Current Again - But Healthy?

I was reading my morning newspaper (yeah, I still like to read a newspaper when I'm riding the train into work, the print is bigger than if I tried to do it on a tiny phone), and there was an article about a 'town hall' meeting discussing the health care overall that is struggling to make its way through Congress. I admit, this was one of the big issues that led me to vote for Obama (my parents, and most of my family will now disown me for voting democratic). I just felt that being a democrat and having to struggle in his life (until his recent book sales), he could understand more the struggles that most working people go through to afford health care.

To this day, I do not understand the people that oppose an overall, claiming that the government will restrict their ability to obtain health care. As if health insurance companies don't do this already???!!! Oh, you say, the health insurance company doesn't restrict your ability to get whatever health care you want, just whether it will pay for it. Well, if the government takes over, it will be the same thing. People in this country who have means, will always be able to afford whatever health care they want. Its people without means that have to deal with rationed healthcare. Frankly, I'd rather have the government, who presumably would have no self-interest in what care I get, running as a non-profit, making a payment choice, rather than a health insurance company, who makes choices based on profit, shareholder demands and its CEO's salary/bonus program.

How can anyone seriously believe that a health insurance company would make a "better" choice on whether a patient is allowed to have 10 physical therapy visits or 30 than the government? Of course the health insurance company is going to choose 10, if it can get a medical practitioner (whose paid by the health insurance company, btw) to say 'that's enough, the patient doesn't need 30.' I loved how my health insurance company believed I was ready to return to work four weeks after my shoulder surgery, after my physical therapy benefits were 'exhausted,' because clearly I didn't need to use my shoulder to type at a computer or dictate. Didn't matter that I still couldn't move my primary arm enough to operate a car (at least safely) to get to my work, or to properly shower and wash my hair, or put on a bra, so I could actually appear presentable at the office. But I guess insurance companies believe that everyone has maids, dressers and chauffers. I ended up paying out of pocket for additonal physical therapy, which took another two months (although I was better able to return to work after another three weeks).

Then there are the people who think its 'socialism' to have the government involved in our health care. As opposed to our public schools, police, fire dept., and a myriad of other services provided by our government or at least regulated by it? We seem to get along pretty well with our electricity, water and gas services provided or regulated by the government, I don't see that health coverage would be much different. Again people point to failings in some government services or slowness, but I don't see health insurance companies being all that much better. Everyone always talks about how one of the best perks in working for the government is the 'great health benefits', so why can't the rest of the country enjoy the same? Is that really so bad?

I know the final big argument is who will pay for it? Well, who has the money? If those that make the big bucks don't want to give it up in taxes, maybe they should give up more of it in liveable wages so other people can afford health care. Sorry, but the money has to come from somewhere and it certainly can't come from people making $7.00 an hour. Either pay a bit more in taxes, or cut part of your salary and raise it for your workers. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE deserves to have decent healthcare. Ok, maybe not everyone is going to get the top of the line care or the world famous surgeon, but not everyone needs that. But if someone is sick or hurt, they should be able to get health care, without worrying about how they are going to pay the bill.