CBO - Run the numbers for Single Payer. HB676.

The cost of not doing anything would be astronomical. It doesn't even matter to me what the estimates are by anybody.

It's just common sense that as costs continue to rise, everyone will start putting off seeing a doctor or getting tests done until they are too ill to be treated except by the most extreme, expensive means....and many will not have coverage to pay for it.

Taxpayers are going to pay for health care one way or another as more folks lose their coverage. We must have a comprehensive national program that covers everyone and controls costs. Without a single-payer option, the costs will continue to skyrocket with for-profit care.

Why are we even discussing subsidizing private plans any longer?

They have never been cost effective. They have had their heyday back in the 1960's and 70's but have gotten way too expensive since then. They routinely shut people out of the system to keep profits unrealistically high. They are no longer relevant.

We can still use the insurance industry to help administer a national program, but they no longer are effective at delivering care. They had their chance and blew it. Only by putting everyone into the same pool like the rest of the industrial countries in the world does, can we contain costs.

Having to be forced to pay for health insurance.
I know that health insurance is important but when the average person can't even get by and then be forced to pay another bill is impossible. I have no idea from one day to the next if I will still have a job, already been laid off twice in 3 years and now this one may close their doors also.
Why now hit us with more costs? I thought the government was here to help the citizen's but I think it is more interested in helping corporations who made bad decisions and expect us to pay for it it,certainly not in years has the citizens been a concern and it is not getting any better. I expected we would have to pay for health insurance like the medicare we already have taken out of our paychecks, not like car insurance. I bet we could save tons of money both state and federal if we didn't cover illegals bills. I'm sure if I got hurt in Mexico they would pay for it, nor would they treat me without getting paid first.

It's so close - the Committee needs to take one step back towards the House bill, and remove the income limits required to join the public plan - as it is, only lower income people will be eligible. Then take a step forward, and let evryone choose to join the public plan, even if their employer offers one. Finally: CBO says the public plan premiums will not be affordable, because it pegs reimbursement rates to the average of the private plans, instead of basing them on Medicare. (So lower income people may be eligible but will have difficulty affording to join. Subsidies help but are complicated to administer.) This represents wrangling within the Committee; progressive Senators need to represent the public's interests, no matter how hard fought. And the Administration should back them up.

why can't the gov. act as a company an every state ask insurance co. give a bid to cover all people in their state, and every one the state that works pay a percentage of their pay check to the state that they live in,and corp. also pay a percentage off their total income, this could be done in every state, with gov. setting what is to be covered,the people should pay for their ins.an the gov.tax payers only those that can't pay

Think of all the things this country could accomplish if we did'nt have to deal with two wars that cannot be won. Great healthcare for everyone and maybe even a balanced budget, or a chance for one. Come on Barak, don't make me sorry I voted for you.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/medicine/article1019355.ece
Beautiful article in St.Pete Times-So called blue dogs read it and educate yourself.It is terrible to think that these democrats btw who are in the office thanks to Pres. Obamas voters and were riding the wave will turn on president for their selfish reasons and cowardice...they more look yellow to me than blue.There is no such a thing as "blue dog dem." either you are democrat or you are not.Republicans don't have problems with colors-they all are unified to bury this president and our party.Last time I checked-we won and are mandated to bring change like this inhumane health care system.Some of these blue dogs will lose in 2010 because there will be no presidents voters out there for them,so why not try to make change which will prove them being on right side.Why not be courageous and stand with president and party and there can not be more important and bigger issue than health care.We all know that single payer is the only option which will make serious change but government option is good start too.We are already paying arm and leg for our coverage,me for one 300 bucks a month -3000 deductible and Can Not chose doctor or hospital that is not in system.I am already paying for all my health care anyway,unless I go to hospital and need something big.My friend has cancer and bill exceeded 1 million now and insurance will not cover anymore since they payed maximum(they didn't expect he will live that long).Is this what you want to keep guys???Blue dogs-shame on you!!!!!

"What's right about our system is that we have a single-payer system that's dramatically reduced costs and provided universal coverage,'' says Dr. Michael Rachlis, one of Canada's top experts on health care policy. "Americans have ideological blinders about 4,000 miles tall and cannot see that something with the word 'government' in it could be more efficient than something without government in it.''
From St.Pete Times
Emily and Dennis Whitehead tend to agree. While she undergoes cancer treatment with no worries about the cost, an uninsured friend in Alabama is recovering from major heart surgery.

