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August 19th, 2009
04:15 PM ET
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Oh for gods sakes, the amount that illegal immigrants costs is a heck of alot less than the amount uninsured valid American citizens costs. There are only about 10 million illegal immigrants but there are 46 million uninsured Americans. Enough already.
I agree, CNN, stop trying to stir the pot and give us some real reports on other first world nations health care instead of reporting the fear tactics and focusing only on the bad.
The health care in the United States is really frightening. Most citizens of every other first world nation in the world wouldn't trade their Nationalized Health Care for anything. There has to be a reason for that other than "being lazy and wanting to leech off the system".
Star reporting the truth. Please. This nation doesn't need to be divided any more than it already is, just because it sells more to report the bad than the good. It is your responsibility to educate people properly. That is why you news agencies exist, you do not exist to a part of the greedy problem.
Until Americans get over the attitude of "What's In It For Me!", there will never be a health care system that works for all Americans. Most Americans don't believe in a pregnant woman's right to choose, and won't allow adults the right to die, but will watch Americans die almost daily because they don't get access to health care. And we call ourselves a Christian Nation! Talk is cheap!
I think the comparative reports of health systems around the world has been
of most educational value to viewers in the United States. I believe only by investigating the health systems others are using
can we find the elements that could or would not work in our country.
I believe Obama does his homework before he speaks. I believe he is a true student of the world and has not just begun his investigation since he became president.
He is not our usual president. I may be wrong, but I don't think so. I think the American population is a bit floored by Obama's intelligence; morality; consideration of all groups of people within the states
and in other countries; his manners and his attempts to gently try to teach some of us some manners; his confidence and his ability to juggle so many issues in such a short period of time with solutions he presents to the public for their consideration.
It is not unusual that all of a sudden Americans feel they don't trust the government. We are not used to this new transparency, where the people have been given the power to think about the issues and have so much input.
It is scarry having to feel the responsibility of having to fo through a health bill that no one has been offered to read in past decades. Nor has anyone felt the responsibility to think and try to figure out what their future health reform should be.
I trust this president. I feel confortable leaving the decisions in his hands. It not just that I am lazy, it is just that he says what I would say if were in his shoes. He just has to wait to hear what we have to say. We, the people, will make or break the deal!
Many health issues today are self induced by smoking, eating junk food, and drug abuse. Those are controllable by the individual. People need take responsibility for their health. The system should not pay for people who deny their own bodies good health.
the pres.keep telling us that there will be no cuts in the medicare advantage program,but there are over 200 billion in cuts. The aarp suport the House and Senate revisions because they sell a supplimental insurance plan for 200 to 300 dollar per month that will cover the cut in the program that will be paid for by seniors that simply cant afford it. I have more to tell but not sure if this is the proper venue. I am sending this through a firends email becaue I am a 75yr old former US Senator with no email myself, but have lots of experence to share. How do i contact someone directly.
I’m fed up with all the false information put out about Canada’s Health Care Plan.
In 1971, when the Plan was approved, our health costs were roughly equal to yours. Now our costs are 1/4 of yours.
Moreover, we can see any GP we want anywhere in Canada. Yes, you must see a GP to see a specialist if you need to but again ANY ONE you want. Yes, there are waiting lists but these are triaged and you can get immediate treatment by a GP and a specialist, if necessary, by going to the ER of any hospital you choose.
We have no punitive damages in the event of litigation…as a result, malpractice insurance costs are minimal.
All of our medical treatment is FREE and EVERYONE is covered. No one goes bankrupt because of Health Care costs.
Our brand name drugs are much cheaper than yours and, as opposed to what your politicians say, they come from the very same pharmaceutical companies as yours. This is explained by the fact that pharmaceuticals have a 5-year patent limitation in Canada whereas, in the U.S., they have a 15-year patent period.
Compare this to the U.S.:
46 million Americans have no coverage and hospitals typically charge them 2-4 times what is paid by Americans who have insurance.
