something must be done about the high cost of all medical care. there was a letter in our local paper about a couple in there 30 both having cancer. the father has no hope the mother might make it with chemo but had her treatment cut off because she ran out of money and has no insurance.
my mother who's only income is ss makes to much money on it to get bush's discount card for drugs.
the fda says do not buy drugs in canada as they are not safe. do they really believe that the canadian gov. would let their drug companies sell unsafe drugs.
what do you think should be done

buy canadian!

nothing sends a clearer message than civil disobedience en masse. while you are there find someone you feel like you can talk to and ask them how their healthcare system works and what they feel like it costs them every year.

....and before you let one of these schmucks convince you that the entire problem is due to trial attornies (one of those words that gets me, sp), take a look at the stock reports and note the record profits of both the insurance and drug industries.

the only way these companies will listen to the consumer is when it affects their pocketbook.

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If you are concerned about the high cost of health care--you should definately NOT vote for Kerry/Edwards who are backed heavily by the Trial Lawyers Association.

John Edwards and other 'abulance chasing' trial lawyers who sue medical pratictioners in civil court using 'junk science' to play on jurors empathetic emotions--are the single biggest contributer to the rising, out of control increase in the cost of providing medical care.

John Edwards made his fortune suing OBGYN's in the 80's and 90's by "channeling babies" in civil court and claiming that the Dr.'s malpractice gave the babies cerebral palsey--this claim has since been medically discredited, but oddly enough Edwards hasn't returned the 100's of millions of dollars that jurors awarded to him (33% contingency fee) and his clients.

When John "Pierre" Kerry says that Edwards was just helping and fighting for the little guy--ask how many clients he agreed to represent pro-bono (for free). The answer is ZERO. So, in other words he's happy to fight for and help the little guy--just as long as he can make alot of money for himself in the process.

John "Pierre" Kerry says he has a plan to "steam-line" medical costs. Like all Kerry campaign promisses, he's long on finger pointing of problems and short on actual concrete plans to fix said problems.

If someone has been injured by a doctor--they should have legal and reasonable civil recourse. In other words, no 50 million dollar civil settlements for spilling coffee that was "too hot" on your lap.

It's kind of funny that Kerry claims to have all the answers to terrorism, the economy, education and health care---but in nearly 20 years in the senate he's never proposed any bills to improve any of these things.

I guess he was just saving all those miraculous answers to the most important issues facing our country until he ran for president--there's nothing like having a few dozen aces up your sleeve.

Again, you haven't a clue what you're talking about. Nothing but unadulterated anti-American rhetoric. It's almost embarrassing what a Bush lackey you are. Actually it's kind of disgusting that you'd sacrifice the health and safety of your entire family and fellow Americans because you're so filled with hate and anti-American sentiment.

I am half Canadian and always thought it was a great system until talking to a few of my customers. They were Canadien and resented Americans buying their drugs while their taxes were taken for research. They told me a 40 -60% tax was taken for medical benefits. That's why their son moved to the US to open his business. I was in somewhat disbelief until I heard how much they paid even as retirees for the community benefits. I don't blame them for resenting the way our medical system works. We blacklist Mexico's drugs when they are mostly all made there. I bought online a prescription that just has the label changed for US or Canadian consumers. It is all still manufactured there.

Check out my medical coverage. I never needed to use it in 8 years (if I did , I had to pay deductible) I went out sick and my coverage was cancelled. Just when I needed it, they cancelled it. I am all for buying what I need online. IT'S expensive, but not as much as the crummy cobra coverage they offered when I was a full time employee (still am) and took it away when I needed it. Blah, blah, I guess I am done ranting for now, but I don't think buying Canadian is the answer.

Yup, they resent it right it up to the point where someone in their family gets catatstrophically ill.

You don't hear a whole bunch of resentment after that......

I could be corrected on this but their system also solves the malpractice issue, aka 'the trial lawyer conspiracy'.

