Readers Respond: Sharing Concerns, Dispelling Rumors and Looking for Real Answers

The closer we get to healthcare reform, the more confusing the news gets. From being told that older Americans will not get healthcare once they reach a certain age, to rationing, there are many misconceptions and rumors floating around that generate even more concern.

What concerns do you have about healthcare reform? Are there changes you’ve heard about or wondered about? Are you not sure what to believe? Share the issues on your mind here.

Then check back regularly as I tackle the rumors and concerns you raise so we can separate fact from fiction. What Have You Heard?

How will anybody afford this?

I make a decent amount of money now that I opted out of the health insurance plan my work offers. My work offers a plan that takes 90 dollars a week out of your pay check. Also the goverment takes alot of taxes out of my paycheck now. how am i going to be able to afford the cost of living if all my money is being put towards taxes and health care? I also heard that you have to take whatever plan your employer offers. if i take the insurance plan my work offers i am not sure how i am going to afford to pay rent and buy food and etc.

—Guest Katie

pipers pipes

I am worried because before last year, my husband and I had great insurance and long and short term disability, but it didn't pay the bills. we are not the Rockefellows, or silver spoons in our mouth, but now we live on disability with NO insurance, We worked from age 17 to 55 when my husband had a triple bypass with significant side effects, which left him on total disability and myself to stay home with him. We live on 1569.00 a month, take house payment, all the other bills, make too much for social service help, so I am concerned about our health insurance help and also what to do about how we are to live going from over 4000.00 a month to 1569.00 a month

—Guest piper

Americans Have Rejected What Plan?

I'm disturbed that many policitians have said that the American People have overwhelmingly rejected the "health plan". I cannot find enough information about the plan to know what's on the table. I think the groups involved should put out information so we know what they are really talking about.

—kdc.battlecreek

surgical assistant

I worry about the Federal Gov, creating a whole new bureaucracy taxing my children's future, I'm a single mother who makes good money but even with 2 dependents 30% of my paycheck goes to taxes. Why does the Federal government have to control this why can't the individual states take on the health care issues as each sees fit? Offering different social service programs and expanding health dept services. The Federal gov running my health care scares me because they don't do a good job with anything else. I've been uninsured with chronic health care conditions, I've been on welfare with the birth of my first child, I've been in the military system growing up and married to it for a time. You will never find a perfect system but I do really feel some of my best care has been through my private health care PPO which allow me to make my own health care choices with my doctors for my various chronic health care condition. I believe eliminating prexsisting conditions is a good start.

—Guest rebecca d

healthcare reform/taxes

I am a single, 26 year old female. I am a Nurse. I make "decent" money. My paycheck is taxed almost 40%. If my taxes go up so that Joe Blow down the street who is able to work (but doesn't) can go to the same doctor as myself, how am I supposed to survive? The government already takes nearly half of my paycheck because I don't have children, what am I supposed to do. The rich seem to get richer and the working middle-class seem to get poorer. Thank you so much President Obama. It makes me wonder why I voted in the election at all

—KeriD.

Be wary of fear mongering

When dealing with a rational argument some will resort to loaded words that contain a greater emotional component then their definition allows. Words such as "sociallized", or "liberal" have a different emotional meaning to an American than they do to a Canadian. To aid in the debate, sometimes it is necessary to replace an emotionally loaded word with a closely related, but less emotionally loaded one. For example, "universal" instead of "sociallized". Another strategy that can help in the debate over health care reform in the U.S. is to look at those who are already in your future. Canada has had a Universal Health Care System for at least 60 years. If you are worried that, as you age, you'll receive less health care, then just look North. Elderly people receive just as much care in Canada as they do in the U.S. A Universal system has one major benefit. It reduces anxiety. I do not need to worry about losing care because I lost my job.

—Guest Friendly Canadian

How will healthcare be any different?

The government has failed at running large-scale programs such as Social Security, and even more recently, the Cash-for-Clunkers program (which is a tiny program compared to the budget projected for healthcare). How would a government-run healthcare system be any different? What will the government do differently with this program to ensure its success? *** RESPONSE: So far (8/2009) there is no suggestion that the government will run the entire healthcare system, so your question is a moot point. No serious discussions of a government-run single payer system are taking place. That said, the government does run Medicare which actually works very well. Of real interest to me is the fact that administrative costs for Medicare run about 3%, whereas administrative costs for private insurers run about 30%. I dispute your contention that social security is a failed program.It DOES need adjustments, but overall it has been a good program and has served millions well for almost 75 years.

—Guest Christine

Endless waiting lists

One rumor is that once we have some form of government health care, everyone will have to get on waiting lists to get standard care. For example, in the UK, people have to wait 10 years to have their bunions trimmed. The rumors always focus on one hard-luck story of an individual -- and ignore the fact that health care is out of reach for many Americans. People who don't have health coverage would be happy if there WAS a line they could wait on. A line is better than the alternative -- no medical care.*** RESPONSE: Waiting lists are merely a function of #of doctors vs # of patients. In the US we don't restrict the #s of doctors as they do in some countries. In fact, we need to grow the numbers of primary care providers exponentially in the US if we are to manage the numbers of new patients who will be able to access care once reform is passed.

—Guest Susan