YOUR COMMENTS

All the seers here predicting all these horrible things makes me think of chicken little - or in this case chickenhawk little. Looking for seersuckers, I think. Healthcare cannot continue as it is. The Republicanics are hoping that they will be able to loot even more and I think they are winning. Whose coffers do you think the additional 40 million insurred will fill? Without a public option it certainly won't be the public's now will it? It is often said that Democracy is the worst system in the world except all the others. Government run healthcare will be the worst system in the world except the one that we have now. I giggle when I hear of all the penny pinching people do with high deductable coverage. Just perfect, now you are allowing yourself to be sicker so that later I can pick up your bill. Now that is Republicanic thoughtfulness.
- Robert, Deerfield

Mr. Wenners,
Thanks for the perspective. I could not agree more about "buyer beware."

Until I moved my health insurance from a traditional HMO to a Health Savings Account (HSA), I did not pinch my healthcare pennies as much as I do now. I didn't ask about cost of care including pharmacy because it was included... Watching what we spend and getting everyone to purchase healthcare will spread out the risk.

It's each of our own responsibilities to make healthy choices so when we need healthcare, it is available. The Health Savings Accounts really put the healthcare consumer in the driver seat for their healthcare dollars. Spend them wisely and they will last you.
- Mike, Goffstown, NH

Thanks, Jon of Germany. Your "eye-witness account" of the way things really are under a socialized system is invaluable. All you gullible believers, take heed of Jon's words.
- Susie, Horseshoe Bay, TX (NH native)

If insurances are not to blame, and they have a set amount ot money to distribute to their customers, then what was the profit margin before paying out bonuses for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield over the last 5 years.
- Brandan, Springfield il

Why has no one mentioned removing the anti-trust exemption? If Obama says the goal is competition, isn't that the most clear cut first step in that process? Combine that with tort reform to reduce operating expenses for the doctors, and we are starting down the right pathway.
Sending people to jail for failure to buy into the goverment system? I am sure Stalin would be proud. So we add bodies to the pool, but we ignore the trial lawyers making ridiculous money in frivilous suits, we ignore the monopolies, and we allow consumers to stay in the dark with no responsibility. The proposed plan is a joke, and shows that the people who created it are focused on the wrong issues.
- Chris, Corinth, TX

To Daniel Stark, Milton -

So, you're ready for European-style healthcare, but are you ready for the European-style taxes which pay for that healthcare??? Most Europeans pay 50-60% of their salaries to Big Brother, and then they've got the Value-Added Tax to deal with whenever they buy something. Currently in Germany, the VAT is 19%, which is taxed at EVERY spot in the production chain, making everything much more expensive than it should be. But hey, at least the health care is "free," right??
- Jon, Wiesbaden, Germany

Mr. Wenners
Thank you for putting this out to your fellow NH residents. We live in a state where we take our freedom Very seriously. Motto:::
It's clear that if we move to a government run option- WHICH IS DIFFERENT than universal coverage!.. we will lose. Why would someone want to put money into an insurance policy when they're healthy- not mandating coverage would appear to be the governments way to move to a government run health care- think MEDICARE/MEDICAID...
I think every American should have health care- we must enforce it so that the cost share is national.. all.. That way I can choose my insurance and we can keep the research and development that we are so good at. I want the BEST DR. At the BEST hospital .. I want that choice! No Way Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes you do not represent me or my opinion...
- Catherine, Manchester

I'm not sure who has actually been REALLY following this especially the debates but just to make people aware they are planning on basing provider payments on medicaid/medicare rates most likely and how many providers are starting to turn away medicaid/medicare patient's or refusing to accept new ones? More than you would think... private insurers DO pay at a higher contracted rate to keep their networks as large as they can and offer their members as many options as they can. This does cost MONEY wake up people seriously. A public "OPTION" isn't a bad thing but it will be the way they are currently planning it and we should have it be just that an option. If I want to keep my private insurence I shouldn't be punished for it by higher taxes or anything else. There are a LOT of dr's out there who once they see what the rates for payment will be in the public option they just won't accept it and no one can really force them too.
- DG, Manchester

Mike of Dunbarton is right--Obama and his thugocracy do not care about providing affordable health insurance anymore than they care about an economic recovery. Which explains why they refuse to entertain the OTHER proposals on the table. That's because what these fascists really care about is amassing power so they can redistribute the wealth and destroy capitalism once and for all. That is their chief aim.

The plan is simple. Sabotage the economy via taxation, regulations, and intrusions in the business sector, which will weaken the will and morale of the people until they finally succumb to socialism and accept Obamacare. Since health care represents nearly 20% of the electorate, the Obamacrats will have succeeded in their quest for absolute power. Then we are doomed. We will be a socialist oligarchy ruled by an inept buffoon who bows to rogue leaders.
- Susie, Horseshoe Bay, TX (NH native)

Joanne, Manchester
Google is an amazing tool. Very simple to use.

