I've been a Physical therapist for over 40 yrs.My experience has been that due to weaknesses in the arch of ones feet a large # of people wear away their knee & or hip joints & are encouraged to get joint replacements esp. if they have good insurance as these procedures are a boon to the " Industry" What the medical establishment is not so forthcoming with is the serious potential for problems. In countries with socialized medicine they might put such "elective" surgeries on a waiting list, instead of rushing people in to do one, even two knees, as they do here, before you have a chance to research other options or risks but, in my opinion, people shouldn't be rushing into such major procedures. My experience with socialized medicine is that everyone receives the medical care they truly need from dedicated, true professionals as opposed to profitable procedures being marketed. I totally support "Healthcare For All"and I mean all! In a true Democracy, everyone should be valued.

I need single payer healthcare NOW. I lost my Kaiser Permanente insurance because of Kaiser GREED! I'm sick of hearing about the denials of treatment after someone gets sick. Even Kaiser reserves the right to cancel your policy for NO reason at all. Thats a crime

A nephew of my former sister-in-law got sick last summer. Since he did not have health insurance, he did not go to the doctor. He suffered flu like symptoms for months. Finally, it go so bad, around Christmas day, he went to hospital emergency. He was diagnosed with Valley Fever. It was so far advanced, he could not be saved. He died at the age of 33, leaving behind his wife and 4 year old daughter. Single payer would have saved his life. Those who oppose meaningful health reform are criminals as far as I am concerned. It is a matter of life and death.

A nephew of my former sister-in-law got sick last summer. Since he did not have health insurance, he did not go to the doctor. He suffered flu like symptoms for months. Finally, it go so bad, around Christmas day, he went to hospital emergency. He was diagnosed with Valley Fever. It was so far advanced, he could not be saved. He died at the age of 33, leaving behind his wife and 4 year old daughter. Single payer would have saved his life. Those who oppose meaningful health reform are criminals as far as I am concerned. It is a matter of life and death.

I have lost my job with the whole economic down size therefore I lost my health insurance. I was already struggling with Graves Disease and struggled to get some kind of treatment. I was fortunate enough to get county insurance for low income people while on unemployment. I was diagnosed in December with Lupus. I now have two auto immune diseases and have contacted doctors from north to southern California to help me deal with these chronic illnesses. No one will take me because of pre existing and a new diagnoses with no insurance. So every door and window seems to slam shut. All I hear is sorry we cant help.I now have a part time job but the health benefits do not come into effect for another year. I am 23 years old and my primary doctor has told me there is nothing he can do. Since I need a specialist in Rheumatology I just research day by day wondering when I will have some kind of hope of someone telling me they could help me.

My husband died as a result of the insurance industry. Even though he had
worked every day of his life, had even been in the Air Force, and even
though he had coverage through United Airlines at the time of his illness
and death, his insurance plan (which is now out of business, go figure)
refused him a life saving procedure. Even though doctors at Stanford, UC San
Francisco, California Pacific Medical Center and Baylor Texas said that with
the appropriate treatment in a timely manner, there was no reason why he
could not live 10 more years. And if he lived 10 more years, there was no
reason why he would not have a normal life span. He was 57 at the time.



The insurance carrier used the "experimental" excuse to deny my husband the
treatment advised by these University based centers for medical excellence.
I was desperately calling lawyers to help me fight for care for him. They
told me something had to "happen" before they could help me (in other words
he had to die first). We were scrambling to mortgage our house and borrow
money from my brother in England to pay for his care. But all this cost us
precious time and we lost the battle. I did sue after he died, and did win a
settlement, but it did not bring my husband back.



As an RN who has both provided and received care in England, Canada, Saudi
Arabia and the US, I can honestly say that I know more about the various
types of health care systems than most people and although the technology in
the US is in SOME cases (not all) better than in other countries, other
aspects of healthcare, particularly access, fall way behind. My 90 year old
mother in London recently had 3 home visits in 10 days by a doctor to ensure
her cellulitis was improving. I have many, many anecdotal stories to support
my position and will share these with anyone who wants me to.



I also know the statistical data as I have a Master's in Health Care
Administration. I consider myself pretty smart in these matters, however,
even with a Master's I find the insurance paperwork, the various policy
details and the administrative hurdles overwhelming and at times
incomprehensible. I wonder how it must be for someone who left school at 16,
or for whom English is not the first language.


Thank you

D. "Rosh" Wright, RN, MPA

Atascadero

CA

Their lots of insurance company out there that does not care if peolpe live or die. At longest they get there money in there pockets. It's so hard to believe that this country as powerful as it is will not help there own peolpe. That's sad. When you have "insurance" it should be able to cover 100% percent for your life period. Why bother to have insurance if it's not going to cover everything. That's why it's called INSURANCE. I also think doctors should not become doctors if they don't have COMPASSION for human life in the caring medical field.

I am in principle a supporter of this bill but like most people I want to know how it will affect me personally. I spend half the year out of the country. Under my current insurance plan, I am reimbursed for medical care I receive in other countries. What will happen to this when this bill is passed?