Malpractice premiums are obscene both for doctors and hospitals.
Americans who are insured very often end up paying thousands of dollars themselves. 50% of your bankruptcies are due to health care costs.
Your insurance companies typically force their insureds to use generic drugs until it’s proven beyond a doubt that brand name drugs would be more effective.
It is also much more cost effective to have GP’s treat cases whenever they can instead of patients’ automatically going to specialists, even though their illness does not require them to do so.
FINALLY:
Health Care costs in the U.S. are double those of Canada (see OECD Statistics) and constitute 16% of the U.S. GDP whereas, in Canada, the costs are 10% of the GDP.
Yet, the World Health Organization ranks the U.S. 37th in the world in terms of health care performance and Canada 30th. (Interestingly, England is ranked 18th in the world and spends only 6% of its GDP on health care.)
While neither of the above rankings for the U.S. or Canada is anything to be proud of, WHICH SYSTEM WOULD YOU PREFER???
Dear Anderson,
Why don't you come to Canada and take alook at our healthcare system.? It seems that the insurance company are going to get their way again.
You all go on about your democract society and your freedom of speech.. and the left demonize Canada and call us Socialist( making it a bad thing). Look, when your corporation are taking government subsidies/bail-outs aren't they taking part in a socialist system. When the government steps in to use tax payers money to help big corperation... what is that about...
Well Anderson... I say... Keeping them honest is not doing it's job.
Stop focusing on the townhall meetings.... follow the noise and you will find who is behind all this uproar over the Health care reform.
Follow the money Anderson..... just think about it why would there be so much noise about this, because opponents wants it to stay the way it is currently... because they are making millions hand over fist.
The rhetoric you are hearing is not due to any humanitarian impulse but because of the millions at stake.
Find out why these CEO are spending 1.4 million daily to put out these propoganda.
Find out why the GOP is so against this... the loudest people are the ones who stand to loose always.
Come on Anderson.. make Mr Cronkite proud... go out and let the people know you are keeping their elected officials and the CEOs/business honest. In our socilist neck of the woods(Canada) we would. Check out Aetna,CIGNA,Humana,MetLife and WellPoint start with campaign contribution,then check for their lobbys. All the MIC (Medical Insurance Companies) are now strangling journalism
So go ahead Anderson.. go keep them honest if you dare... They have powers that you would not have imagined. Our Toronto Star did a piece in July 11 or 18, 2009 Saturday. You should check it out.
Some has to stop the train of greed. Look at your America... all the uglies that are coming out.. it fightens me.. and I am not an American.
Do something.. I dare you. Go after the insurance company...
Blessings
BK
If we are really concerned about getting to the source of obesity, why not start with "high frutose corn syrup" which is in numerous food products. Europe controls what a food manufacture can add to food products since it is in their best interest to have healthy people. I must confess I do not know for a fact it is banned in Europe , but my gut feeling says they would not allow it.
Show us an outline what is actually being proposed with our healthcare reform. "So and so opposes it" – "Senator X says x about it" ....WHAT IS IT??? Tell us the nuts and bolts of what IT is!! We're tired of hearing what someone thinks – give us an outline of what IT is so we can see for ourselves.
This is extremely informative. We always hear about the socialistic systems in Europe. But compare the US with France (for example). US total spent per capita: $6714 (of which the government pays about 46%). France $4056 (of which the government pays about 80%). In the US the government pays $3074 per person. In France the government pays $3233 per person. The government of France only pays $159 per person more than the US Government. The key – the cost of medical care in the US is $6714 per person, versus $4056 per person in the US. WHY is it so much more in the US? Before anyone says healthcare in the US is so much better, it is not. People in France have excellent healthcare (you don't see them falling over dead in the streets). Before you debate that: Infant mortality in US – 7.0, Infant Mortality in France 4.0. Life expectancy in the US – 78, Life expectancy in France – 81. More infants (per 1000) die in the US than France. People in France live longer than the US. So, exactly how is the current US system better?
