I take this to mean that all who work very hard to make a living and simply can't afford health insurance that has anything but catastrophic coverage in the plan are low IQ (Where have we heard this before?) This response certainly has no noble quality to it. Those who like their insurance, can afford the premium, and want to keep it should be able to do so. However, there needs to be a public option for two reasons. It will be less costly for those who can't afford private plans, and it will serve to keep the insurance companies somewhat honest if they get their fees out of line with the public offering. Some will say this is socialized medicine. We already have socialized medicine. The insurance companies are the socialists. They set the fees that all doctors, hospitals, and medical services get paid. Everyone knows that. We are a better country than one who only thinks that those with the ample resources should have effective health care.

So you mean that if I like my Doctor I can keep my Doctor and if I like my health plan I can keep my Health Plan? Sounds familiar. Obamacare crashed and burned terribly. The hidden mandate required forcing everyone to jump onto "Govt. Healthcare". Well, the majority did not care for ineffective medical care provided by Gov. HMOs. So, they opted to pay the fine instead. Don't blame Conservatives for that. Also, I did not say that only those with ample resources should have health care. Bona fide disabilities excepted, understanably. "We are better than that" is a trite and hackneyed phrase thrown around by the left. It means, we should tax those who choose to work and better themselves and society as a reward for their efforts and distribute it to those parasites who would rather smoke crack and watch TV.

We are better than that. Citizens of industrialized countries have some type of universal coverage, and there is no reason that we should not be able to do that here. If they pay for it, we can too. The public wanted it when Obama was elected, and he caved on the public option according to the GOP's wishes, which turned it all back over to the insurance companies to rule. That's where we remain today. The general public wants healthcare reform, or it wouldn't be an issue. It's not the crackhead, couch potato that's the problem. Rather it is the working public who often work for themselves and simply can't afford high insurance premiums. Again, we are better than that.

We are better than that. Citizens of industrialized countries have some type of universal coverage, and there is no reason that we should not be able to do that here. If they pay for it, we can too. The public wanted it when Obama was elected, and he caved on the public option according to the GOP's wishes, which turned it all back over to the insurance companies to rule. That's where we remain today. The general public wants healthcare reform, or it wouldn't be an issue. It's not the crackhead, couch potato that's the problem. Rather it is the working public who often work for themselves and simply can't afford high insurance premiums. Again, we are better than that.

We are better than that. Citizens of industrialized countries have some type of universal coverage, and there is no reason that we should not be able to do that here. If they pay for it, we can too. The public wanted it when Obama was elected, and he caved on the public option according to the GOP's wishes, which turned it all back over to the insurance companies to rule. That's where we remain today. The general public wants healthcare reform, or it wouldn't be an issue. It's not the crackhead, couch potato that's the problem. Rather it is the working public who often work for themselves and simply can't afford high insurance premiums. Again, we are better than that.

We should just let underprivileged people die

Yes. My company pays my medical, dental and vision 100%. I pay $143 a month for my daughter for medical, $11 for dental and $3.50 for vision. That’s the $500 PPO plan too. My wife’s company pays her medical, dental and vision.

It wasn't that long ago that the company I worked for (as well as many others) paid for all of my insurance.

I’m open to ideas. What do you propose? Who is (and isn’t) covered? How does it work? How is it funded?

Well, as you are aware, Socialism does not work. Ever. Mick Jagger came to the United States for his heart surgery. Canadians and Mexicans come to the United States for surgery. So these "industrialized nations" that you reference may have universal coverage which sounds great on paper and in the minds of liberals, but their medicine sucks pond water. So, our health system, granted needs some reform to bring costs more inline, but it is still the best in the World. We are already BETTER than that.

I totally understand this. However, I hope there is a better way for medical professionals (and their patients) to thrive.

Medical costs for the same procedure vary widely across America and even across the same city. There is no evidence that the higher cost options result in a better outcome for the patient.

The out-of-network trap can happen to anyone. The network provider lists for most (if not all) insurance plans are riddled with errors in my experience. If you are unlucky enough to need an emergency room visit, you have little to no control over who takes care of you.

Yes, there is a lot of political theatre and pandering going on. But, there are many Americans who are not low IQ and who are working their butts off but are still living paycheck to paycheck. I think they would welcome and benefit from a better health insurance and health care system than we have now.

The only way it will improve is that there be a integration of public and private coverage for those who need it and/or want it. I believe it is basically the plan Biden is putting forth. Medicare for all is NOT going to ever be supported at this point in time. There has to be a compromise of sorts, but the insurance companies must be challenged with a public option. Otherwise NOTHING will change. Just remember, anything that is sold on the stock exchange (i.e. health insurance) is about the shareholders - not us. Warren does have that part right. I wish folks would listen to some of the ideas and get the facts straight before forming a hard set opinion. The devil is in the details, and if the details don't appear, to hell with it. Bottom line, the majority of the voters want health care reform.

The people that people like you support took a system that needed to be better and destroyed it-
Lies and personal gain was rampant, and “my” guys simply let it happen with only BS talk, but really didn’t fight it-
It’s now worse that before they meddled with it-
And yet you and others are coming at us again with the same nonsense-
I don’t know the answer because we can’t trust those who maybe could help it get better-
I just know a bunch of politicians lies to us AGAIN, and now you guys are coming back to the same well with that “we are better than that” nonsense-
To make yourselves feel better, you have hurt many, many folks who DID work hard and plan for the future-

Why would you not care about THAT?

We should be better than that-

Agree, the health insurance and care systems need improvement. You would not believe what I have to pay for my Medicare B and D coverage and my wifes individual BCBS coverage. I am being penalized heavily by the Affordable Care Act IRRMA clause. HEAVILY. And I don't use the doctor much at all. A year ago, before I retired, I had a friend working as a contractor (green card) cleaning staff, who had lasik surgery on both of her eyes at Parkland and paid less than $100. Her husband had knee surgery at Parkland, less than $250 she said. No insurance. So, I don't buy the claim that the poor will go without.