Disqus - Latest Comments for mheengan

Re: Video: Donna Smith on Bill Moyers Journal

mheengan — Mon, 25 May 2009 07:58:04 -0000

Donna, you did it, held your own and then some! I was IMPRESSED! What a great spokesperson for Single-Payer health care. Keep up the good work, we need all the muscle we can get.

Re: Thoughts on Reform | Stand Up For Health Care

mheengan — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:30:49 -0000

HR676 is what Americans want and need. Cobbling together another failed system is NOT the way to go. Do not let the insurance company lobbiests take over healthcare reform! HR676 includes EVERYONE, no one is left out.

I was forced into a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Medicare Advantage health care policy if I wanted to continue my spouse's insurance coverage when I retired, what a farce. Medicare Advantage programs rip off the government by charging more for no additional benefits contrary to what they want the public to believe. The General Accounting Office did a study proving this very thing.

Re: Why Doesn’t MoveOn and Democracy for America Support Single-Payer Healthcare?

mheengan — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:09:20 -0000

Do you know that the AARP's past president compromised in 2005 when Congress was going to add prescription coverage to Medicare? Why, because he said something was better than nothing. Ask the seniors who can't afford to pay seperately for additional prescription insurance how this decision has impacted their ability to pay for expensive medications. Do you know that SEIU is one of the largest medical personnel unions in the country? Do you know that HCAN is trying to protect their health care jobs? Basically the insurance industry and their employees, unions, etc. are trying to protect their jobs.

"28.8 Percent of Michigan’s Non-Elderly Residents Were Uninsured for One Month or More in 2007-2008. This information comes from a Families USA report released April 2009. "Three-quarters of Michigan’s uninsured, or 76 percent, were in working families, working full- or part-time. Almost half, or 47.6 percent, of those individuals and families in Michigan with incomes below twice the poverty level—$42,400 of annual income for a family of four in 2008—went without health insurance at some point in 2007-2008. In addition, one out of five, or 21.2 percent, of those individuals and families in Michigan with incomes at or above twice the poverty level—$42,400 of annual income for a family of four in 2008—went without health insurance at some point in 2007-2008. While whites accounted for the largest number of uninsured in Michigan, Hispanics/Latinos and African Americans were much more likely to be uninsured than whites: 50.7 percent of Hispanics/Latinos and 39.7 percent of African Americans went without health insurance in 2007-2008, compared to 25.4 percent of whites." These figures are for only one state in the union.

Re: Why Doesn’t MoveOn and Democracy for America Support Single-Payer Healthcare?

mheengan — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:14:12 -0000

Anti Single Payers have brainwashed those who do not know what Single Payer means into believing that it is a second class healthcare system comparable to clinics that serve the very poor. That there isn't any choice of doctors or hospitals, and that treatment is limited to the cheapest and therefore least effective healthcare.

They call it socialized medicine, meaning that it is second class, just like liberals are suppose to be unamerican which is why this blog is called Progressive Democrats.

Basically if they were asked whether insurance companies should be able to exclude anyone who is diabetic, has heart disease, sickle cell anemia, etc. they would probably say no. If they were asked if it were okay to charge twice the premiums for anyone who has such conditions, they would probably say no. Yet we all know that is exactly what insurance companies do. If they were asked whether Medicare excludes anyone who has certain health problems, or charges twice the premium for people who have health issues, they would say no.

Then the response from us should be that single payer is simply Medicare for everyone with everybody in, nobody out.

Basically it is our mission to educate AND advocate.

MI HERE IN THE HOUSE!

Re: Why Doesn’t MoveOn and Democracy for America Support Single-Payer Healthcare?

mheengan — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:32:05 -0000

I used to donate to MOVE ON until I found out that they are selling the American public out by being co-opted by the insurance industry. I unsubscribed to ALL their emails. I also refuse to donate even 1 penny to their organization. Now if everyone on this web site would do the same and tell all their like minded friends, MOVE ON might get the message. I believe that the only thing that "MOVES" them is money which they must be getting from the insurance companies.