No where in the Constitution of the Untied States does it say,
we are entitled to Free anything, I'm sorry cost are where they
are. and that is a problem everyone faces, There is no quick
or simple fix to this,, Even Under this jerk Obamas plan and
Hillarys Plan, you are going to pay One way or the other,

Well, the conservatives think that it is your problem. But of course they are wealthy and have health insurance. The US is the only industrialized nation in the world without a national healthcare system. And we are supposed to be the richest, most powerful nation on earth. Another reason to never believe anything the GOP tells you.

Personally, I am happy with my healthcare–I get it through my employer. I will agree that things can be improved (they always can), but to me, Universal Healthcare is not the answer.

Universal Healthcare would be a quite dramatic increase in the role that the Federal government plays in our lives, which scares me after seeing how the Federal government has handled things historically–everything from public schools (drugs and violence prevalent, poor math/science scores), jails (overcrowded), infrastructure (overcrowded roads, few alternatives to cars), social security (mismanaged, going broke), or even emergency management (Katrina).

I want the Federal government to have less influence on my life, not more. The cost for universal healthcare would also be large. Paying more money (taxes) for more government control falls under the "bad idea" category with me.

People like you who work hard and fall between the cracks I think should get some help. I dont think the answer though is over hauling the entire system though. That is like throwing out your radio when the batteries go dead instead of simply buying new batteries.
Remeber Hillary's giving of free flu shots to all kids a few years ago? She mandated a price that the comapies could sell flu shots to the govt. These companies were unable to afford producing at that price so had to lay off workers and halt operations resulting not only in unemployment but a shortage of the vaccine even for those that really needed it. We ended up having to import from England. This is an example of things to come if we get national healthcare.

I'm not. Those who are poor enough can get medicaid. Most people I know have health insurance, including me. I don't want my care dictated to me by the government. I want to choose my own care and get help when I need it, not on the government's prolonged time-table.

i pay almost $800 a month for a single plan. that's outrageous!

I am. I am American and I have really bad teeth. I am currently living in Japan where I have privy to Japanese insurance. My dental visits cost about $15 a pop and their benefits do not exhaust. I am very grateful to this country and it's people.

When I talk about insurance and HMOs in America, people laugh, then feel sorry for us - even the ones that don't like Americans.

American health care sucks.

I'm not saying that our health care system is great but how exactly do you think universal health-care will be paid for? Higher income taxes, sales taxes and property taxes. Health-care will cost the government hundreds of billions of dollars per year. You are still going to pay for it.

I find it ironic that we have universal 'police protection'. If you have more money you can have an alarm system or private security, but everyone has the right to at least basic coverage. Why isint it the same with health care? We have the right to Life Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, how can you pursue happiness if youre too illl? I dont want to hear about free market economy either. Health care is regulated, so are prices, there are anti trust laws. true free market is a myth…..and if we can afford the war in Iraq, why cant we afford this?

i am fed up with the system also, but any system has its downside. i am pro-universal healthcare (hillary's way) because it is an investment in american people and is a use of tax dollars for the people, unlike bailing out giant corporations that rip off americans everyday!

Healthcare should be a right, not a privaledge only some people can afford. The only people who disagree are the neocons who never learned to share or play well with others

I'm not totally against universal healthcare. Unlike previous poster, I recognize the need for a healthy society in order for ME personally to maximize my income. I don't live in a vacuum and try as I might…other people still have an influence on how much I earn. That being said…social security is in bad shape…but it's correctable. Medicare is in much worse shape…I can't imagine any universal healthcare system that wouldn't cause severe damage to our economy without a major overhaul to the entire system. This will take time…and likely won't happen during our lifetime.

Yeah, the government does a spectacular job with the schools, DMV, social security, and airline regulation! I just can't wait to hand over more of my life to them! They'll probably give us hundreds of dollars of healthcare per year at a cost of only a few thousands of dollars of taxes! And if we need healthcare, I'm sure we'll be able to get it after a wait of just a few months!

I find it hard to believe that a country like the USA is so backward when it comes to providing public healthcare. Britain (and most of Europe has had a national healthcare programme for over 50 years. It is paid for by a percentage of your income, aproximately 9%. This covers pension, health, unemployment benefits, sickness benefits etc.

