Which way now as Senate ponders its own reform bill?
| Thursday, Nov 26 2009 04:17 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 26 2009 04:19 PM
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Reform is necessary
The urgent need for health care reform in this country was highlighted by a recent article in The Californian about a substantial salary increase for the CEO of Kern Health Systems ("What recession? Agency CEO gets fat raise," Nov. 11). The excessive salary for this position was already unnecessarily draining funds that should have been allocated to health care provision into salary for a simple administrative function.
CEOs of private health insurance companies earn outrageous salaries if their companies are profitable by managing to deny benefits to their subscribers. KHS is not a private insurance company but is a taxpayer-funded nonprofit insurance company that manages health care for poor citizens of Kern County. The CEO of KHS serves the role of an administrator who directs government funds to health care.
Reform is necessary to shift the funds that are spent managing health care to actually providing health care.
LINDA SCHROM
Bakersfield
Better off in Europe?
I was pleased to hear that President Obama's health care plan passed in the House of Representatives. It's a shame that Congressman Kevin McCarthy could not see the value of passing health care reform. With Medicare fraud worsening with $47 billion in suspect claims; when nearly 2,300 military veterans die due to lack of insurance coverage in 2008; with illegal immigrants receiving more subsidized money than our senior citizens -- it's time for health care reform.
Recently, my wife had a hip replacement at a cost of $150,000. She contacted her cousin in Germany who works in a hospital billing department and found out that the same operation there costs $28,000. The other $122,000 subsidizes all those without insurance, while I keep paying more.
Many years ago, a young boy in Quartz Hill needed a liver transplant. However, the father depleted his insurance coverage. If the father didn't raise $80,000 in a month's time, the 12-year-old boy would die. Luckily, the community came to the rescue and raised the required money. This type of medical incompetence is unheard of in Western Europe.
My dad, who was from the old country, used to say America is a great place to live when you're healthy, but if you really get sick, you'd be better off in Europe, because everyone is covered with health insurance.
It's time for reform.
FRANK STIBOR
Tehachapi
We can vote you out
If this health care reform bill is passed, against an overwhelming outpouring of protestation from us, the Americans who actually put these monsters into office, it will be the final straw on America's back. It will destroy what is left of our economy, while also destroying the world's best health care system.
I agree that there needs to be major changes to our insurance system. Those changes can be made by eliminating the tort system, allowing individuals and companies to purchase insurance across state lines, opening competition and getting the government out of the regulation of the existing system.
Most problems this country has today can be directly traced back to the government, usually in the form of Congress. If it could be left up to us -- Americans -- who are generous, intelligent, conscientious and ingenious, this country (and probably the world) would be far, far better off.
Never believe that the government knows what is best for us. We know what is best for us. And we do not want the government being responsible for our health care. We don't want our doctors being held accountable to a government "fiscally responsible" health care plan. This is insane.
Note to both Houses of Congress: Go ahead and vote for this evil plan. We voted you in; do not be so arrogant as to believe that we won't vote you right back out.
THOMAS ROBLES
Bakersfield
Don't panic electorate
The health care bill is being used to profit the naysayers and to increase voter support for Republican candidates in future elections. Opponents are using misinformation, outright lies and scare tactics equivalent to shouting "fire" in a crowded theater. Consider the woman who drove two days to a rally because she was afraid her Medicare would be lost!
Consider who has the greatest motive to limit your care: for-profit medical insurance companies, their executives and the executives of "non-profit" insurance companies. Consider also the zealots on talk shows. They are paid for their performances -- the more people they panic, the more listeners, equaling more money.
A rhetorical question like, "Do you want the government to decide what medical care you are to receive?" gets the obvious answer: "No!" If the question were, "Do you want the government to defend your right to insured medical care?," your answer would be: "Yes!"
The bill has provisions to prevent denial of coverage because of a pre-existing condition. It also appears that the bill will prevent us from being priced out by excessive charges.
What does seem to be agreed upon by most Democrats and Republicans is that America needs reform in its health care system. Let's not kill it by panicking the electorate. Let the debate go on.
L. PAUL DITTMAN
Bakersfield
Boxer missed the boat
I note that the U.S. Senate's health care bill contains no money for a med school at UC Merced. If Barbara Boxer had told Harry Ried that she was thinking about voting against the bill, Harry would have funded the med school in a heartbeat to get her vote. After all the time she has spent in the Senate, wouldn't you think she would have figured that one out?
DAVID BANKER
Bakersfield
