor making over $200,000 a year.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

I think it is a horrible idea. Many politicians that are for it site Europe as a great example of socialized medicene. However, being German and having an aunt that lives in Sweeden, it's HORRIBLE. My aunt pays over 52% of her paycheck to the government for socialized healthcare. And you'd think that in any country, socialized medicene would work in sweeden because it's a small, very healthy, country. But, my aunt says that for a dr appointment it's about 4-6 weeks, and that if anythings wrong with anybody they usually just go to the hospital because they know they can get care fast there.