"I asked my friend how he's going to pay his $110,000 hospital bill and he has no idea,'' Dennis Whitehead says. "They'll probably turn it over to a collection agency and harass him for the rest of his life.''

Senator Kennedy and Senator Dodd have said “no longer will Americans with good health care have to worry about losing everything if they lose or change their job”. I hope that they also realize that with another government option to choose from, the unemployed and disabled receiving Medicaid assistance will no longer fear that if they start working again they will lose their government health insurance and not have access to any other health care coverage option. (Chi Ching! More tax revenue to pay for the system.).

The money from our 45 million newly insured will create more jobs in the health and insurance industry (Chi Ching! More tax revenue to pay for the system).

While the AP article above reports that one committee is centering negotiations with Republicans on a proposal for a nonprofit cooperative to sell insurance as a competitor to private companies, when will Republican leadership acknowledge that some of the poor, unemployed and disabled can’t afford to pay ‘anything’ towards health care coverage?

We would be leading a better moral example for governments around the world not to let their people suffer if the current Republican political agenda would finally give up their privatization thoughts that nobody, no State or no community needs ‘anything’ but a tax break to pay for their own. (The Republican Congressional is going to give the ‘working poor’ a tax break to pay a premium for their own health care coverage? Wow, tell me, how much would that tax break be out of the working poor’s hourly wage? I mean are Republican’s talking a ‘non-existent’ tax break amount here for the poor or talking out of ‘nonexistent’ brains being that they house the only American political party who treats the poor like their non-existent?)

I just watched the news about the Dem Senators not backing the bill, they can be kicked out office as the Rep. were kicked out of office. The voters want this to go though.

I just watched the news about the Dem Senators not backing the bill, they can be kicked out office as the Rep. were kicked out of office. The voters want this to go though.

Please work with the all Demecrats on getting Healthcare for ALL passed ASAP. We need you to help, not keep stalling & postponing healthcare. I have seen a number of my friends DIE this year because they had no healthcare. They had high blood pressure & needed meds but couldn't afford seeing a doctor as well as having the money for the pills!!! Just as I'm now in that same situation after working hard for 30 years just to lose my job & INSURANCE!!!! The last 3 years my employer kept cutting our healthcare benefits, raised our portion of deductibles, raised my co pay to $1500.00 out of pocket FIRST before they covered some of my costs. Oh yea, my employer didn't even tell us one time he changed it & I ended up having a bill from the doctors office for over $1600.00. This is the honest truth!!! My employer also in the last 3 years I worked for him , of the 16 years I worked for that company, he took 35% from my wages & we had no choice to accept it or get fired. What am I to do??? I am in massive pain from my lower back, paying over $200.00 a month just to get meds each month to barely ease though the pain I suffer for another 4 weeks more, praying that I can deal with all this physical pain as well as the mental stress that I deal with every single day. But, I have to be strong, at least try and be strong. I have kids, I'm single, I have to raise my kids alone, suffering with eating less myself so that my sons may eat enough & I can get my meds. Plus, my sons are the most important people in the world to me & I love them more than anything. Oh, almost forgot, my house is being foreclosed cause I can't pay a $900.00 house payment a month, a $435.00 child support bill a month , this is a different child than the two sons I'm raising at home. Add in utilities, gas, food, ect.. Figure this out with only getting unemployment compensation. Please at least help us get medical insurance, I'm not a free loader, I never took anything that I didn't earn. I've worked hard for over 30 years !!!
Scott W of Eastpointe Mi. 48021

I am really getting tired of hearing how much it is going to cost if we get a health plan that covers everybody for everything. If the Britians, the Candians, and most everyother country can do it why can't we. Like many americans i live on a fixed income and get medicare..well just to have the privlege of this wonderful insurance cost me $93.00 per month before i get my check. Then there is the 32.50 per month for my medication..all before deductables and co pays and what if my doctor doesnot accept assignment(which many don't), if you don't know what assignment means, it means the dr. takes what medicare sends him/her. If that happens then I have to pay the rest of the bill..with what my good looks, thats a fine thing. I get $839.00 per month, to pay for food utilities, etc. my husband gets 1536.00, with that we pay the mortgage..God help us if we get Cancer...We will lose everything, because we can't pay for chemo. My friend just died 2 months ago from metastatic breast cancer..her chemo cost her 5000.00 per dose after what her insurance paid..she didn't have that kind of money so she was in the trials of new drugs for cancer so she didn't have to pay...and she died.. what a load of crap...if you democrats don't do something soon we will all be in the poor house.