Great job Anderson with your guests. You got all to answer the questions directly. I like your style. Keep peeling away at the guests only talking or answering what your asking. I believe that the republican are so greedy that they have no morality toward the common people. We the people deserve to know that insurance companies won't be able to take our money and keep health care from us when we need it. Or charge us to much of a premium to even allow us to get medical care, we can't especially in these hard times. We need help with slicing through the republican BS... That's for you good work.
There is simply NOTHING more important than our health care.
Some people try to make the argument that money is more important than a child's life.....I don't get it....Let's stop asking if we can afford it and just do it.....The decision would be really simple if your child's life was on the line.....This is not a war between left and right as much as it is a war between private insurance companies and the people.....I am sorry to say that, because of some people's ignorance and the lack of calling out the lies on the part of news organizations, those evil insurance companies with their lobbiest are indeed winning the war on health.....I can only hope that we come to our senses and join the rest of civilized nations wich look at health care as a right for all (not just the ones that can afford it)....Thank you....Max
Nice to see you tackling this, Anderson. Healthcare reform has gone crazy in the US and as a Canadian it just seems to idiotic to me that people are fighting this. In my country our system is not perfect, but each legal resident/citizen can see any doctor of their choice and tget their health looked after.
Surely with people dying because they simply cannot afford a doctor's visit or treatment for something curable something MUST be done?
People seem to be less passionate about going to war and killing people than health care and that's bizarre to me!
I am a 64 years old disable, under social security, I am also a veteran, and my health care fortunately is taking care by the government. Under the medicaid system for now, and the VA health system, and I will be on Medicare in about a year. I am not complaining. I believe the government needs to take care of the health system. Let's be realistic, look around you, can't you see that the government has his hands on almost everything!. One payee is the solution.
We need health care reform, but not with the Government running it. They could help if they wanted to by lowering the cost of health care that we have.
Do you actually think they care about us? That's why they keep making laws that they don't have to follow themselves. They are living like they're CEO's and our bosses, not our representatives.
They need to fix the programs they are running now. Why should they be allowed to run health care, when they can't run Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the Post Office, and the VA Hospitals?
It is an insult to the public that pay attention to politics, for politicians to talk about getting bi partasin support for the Presidents health care incitive,because according Republician they hope the President fails.
And if he fails they may have a better chance in defeating him in the next election as being to weak to get his health care incitive passed.
If you compare the US to Canada and France who both have excellent health care systems that are available to all citizens, you will note that the US pays substantially more per capita and has a higher infant mortality rate (7 infants per 1000 (US) vs. 5 per 1000 in Canada and 3 per 1000 in France) and lower age expectancy (by 3 years – 78) than do Canada and France (both at 81) – and Canada pays per capital a LOT less – government wise and total wise. Seems like for our money we are not getting the best or the most affordable health care in the world. Perhaps we ought to look at these countries and see what works and what will work for us as well as coming up with our own features.
I just don't see why everyone is so angry over health care reform. Is it really going to hurt to have to pay a few extra bucks that would have been wasted at the local fast food joint anyway? Seems like the only people who are complaining are the well to do. I'm sorry but I lost my health care coverage when I was laid off back in December. Since I have to try and keep a roof over my head I decided to let go of my health care coverage since I could not afford to make the monthly payments and cobra was still to outrageous even with the subsidy. Oh yeah, and most minimum wage jobs ( and some non minimum wage jobs) do not offer health care benefits. So, What are we going to leave our babies when they get older if we don't fight to fix the mess now? Health care should be the one thing that we Americans should not have to worry about because Lord knows we have many more worries on our shoulders. I would love a government run health care OPTION. I grew up on military bases and received good care. Just because it is government run doesn't mean its going to be any less good than the private sector because believe me, there are quack doctors everywhere! it is up to you to do your homework to find a good doctor. So I wish people would stop jumping to wild conclusions and think about our little Americans who all to soon are going to inherit the decisions we are making today.
