Based on your own family's experience, what do you think we should do to improve health care in America?

Question

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Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Boy, where do I start?

I'd like to see insurance companies have less control over what medical decisions are made for an individual. If a team of doctors has determined that a particular treatment is the best choice, why does a corporation, with no medical background, get to deny that treatment?

I'd like to see drug companies have less influence over consumers. Since they've been allowed to advertise their latest thing on television, patients are telling their doctors what to prescribe. Generic drugs may work just as well, but we are a brand loving society. Rather than sticking with the tested (and inexpensive) generics, we push our doctors to prescribe the new drug we saw on tv last night. Not only does this encourage people to spend more money on drugs unnecessarily, it encourages the drug companies to continue developing new versions of similar drugs. I read that we haven't developed a totally new antibiotic in decades. Rather than develop a drug that will be used once, drug companies focus on new variations of drugs for long term use, because they can make money off of it. And boy, can they make money! I know that the true cost includes both the development AND production of the drug, but it seems like the companies are making a heck of a profit. If they can sell the same drug for a fraction of the cost in other countries, why can't they sell it for a reasonable price here?

I'd like to see every citizen of the United States guaranteed basic health care at reasonable prices. We claim to be advanced, enlightened, the best country in the world, and yet our citizens often go without medical care because they can't afford it - or can't afford the health insurance. The insurance provided through my job is a flat rate regardless of how many people it covers. I am single, no dependents, and yet my insurance premiums cost the same as a co-worker with a family of five. At one point, between jobs, I tried to get independent insurance coverage and was refused because of my weight. I was within their acceptable weight range (which was only 17 pounds higher than the upper "healthy" limit for my height), but because I had recently lost 30 pounds they refused me and told me to try again in six months, so they could "be sure I'd keep the weight off." I've visited insurance companies as part of my previous job. I've seen the 40 acre professionally landscaped site with walking paths and lakes. I've eaten in the executive lunch rooms and employee cafeterias that served better food than most restaurants I've been to. I've seen the three story fountains in the lobby, and I know one company in particular that as a matter of policy closes its doors at noon on Fridays in the summer. When my premiums go to fund the insurance company's private fitness club, I have a problem.

It's unrealistic to think that we could easily change to a national health care plan in this country. It would involve wiping out all insurance companies, and creating one enormous new government entity. Instead, we need to work within the system we have to reduce costs and increase coverage. So my suggestion? Start controlling the insurance and drug companies, and stop letting them control us. Or more specifically, stop letting them control you, our government.

Answer 2

Make good health care affordable to everyone. Maybe charge for it on a sliding scale, but everyone can participate regardless of income. Health care should not be a privilege in this country it should be a right.

Answer 3

I think health care is confusing and inaccessible for most Americans. If people don't have health care, the range of options are prohibitively expensive and terribly confusing.

More should be done to educate Americans on the basics of what level of care they need and where to find cost-effective options. And it needs to be clear that the information is coming from a trusted source.

Answer 4

My original answer focused on Canada, where health care is available to everyone. Since then, I've received e-mails informing me that Canada's system has many flaws, and is far from the greatest system in the world. Points taken. Using Canada as an example was a mistake, because it took the focus away from my real point, which is that in this country, I believe every single person should be able to get the health care they need, good quality health care, regardless of their income. Too many people are unable to go to the doctor, or are unable to get life-saving medications, because they have no money. I've been told that everyone should be buying their own health insurance, and that everyone should be able to afford it. Of course, many people don't have an extra $5 in their budget after paying rent, utilities and buying food. And others have even less. This is a fact. Maybe it's an overhauling of the insurance system. Also, maybe we could separate medicaid from the welfare system. Currently, some people benefit by not working, simply because it's the only way they can get necessary medical treatment for their families. And for seniors and the disabled, the new medicare certainly could use with some improvements and simplifications. I admit, I do not have the answers, and my suggestions surely have holes in them. In the end, what we should all agree upon is finding a way, in what is supposed to be the best, richest country on the planet, to provide quality medical care for every man, woman and child. Thank you to Senator Clinton for asking the people this will impact most.

