Health Care-plank

==Talking==
* STOP THE BLEEDING.
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* We need a system of health care in this country that is easy to navigate and provides high quality, comprehensive, and affordable health care for all.
* I am for a Single-Payer Universal Health Care.
* Health Care is going to be a serious issue for the next decade, if not beyond. We need to get it right.
* The current system of health care in this country has too many people without protection. 
:Nearly 46 million are uninsured, close to 1.5 million in Pennsylvania. Another 50 million are underinsured.
Many people without any health benefits love their jobs and work hard in their life's calling and passion. We need to look hard at the self-employed artist with a studio, the publisher, the swim coach, the small business workers and students. Many fall between the cracks. And, many others are not taking those risks of life without benefits are are kept workers, unproductive in their jobs and lives because they dare not be creative and live without benefits. A job trap should NOT be the key to healthy living as this is not the most productive way to structure our society.
* Too many are not able to get health insurance due to pre-existing conditions. Their options are substandard. 
* Some productive families in our community face bills with out-of-pocket medical expenses (including our rising monthly premiums) at $19,000! How is a social worker to pay that bill on her salary? This is crazy to pay more than half of a salary of a primary wage earner to cover medical costs. 
* Half of all personal bankruptcies in this country are related to medical debt.
* Everyone has a right to high quality, comprehensive, easy-to-navigate, and affordable health care. In my opinion, a single-payer system of health care is the best formula for success, as it diminishes administrative costs (from an estimated 25% to 3%), negotiates for lower drug prices from the pharmaceutical companies, eliminates monthly premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, allows for free choice of providers (who remain private), and provides comprehensive coverage.
* I do think that a splendid health reform package can not be delivered on the federal level. Rather, landing a splendid program needs to happen at a state level first. Then, after a number of states have made serious progress in this realm, we might be able to get a federal system in place. But first, we need PA to lead the way. I put no hope in a federal system and won't even waste my breath in those efforts for 2006 and 2007. But, I'll triple the efforts for a PA solution.
==Details==
* Proposed US Lesislation, HR 676, the “United States National Health Insurance Act,” introduced by US Representative John Conyers. 
* Proposed PA Law, SB 1085, “The Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act” introduced by PA Senator Jim Ferlo. 
==Links==
* Health Care
* Wellness
category:Platform_Planks_from_Mark_Rauterkus