Hi anderson!
Looking at your present on T.V I feel so hurt!
Love !
Andrean!
What makes me crazy is all these white republicans mad! ABOUT WHAT NOBODIES KNOWS! Do they not want the un-insured insured? Do they want health insurance for all Americans? Because of the President's healthcare proposal it has produce the "Angry White People" ! Seem that these white people hate the fact that every Americans will have healthcare .
QUESTION:
1. Were where these "Angry White People" when President Bush wanted to send Americans to Iraq for NOTHING?
2. Were where these "Angry White People" when President Bush Patriot Act was sign into LAW!
3. Were where these"Angry White People" when in planning for the"Iraq War" President Bush forgot to order armor for the troops he was sending to WAR!
4. Were where these"Angry White People" when President Bush was messing up the economy!
5. Were where these "Angry White People" when four white cops shot and killed a 92 year old black American in her home. Then handcuff the American citizen while they planeted drug in her home to cover the fact they raided the wrong home!
6. Were where these "Angry White People" when five cops shot unarmed Sean Bell dead the day of his wedding. Shot his unarmed passeger 18 times another passeger in the car also unarmed 4 times. Then lied about a forth man that was never found.
7. Were where these "Angry White People" when unarmed, Ahmed Diallo shot 41 times for nothing more then walking home. Then the cops lied and said they thought his walet was a gun.
8. Were where these "Angry White People" when a cop push a white 72 year old senoir citizen then taser her . Then threaten to taser her again while on the ground if she didn't put her hands behind her back.
9. Were where these" Angry White People" when American troops where killed not from the war but electricité in showers provided by the military not ones but over 5. Resulting in at lease 4 deaths.
10. Were where these"AngryWhite People" when a five year old American citizen. Was handcuff because she acted up in class.
IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT SOMEONE ANSWERED THE HIRED MOB. SOME PEOPLE ARE REALY ILL-INFORMED, SELFISH, RUDE, ETC. NO NEED FOR TAX INCREASE. IT SEEMS TO ME ,THE REPUBLICANS ARE SORE LOSERS. STOP BEING SO SELFISH AND THINK OF THE POOR AMERICANS WHO HAVE NO INSURANCE, MAINLY BECAUSE YOU SENT OUR JOBS ELSEWHERE. DO YOU KNOW THAT MEDICARE IS DOUBLY FUNDED, THROUGH THE PAYROLL SYSTEM AND BY THE SENORS THROUGH DEDUCTIONS FROM OUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE 2.9% P/R DEDUCTION , ONLY SOCIAL SECURITY IS AT $106,800. SO, DEAR ONES, WHERE IS ALL THAT FICA MONEY. THE POLITIANS WHO HAVE YOU GOING TO TOWN ALL MEETINGS AND BLAMING OBAMA FOR EVERYTHING THAT WRONG, ARE THE ONES WHO PUT OUR INSURANCE COVERAGE IN THE GENERAL POT. THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE Federal Isurance Contribution Act. BESIDES THE FACT THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE DEPOSITED IN THE IRS DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY, AND QUARTERLY THROUGH OUR PAYROLLS, ALL OUR JOBS ARE GONE TO CHINA, SO THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE BANK. ...
It is striking that most countries do not value the health of its people. Health seems to be in the background, but it should be the first item to be considered.
It really is a disgrace to public health in the U.S. (Brazil much more).
The mortality rate in my country left me scarred, but I'm not surprised, unfortunately. I just can not see that 47.9 percent of health spending paid for by govemment here.
Public health focuses its action from the viewpoint of the state with the interests he represents in different forms of social organization and politics of the people. Hmmm ... has not been as well!
And how much of the US money is spent on illegal immigrants?????
Dear CNN,
Why do you not have a Special Report on Healthcare in America? Educate people on what's wrong and what's right?
Compare our Nation to other First World Nations?