Minnesota has one of the nations lowest rates of uninsured people because it already has it's own "public option" which is (believe it or not) mananaged for it by competing insurance companies. It's called Minnesota Care and it is coverage that is designed for working lower income people who do not have employer provided insurance and are not so poor as to be eligble for free Medical Assistance or old enough for Medicare. Yes - people do pay premiums based on their income/ ability to pay. It works like an HMO run by companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield and the University of Minnesota etc. on behalf of the state of MN and it does seem to work pretty well. I believe there are other states that have similar programs. Why can't the federal government put more money into expanding these types of programs which are already in place and already have a proven track record and are not pitting insurance companies against the government. The companies do compete with each other to get the government business, but that is healthy competition. States that don't have such systems could be given assistance to start such systems by observing and learning from the states that already have such systems in place and perhaps be offered some sort of incentives for doing so. Other money saving reforms are still needed as well (because the cost of perscription drugs is just completly out of control among other things), but this approach could at least help put the whole "public option" controversy to bed.

UCAN recently assisted a physician in getting paid over $400 by United Health Care when it failed to pay its portion of patient costs. UCAN additionally demanded that the insurance company pay the 10% interest owed for failure to pay the original claims in a timely manner, as mandated by the Department of Insurance.

Claims are due in a timely manner per the insurance contract with the physician or medical group. Individuals or employers are paying for these services to be honored.

The physician contacted UCAN to state that she and her colleagues want to be patient advocates and refuse to participate in placing this pressure on the patients when insurance companies fail to pay. In the meantime, doctors are paying staff, providing benefits, paying rent for offices, paying off huge loans for 9-12 years of advanced education, high malpractice insurance, and have to suffer in silence to collect what is owed to them by the arrogant large insurance companies.

If you are a patient or a doctor in California and have constantly been battling the insurance companies, contact UCAN by filling out a general complaint form at www.ucan.org.

What developed country ranks near the bottom among developed countries in ensuring complete basic health and dental coverage for all of its residents? USA. Yet, ironically, a majority of Americans believe in the illusion that Americans enjoy the "best" health care in the world. Most Americans do not have the foggiest idea of what the American health care system is...in fact, outside of government driven plans such as Medicare (for those 65+), Medicaid (for those making <$4000/yr with no assets) and the VA/military system, American health care is not much of a system at all. Americans do not understand health care reform because they do not understand the current state of American health care and its associated perils. They are too easily swayed by partisan politics and gimmicks because they are not sufficiently educated or curious enough to do their own independent research of what other countries offer their people....just how good residents of other developed countries have it. In fact, why are we still tied to our employers for health insurance? The answer is: for group coverage, within which preexisting conditions cannot be excluded. Now imagine if this group was the whole country. Imagine the bargaining power of this group. We need to start by questioning the presumption that American health is the best in the world. Americans should be able to count on their health coverage when an illness strikes them, especially when a grave illness strikes them (a multi-doctor/facility requiring chronic disease), regardless of whether it is government or privately funded. Americans must encourage national level bargaining power to bring down costs because that is the only way to meaningfully bring down costs across the board, end cost-shifting, increase basic health related services to all residents and ensure the fiscal well-being of the whole country by enabling Medicare to meet its promised obligations to older Americans. If private health insurance companies had any sense, were willing to give up a little bit of market share and had a long term view, they would welcome - not oppose - the government's involvement in controlling costs, which frankly it can only do with a public plan option. Prescriptive regulations meant to control costs always get watered down over time as special interest chip away at cost controls so without a public plan's payment rate schedules to serve as a benchmark, insurers will LOSE bargaining power. Moreover, such cost controls would ensure that the government will have ample funds to subsidize Americans' purchase of a health plan among a choice of several private health insurance plans or one public health insurance plan.

One of the problems with this poll is only one item can be selected when there is clearly more than one items desired to be in a health care reform package. In the beginning, all items should be in the plan and debate should start on which ones should remain. Also, who should be running the plan(s). In our "free" society it would be private enterprise following some government guidelines, but shouldn't ever be a government plan run by the government. I, personally, would prefer that each state control it's own health care programs.

One of the things this poll didn't address is the health care of those in this country illegally. I believe only emergency first aid need be administered and further medical care can be provided by the country the individual is returned to. And when they say they don't want to split up the family, let the rest of the family return as well.

I've noticed that the people that are dead set against health care reform fall into a few categories:
1 - Insurance companies that think a person's health is a comodity like gold or oil
2 - People who have enough money to pay for doctors at a whim

When people are being dropped from (or prevented from getting) insurance because of chronic or pre-existing condtions change needs to happen! A healthy public is the best investment any country can make!

I've just about had it with the scare tactics against healthcare reform...I am one of the lucky ones to have insurance and to not have had any major health expenses. The people that are crying out against a public option are incredibly naive. Most of them are older and on medicare...what do they think medicare is...insurance dropped from the sky? Also, our military is covered by a public option. Are these perfect...no, but they are better than what the private insurance companies are offering. And if we are waiting for perfection, hell will be frozen! Let the reform of health care begin...with a public option in place!