You can't afford insurance because it's expensive. And our economy isn't doing good. So how will the government taking care of everyone's health care make things better? The increase in spending will surely make the economy worse. It might provide health care for awhile, but eventually that system will collapse, most of our social programs are, including social security.

What's more important, a strong US, or health care for the 1/6th of the population that doesn't have it?

I tink you have hit the nail on the head…. you can barely afford the INSURANCE…. the insurance industry needs to be heeled. When a company can answer to it's stock holders BEFORE it answers to it's customers, there is something wrong.

I do not what universal healthcare. Have you done any research on it? it's a terrible plan. you think that you will be saving money but that's not true. They will have to raise everyone's taxes, not just the rich. to me i think we already over pay in taxes. do you really want the government to tell you when you can see a doctor and what procedures they think you need.
why does everyone think that the government will fix everything? why can't people just some personal responsibility? the government can't fix everything. you want the same government that has bankrupted social security to handle you healthcare?
why don't we try and fix the problems you already have instead of just digging the hole deeper.

In my opinion this is not about the cost of healthcare… It is about the cost of insurance and liability costs for MD's. They are the ones raping us all. Cut out the frivolous lawsuits cranking up costs and we will all be better off. If not for insurance, the phrase, "thats what I pay insurance for" would have no meaning. The insurance industry is much like a casino. They play the odds we will not need them, but as people find interesting ways of circumventing their systems, they must boost the cost to make up for the difference. I don't think MD's want to pay higher costs. They are required to do so to keep their jobs.

Nothing is free. Universal healthcare (socialized healthcare) is nothing more than a shifting of wealth. Handouts. A way of getting the votes of the dependent and is a major topic among all political candidates. If ever enacted the quality of service would drop drastically and MD's taking part in such operations could be likened to a public defender. Usually the least experienced with mediocre talents. Appointments to see a Dr. would require an extensive wait. Certainly not designed for emergency services, after all this would be a government institution.

Clearly insurance companies need to change. They are the cost. Let the proffessionals in the operating room or ER do their jobs.

I'm not really asking for a handout, but I work 40 hours a week and make not a whole lot of money. My health insurance is over $200 a month, which I cannot afford. When I got sick and hospitalized 7 times in four months, the bills just kept on mounting. At last count, I owed more than $70,000 to one hospital, not counting the doctors and labs and such.

I'm going to have to file for bankruptcy because I simply have no way of even making a dent in the bills. I really hate that because the people at the hospital were so kind and they saved my life each time I had to be admitted. But what's true is true, that I cannot support myself and my son and pay these bills.

I'm hoping that we elect someone for president who will work out some way for people like me to either pay for health insurance, or have it provided for them.

Tired of the high cost of healthcare - Yes.
Want universal healthcare - NO!

I know two families that are both from Canada, living in America. One older, one younger.

My older friend had a heart problem and needed a heart cath. She set it up in Canada so it wouldn't cost her a fortune (no US health insurance). The first opening wasn't for six months. She had to wait, hoping that she wouldn't have a heart attack and die before they could help her. They were able to move her up to three months when her condition worsened.

The younger family gets their medical care here in the states. They only go to Canada for their prescriptions. Both have chronic health problems. They tell me that US medical care is superior to Canadian care. That's why they are living here. The wife is a licensed Pharmacist. He is an Electrician. They get health insurance through her work.

Universal healthcare is not the answer. It might get more people covered, but it would ruin the quality of our healthcare system and cost everyone more.

No thank you! If you want socialized medicine, move to a Socialist country, don't try to ruin mine.

I am concerned that in the UK, we keep our universal healthcare system, and most who like me, work in our system want to keep it universal. As for the USA, it is interesting that people there do not realise just how bad the system is (though treatment when you get it in the USA is very good). Also, it is interesting that Americans do not realise just how many children die due to the healthcare system in the USA.

FACT - the USA spends more on healthcare per person than any other country in the world.

FACT - the USA has one of the highest child death rates (for those aged under five) in the western world.

Dead kids in the USA die due to the healthcare system. They would have had a better chance of life if born in Western Europe. Proud?