As much as we lament about the media's failure to cover the stories of real people and real events and stories that constantly go under the radar, we still have to depend on them for our answers.
Either that, or we can take the citizen journalism approach and get the answers from the people on our own.
Thus, I'm posting here a series of short questions that I would love for all of my readers to answer; either here in a public forum, or privately messaged to me if you don't want to share your answers with everyone else.
All of the questions below are simply meant to gauge public opinion about reforming our nation's health care system, and what people feel should be done. The more answers I get, the better conclusion I can come to. I'll make sure I share these answers and my own conclusion after I've gotten enough information. If you feel you must send me your answers privately, I will keep your answers confidential. Answer away!
1. Do you feel our health care system needs reform? If yes, what is the best approach?
2. Do you support a free, taxpayer-funded insurance option? Why or why not?
3. Do you or your family use Medicare? If not, why?
4. Are you insured? If yes, how expensive is your coverage? Does it cover you and your family adequately? If you aren't insured, why?
5. What is your biggest complaint about hospital service? How would you go about fixing that problem?
6. If you are uninsured, how do you finance your medical bills?
7. Do you trust private insurance companies to have your best interests at heart? Why or why not?
8. Do you feel Medicare is adequate as a program? Why or why not?
9. There are 40,000,000+ uninsured citizens currently in the USA. What would you say to those who want, but cannot afford a private insurance plan?
10. There are close to 14,000 people each day that lose their health insurance coverage. What reforms would you implement to make sure people don't lose their insurance?
Take your time, and send me your answers either by responding below or messaging them to me in private! I'll compile my results and come to a conclusion sometime next week.
Friday Thoughts and Links
14 years ago
1. Yes, the health care system needs reform. Finding a way to bring basic medical coverage to the millions of Americans who don't have it is a moral imperative in a nation with this many resources and this much power. The fact that we have the ability to do so and choose not to is embarrassing. As for how its hould be done... well, I'm not a policy expert on this issue, and i don't know the numbers or the impacts. But from my own semi-educated observations, it seems to me that some sort of fully fuded public plan is needed, whether it is an opion, or full single payer health care. I lean toward the former, or perhaps some form of the former with means testing.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, at least some form of one. I think it is a moral imperative that we, as a nation, take care of our citizens, whether they have money or not. This is a huge problem that pretty much requires a national solution.
3. my immediate family does not use medicare at this time. none of my family is either old enough or falls under one of the exceptiosn ot the age limit.
4. I am currently insured through my employer. I pay around 80 a month, but recieve coverage adequate to my curren needs. I do wish my bi-weekly payments were lower, however.
5. Having only been treated in a hospital once, and only for a copule hours, i suppose i would only say that the cost of what are now routine tests is simply outrageous. The notion that MRI's cost thousands of dollars is absurd.
6. NA
7. I do not trust private insurance companies. At all times, they will look to put profit above people, because that is their function.
8. Having had no personal experience with this program or any special education in its workings, i cannot make an educated statement on this question.
9. That it is a travesty that in a country this powerful and this rich that we cannot find a way to secure medical care for them. That it is an embarrassment that we have the ability to do so, but choose not to.
10. I suppose it would depend on the reasons people are losing their coverage. Again, having insufficient education on this issue, i cannot give a well though out policy answer.