Answer 5

We need to have affordable, preventative care for everyone. It's ridiculous that so many people resort to emergency room visits for preexisting, treatable conditions because they can't afford preventative care. It's ironic that people with good jobs at good companies pay next to nothing for great health care, and people who don't have a regular job or are on fixed incomes have to pay exorbitant amounts for health care. That's how the poor get poorer.

Answer 6

More funding for Health Dept to have more mobil medical clinics

Source(s):

They saved my life 55 miles out in the country

Answer 7

My father was hospitalized a few days ago, if health care was more affordable, maybe we would have been aware of his medical problem before it turned into the major problem that it did. The disease was preventive, but health care [doctors visits, medication, etc) are really expensive; so most people use home remedies and over-the-counter drugs/solutions, instead of seeing a doctor for their medical problems.

Answer 8

There are many ways that we can do to improve health-care.

At the moment, drugs company have been trying to eat every single penny out of the poor and middle class family. People who barely make end meet every month have to pay so much for health care. We should limit the price or work out how drug company should lower the price.

In addition, doctors charge too much for a visit and they drive and live in expensive car and neighborhood. Hence, the rich will get richer, and the poor will get poorer.

Drug company and doctors might excuse themselves by saying that they have to pay too much for liabilities. This is where the people and government should come in and understand their points of view. We understand there are ethical practice or we assume there are always ethical practice in healthcare. However, that is not true. Many are profit-proven. You can ask a lot of Medical School Applicants why they want to be in medical school. Most will answer because they want to help people. No, the answer is they want to get rich and have a comfortable life. Of course, I don't blame them because who wouldn't want that life? Drug company is also profit driven. And of course, drug company is in private sector.

So, the government should spend more time and money in developing drugs so that they can subsidize and control the amount of money the people would spend. You can go and look up how much pharmaceutical company make. Their profits are in the billions and the government does not do anything to control the drug price.

However, I would also ask the people to be patient and understanding to the drug company as well. If there is a law suit, they would have to pay in the millions. Science is very tentative. They are things that can only be discovered after hundreds and hundreds of trials. And of course, strict restriction needs to be in place. However, because the basis of science is always changing due to new discoveries, we need to also have sympathy to the drug company as well. They are not miracle makers, they only try to make profits by selling something that they "think" might help other people. Imagine the world without antibiotics and other medication, how many people would have to die? If we agree that science can be changed, the drug company might not have an excuse of increasing medication prices because of law suit.

Same applies with doctors. Of course, we would try to eliminate doctors who are not competent, but before doctors can help people, sometimes he needs to step up and think out of the box. Sometimes, it's right, and sometimes it's wrong. We make right and wrong mistakes. But of course, we always find excuses. If you have given your life to the doctor, you might not have not found other ways to help yourself already. So let's fate decide.

So the government should invest money in competing in drug production or discoveries with private sectors. Government should not only be loosely controlling the drug industry, but also need to be in the drug industry in order to realize how much profit and overpriced products drug industry have made and marked.

In addition, we need more preventive care than chronic care. If we can educate people how to keep their health in tact, we might be able to prevent a lot of other chronic diseases. The gym is sometimes too expensive to some people, so maybe we should have more gym for people who want to work out at more convenient places. We need to target at risk population because only aware people would use those. And it wouldn't help the rest of the population.

People are crazy about organic food and although it has not been completely proven that it is better than other products, help reducing the price of organic food might help people eating more organic food than other.

I still can't understand how meat can be sometimes more expensive than vegetable. Maybe, vegetable prices should be lower as well to make people think it is not out of their reach.

I think there are many things the government should do, but whether they can do it or not depends on their interest.

