SunJournal.com - Group renews call for health care in Maine


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Posted By:Drew at August 8, 2008 5:34 AM (Suggest Removal)
Profits are immoral according to these people. The labor unions and Democratic-leaning organizations need that money much more than the people that it belongs to. The price of hookers and alcohol is not exactly been getting cheaper don't you know.

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Posted By:DJ at August 8, 2008 6:34 AM (Suggest Removal)
I find it interesting that this group makes no mention at all about the extremely high salaries of the people running the Dirigo Health Program which costs all of us. I guess it is ok for Dirigo to costs all of us large amounts of money because it is a democrat program. If these people really cared about health insurance costs, which they don't, they would talk about the laws put in place by the democrats in Augusta such as guarantee issue that pushed most of the insurance companies out of the state and killed the free market. The free market in New Hampshire makes it possible to get the same health insurance plan that you can buy here but at 1/3 the cost. Maine has one of the highest averages in the country for health insurance cost because of this legislation. This coalition that blames insurance companies should be blaming the legislature but they are more worried about trying to get universal health care going which would be a bigger disaster then Dirigo would be. Why would anyone trust something as important as their health insurance to the legislature in Augusta? What have they done to give anyone confidence they can handle something this important?

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Posted By:DasBoot at August 8, 2008 6:41 AM (Suggest Removal)
We have health care in Maine, go to the hospital they have to treat you.

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Posted By:tony at August 8, 2008 7:09 AM (Suggest Removal)
DJ YOUR RIGHT BUT I WONDER JUST HOW MUCH THE PEOPLE RUNNING DIRIGO AND GETTING PAID BET IT IS NOT LESS THEN 100K!!!!MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE BACK THE 48 BILLION WE HAVE USED TO REBUILD IRAQ SEEING THEY ARE MAKING 98 BILLION IN PROFITS SO FAR OR AMERICANS IS BUSH/CHEANY MAKING IT ALONG WITH WHO EVERY WENT ALONG WITH THEM REPS OR DEMS ALIKE???? 48 BILLION SURE WOULD HELP IN HEALTH CARE RIGHT???

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Posted By:horsefeathers at August 8, 2008 7:53 AM (Suggest Removal)
Dirigo has consumed 150 million of taxpayer dollars in 5 years. Taxpayer have a right to know how much of that is administrative costs. It is a failed program. Maines problems are Maines problem, regardless of what is happening on a national level. Not paying the 400 million indebtedness to the hospitals and care givers will eventually deter the quality of medical staff in this state. THAT IS A SERIOUS MAINE PROBLEM.

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Posted By:ray at August 8, 2008 8:01 AM (Suggest Removal)
Anyone wanting universal healthcare should take a ride North of the border and find out why Quebec now allows private insurance and why citizens in other provinces are suing the government for the right to buy private insurance. If anyone thinks the insurance executives are paid too much, ask why there is no competing insurance companies paying a more reasonable salary to their executives. In fact, they should compare what union bosses and democratic leaders earn. Their "top" democrat, Mr. Obama earns more than a pittance as does his wife. Also, look at the Clintons etc. What is needed in this State and the whole country is less laws that make it impossible to run a company and make a profit and then we will se COMPETITION which is the life blood of free enterprise. For those with severe health problems, we must expect to pay more as we cost the insurers more, thus an assigned risk plan such as with bad drivers would be the answer. For those who refuse to buy insurance make it easier for the providers of services to collect, including debtors prison. When we had those the "wise guys" always came up with money when facing jail time.

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Posted By:VINK80 at August 8, 2008 9:23 AM (Suggest Removal)
GET THE INSURANCE COMPANIES COMPLETELY OUT OF ALL HEALTH RELATED BUSINESS AND WE COULD AFFORD HEALTH COST FROM OUR POCKETS !!!! ALL DOCTORS, HOSPITALS,DENTISTS HAVE A LARGE PAYROLL JUST TO TAKE CARE OF INSURANCE PAPERS. MOST DOCTORS DO EXTRA TESTS AND PROCEDURES JUST TO SATISFY INSURANCE RULES. AND THE MORE ONE STUDIES THIS THE LIST GETS LONGER AND EXPENSIVE ~~~~

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Posted By:April at August 8, 2008 9:47 AM (Suggest Removal)
Don't worry John Mcain has a Health plan. If your a rich republican you will be able to pay for your hospital bills with the nice tax breaks he will give you. The way it works for eveybody else is very simple, just pray you don't get sick or injured but if you do then work a few more jobs to pay your bills.

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Posted By:Drew at August 8, 2008 12:31 PM (Suggest Removal)
Yes John you will not get to steal the money from other people to pay your hospital bills. Being a Democrat your used to stealing that which does not belong to you, time to change your ways.

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Posted By:MRC at August 8, 2008 1:24 PM (Suggest Removal)
Ray - Quebec is a poor example of socialized healthcare because they don't subscribe to the federal government regulation on most things. They have a different law system, a different taxation system, and a different provincial allocation system. Socialized healthcare in Canada may have some faults, but it is still 200% better than the pathetic situation of healthcare in the US. I live in Alberta and the healthcare is pretty damn good, and everyone gets coverage. The US should aspire to be as progressive and socially conscious as Canada is when it comes to healthcare. But then again...the Canadian government invests WAY more in tax dollars to the medical system than the military. Guess it depends where the federal priorities lie. Also taxes in Canada are higher than the US and reflect the healthcare provided. Maine taxes are ridiculously high and yet you get nothing for it...whether you want to admit it or not, Maine would be better off as a Canadian province than a US state. Simply from a taxation, average salary, and industry standpoint.

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Posted By:Garrett at August 8, 2008 4:45 PM (Suggest Removal)
People want top notch, expedient, fix all healthcare for cheap. Ridiculous notion. Peace

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Posted By:DJ at August 8, 2008 5:46 PM (Suggest Removal)
If health care in Canada is so wonderful why are people coming down here to have surgery and other medical procedures? As far as Maine being better off as part of Canada, not likely. Maine's problems are not because of the United States. The problems in Maine were caused in Maine by a do nothing, socialist driven legislature that has been in control for 30+ years. Once again, what has the legislature done in the past 30 years that would give you any confidence that they can handle something as important as your health insurance? Look at the miserable failure that is Dirigo. The governor, legislature, and state workers have had their chance to join but wanted nothing to do with it. The democrats are taxing everyone so that 3,000 people that didn't have insurance can have it. The rest of the 12,000 already had insurance and now enrollment is closed. Why should my health insurance claims be taxed more so that people that already had insurance can be on Dirigo? Baldacci and the legislature needs to be replaced.

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Posted By:April at August 8, 2008 5:48 PM (Suggest Removal)
Hey Drew why don't you wash the Bood off your hands from the 4000 kids whose deaths you have contributed to by being a piece of ignorant republican trash.

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