2008 Federal Budget Figures

Defense - 583 Billion
Medicare - 325 Billion
VA (medical) - 36 Billion

Kaiser reports total 2007 Medicaid spending (Federal & States) was $319 Billion.

So figure in 2008, just with Medicare, Medicaid and VA outlay was North of $680 Billion. This of course does not include public monies spent on Federal and State workers health plans.

These numbers would suggest that a federal universal health care budget would far outstrip Defense budgets.
- Jeff, Portsmouth

Do you know how much this country spends on its defense budget? More than we would ever pay for universal health care. In 2008, 1,461,615 veterans in this country had no health care but yesterday weren't we all saying lets pray for our veterans and soldiers. Yeah we better pray for them. 2,266 veterans died last year due to lack of healthcare benefits. What a great nation we are. We're nothing but a bunch of hypocrites if at the very least our soldiers and veterans don't have health care. So glad all those members of Congress have free healthcare.
- Joanne, Manchester

Joyce, Bow & TC, Manchester

Are you proposing that the Federal Government begin regulation of when, where and what we eat? Taxes on 'unhealthy' food perhaps? Government coupons for ice cream allocations? Perhaps Federal Government Food Distribution Centers to ensure we only can purchase the approved quantities of various foods?
- Ben, Salem

Mr. Wenners?
What is the cost impact of the Republican Health Insurance reform package.

Sounds to me like the Democrats in the House have failed. Hopefully the Senate was not lying as usual when they said it was Dead On Arrival.
- Jim, Manchester

There are tools out there, but more transparency is needed for sure.

Overall Hospital Cost and Quality http://www.nhpghscorecard.org/

Specific Cost for procedures
http://www.nhhealthcost.org/
- Adelle, Goffstown

To all those who say the other countries that have universal health care at low cost forget to factor in the big "bite" out of a person's paycheck to fund those benefits. Very high taxes on everyone not just on the "fat cats." The monthy cost quoted by some writers is on top of your paycheck taxes.
- Joseph Conway, Charlestown, NH

Good editorial Doug, we need guys like you to run for office. The only way we can solve the healthcare crisis in this country is to cut the cost, not looks for new way q
- Mark, Manchester

If Americans were not eating themselves into Diabetes and other deadly diseases left and right, there might not be such a high cost to healthcare. Why do people feel that we should be able to eat at McDonalds 3 times a week, and gorge ourselves on processed foods and not have to deal with increased healthcare costs? What do you think will happen when the increasing childhood obesity rates reach 1 out of 3? What will happen when these overweight children grow up and need more healthcare and all of the people that work to pay taxes and are dead? Where will the money come from then?
- TC, Manchester

First you set a goal of universal coverage, then you rein in costs. You don't pre-calculate there won't be savings, then use it as a scare to postpone universal coverage. Unless you work for an insurance company.

On Nov 10, a show on NHPTV's Frontline called, "Sick Around the World" reported on health care overseas. They go to Europe and Japan and find out it is excellent. You can watch the whole show, for free, via their website.

The show explains that they live somewhat longer, everyone is covered, they pay less for drugs, and it is affordable. The patient generally pays nothing for care, nobody goes broke because of a medical problem.

German families pay $750 a month for total coverage. In Switzerland, they said it would be a great scandal if someone had to be bankrupted by a sickness.

So let's please stop repeating the GOP lie that it does not work in other countries, it certainly does, and in a variety of ways.
- Daniel Stark, Milton

As a lifelong Democrat who believes fiercely that all Americans should have access to quality health care, I fully agree with Mr. Wenners’ article.

Under the proposed bill, utilization will go up and costs will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher insurance premiums. Many individuals will elect to pay the nominal fine and acquire insurance only when they become ill. Corporations will “opt out” of employer based plans causing employees to seek insurance under the government run plan. The result – a complete loss of leverage. Private insurers will no longer be able to compete – medical costs will increase driving up medical insurance premiums even more.

Before we revolutionize an entire health care system, don’t we have a responsibility to explore and fix those factors which contribute to the ever increasing health insurance premiums? Tort reform, transparency of billing, accountability by both medical providers and patients alike are the real problems. The cost of health insurance is just a symptom. The bottom line is health care is expensive – not health insurance.
- Jack, Exeter, NH

Mr. Wenners did a nice job explaining the problems with the health care system, now I would like to see some solutions. If, as Mr. Wenner's says a colonoscopy costs vary from hospital to hospital then maybe Blue/Anthem should send to its customers a price sheet for various medical costs for the procedure. If I have to pay more to Blue Anthem because others are not watching out for costs, then Blue/Anthem should be the one making sure we know that there are price differences available to us. It seems the insurance companies are now starting to fear the fact that a government plan may take affect and are now just letting us know there could be vast savings by just checking prices. It should be Anthems job to check prices and let us know about them before we purchase; and then pass the savings on to us in lower premiums. I have always believed that there is a solution to every problem, unfortunately it sems that we only solve them when we are in crisis mode. Anthem has many talented people working for them, if they have not yet come to understand the frustration that comes with the cost associated with health insurance then they are to blame. Use your talent pool to start coming up with better solutions. Demand that hospitals and doctors bring down costs and use your talented employees to come up with better solutions, otherwise you should not be surprised that many Americans are pointing fingers at insurance companies as the problem.
- joseph kelly levasseur, manchester

In reading the above comments, it is clear that “we the people” are a confused lot. There are many facets under the health care industry umbrella contributing to cost escalation. Don’t feel bad, Capitol Hill doesn’t get it either. I have no faith that politicians in Washington will do the right thing. They are the biggest self interest non-transparent group ever and to have them all in Washington overseeing HCR tells me, the American people need a wake-up call, as we will be the ultimate losers if Congress does not stop the path they are on. HCR needs to be based on the delivery of health care, quality of care, and people need to be accountable for their health. We need to practice a healthy living lifestyle. When Mr. Wenners explained that ¼ of NH’s population is obese which is 308,946 men/women and children and diabetes in the State has nearly doubled since 1997 – did anyone comment on these statistics, no because no one wants to be accountable - wake up! What do you think the cost of caring for those 308,946 people is? We wonder why the cost of health care keeps rising as we stuff our face with processed foods and sit on the couch playing video games. Ask yourself, when is the last time you drove through your neighborhood and saw a group of children playing in the yard, jumping in a pile of leaves, climbing a tree? Sadly, not very often, they no longer play outside.
- Joyce, Bow

"Congress must raise the penalties for those who decide not to buy insurance to encourage all Americans to purchase the insurance they need."

How about Congress should not take away our right to decide for ourselves what we need?

And incidentally, "encourage" is a funny way to refer to the enactment of legal penalties.
- Eric, Manchester

Mr. Wenners unwittingly made the best argument of all for a government run, single payer health *insurance* system when he said this:

"insurance systems only work if the people who use the services are pooled with those who decide not to. Everyone has to be part of the plan from the outset".

He's exactly right - though it's misleading to say that those who don't use the system are those that 'decide' not to. Illness, injury, or old age are usually not something people 'decide' to pursue. Crippling costs can strike individuals across all age, class, race, and gender spectrums unequally. So, as Mr Wenners acknowledges, the system works better the more the risks are shared. And the biggest risk pool of all, of course, is 'All Americans'. If the government insured everyone, you could be damn sure they could negotiate better prices for services, better prices for drugs, and better services for consumers.

There's extraordinary power in great numbers. It's time 'We the People' demanded the cheaper, fairer health care system that we deserve.
- Dave, Sandwich

Mr. Wenners is right. The current Administration and Congress are not interested in cutting the costs or improving the quality of healthcare. They are intersted in increasing their power base by expanding government's control over healthcare, which translates into government control over all of us. The simplistic notion that increased government bureaucracy and control over health care, as encapsulated in Pelosi's 2000 page monstrosity, will improve healthcare and cut costs is naive beyond belief.
- Jeff, deerfield

I have an HSA and pay the first 7000 of medical care for my family. When my daughter needed some tests we called aroung to various sites within our network and no one, and I mean no one could give us any hint of what they charge for the test.

Seriously, wod can a consumer be cost conscious if they can't be informed. I swear that these places make up the charge after they see who it is that is gettign it and what they have for ins.

There shoudl be a list of prices for various services period. Need an MRI, a plain vanilla on is 650, or 700 period. Pay that amoutn without insurance or pay what ever the difference is with ins.

The whole system is crooked.
- CJ, Bedford

Brian, Wakefield - there isn't even junk in YOUR reply! It's just weak nonsense.

A good example of a better run non-profit in a profit-soaked industry is credit unions vs banks. CUs hire extremely able people to administer loans etc, they work for the benefit of and partner with their depositors. They don't overpay execs, make bad bets, and ask for bailouts. In the end it's a better product.

American health insurers get away with murder, in some cases literally. Their execs are more concerned about the new model Mercedes Benz coming out this year than anyone's health. It is a myth that America has the best health care system in the world, although we do do some things very well, for the very well-off.
- Lillian, Newcastle

This health care legislation has nothing to do with health. Its designed to bankrupt private insurance companies and force us all onto the government "option" there by increasing the states control of our lives. Its about weakening the peoples ability to live independently of politician's handouts. And despite what some of the Marxist posters here say, it has failed everywhere its been tried. Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes voted themselves out of office last week. Hopefully 5 years from now the voters will remember what Jeanne Shaheen the taxing machine did to us.
- Mike, Dunbarton

There is competition in colonoscopy, though the author complains that you have to investigate to find the best price. There is no competition in the insurance business. From Governor Shaheen's radical reform that drove nearly all the insurers out of state, to the Republican "alternative"--Speaker Scamman's keynote speech to the legislature years ago that New Hampshire is "too small" for a free market, then Bob Clegg's brainstorm that all policies must pay for stomach-stapling for gluttons.

