Even insured take sides on health care reform

Last month, The Herald-News asked readers how they felt about health care reform and the survey responses poured into the newsroom.

Most of those who responded said they had adequate insurance coverage and had not been denied coverage on medical issues. However, many had strong opinions about how health care reform should take shape.

Many of those who took the survey said they don't want a government option or to pay higher taxes for an improved health-care system.

"No government option," a retired Shorewood man wrote. What the country needs, he said, is "straight talk about where money will come from to fund this initiative."

Others disagreed.

"(A) public option is a must," said a Joliet funeral director. "It provides affordability, competition, and cost containment. We as a nation must finally provide basic health card for more of our people."

Some thought it best to help the uninsured with a public option, but hands off the rest.

"Have government leave people alone who are happy with their health coverage," said a Joliet administrative assistant. "Allow uninsured … to buy into a group policy coordinated by the government where they pay a monthly co-pay based on a scale determined by their income. This cost will be offset by the savings the president says will exist by eliminating fraud."

Call for tort reform

Another way to keep costs down is to get better tort reform, many survey respondents said.

"Take out the trial lawyers and malpractice insurance will go down, thus costs will go down," said a Plainfield homemaker/freelance writer.

Another wrote: "Tort reform is a must. Too many expensive tests are caused by fear of malpractice claims."

Many of the survey takers agreed that no matter what you believe personally, something has to be done nationally to fix the health care system's ills.

"Other civilized nations started their health plans with the premise that all their citizens should be covered," said a retired Plainfield Township woman. "The U.S. did not. I think we need a single-payer system but am pessimistic at its passing Congress as long as the insurance and health care lobbies are so strong."