In the early '70's people were treated before how payment was considered--like at the gas pump! I believe the old and young will get cared for in one way or another. The level of care will depend on level of money for the rest!

That will not change until everyone demands it! Not all disease can be treated with prevention, however, it helps and precludes a lot of problems and complications with them.

I recall the day you went in for a lump and it was removed and treated. Now, it is tested, if benign, no matter how unsightly, you may be stuck with it, until you pay cash to remove it, regardless of most insurance's. There are some very expensive companies that will do everything, but most cannot afford it!

I think gas should be easier to solve than medical care and we, in the U.S. seem to suck at fixing anything. We spend too much time talking and too little time doing. If everyone would write our representatives regarding their concerns, perhaps, something will be done! It is becoming an issue to almost become militant over!

I have an HMO. It supports preventative care. so, much, they prevent you from having a lot of things you need or should have! Until they have watched it so long, they need to do something! A friend of mine needed a hip replacement, had to lose 100 pounds first! Not that, that was not a good idea; but the person was on many meds and bed bound as a result of the hip! It is hard to lose wt. and fit insurance Co. charts when you are really fit. It took her a trip to Mexico for a lap band and almost 3 years to get her hip replaced and get her activity level back up to par. In the mean time, she had a heart attack while waiting. And this is the retirement plan for the County employees of that county.

Oh, how I long for the days when you were treated and then payment was taken care of. Of course, in those days, you paid: Because you knew your local banker, Dr. or went to church or something with people. Now, people just don't get to know anyone and don't care about their status in their community or availability to donate time and help others!

Our health care has changed with our lifestyles! People wait until they are too sick to go to a Dr.
Crap, gotta get to bank before another one close's and make sure I don't have my future to lose!

With foreclosures, banks shutting down and this economy, I expect we will only see improvement with the young and old. Socialized medicine, compared to other countries is a crap shoot!

A country like this should have a better health care systems. Where the Drs are held at the high level of esteme they once were, instead of practically at the bottom of the food chain! Being a Dr. doesn't mean instant wealth. It means, you can get a decent job on most days! some do much better, but not as they should!

Medicine like oil, seems to be something there is little we can do. Except, hope and strive for good health in ourselves! But, things happen and this country is no more prepared for any major medical problem as it was for Katrina or the recent flood victims! It no longer seems to be much of an issue with this election, as much as Iraq or building and driving 'green!' The focus is going to depend on how many people push our politicians!

We do have better care than most country's and it is not sufficient! Increased taxes specifically for health care is most likely the only way we will have what we so despirately need! And no one wants that! The money that went and is going to Iraq and will be to wounded surviving soldiers will drain this country for many decades! There are many layers to this question.

SPEAKING UP TO LEGISLATURE AND VOTE SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY TOOL WE HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH!

Solution: Get rich and buy the best insurance! :hippy: