" In regards to my previous post, I do have a job. I also have health insurance. I have union benefits that with a small co-pay covers all my medical needs thus far. I also have the ability to see beyond myself and my own wallet. Some people have this idea that if you don't have insurance you qualify for Public Assistance type programs (ie. Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, etc.). That is far from true. There is a huge section of our population in this country that are gainfully employed but their employer either doesn't offer group insurance; the payroll deduction is too costly or they make just over the income level to qualify for Public help. The are the ones that "slip through the cracks" and are hurt the most by our countries lack of public health care. I also worked in the health care billing industry. What you are charged on the bill is the cost if you were "self-pay". The cost to your insurance company is a fraction of that cost. Insurance companies are contracted with service providers and have a set fee for service or an all-inclusive daily rate. The only way you as a patient would be paying $35.00 for an aspirin is if you were uninsured and listed as "Self-pay." If you had insurance they paid a small fraction of that. If your insurance has an all-inclusive rate that cost is written off as part of the daily rate. That is why health care providers charge so much. They try to make up their losses to their contracts by exorbitantly billing the uninsured. As for lack of choice, if you don't like the service provider your insurance company sends you to pay out of pocket. You won't do that too many times I bet. You might have to go deep in debt just like the uninsured. "

" We are not "granted" life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it's a basic human right we all have that we can choose to follow if we wish, it's not the government's obligation to provide us with it. It's amazing, lots of people complain at what a horrible job the government does at running anything at all, then they turn around and want the government to provide them with free healthcare... in essence, "you stink and can't do anything right, but I want you to take care of my healthcare needs for me". It's absolutely nuts. I for one don't want the government controlling my healthcare. "

" you are kidding right? OK I'll entertain your idea..national health care coverage--so if you need to have your gallbladder out--with national coverage you could be waiting a couple of months for that- don't believe check Canadian or European statistics. I am kind of tired of people picking on the insurance companies. It is not their fault you don't have insurance--why not start looking at doctors, hospitals and employers as to why medical care is so high. If you have a hospital charging $35 for one aspirin-what do expect the insurance company to do. Again don't believe me? Check with AMH how much they charge for one pill during an inpatient procedure. Insurance isn't only for the wealthy but if your someone who sits at home and expects everyone else to take care of you, well get up off your butt and get a job. Medicare and the system can only take care of so many people. For low income families there are options such as Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, and Healthy NY. Stop complaining and do something about it. "

" I think auto insurance should also be a right.I have to decide between auto insurance or cablevison and I can not afford both!! "