Health care reform has been on the table for 40 years. Jim Webb must know that delay for more prolonged discussion is just another way to allow the health insurance companies to win yet one more time. Many existing studies have been done in other countries with universal health care in all shapes and forms. We can take the best from them - they have done the homework for us. The U.S. is ranked 37th in health care systems and 24th in life expectancy. The universal aspect just means that the more people of all ages who pay into the system the more affordable it is for all - there are many ways universal health care can be structured. If nothing is done we can expect skyrocketing premium increases and larger deductions. My own insurance premium has increased over 300% in the past 9 years. I only wish salaries had gone up that much! And I would hate to think of what would happen if we had a major health issue since insurance companies comb records to look for ways to deny coverage.

It is the right time for health reform. Jim Webb and our elected officials need to push their sleeves up and come up with a way to achieve universal health care now. The Government is not the evil char

It's a con; be wary of senators offering gifts. The ultimate end is for any sort of health care plan to be accepted and the slope gets increasingly slippery. Behind closed doors much will be added, and once you've given up your freedom to choose - it's all over but the shouting!!!
Be forewarned . . .

ought to be the same that was used for getting men on the moon. Assessments should start with states that have good, working, and practical plans in place. Utah is reputedly one such state, but I don't know that personally, I'm going on what was presented in a column a few weeks back. But take a look at it. Break down the geographical nature of health care plans, allow for unabridged shopping so that consumers can go anywhere in the country to find plans that work for them and their families. This will help move coverage from being employer provided to consumer based. Means test in selected states to learn and apply lessons, then go on to the next phase (tort reform perhaps?). An immediate push by the govt to get SOMETHING done fast is a road to disaster. Give kudos for the debate being pushed forward. Now act responsibly in a way that will ensure our health care system is second to none! If any nation can do it, ours can, if we're smart about it!

If want to fix/overhaul health care you first need to fix the tort laws and malpractice insurance in this country as they are the root causes of why the insurance companies are in such control today. More common sense and less government interference is what is needed.

This whole Health Care issue really isn't about our health. It's about control over our lives and how we live them, oh and I almost forgot...............TAXES!
Just like the Cap and Tax Bill.

That Jim Webb is a weasel-y politician.

Congress needs to STOP pushing healthcare reform! We do not want it. It is not good for America. Send it to Cuba.

Surely i'm not the only one who got a 25% increase in premium for my health insurance this year. Last year it was 20% -- 45% in 2 years. The funny (sad) thing is I have a 5000 deductible plan, so they've incurred NO out of pocket costs in the last 6 years that i've had the policy.

Good lord this has to stop.

Why do we pay the middleman? All they do is bust Americans up into smaller and smaller risk pools so that they can charge higher and higher premiums on us. Then, they skim upwards of 30% of the premiums we pay for their own operating profits and overhead (9mil salary in the case of the CEO of Anthem). Mathematically, the largest risk pool to have, in order to achieve the lowest average cost per person, is to have ALL AMERICANS in ONE big risk pool. The care would be delivered privately, like now with Medicare, but the Risk Pool (and finance) would be handled by the government. Yes, i'm talking single payer!!!!!!

Die a malingering death Blue Cross!!! You have gouged us long enough!!