Answer 9

Hello Hillary,
I think that we should make health care affordable for everyone. I think that it is ridiculous that some people have to go to the emergency room just to get Prescriptions!
Thanks,
Fencerdavid2006

Answer 10

We should recall ALL the loans made to foreign countries,and use the money for health care,poverty etc.

Answer 11

keep the government just as far away from the doctor as you possibly can. anything on this earth thatcomes under the crushing bureaucracies of the federal government is doomed to excess.

medicine is a necessity. please keep the government away so the people can get what they need.

Answer 12

Take the example of other and older countries, and make health care a right and not a priviledge!

Answer 13

The biggest problem we've faced is the fact that it's barely affordable. Cost for healthcare needs to be reduced in some way.

Answer 14

make it available to everyone. We are grandparents raising 2 grandsons, cause one parent died the other on drugs. My grandsons have Tenn-care. I have Veterans which is worthless,my wife has none. How are we to raise the boys when we need vision,dental and Doctors. Its hard. I have rheumatoid arthritis but I struggle working only 2 hours a day. We pay the bills. But lately I wish I had enough to buy a shotgun and one shell for me.
My love for
my family keeps me going to work,even though I might be screaming in pain. I have crawled before and cleaned a baptistery.
I have to because I need a dentist to remove my teeth,take animal grade Tetracycline at the Farm Supply,to keep down infections until I can afford to ride a bus to Mexico,and get the work done cheap.Even dentist here charge a $100 a tooth.And they only see you maybe a minute.
I know there are vets worse than me.

Source(s):

U.S.Veteran for What?

Answer 15

A fair and free market system always works best as competition drives down profits yet profit and its potential drives research and rewards risk. A burden must be on the consumer as well to avoid misuse and abuse. Also if we look at any other area that has used the socialist system it has bogged down and failed to live up to its Utopian promise. No system is perfect but open and free market is the best out there.

Answer 16

free health care for all citizens. canada does it so why arent we? also illegal immigrants get free doctor visits. it makes no sense to me.

Answer 17

make it affordable for every family.

Answer 18

The importance of good nutrition, exercise, getting sufficient sleep, and avoiding toxins should not be neglected. A healthy population lives a longer, more productive life, and requires less health care.

Answer 19

no one asked to be born, so they should not have to ask to live. Everyone should have health care. Cut some of the stupid and wasteful spending of tax dollars, and apply our money to free health care for everyone.

Answer 20

The biggest problem is prescription drugs. A lot of people cannot afford health insurance. Small companies can't afford it. Larger companies try to hire part time help so that they don't have to help with the health care.
We struggle to pay for services that are in most cases (hospital) inadequate.
I think each State should have it's own health insurance. We have one in Maine, it's working but it doesn't go far enough to help everyone.

Answer 21

In a month, I'll send in a check for over $1000 to cover 3 months for my husband and myself - way too much. We're self employed as farmers.
Many clinics and a hospital are new in our very rural area, all within 5 years. Do we need that many when our area has the lowest wages in the state?
Years ago I questioned an insurance company after I had a baby. They charged us for a sitz bath, even though I didn't have one. She said it was alright as insurance would pay for it.
Our new hospital even gives a basket of goodies for baby and mom and a bathrobe for each mom. Somehow I'm paying for that. I wish insurance companies and clinics would operate on less money! We do. Thank you for asking.

Answer 22

Get to the root cause(s) of the cost of providing heath care and find cost effective ways to address these costs. Questions to answer - Why does the "high technology" cost so much? Why do people not take care of their own health? Are the patent extensions that drug companies get really justified? Why are so many illegal aliens here sticking the rest of us with their health care costs? Is the cost of litigation of medical claims to the rest of us too much or do we need tort reform? Is the cost of getting new, better drugs to the market too high? Why should multiple drug companies get patents on essentially the same drug? Note that throwing tax dollars to help the poor have access to health care has merits, but does not address the causes of high cost, but merely passes it on to others.

