HEALTH CARE INCREASED

Nancy Denofio asked - Where do you stand on health care costs. I have to admit everyone I have spoken to have complained their costs have gone up - 30 to 40 % higher in one year. The report below shows those I spoke with, are not alone.

Read the article from Reuters concerning Health costs of employers at 5-year high www.reuters.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Employers can expect to pay nearly 9 percent more for health care costs for their workers in 2011, the highest level in five years, according to a forecast released on Monday. And

2 hours ago · Comment
Candace Jean Sturtevant Well, since I am unemployed and have no insurance, mine have skyrocketed. I cannot even afford the correct ones I have been on for 11 years. Alternatives suck. I pay about $250.00 a month cash for my healthcare and most of my Rx's are not what I took on insurance they are the $4.00 Rx's Walmart offers, Thank God!
2 hours ago · LikeUnlikeTamara Sockol Dourney Ours have gotten so expensive that it might be cheaper to quit my job and get welfare...
2 hours ago · LikeUnlikeSharon Cousins Our insurance company (though my husband's job) increased the cost of our deductible by more than 200% in one fell swoop, just ahead of health care 'reform'. It was already so expensive I try to space things out so I only go once every oth...er year. I am so disappointed that we didn't get anything resembling true reform for our health care system. Forcing people to buy insurance they can't afford and then can't afford to use once they have it is not very helpful, nor is forcing employers to provide insurance that the recipients can't afford to take advantage of once they have it.
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I told Candace - You are lucky to be hooked up with Walmart and that you have coverage for medications. I know there was a time I had no coverage for drugs, hospital and more. The cost for my husband to cover me at the time was over $700.00 per ...month on a single payer plan. This did not mean drugs were covered. This was a long time ago, imagine anyone living with a pre existing condition these days. I understand what you are saying. People, anyone on a fixed income and paying out of pocket has it rough. Anyone living alone and paying the cost not covered by employer is having it rough, and those without are getting sick - and sicker. As your advocate I thank you and I am saving your words. Hopefully the government can come up with a plan that will serve us the right way, and help those with drastic, lealth care needs, and worked all their life, and now are not covered. Stay in touch. Always Nancy

9 minutes ago ·
Denofio told Tamara - How right it is. The cost alone to stay healthy is outragous. It doesn't take a sick person to drive up the cost, it takes a well person work to stay healthy, and money. You wonder, I know many people who have long term care nee...ds who are a welfare and medicaid, and they too have cuts in care. They Do not want to be there, they don't want to need from others but have no choice. To many times they are looked down upon, and they are told they are using the government. So what do we do, bury them? I am upset over the cost to you and to others. We all must fight this battle, and the loopholes need closing. Sincerely Tamara, and please stay in touch too! Always Nancy

Nancy Denofio told Sharon - The big business of todays health care is insurance, and those with the most people - they would rather sock it to us then to take a cut in their life style. I am up front and personal on these topics as you well know. For twe...nty years I have been helping people and trying to find a new way to fight this battle. I had my fingers crossed and now they are no longer crossed, because the big businesses of insurance have opened up those loop holes, and then again, the government is taking from the seniors and those with limited incomes and cutting services. The doctors are cutting back on testing, and the testing is delayed because of insurance. And it goes on and on. The insurance company doesn't want to lose, and they care not one bit about the people. They don't want you if you are sick, and want you to pay through the roof if you are well. I am furious as you can see. And I want people to understand, health is wealth. Without life - what else do we have. And, another article mentions deaths among the boomers, well guess what, they are the ones with the old incomes, the ones that aren't going to get raises and pay the cost, they don't have six figure incomes. They are not going to land the big jobs to pay. No wonder in the obit col. you find more and more boomers dying. Think about it. Always Nancy

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HEALTH CARE and COVERAGE

It has been twenty years of working on Health Care Reform and as an advocate for the people on many issues, long term care, medicare, uninsured children, medication, research and more. I have worked with women's issues, families without insurance because of job loss, etc. As a writer, I believe it is the right of the people to speak out.

I have fought for individuals and talked from Boston ...to the White House on Health Care. This all began in the 90's, my fight for individual rights, health to be the care to all children and what good is it if parents are sick, and can't care for their children?

I can tell you so many stories about medication, cost, the sick without help because they can't buy drugs, so I have seen people die because of it. I have seen the increases in health care TODAY with SMALL BUSINESSES up to 30% - Does your income rise this fast? When you go to purchase a drug even with insurance, the prices change from month to month. I have never seen such drastic measures taken by big business against the people.

I have talked for over one and a half hours alone, during the 90's with Presidential Candidate Robert Dole. I have talked alone with Lamar Alexander, Arlen Specter and others on health care.

It certainly shows where the GOP is coming from when they place Lamar as the head of Health Care Reform. Lamar and I had many conversations about health care in the 90's and in my opinion he will never change, nor will he budge from his own belief system. When I interviewed Arlen Specter, he wasn't hit with the disaster in his own life, cancer. I do believe he opened his eyes, and noticed the stuggles out there with individuals. Also, Dole.

I was told I would never get an interview with these Presidential Candidates, because who was I? Well, I was a determined fighter for the people, I was one who never gave up a battle when I thought a battle was to be fought. And so, through all this I learned over the years - the people must talk, they must have a voice - and without a voice we can't expect change. Look what just happened with children and health care. Our President said that he was going to as of Sept. 24th have every child under 18 covered. And coverage for older children would take them through those college years, etc. And what happens, the system finds a loophole and up pops the cure for big business. And there is nothing bigger then the drug companies. They say they will not cover individual children - and on national TV a young girl with long term care needs, isn't going to have coverage. Something is drastically wrong. When the largest carriers will drop children. We need fixing, for sure.

Sincerely, Nancy Duci Denofio

HOW SICK CAN YOU BE?

This week the morning news introduced a site where you can place a little DNA into a cylinder, ship it out, and find out where, 85,000 years ago, your ancester's began. Today, we have people asking policy makers in Washington DC to listen, they are suffering with a tagged, pre-existing condition. Think Washington, how many people are diagnosed because of advances in medicine? And,in this day and age, a large portion of Americans have pre-existing conditions, and they need medical care and medication. Why can't we get to the root of the problem and make sure everyone with a pre-existing condtion is covered even if they change insurance companies. You see, there is always a twist or turn in the written word. How sick can you be?

Reviewing the said statement above regarding DNA, it made me think, in a few years the insurance company maybe asking us to complete this type of testing, then and only then, will they make a choice to cover you for your health care needs. You know, this isn't a thought in the wind, this is happening today... DNA can place labels on you that will never fall off.

In my heart, I believe, our Government should take Health Care, one step at a time, beginning with the most important issues... present them to the people in plain English, to inform and educate, then come to the table!

How do you feel about the future of those with pre-existing conditions?