Critics of the health care reform are apprehensive about the proposed individual mandate requiring all American to purchase health insurance or pay a fine of at least 2 percent of their income to the government. These critics are arguing because they think Americans will be locked into purchasing a product that has the potential to become ever more expensive especially if the final outcome does not have a government run insurance plan to complete with private insurance companies. The chairman of the liberal Democracy for America stated that his group would like to see the individual mandate stripped. There have been complaints from the private insurance industry about the mandate as well. They are concerned that the penalty for failing to purchase insurance is too mild and that young healthy people will choose to pay a small tax penalty rather than purchase insurance. Do you agree? Will people pay a fine rather than purchase health insurance?

The Medicare “end of life planning” provision will remain in the Democratic health care bill. Although this provision has been labeled wicked death panels, vindictive attacks have backfired to help increase awareness about this problem which is why it will remain in the bill. This provision permits Medicare health insurance to pay for voluntary counseling to help recipients deal with the complicated and sorrowful decisions families have to make when a loved one passes. For many years federal laws and policies have encouraged people to discuss and think ahead about end of life choices. Living wills have also been promoted. This summer when House Democrats proposed to pay doctors for the counseling it created a wave of skepticism and anger. Republicans defined it as an example of government exceeding its limit. What are your thoughts? Should Medicare health insurance pays for end of life counseling?

One of The challenges facing Obama’s attempt to overhaul healthcare was summed up by Nobel Prize winning economist Daniel Kahneman when he described it as losses loom larger than gains.Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night was an endeavor to move the balance between Americans’ fear of loss and their hope of gain from changing a healthcare and health insurance system that dives deep into their personal lives. For a while now, the often raucous debate has been dominated by fears of what might be lost if Democrats succeeded in revamping  a troubled system — loss in the quality of individual care, in people’s capability to choose doctors, in their freedom from new government rules and mandates. What are your thoughts?

Nancy Pelosi the House speaker emphasized her push for a public run health insurance plan that has separated democrats, stating that it could save huge amounts of money. According to the Wall Street Journal Congressional supporters said including a government plan for people under the age of 65 in the health insurance reform could save as much as $200 billion, if this plan were to pay for health care providers the low rates used by Medicare. The House Speaker is speeding up efforts to develop a consensus bill that would mend committee versions passed during the summer. The main decision is how to pinch the cost of the bill and ensure the legislation doesn’t increase the deficit over the long term. What are your though on a public run health care system and a universal health insurance plan?

Have we as Americans bitten off more than we can chew? Many experts are saying that when we focus on changing too many things at one time we do not succeed. It is proven in the past that when we dedicate all of our time and efforts to one reform or proposal we are less likely to run into unforseen challanges. According to Republican Senator Lamar Alexander, Democrats need to select one major project to focus on this fall. The new debate that is being discussed is which project to focus on. Should we focus on the health insurance reform, financial legislation, consumer protections or clean energy? Which problem is more important to you?

More health insurancecompanies are offering networks of doctors in other countries in order to subdue the United States rising healthcare costs. Certain networks of surgeons and dentists in India and Costa Rica are being referred US patients where the medical costs are 90 percent less than in America. Until lately, most US citizens traveling abroad for affordable health insurance and non-emergency medical attention were either uninsured or wealthy. This profile is evolving, now they are more likely to be citizens that covered by private insurers who are looking to keep costs from escalating out of control. What do you think about health insurance companies offering oversea networks?

Robert Farley a staff writer for a political fact magazine discussed the topic of whether the health insurance reform would mean new government funding could pay for private insurance plans that cover abortion. According to Farley none of the reform bills mentioned abortion until the latest version approached this issue last week which was introduced by Rep. Lois Capps. The amendment would separate the money that would be used to pay for abortions. It would strictly forbid federal dollars from being used to subsidize abortions. Any of the money that would be used for abortion coverage must be paid by an insured through their premiums. What do you think about this amendment? Should health insurance have anything to do with abortions?  

According to Kaiser Health News both parties agree that the new health care reform should focus on building a better health system that promotes prevention rather than simply managing diseases. This would require Medicare and private health insurance companies to fully pay for preventative services such as annual checkups, screenings, mammograms, etc. without any payment from the patient. That means no deductable and no co-payment. President Obama has stated that prevention can save lives and limit the health care spending. The insurance industry is having a fit because they say that such provisions would lead to higher premiums and will hinder individuals from designing flexible insurance plans. What are your thought on preventative care and insurance companies not charging the patients?

Pelosi and other Democrats have said that Republicans are looking to protect the health insurance industry that is their business supporter, not so much from a government insurance selection, but from the Expansive industry reforms that benefit from public support, including the eradication of coverage caps and the practice of declining coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions. The White House also wants to push the deliberation toward insurance reform, because it is easier to assimilate than long-term cost control, which is another important objective. Is the government looking to protect the health insurance industry?

Jacksonville, Florida — Not since Bill Clinton’s first term as President of the United States has the nation’s chief executive, Congress and indeed the American people focused so much attention on health care, health insurance and reforming both of these interrelated systems. The debate over what can and should be done – and what cannot and should not be done – in regard to health care deliver and payment for services in the United States has intensified in recent days as both the House and Senate approach their summer recess. President Obama initially established the House recess date of August 3 as the deadline for which he actually wanted to see health care and health insurance legislation on his desk in the Oval Office.

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