I have a dear frind who is in her 2nd year of medical residency. she is a single mother of 2 and is now 200,000 dollars in debt from her schooling. She is going into family medicine and from watching her in action whoever hires her has a gem of a doctor who is among the most intelligent hard working people I know. Her biggest concern? The cost of medical mal practice insurance. That is a large part of what is driving up the cost of health care.
there is a horrible catch 22 here. one doctors who are grossly neglegent need to be held to account.. on the other hand doctors are human and every single one of them will make errors and they shouldn't be punished for being human.
By being her friend i have come to find out that there is becoming a huge shortage of doctors in this country. with medical mal practice insurance the way it is there is very little incentive to become a doctor, particularly in a rural area a single doctor simply cannot afford to be in business for himself th insucrance is too expensive.. we are heading for a potentially huge disaster here, a shortage of quality health care providers

Wrong STL! My Grandmother DIED Last year due to the Canadian medical system. For two long years the Dr. said that she had arthritis, Just kept giving her some of those cheap drugs until she started puking up blood that found a tumor in her that was the size of a softball. Then it was to late and she passed two months later. If there wasn't so much red tape and they weren't afraid to spend a little extra on people to get additional testing done she may of had a chance. The lines are long and it's VERY difficult to get any appointments up there. They would rather do the old, take two of theses and call me in the morning. You want a check up? Better plan of a 6 month wait time. The US may have our problems but so does the Socialistic system of Oh Canada. Over and over while up there for the funeral the constant was, "If she was in the 48 she may of had a chance". Up there she had NO chance! I'll take our system any day, at least you can go out and seek a second opinion if you feel you aren't getting the treatment you deserve, try that up there, better fill out the forms and explain to the Govt. why you feel that way, then let them decide if you should get a second...

This is a tough one.

We want the best care........but the best care serves you no purpose if you can't obtain it. But by making it available, the quality suffers.

I just got a statement from Children's Hospital: $74,000 for three days. But who wouldn't spend that to keep their child alive? Luckily, I have decent health insurance so I'll only have to chunk down 5 g's out of my pocket.

I wouldn't have wanted to have this procedure done anywhere else.

No simple answers here, and anyone who thinks their party is way ahead on offering up a health-care solution is just a shill for that particular party. Both parties actually seem pretty adept at dodging the issue altogether.

1) No Judge present
2) No jury present
3) No defense attorney present.

And OJ is innocent. Only a child thinks the legal system represents right and wrong. Only someone with zero expirience outside of moping floors and doing dishes thinks that the results of the trial lawyers efforts rectify and make right the evils of big business. The logic that you can make two worngs equal a right because someone gets paid is beyond comprehension.

AM,

I have run a $30+ million dollar a year business for 20 years and have had a law firm on retainer with the managing partner on our board of directors the whole time. Lets see your resume in regards to negotiating the leagal system in this country and state?

What I can't figure out is why the free market doesn't drive the cost / price of medicines downward. There doesn't seem to be any insentive for drug manufacutures to charge reasonable proffits and take cost reduction seriously.

Dan,

Stay after your insurence coverage to pick up as much of that, if not all, as possible!!!

Prove what?

Totally FOS.

Just ask me any question about running a business and I would be happy to answer it for you. All areas of operation.

Sure it would to someone that knew what to ask.

AM or inspector Clouseau

I will not give out direct personal information specifically to someone as hostile as you. If you cannot formulate questions to test my knowledge of business find someone that can. A test of someones ability is an accepted form of proof in my world. .

I work as a consultant now after selling the family business in the late 90's. I post here and a few other sites of interest during working hours. My spelling is related to my typing skills and it tends to come and go because I may be on the phone while typing a response or doing 2 or 3 things at once. I work no more than 40 hours a week and shut off the PC no later than 5:00 PM and devote 100% of my attention to my family. I am theirs after 5 ,weekends and holidays without exception.

honestly? i doubt he's even from where he says he's from.

someone way smarter than me traced his ip once to gig harbor.

but oh no, righty's don't lie.

do they?

FOS, i say.

H20,

You blue collar detectives crack me up. Searching IP addys is such 3rd grade behavior. Why is it important? Oh because if you cannot discredit someones ideas it's better to to try and attack them personally? Another site I frequent had people like you and AM . They where able to get a guy to post some info about himself .They then spammed his employer tring to damge him. It's childish.

When you think of Gig Harbor think of HQ addys for DSl providors Rocket scientist.

I do live in lovely FC and I keep a PO box an unlisted number and I have a big locked gate with security cameras just for people like you and AM.