I have a problem with the cost of healthcare, which is why I’m interested in serious proposals to reduce costs, and I’m glad that discussion is part of the broader debate about reform. But what I have a bigger problem with is access.

Let’s say I have a pre-existing condition. And let’s say I was born with it. Now let’s say I graduate from college, get a job that provides health insurance as a benefit, and no longer qualify as a dependent on my parents’ plan. Now, I’m in my early twenties, I feel invincible, and I don’t pay too much attention to the fact that my employer-based private insurance provider stuck a rider in my policy that they’re not going to cover anything related to my pre-existing condition for, oh, let’s say a year. No worries. I’m fine. Okay, now I’m in my mid-twenties. Now the economy tanks, and unemployment goes up. I’m laid off. I get COBRA (which is more expensive than when my employer was paying a good chunk of the premiums for me). Finally, I get another job. Phew. And they even offer health insurance. Unfortunately, in the year during which I was unemployed, my pre-existing condition began creating chronic symptoms that incurred medical costs. These were covered by my previous insurer thanks to COBRA. Only now, when I’m newly employed, that rider that has a waiting period for my pre-existing condition means something. I wind up having to go to the hospital, and it isn’t covered. I incur tens of thousands of dollars in expenses. I was working. I was insured. And I got screwed. Because I wasn’t profitable for private insurers.

In short, millions of Americans have been trying your proposal for years, and it isn’t working for them. So I’m glad you’re signed up and ready to support a public option!

The fee-for-service model of health care needs to be fixed. And the sooner the better.

Ryan, you’re the kind of dittohead conservative that gives selfishness a bad name. If all Americans have equal access to affordable healthcare, it would not only be good for all of us, it would also be good for your financial portfolio. Healthy workers are happier, more productive, miss fewer days of work, and wouldn’t have to worry about healthcare. Companies wouldn’t have to go broke trying to figure out how to pay for health insurance, and profits would rise. Isn’t that what you pro-big business cons want????

If I get sick and have to go to the hospital, am I buying health care, or do I need health care? It goes back to whether you think health is a condition or a commodity, and whether you think health care is a human right.

Those of us who have the money AND have access to insurance do exactly what you suggest, and we are connected with the cost. But there those who don’t have the money or don’t have access to insurance mostly because either a) they’ve lost their job, or their insurer doesn’t offer insurance, or; b) they’ve been denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

When you’re talking about the rising cost of health care, don’t forget to include those industry-wide record profits.

Lets talk about this..

You want Medicare for everyone.. right? Is that kind of like TennCare, for everyone? If not, what is the difference? If a “public option” is what you need, why does TennCare not work for you? (be careful)

I have a solution for your problem with the cost of health insurance. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but it will lower the cost of insurance. Let’s treat insurance as INSURANCE.. for events that cost a lot of money (cancer, HIV, broken bones, etc).. When you go to the doctor for a head cold, a shot, a physical, (etc) PAY for it. I know, it’s a foreign concept.. being connected with the actual cost of what you are buying. It will lower cost for both insurance and actual cost of care (since you will be able to shop pricing more comfortably)..

How about try that one first, then, if it doesn’t work… Public option it is.. Just give us a year to try it, and we can save those billions in Medicade in the meantime, right?