New Haven Independent

Posted by: Walt | November 23, 2009 9:22 AM

This is just the beginning.

Now with the feds wanting to cut back on women's mammograms, rhey are pushing also to limit PSA's (prostate specific antogyns) to younger folk which would make old guys like me ineligible for tests even though it was PSA tests which found my existing cancer this year ( Radiation treatment ends today. Please wish me luck.).

My Vets Adm, doc told me the VA does not treat prostate cancer in veterans over a certain age (to be fair, the doc did not know how aggressive my cancer was, at that time).

Obamacare despite his false claim that if we like our current insurance plan, we can keep it, is hell=bent on eliminating my Medicare Advantage plan and taking about $500 billion more $,$$$,$$$,$$$ from Medicare.

Old folks and younger women, I guess, should be thankful if they were hit, as I was with afflictions this year, rather than in the future, if Obama and most Dems are successful this year.

Hope Joe Lieberman sticks to his guns on our behalfHe is the only semi-Dem from CT possibly on our side

The Dems, formerly champions for the sick and old, are now our worst enemy.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen | November 23, 2009 2:42 PM

Walt: You- like the Republican leadership- are simlpy spreading lies and trying to create panic. The inauspicious timing of this recent report that this "federally appointed task force" published just when President Obama is trying to get health care reform passed is most interesting. What people do not know, and the media is not telling is that -
“This panel was appointed by the prior administration, by former President George Bush.” NY Times 11/20/09.

The insurance industry and all the big pharmaceutical manufacturers who have so much invested in maintaining their 2,000+ percent profit margins do NOT want health reform to pass because it will most likely cut into their profits. This is why they are spreading these lies and scare tactics. Sadly, Walt, people like you are helping them. You are simply wrong about what the current President is trying to do. He is trying to put in place a more equitable and accessible primary health care system that prevents catastrophic cost such as those associated with advanced stage and chronic diseases.

To have a system of good quality primary care with emphasis on preventing illness and maintaining health and well-being are fundamental to a healthy society. Conservatives often talk about getting govt. out of health care. The largest single health systems in this country (nationally) are the VA and Medicare. Republicans also ranted against Medicare back in the 60's; yet, today check with the majority of those who have Medicare and see how many would want to give it up. How many members of Congress would give up their govt. paid health plans? How many go to Walter Reed (govt) Hospital to get care?

I find it interesting and most disturbing that most of you who are criticizing the health care systems in Canada and England have never lived in Canada, England or any other country where access to good preventative primary health care is a right of every citizen. The Republicans and other right wing zealots point out that people travel from Canada to the USA to seek care. Well that is NOT because the care in Canada is bad; it is because they want to bypass the equity process; in the USA they can get whatever they want on-demand.

Do you have any idea how many Americans travel to China and India to get a kidney transplant? Thousands! Is it because the transplant system there is of a better quality than in the USA? No! It is because they do not have to wait or follow the more equitable system here. In America there is a waiting list to get an organ transplant. Mostly, it is not dictated by how much money you have, but on how critical is your need and how long you have been waiting. Wealthy Americans can go to these coutries where poor people are often given a TV set or $300 for a kidney that is then transplanted into a wealthy American. American senior citizens also travel to Canada on bus to buy medications and vitamins at 50% of what they cost here! Does that mean that American medications or vitamins are not good? No, it is all about access.

America has the highest per capita health care cost in the industrialized world. Yet, our outcomes put us at #17 overall and as low as #37 (out of 50) for some critical outcome markers. Why is that? If our VERY costly health care system is so good - why are we NOT the healthiest people in the world? Do you really believe that to close off access to care to 46 million Americans will benefit us as a nation? Do all of you who share this blind perspective along with the Republican leadership, the insurance giants, and the pharmaceutical companies care about the health and well-being of all Americans? Do you really care about the country an as unit of civilization?

For the media to constantly talk about this "federally appointed task force" without telling the public that this task force was appointed by President Bush, has to be a conscious omission intended to deceive the public.

I wonder why President Bush would have appointed a health care task force to present recommendations after he is gone? It is to produce exactly the results it is producing now. The Republicans, the right wing media, and a large group of uniformed people are doing their best to sabotage the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Ignorance is BLIND to facts and therefore IGNORANCE IS DANGEROUS TO OUR HEALTH.

Posted by: Walt | November 23, 2009 4:11 PM

Concerned Citizen

I am not a Repub, just a guy who is commenting mostly re my own experiences,

Those seniors likeme with Medicare Advantage plans have already been informed of major reductions in benefits, or increases in charges for services in 2010, even before any new bill gets passed where usually , for competitive reasons they have increased benefits a bit each year.

For 2011, it is the openly expressed policy of Obama and most of the Dems, to kill Medicare Advantage Plans completely and take half a billion $$ from regular Medicare, Dont believe me, just ask Obama who has so stated many times.

You are just quoting from the official Dem claims,For old folk,non= Red Dog Dems are the enemy.

They are openly planning to take away old folks benefits and give them to others .

I'm an Independent, not a Repub enthusiast either usually, but this year they are the ones defending us from the Dem attacks together with a few open=minded Dems..

Posted by: Walt | November 25, 2009 10:02 AM

Correction: Sorry! TYPO!!

They plan to take half a TRILLION $$ not million from Medicare.

Beware you old, and almost - old folk. Your insurance is being taken away and you have been abandoned by Obama and most Dems