Once again....those so called blue dogs are stalling what American people wants for their own personal agenda.I am afraid that we will not be able to get this done and American voters will not be kind,nor should be especially toward those who voted against the people but for insurance companies.Last time I checked does it say in our constitution 'We the people,and don't forget blue dogs;We the people,WANT this bill!!! You vote against it at your own peril and you really don;'t belong to this party,better go and pal in with Palins,Limbaugh,Hannity,they are your biggest fans now.This party always stood with Consitution of the United States and what this country is found on; Of the people,by the people and FOR the people!
And not Not for Humana,Aetna,BCBS,big corp. first and people second...Wake up!!!Will ya? We have a chance of lifetime to pass something that history will be very kind to and to those who were brave enough to stand up to big money and for the people!

The HELP bill is satisfactory to me. What I cannot understand is why President Obama is so set on getting a bi-partisan bill from these six Senators. It seems as though Grassley has more power than Bachus.Why is Grassley in a position to reject the house version that calls for.taxing the rich? Grassley is in the MINORITY party and should not be in a position to dictate anything. Sometimes I wonder whether the Democratic Party won the election as it appears that the republicans are running the show,rejecting what they don't want and making threats and pronouncements. A health bill without a Public Option would be useless and I am puzzled as to why the President does not come out and say that he will not sign any bill that does not have a public option. I believe that the waning support for the health bill is a result of the President not being specific enough about what he will or will not accept in the bill. The most important aspect of the bill must be to provide health care for the millions who cannot now afford it. Only a public option can make this possible. Mr President forget about the republicans whose only objective is to sabotage any effort to produce a health care bill which the President could take credit for. And tell the blue dogs to stop taking money from insurance lobbyists and give the people they are supposed to serve what they are asking for.

Do Not accept this crap from Republican Grassley and Republican light Bachus.All real Democrats vote against this bill if public option is not in it.We won election-it has been promised to us.Democratic party will not see a dime from me,unless they will use it to run adds against those yellow belly blue dogs.Not a dime!I am sure better than half of country is with me on this.Why I can't have a choice to buy insurance for same money from government ,than these insurance bastards who deny to pay anything.

It's normal and customary to comment on something personally familiar to commentator.That is why we requested The health care/hc insurance? reform Bill,released by H.E.L.P..We have herd from many sources the "Bill" was not read by the pushers and legislators.We want to read it in it's entirety,all 1017 pages of it,in our neighbourhood to understand what's there and call our reps and senators to vote FOR or Against.

I and my wife and whole neighbourhood want to read the whole thing,all 1017 pages.Please,send it to us.If it's good we'll have our Reps and senators to vote For.

Important article about health care crisis!
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B1E2NNuqOSBnM2Y5NzNjZjItMWM5ZS00N2E3LThhZGQtNDJjZGJjMjM0Yjlj&hl=en

A bipartisan health care bill that includes public health option would be wonderful, but if we can't get the GOP votes, so be it! We have the majority in both houses and should be able to get this passed. We need to put some pressure on the Blue Dog dems and let them know they don't have job security either! Americans need the same good healthcare that other nations enjoy NOW. I am on medicare and happy with this govt-run service. I am not happy with the $1800 per year I pay for Medigap insurance. I would rather a tax increase than the yearly increase in my medigap policy. Hopefully, Senator Kennedy's health will allow him to put some pressure on those Blue Dogs and get this bill passed.

OH MY GOD how can a party with 60 votes and a vast majority of the country behind them still fail? -Easy lack of conviction!

It's 2009 and I don't care that I don't have a flying car; but it infuriates me that my health care is so expensive and out of MY control.

Serious health care reform needs a 'public option' or just take the ball and go home. We need to change the game on this critical topic and stop nibbling at the edges.

Its clear that the GOP has no intention of seeking any comprise, this is clearly a stall tactic to allow the Dems to do what they do best -self destruct.

If not now when? If not Obama then who?

I'm confident something will get passed.

Why have they made it so complicated? Why not just let whoever wants to sign up for Medicare and then charge on that on a sliding scale? If others want to keep their insurance fine, if not, or if they cannot get insurance, let them get medicare. It really is not all that complicated. Then we can concentrate on reducing medicare costs by looking at where there is waste in that system, and working to improve it. We can do this....it should not be that hard and it is not impossible.