Dynamique
12-29-2008, 05:07 PM
Q: Have you or your family members ever experienced difficulty paying medical bills? What do you think policy makers can do to address this problem?
Response from in-person forum:
For the short term immediately eliminate waiting periods for instating new insurance. In these situations people have to pay out of pocket for medical care and potentially pay premiums for six months while waiting for insurance coverage needs to be changed. Medical insurance should not be based on employment or marital status.
Story: Friend who was self-employed who got divorced had a healing crisis and had to pay medical bills on credit cards now has $15,000 debt on credit cards.
Allow people to pick doctors, and have the doctors be paid for by the government. Have alternative practitioners, who are experts at prevention and wellness, be a part of the new health care reform package. Pay doctors to keep people well, be paid bonuses for preventative care rather than intervention care. Expand community service by practitioners to increase coverage for underserved areas.
Response from in-person forum:
For the short term immediately eliminate waiting periods for instating new insurance. In these situations people have to pay out of pocket for medical care and potentially pay premiums for six months while waiting for insurance coverage needs to be changed. Medical insurance should not be based on employment or marital status.
Story: Friend who was self-employed who got divorced had a healing crisis and had to pay medical bills on credit cards now has $15,000 debt on credit cards.
Allow people to pick doctors, and have the doctors be paid for by the government. Have alternative practitioners, who are experts at prevention and wellness, be a part of the new health care reform package. Pay doctors to keep people well, be paid bonuses for preventative care rather than intervention care. Expand community service by practitioners to increase coverage for underserved areas.