Comments about ‘Health reform called a Trojan horse’

I agree with Obama that something needs to be done to provide health care to EVERYONE - BUT - I have to agree with Leavitt that letting the govt. provide our health care will only make things worse, MUCH WORSE!
I sincerely hope the Repubs. and moderate Demos. in congress can get this stopped before it gets started.

It seems to me that this could be one of those "bipartisan" issues both sides refer to that MIGHT be able to be resolved through negotiation!

Its really not a "party" issue, its a health issue!

Premiums are expected to double by 2015??!! Arent they making enough? Poor people can barely afford things right now. The premiums are so high that not everyone one can afford it and a large chunk of those who cant afford private insurance make too much to qualify for Medicare. When will the greed finally be checked?! Business as usual is not working we need the Medical Insurance Business to be overhauled for our own good. Or is it Ok to let the poor die because their replaceable?

Leavitt had his turn and the problems got worse. It's time for Leavitt to stop whining - no one is listening.

I would like to see, in great and gory detail, the Mike Leavitt healthcare reform plan. I'd like to see how he plans to keep costs down, insurance companies honest, and all Americans insured. I'd like to see whether he can bring the overall cost of American healthcare (total costs, not just the out-of-pocket costs to healthcare recipients) down to the level that healthcare costs in other industrialized nations, such as Canada, France, and Australia.

When you look at the quality of healthcare we get in the US in terms of how much that care costs and what percentage of the population receives the care they need, it's clear that our nation is categorically failing in comparison to other nations. We don't necessarily have to do things the way those nations do things, but we absolutely need to be having a vigorous debate about how to address the problem. Let's hear the full details of the Leavitt plan so that we can judge for ourselves whether it's the best way forward.

Heath care reform would put a crimp on the family business 'eh Mike?

I do believe in regulating health care insurance and health care costs along with it. The driving force of all health care expenses is the cost of the medical services provided, not the insurance costs. Also what would help is better wages for workers so they can afford insurance and keep government out of the system completely. Corporate america is reeling in giantic profits and lucrative payments to investors yet they can't help their workers by paying them a decent wage so we can live and survive on our own. Most of americas problems are a direct result of peoples income from wages and work benefits. Welfare and medical care have become the choice of business to use by driving down wages to the point that everyone can qualify for government aid. Any government sponsered welfare to the american people is only feeding the frenzy of greed from business and corporate america forcing americans on welfare. And illegal foreign nationals from Mexico are the primary cause of loss of income to the american people. Then american companies outsourcing it company to foreign countrie because they pay fewer taxes and lower wages to slave workers.

It only gets worse. Obamas new COBRA ruling puts more expence on Ins. cos. and Business. Look for higher yet Ins. rates and more business droping coverage.

The greed of the private health system we have is what has cause our medical crisis. If the government steps in to regulate things, it's not socialism. It's only socialism if the government steps in and takes control. But regulation is a proper role of government and the health care system is something that needs to be regulated.

When the richest country in the world can't provide health care for one sixth of its population, there's a problem. When modern first world countries like Germany, Japan, Taiwan, or England can provide universal health care for a fraction of the cost of the US, we have a problem.

Leavitt can complain about things (in reality spin them) all he wants but he's not offering solution only firing up the right with retorical fear. It's time to establish ourselves as a leader in the world with health care instead of enriching the pockets of the medical industry.

People can only see the hand in front of their face premiums. A person blogged about Canadas government health care. He bashed private insurance. Then went on to explain what the government was giving them. He said that they were given coverage for doctors visits and only what can be done in the hospital. No drugs, dental or vision. This he understood was costing him 10% more in income tax over what Americans pay, so he had a family of 4 and lets say he made 60,000$ joint income that would be 6,000$. Then he added that he pays 118$ month for this limited plan. Then he added he had to buy for 75$ per person a supplemental plan form a private insurer. Lets add this up. This cost him 918$ per month! That can buy him a Cadillac of a plan in the USA. He thinks the government is giving him something!! HE also admits that some care is lacking in quality and waiting. He is smiling ear to ear thinking he is driving a Cadillac and is really driving a used car with no rims, AC, and AM radio.

Leavitt was THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES--what did he do to fix the problem? He was the most influential person in the country, why did he not do anything? Get over the fear of "socialism" and start thinking about real solutions!

Action is needed, but not ill conceived action. It's better to have no plan than a bad plan. Either way, legislators will continue to have botique medical care and continue to side step Americans with Disabilities Act, social security and the myriad other programs we endure and they avoid.

I glad he's not in charge now with the Swine flu crisis. He'd be preventing any government actions as socialism and say we need to let private companies solve the problem.

Mr. Leavitt has ridiculed the efforts of people to find a solution to our health care problem.

In the finest example of the RE-PUBLICAN party, he shows us by his action and words that he is long on condemnation and woefully short on solutions.

If the Democrats are not the answer, heaven help us if we go back to the RE-PUBLICAN Party.

Insanity is doing the same thing day after day expecting different results...

Let us try something different. There are so many ethic problems now because it is privatized.

I am not surprized Mr Leavitt may not be for it. He is part of the rich 5% that has it. He may also be involved with profits from the health care system.

However if he was to humble himself and go down to the local soup kitchen and work with the average american (The majority of americans) and represent them, he would see the need for this change.

At least Obama wants to give it a go. Why not. The old privatized system is a failure for the majority of americans.

New health care reform proposals that will require citizens to spend good money, to purchase questionable insurance, and participate in a health care system that has failed so many, are harsh and counter productive. Offering two options, that would allow everyone the choice of either using a free, government, owned and operated, VA style civilian National Health Care System, funded by a national sales tax: Or the alternate choice would be for individuals and businesses to continue to pay for and use private systems for care. Costs of health care paid for by government programs, (Medicare-Medicaid etc.) could be reduced, to a fraction of their current expenditures, with better outcomes, if the services for these programs were delivered from a VA style National Health Care System. Choosing national health care would free businesses from being involved in any way for the health services their employees receive. The Best Care Anywhere is an article by Phillip Longman that documents how the VA was transformed by Dr. Kizer, into a system that is producing the highest quality health care in the country.

If - and only if - the public option offers every single person in the USA the same benefits at the same premium cost as US legislators, it's a good idea.
But if it doesn't do that - and we haven't seen one detail - it won't work, just an appeasement.
What is amazing is that the insurance industry has a market of 50,000,000 people and can't figure out how to make money. Either they're incompetent or so into total greed that they don't want to insure everyone.

The idea that the free market (along with anti-trust regulation) allows an industry to fleece its costumers is false. Only the elimination of competition through nationalization can produce that result.

Therefore, if you feel you're being taken advantage of, look somewhere else for the cause.

A guy who made a fortune in the insurance industry is lobbying against government-run health care and says the answer is deregulation of the industry. Quelle Surprise!

The problem is not the health care system... The problems in health care mirror the problems in the whole economy.

Just having the govt take over is not the solution for either. Whenever you try to ensure that nobody is poor or ever has to do without, you reward those who will not try at the same time as you support those who cannot support themselves. How can you tell the difference? Not easily.

I have looked at a number of the proposals being floated and it seems like the best bet for a private based health care reform bill is the Wyden-Bennett bill called the Healthy Americans Act. Unfortunately I am afraid this bill will be drowned out by the Kennedy types who want their stamp on health care reform.