GOP response was shameful

Saturday, I came home to discover the House had passed HR3962 (The Affordable Health Care for America Act). I let out a really loud "Hooray!" and went right to my computer for details. Unfortunately, I found our own Rep. Don Young voted no. He calls it a political tactic and shameful.

Yet, the Nov. 6 New York Times editorial says the Republicans' answer to health care reform would do almost nothing to reduce the scandalously high number of Americans who have no insurance, nor would it prevent insurers from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions.

Any Republican health care reform Mr. Young may propose isn't health care reform. If Saturday's passage of the House bill is any indication, just maybe we might have health care reform by Christmas! For the tens of thousands of Alaskans without insurance, I hope so.

-- Lillian Wilder, AARP volunteer

Anchorage

Young showed courage voting no

I wish to publicly thank Rep. Don Young for having the courage to vote against the Obama-Pelosi takeover of our health care industry. A vote against a government takeover of yet another private business to be paid for by excessive taxation of the American working classes. GOOD JOB Mr. Young. We lost this skirmish but there is still a chance to win the war.

-- Wallace Wynia

Tok

Stand up to health brainwashing

Reading some of the letters lately, it appears the corporate-owned media, whose job is not to be "fair and balanced" but to increase ratings and profits by trying to paint every issue as controversial and every race as being close, etc., have somehow succeeded in brainwashing enough people to believe that health insurance reform is a bad idea.

Laughing all the way to the bank are the robber barons who have monopolized our nation's health insurance system since the Reagan administration began the process of lifting corporations to sainthood status.

Hopefully, there are enough smart Americans remaining who will threaten to tar and feather their elected officials if they don't stand up for "we the people" and against the corrupt health insurance industry. This madness must end now.

-- Tony Bickert

Anchorage

Elderly won't lose their Medicare

Some television ads irritate me more than others. The current ad from the 60 Plus Association titled "Greatest Generation" is certainly one that rubs my mind the wrong way. The ad insinuates that any national health care reform effort is going to harm older people on Medicare.

The health bills will try to reduce Medicare program costs but it's highly unlikely that beneficiaries will feel it, according to Kaiser Family Foundation Health News. Any proposed reductions will come from reducing Medicare Advantage plans, which are 14 percent more profitable for the insurance companies that sell them than regular medi-gap plans. Fewer than one half of 1 percent of older Alaskans have a Medicare Advantage Plan.

The 60 Plus Association is primarily funded by the pharmaceutical industry and they are targeting 10 states with this ad, including Sen. Begich here in Alaska.

We need truth in advertising. Trying to frighten older Alaskans about losing Medicare benefits is simply untrue. All the bills before Congress strengthen Medicare and add more prevention and reduce out-of-pocket costs.

-- Patrick Luby

advocacy director, AARP Alaska

Anchorage

EDITOR'S NOTE: AARP helps market health insurance policies, including some that would be affected by the proposed Medicare changes.

Just why did Young vote against it

Rep. Don Young voted against the passage of this very important piece of health care legislation. His explanation centered on Speaker Pelosi and what he referred to as her egotistical reasons for wanting the bill passed. This bill is too important to American people for our representative to cast his vote and then offer such a meager explanation for his decision.

As his constituents, we deserve to know exactly what parts of the bill he does not like and how would he change the bill to make it workable for the majority of Alaskans.

-- Kenneth L. Everson

Eagle River

GOP making fools of themselves

I nearly laughed myself into tears watching various Republicans (of which I am one) making complete fools of themselves before the vote yesterday. I can't believe they think they'll get anyone to change their minds by watching them.

This country has needed a cleansing of the insurance industry for many years. I believe five former presidents have tried to no avail.

I worked for a personal injury attorney for many years and have dealt with a lot of horror stories because of the way the insurance companies treat their clients. Now maybe our rates will come down and the insurance companies will have to answer to somebody for their actions.

Keep up the good work, President Obama. I am very proud of you and what you've done.

-- Gloria Tolan

Anchorage

Only free if you don't pay taxes

I readily admit to a degree of pedantry. Nevertheless, I would like to see a change in our dialogue. How about from now on we replace the terms "free health care" and " free education" with more accurate terms such as "taxpayer-funded health care" and "taxpayer-funded education." Perhaps the increased accuracy will wake some folks up.

-- Rodger Flint

Anchorage

Yay voters deserve our thanks

After nearly a century of failed attempts, this was the first time Congress has ever passed comprehensive health insurance reform. Representatives who voted for this bill deserve thanks for resisting tremendous pressure from the insurance industry lobbyists and standing up for their constituents. Unfortunately, our Don Young did not.

-- Sam Combs

Anchorage

Bill puts extra burden on doctors

I have grave concerns about HR3962 that passed the House this week. Pages 215 to 226 of the bill basically set "negotiated" rates (likely below our costs) for M.D.s. The rates are not subject to administrative or judicial review and can be changed at any time by the secretary. The bill pulls every M.D. who is currently seeing Medicare patients into the public system, without a system in place to opt out; essentially blocks malpractice reform; does not include Medicare rate audit reform; does not increase Health Savings Accounts; puts fees/taxes on many medical devices and services; and increases the tax and administrative burden on businesses and most medical offices in America. There will be 111 new committees to oversee the work I do.

The AMA represents less than 17 percent of American M.D.s. See Rep. Young's comments on this bill. Please write your senators; ask them to vote against this health-care reform bill that will destroy American health care and increase taxes on American workers.

-- Ilona Farr M.D.

Anchorage

Health care is a human right

As a physician, I have always felt health care was a human right and should be available to everyone. In the old days, professional ethics made it mandatory that physicians never refuse care for anyone because they couldn't afford it, and many charitable hospitals existed. This is no longer the case and a single health care system, available to all, is mandatory.

I was pleased to see the House support HR3962, which is a good start toward such a system.

This passed without Don Young's support. Those who did support it had the courage to resist tremendous pressure from the insurance industry lobbyists and to stand up for their constituents.

This bill would provide secure and stable coverage for Americans with insurance, expand coverage for those who do not have any, lower costs for families and businesses, and begin to reduce the deficit.

-- Dr. Bob Johnson

Kodiak

Practice medicine, not insurance

We are made to fear the worst possible scenario that if we don't have health insurance, we will likely die because no one will care for us or we will likely go bankrupt because if we get care, it will be so costly, we will NEVER be able to pay for it. This seems like cruel and unusual punishment.

Imagine a world without the intermediary of health insurance. That world would behold a physician actually being able to practice medicine instead of insurance. I think we should go back to the drawing board and come up with a far better mousetrap.

-- Judie Wolfe

Anchorage

Check supplementals carefully

Seniors on Medicare will soon be able to change their supplemental insurance plans. Before changing, they should ask their primary provider if they accept the insurance plan they want to change to. These so called "Advantage plans" are only advantageous to the insurance company. Many providers will not take them because the company will NOT pay them--that's how they save money. And guess who is left with the bill?

-- Jan Carolan

Talkeetna

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