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[MaryAM]

This is a quote from one of the towns adjacent to mine on their budget costs "Between the board of ed and the city, our budget is $28 million for health care benefits. Family coverage is costing us $25,000 to $26,000 [per employee]," he said. Just how many people actually spend $25 k a year on going to the doctor. If all 156 towns in my state (CT) spend this much money on health insurance its no wonder the insurance companies are making obscene profits while laying people off and outsourcing the jobs to India - where guess what - they don't have to provide health insurance for their employees because THERE IS A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. With the profits as high as they are, the US could pay off its entire debt in about 10 years BY TAKING OVER THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, OWNING HOSPITALS and RUNNING HOSPITALS, PAYING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS A REALLY GOOD SALARY and NEGOTIATING DRUG PRICES - Like every other advanced country in the world and - oh yes - LIKE THE VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. Everyone says we should not model our system like the European one - well then look at Israel - which I think has a very good model to follow - oh gee, its like the VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. I'm a veteran and have absolutely no problem with the quality of care I receive - no I don't get to choose my doctors but I have never had a bad one. And its not FREE - I have to make co-pays for prescriptions and I pay $30 per office visit. And guess what - I can move to any state in the country - check into a VA facility, they swipe my card and within seconds my entire medical record is in front of my new provider. And what is wrong with this picture? And please don't say there are more problems with the VA system than the private sector - the private sector just doesn't report their mistakes or deaths related to them. A prime example - my significant other who died four years ago from cancer - was initially diagnosed with esophageal cancer - had surgery in West Haven VA - top doctors from Yale - spent 10 days in intensive care, three weeks in the hospital and six months at my house with a visiting nurse as we needed the help. Another friend had the $25 K wonder insurance from the State of Connecticut and was diagnosed with the same cancer around the same time that Jack was diagnosed - he was allowed only two days in intensive care and one day in the hospital and was sent home - needless to say - he was re-hospitalized within days, developed many complications, and pre-deceased Jack by two years. Jack and I at least had three good years thanks to VA care and even at the end they worked for a miracle which sadly didn't happen. Mary Anne Mary Anne