Separately, I don't trust a study commissioned by the insurance industry to support its political position. But the left-wing readers commenting here can't hide their eagerness to see bad things to happen to large corporations--because someone else's success made me fail? These vandals should not be anywhere in government.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

Marvin wow there is more junk in your reply then in the entire editorial section. First your ungodly profits. Yup that is right those evil 3-8% profit the health insurance industry makes which puts them below Google,Yahoo and Microsoft. Raise Deductibles I am all for that. However the states have set limits of various degrees. Many younger people would line up to be able to have high deductable plans backed up by tax deductable HSA's that cover only serious medical emergencies while the HSA's pays for routine care. You seem to not understand like many Americans there is a deference between health insurance and health care. Does your car insurance pay for oil changes, tire rotation, or tune-ups? Heck no. So why should health insurance? The answer to health care reform is deregulation and federal control, tort reform, and inovation in the way the healthcare market is delivered.
- Brian, Wakefield

Many many nations around the world provide excellent health care at far lower cost than the US. Administrative costs in Switzerland for instance, are 5.5%, and over 21% here. The Swiss are just as healthy as Americans, that's for sure. So let's stop with the "it doesn't work elsewhere" myth.

As a matter of fact people in other countries are healthier than here in all areas except one: in the US people over 65 can expect to be healthier and live longer! Yes the "over 65" group, the one group that has, "government health care" we call Medicare.

Don't believe me, read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/opinion/05kristof.html?_r=1

The corporate controlled GOP offers us, "health scare" not, health care.
- Tom Labrie, Rochester

As Marvin indicates, some people will not listen to the truth no matter what. 3% average profit is not a huge profit margin in anyones book. Claim rejection by medicare runs 6%, commerical insurance approximately 3%. Medicare doesn't even cover the cost of providing the service, no wonder it is losing providers. Could BCBS and other insurance companies do better, yes, and I think the "reform" had some important changes that the insurance companies would not make on thier own, however at nearly 2000 pages there is so much garbage and nit picking only someone totally deluded by the half truths and out right lies told by the supporters of Pelois care thinks this is about healthcare reform anymore. The "progressive" democrats in congress think they know how to run everything better than you do. They think only they have an idea of right and wrong. That they have no track record of actually running businesses successfully and that in the real world "the market" has done a far more successful job of providing high quality services and new, innovative products, totally escaps them.
Mr Wenners is absolutly right. I am sure the usual suspects will, like Marvin, finish thier pelosi care kool-aid and spout the pelosi-care half-truths and lies, exagerations and spinkled with deceptions they not willing to admit.

Facism is here folks, and it is not being introduced by the political right.
- jeff, Goffstown

You only need to scroll down through the article and reas the two lines in italic to know all you need to.

Move along folks, nothing to see here except Health Insurers squeeling because they fear their money printing machines are being taken away.

And Michael King in Epping - your first line is flatly contradicted by the facts in every other developed nation - where they have some form of Universal Healthcare and live longer and grow taller than we do.
- Leon, Manchester

And again we should be asking why TORT reform and competition over state lines is not being tried first? Congress seems to care more about the lawyers than the people they claim to want to help.

I would love to see insurance costs for doctors to come down so we could see the return of the small family doctors who use to run their practices often out of their homes. We lost them once the giant medical malpractice lawsuits started.
- Deb, Derry

Govt run healthcare and incentives (taxpayor paid for incentives) have never worked. Virtually every state and country that has tried it has failed to provide the coverage and choices those of us who are currently insured have today. Yes there are ways to reduce costs but our Congress is unwilling to address the 1st barrier and that is Malpractice insurance and the 2nd being the cost of Medical School. This Congress in its effort to shove Health Care down our collective throats will never be subject to wehat they are forcing the rest of us plebs to accept. Probably 1/2 of those who are not ionsured have made a choice not to be insured. That is their choice, let them have it their way but if/when you need medical attention, expect to pay for it on your own.
- Michael King, Epping

I am convinced the goal is Socialism and not medical costs. It is the only explanation for the incompetence in the current Democrat legislation.
- Bob, Salem

Just another bunch goble-de-gook from another big conglomerate thats out to make a profit from the end users. And while they make a ungodly profit the ration out peoples access to healthcare while they raise their premiums, increase their deductibles, bump up their coinsurance, and make them pay more in copays.

All this while they ration healthcare through an eyedropper.
- Marvin W, Manchester