well, The Prez has started the ball rolling on NHCI. I think, this time, it may prove to be a reality...

Do you think it's going to happen??

Keeping my fingers crossed, for all those, uninsured Americans.

Good question, Sal!

I am not sure they can get all parties together and come up with a plan that everyone agrees on. I believe that the American consumer will get screwed in some way, shape or form, as usual. I may be cynical but that's my belief.

I have excellent insurance right now. The weekly premium is going up July 1st, to $45.00 a week, for an individual plan! I could sign on to a lesser plan, but this is the luxury car of health care plans, one they do not offer anymore, and I am staying in it as long as I can hold on to it and afford the premiums, because it's worth every freakin' penny. At this point I may be the only employee still in this plan!

I feel as if I am working just to hold my insurance. I cannot change jobs. If the plan the government comes up with matches or exceeds my plan for a lesser cost, I will sign up for it in a heartbeat, but until then I am stuck.

I've lost hours, I've lost benefits, I've lost perks, but they cannot take that policy away from me and I rub their noses in it every time July comes around and I refuse to change plans!

I have to agree, its not going to be as easy as asking for it, and getting it. There is a tough row to hoe ahead. There are many factors that will need to be brought into play before we can just begin a conversation, let alone make progress. no matter what they do, it will cost big time.

I too am one of those lucky ticket holders that has the golden egg. I am triple covered. I have three of the best policies money can buy. I pay $3 for my prescriptions at a one month package, and $9 for a 3 month package if I wish it that way. This includes, but is not limited to my copaxone, and all the other meds I am given. I can check into any hospital in any state at any time of the day or night, and know i am covered. From a band aid to massive surgery or life saving interventions or transplants. I am covered, at very little to no out of pocket cost to me. I cannot imagine letting go of my current policy in favor of one that may limit my choices of MDs or hospitals I can chose. I cant imagine someone saying I would have to be put on a waiting list for an MRI should my MD chose to order one. I would be upset if someone told my mom she couldnt have a new kidney paid for because she is over a certain age, or has a chronic condition.

I can agree that the more than 46 million americans without insurance need some help. Health care costs have skyrocketed and medicine has become a multi billion dollar industry for so many. The fat cats can charge $120 for a box of kleenex in a hospital, while we have many who cannot afford to have a cavity filled. The current balance is unequal, and I am in favor of a more reasonable level of fees for a more reasonable level of service. Maybe then we can start to clear out some of the ERs in this country with the masses that are forced to use them as a primary care center, because no other place will treat them.

I cannot forsee any plan zipping out of the gate, hitting the ground running, and making everything ok for both sides of the fence at the same time. Its gonna get messy.

Sheesh, I hope you're all wrong about it being messy, this time. I think the day of the selfish "fat cat" should be over, as it has proven, not to be a good thing and start thinking of us Americans as a whole.

Anyways, I'm hoping that we can pull this off and in a fair way for all our People.

If they're going to set up a national health insurance plan, I dont want them rushing it thru Congress and the Senate like they did with the Stimulus plan.

I'd feel more comfortable if the lawmakers would calmly and slowly come up with a plan that's going to work. (I dont have a lot of confidence in our lawmakers. I've seen how they work) If it takes a few years to get the plan in place, and have it done properly, I think waiting for it can be a good thing. Moving slowly for a good health care plan for the country, rather than rushing thru a crappy one.

I dont want them sneaking last minute things that have nothing to do with health care into the bills that they'll be passing for the health care reforms/insurance. I want them to read every thing they put into the bills before they pass it into law.

I also dont want them to put my current insurance company out of business with a government health care plan. I like the insurance that I have right now. I dont see a need to change my plan, so I hope that I'm not forced to change it, or forced to drop it.

Sal, first of all, I do agree we need health care reform. Cheaper and easier access to basic and emergency care, but that said.....

After the financial beating that many of the "fat cat" folks took this last year, I'm not sure there would be enough excess to "take" from them to pay for health care. Many of them I know just looked like fat cats... they lived on credit.

With the supposed salary caps that are coming... those fat cats won't be hauling in the same amount of money... so where to look then?? I don't see our economy rebounding and stay "rebounded" for quite some time.

As Riverwild stated: "I believe that the American consumer will get screwed in some way, shape or form, as usual." ... I believe this too. As one that already has a form of gov't managed health care...military for 28 years... I don't like my often very limited choices. Most of the time the doctor choices stink. I'm lucky my neuro sees me and I had to fight to get to keep him! They have been generous in providing my MS meds for a cheap copay. But mostly, I have to do/go where they say or do without.

I firmly believe that no man woman or child should ever be without health coverage and that it should be within their ability to access and afford it. If this means a governmental plan option, then I say Amen. We already have socialized education (public schools), emergency services (police, fire, etc). While they may not be perfect I think they works better than the old have vs. have nots system of private only. Think back to when fire departments were private subscription only services - truly a disaster! We coud learn from other countries and formulate a decent system. I only hope they don't let "the industry" dictate what it wil be like Part D being drafted by pharmaceutical industry.

If someone has private insurance and it works for them then I do not think you should be forced to change it. I also think that if and when they ever pass a govt health plan no politician or lobbiest should be allowed to tack on something that has nothing to do with it (like getting a road built or factory funded or any other pork).

Just my opinion. I have seen it from a variety of angles: uninsured, medicaid, medicare, private, union and military. No plan was perfect but having no insurance of any kind was unbearable.

I have nothing......not even Medicare or Medicaid yet.

They agree I'm disabled yet make me wait TWO YEARS for any type of coverage.

This plan, although not called NHCP, is already in affect. The National Health Care plan is the same one everyone up in DC uses. Obama made that clear back sometime ago. If it's good enough for them, it will be good enough for us. I am already on a similar government plan, Tricare and I chose the HMO coverage. Been on it for 21 years now and no complaining. I went back and forth with job coverage and Tricare (Champus, back in the day) and found Tricare to be the best for us. I have the option of a PPO but my luck I'd end up in the hospital and have to pay the 25% cost share. No way, thanks, I'll keep my managed health care.

My only question will be if everyone can choose HMO or PPO? Oh and remember, everyone can keep their current health care plan. This is to ensure everyone has coverage, not just those who can afford it. My oldest will be without healthcare for the first time this December. The premiums we are looking at are insane!

PS: The commercial name of my coverage is HealthNet Federal Services. I think they also offer civilian coverage. Not all Tricare vendors are the same depending on your region. Some still have Humana as their coverage. I wonder if the new program will be similar based on where you live? It's the same coverage, just a different carrier.

My sister (married to a retired USAF person) calls Tricare "Try-to-get-care".

My b-in-law has been retired from the Air Force for several years now, and hasnt been able to get a better paying job than a local hardware store. (they do live in a very small town, so that's most of the problem with the lack of higher paying jobs) is at least grateful they have some sort of medical insurance. If he had to pay out of pocket for insurance, they wouldnt have the money to buy food.

I think they need to do more to make private health insurance more affordable, make it so that hospitals cant charge you $800 for one Tylenol, and not have some bean counter keeping people from getting any medical treatment just because they're over a certain age and have chronic health problems.