Answer 23

America must offer universal health care for it's citizens. At the minimum there should be universal health care for children under 18. I work as a nurse in a prison and it makes no sense that inmates have free health care but American citizens don't. In addition, aren't we the only industrialized nation to not offer this?

Answer 24

Improve or have the hard working people pay for those who have no desire to work?

The root of the problem is frivolous lawsuits which drive the insurance premiums up.

Do not lose sight of that.

Answer 25

I grew up as a military dependent and basically experienced single payer health care. I lived the European experience, health care as a right. When I got out into the 'real world' I saw families losing homes when cancer struck, marriages collapsing under the stress of paying for chronic health needs, mothers placing their infants in day care so they can keep health benefits, people staying at soul-crushing jobs because of a medical history that makes them ineligible for affordable health care. I saw American businesses saddled with America's health care costs, leaving their workers to compete with labor from nations which provide health care to its citizens.

This is an absuridity, as well as a grave distortion of the market and of our people's interests and talents. The insurance companies add no benefit to our system - all they do is take a huge portion of the funds available for obtaining care while (or by) denying needed care to many, and making many others jump through paperwork nightmares to secure their coverage.

The insurance companies add nothing, subtract a lot, and should be removed from the health care delivery system.

Single Payer, Universal Health Care for all Americans is long overdue. The benefits to our society will be immense.

Answer 26

Make it more affordable for the citizens of America. Last year I was pregnant and having complications, had no insurance so I had to go to the ER. I ended up having a miscarriage so they performed a D&C to make sure everything was cleaned out that needed to be, that was an overnight stay in the hospital, plus an operation; that bill alone (not including the other bills) was outragously high that I still have yet to be able to pay it off.

Answer 27

DEFINATELY MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE!! Prescription drugs cheaper,Making Mental health services affordable for low income families that are in a bind with insurance( PERSONAL EXPERIENCE)!!

Answer 28

I think we should stop letting illegals come to America and abuse the system.Everytime one of them uses the emergency room or hospital it is taxpayers who get stuck with the bills or the medical facilites take a loss and pass it on to us. Some facilities absorb the costs and eventually have to close. This is a main factor in rising healthcare costs.

Answer 29

I believe Canada's healthcare system is a role-model to what OUR healthcare should be built upon. In Canada, you get almost unlimited freedom in healthcare for $300 a month. You shouldn't have to pay nearly $100,000 to give birth to your newborn and stay for only 2 days. Healthcare should have a low, flat rate, and the way that's only gonna happen is if these doctors and hospitals across the country stop charging outrageous prices to our citizens. As Reader's Digest announced in one of their previous articles, "92% of you think health-care is one of the biggest problems America is facing today." Nobody should have to struggle just to keep themselves alive. Lower the cost of healthcare. Offer your citizens low, flat rates, then you can say you're the best country on Earth. I've read somewhere that even though America has some of the highest birth rates on Earth, we also have some of the highest infant death rates. Shouldn't Congress pay attention?

Answer 30

My own problem with the health care in this country is the affordability. I make over $40,000 a year but I am unable to insure my 2 young children. My employer covers me, but I would have to pay over $300 per child a month to have them covered on the same plan, that is what my employer would have to pay for them. I really don't feel it is fair to ask employers to cover this expense,that would cause to much of a financial burden on the small businesses of this country.
I am not much in favor of socialized medicine, as in many European countries, as I feel the quality of care is not as good as the care we receive here. But the cost are extreme. I was once charged $50 for gauze when I received stitches, plus nurse application charges. These things are far to expensive and a bit ridiculous. I really hope that our great country can find a logical and reasonable solution to this ongoing problem.

Answer 31

Well I have always been fortunate to have health care. My grandparents, on the other hand, have not been as fortunate. Especially as they have gotten older it has become harder to pay for medical expenses. The medicare they get is not enough to pay for all their medicines and often times they have to choose whether to buy medicine or pay the light bill and I do not agree with this. I believe it is our responsibility to help improve medicare for our senior citizens.