I FINALLY know who I will support in 2008 and it better be a

[Blue_Roses]

determining factor for many others. I am supporting the candidate who aggressively works to bring a viable health care plan to this country! We have lost our insurance with my spouse's job change and the insurance that his new company has is so freaking high I don't know how anyone in the company affords it.

I have searched and searched for insurance on our own and it TOO is so damn expensive. I finally took out a dental insurance plan because I am in dire need of a root canal and now I'm even having trouble with dentists taking it! (Why are dentists such snobs?) In the meantime, my tooth is about to kill me.

I have a child who takes medicine and we have been paying out-of-pocket for it each month and it is about to put us under--financially. I finally got some help with CHIPS in our state, so hopefully this will help some, however, there are stipulations on the plan and what is covered.

What a pain in the ass! I just hope and pray nothing serious happens to us until we get coverage 'cause that would be the end of us. I along with millions of other Americans DEPEND on a leader to care about us, especially during these difficult times.

We need to hold these candidates feet to the fire on this issue.

[Donnachaidh]

1. A Health Care plan that keeps the Insurance Industry OUT of the loop

That's what we need. A report recently done says that one THIRD of the costs of health care can be immediately wiped out if we just get rid of the middlemen.

[midnight]

9. The insurance industry has stepped in the way of coverage

for family members. This is just ridiculous. I see no reason for their participation when people need health care except to profit from disease. There should be a law against in health care.

[Blue_Roses]

12. I agree. nt

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. There is a big but below-the-radar battle raging...

Between dental care professionals and insurance companies and the rest of the health care industry. The dental care industry is treated like the stepchild, fourteen times removed. There is a lot of good science that shows that poor dental health leads to other, more serious illness. The dental care industry is starting to get its shit together about this, too.

[DixieBlue]

16. Man, I hope so.

As someone who inherited awful teeth it would be nice if they were treated as an important part of my body by insurance companies instead of expendable things.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I will support only candidates who will bring an end to

the damn war.

[Blue_Roses]

11. this issue is a given. Others are getting lost in the Iraq debate

nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. We can't afford to do much else

as long as we throw money at Iraq. I want health care for all too. I have 2 kids in their 20s who have no health insurance. But I don't see any other issues as big as the war. It's got to end first.

[Blue_Roses]

15. The impact of this fiasco in Iraq will be felt for years to come...

it's irresponsible to wait on the end of this war to do anything else productive and positive for the American people living here struggling and suffering under this administration's horrible leadership.

Do you realize what a national crisis this is and it only stands to get worse.

I agree and have agreed for a long damn time that we have to stop throwing money away on Iraq, so that's a given. To ignore and label one issue as worse than the other is what gets us stuck in this debate. There are MANY issues facing this country that could be considered a national crisis. Iraq just may be at the top of the list. Many here, HERE in America are struggling and it has stop.

[qwlauren35]

4. OK, So who qualifies????

Name names. Which candidates have a plan that you think will provide you with the health care support you need as an individual and a parent????

[Blue_Roses]

10. that's what I'm going to figure out and be watching for!

nt.

[Saturday]

5. John Conyers is doing his part.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x740356

[Le Taz Hot]

6. Are you anywhere near Mexico?

I am also without insurance as my husband's employer wanted $500.00 a month to cover me -- an amount we cannot afford. I make periodic trips to Mexico for medication I MUST have to keep me breathing (severe asthma). As long as they are not narcotics, you can get most medications without a prescription. However, if you do have a prescription, bring it with you just in case you are asked about it when crossing back over the border.

Same thing goes with dental care. I understand that you can get excellent dental care at a fraction of the cost in Mexico.

On edit: changed last sentence to actually make sense.

[Blue_Roses]

13. Yes, Texas.

nt

[Bitwit1234]

7. The just had a health care summit by the dem candidates about a month ago

They say Hillary's plan was head and shoulders over the others. That John Edwards had a good one tho. They also say that Obama failed miserably. He didn't even present any kind of plan. The article was I think at either Americablog of Firedoglake. The person did not care for Hillary for a candidate but they said they could not overlook the fact that her health plan was the top of the top.

[Mass]

8. Kucinich, I guess.

[Czolgosz]

17. I agree. This is probably the most important issue for me too. I think we will have to wait until

after the debates for real details from some of the candidates who may ultimately offer good plans, but here are five good recent articles on the race and the candidates' views on health care:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=66202
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/03/26/a_healthy_health_care_debate.php
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/49737/
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=sa&id=77702
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cont/node/2324

[w4rma]

18. Of the top tier canddiates, Edwards has the only plan that expands Medicare.

Which is the basis for real universal health care.