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Ask the Candidates!

I would like to know how Sen. Obama plans on funding his National Healthcare Plan after the money from the Bush tax rollbacks runs out?

I want to know what both candidate's stance is on Clinical Research funding (i.e. NCI/NIH sponsored Phase 1 - 3 clinical trials NOT stem cell research).

Given the new problem we all have with the bail out of these banks on wallstreet, now the #1 issue in the country it definitley the economy, that being said how do either canidates plan to help those in foreclosure and filed brankruptsy because they were being foreclosed on and filed bankruptsy to keep their homes???????? And dont sugar coat it just give a straight answer.

Is this a health care question?

John McCain, you were one of the authors of The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. Although it didn't pass, I would like to ask both of you whether you would support it now. Please answer first with a simple "Yes" or "No", followed by any detailed explanation you would like to offer.

For Senator Mccain, How ,if he conceives of a middle-class income as being in excess of a million dollars,can he understand or relate to the need for the average American to possess comprehensive health-care.

How aware are you in the new advances science and health, especially brain scans, which can significantly revolutionize how we teach our children. I have research now that proves Ping-Pong can reduce ADD, autism and bi-polar. Brain scans can diagnose dysfuntional brain activity and target treatment. Imagine the changes in performance, self-esteem and sucess. How involved are you in the Kid Fit bill that addresses the obesity of our children. Since children are our most valuable assets shouldn't we address the core problems and impliment knowledge and responsibility at an earlier age. Look at the high fructose corn and its reprocussions with our health decline. Look at the stat on cancer. I have listened to both conventions and heard the first debate.. and the issue of education of our children and adults were never addressed. Drug abuse was not addressed. Prevenative health care and savings plans were not discussed. No core issues were addressed. What is up with no solutions, just rhetoric?

I used to bring home $347 after taxes each week, now SSI pays me $798 per month because my insurance company refused to pay for my knees to be replaced. I can't stand for long, I can't walk far. It hurts to sit down, it hurts to stand up and it hurts for anything to touch my knees, including clothing & sheets. I can't squat or kneel or carry over 6 pounds in each hand without tremendous pain. I used to lift and carry 85 pounds at work. I have been off of work for 3 years and now I must pay 1/2 up front in order for them to be replaced. (3 years ago I would have paid about $90.) I am eligable for Medicare part B, but that costs another $100 per month and I can't pay my bills now! Because of my bad knees, both of my hips have bouts of bursitis, they will need to be replaced soon. Why can insurance companies refuse to pay for medical care so we must suffer monitarily and physically for years? I want to work, but I am not allowed to work. What can you do to help us?

What plans do both of you candidates have that will enable more whites to be eligble for government assistance?

this question goes to obama. what are your plans if you become president to help better the homeless in the us

Senators McCain and Obama,

You both speak of plans to provide affordable access to health care for the millions of Americans who lack it. What do you define in your plans as adequate health care?

To elaborate: Does adequate health care consist solely of a family doctor/general practitioner, access to emergency care and affordable prescriptions, or does it go beyond that to include affordable and speedy access to specialists? To a dentist? To mental health professionals? To preventive screenings for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other widespread disease killers? To prenatal/neonatal care?

Senator McCain, you stated recently that " the fundamentals of our economy are strong", despite what has happened in Wall Street, Please elaborate. Senator Obama, do you feel that the fundamentals of the economy are strong despite what has happened in Wall Street?

I would like to ask both of the candidates the following:

would those of the lgbt community have equal health care rights and insurance as everyone else?

Senator Mccain: I'd like to know why you want to privatize Social Security.

You have already said there will be no SS later on down the road. Why not?

Senator Obama: Why won't you personally campaign in KY?

Why won't you say the Pledge of Allegiance and hold you palm across your heart?

Why won't you wear the American Flag on your clothing?

Thank you, Brenda in Ky

Mammy -

re your questions to Senator Obama. Those questions are really old smears which he has addressed many times, but for your information:

Barack Obama's grandfather, a WWII veteran, taught him the Pledge of Allegiance and inspired his strong love of this country. There's even video of Barack honoring the flag, but people who want to tear him down claim he refuses to put his hand over his heart or say the Pledge.

These attacks on Barack's patriotism are completely false and designed to play into the worst kind of stereotypes.

Learn more about this and other anti-Obama smears and help push back with the truth: http://my.barackobama.com/fightthesmears

~Rose~

You go, Iowa! I am so tired of hearing this smear of lies- eekkk! thank you

Good questions Brenda Jay

Please, you cannot believe everything you see on the web. Obama without hand over heart during Pledge is a hoax!!!

Agreed. What I want to know from participants of this forum is WHY are we wasting our time on these types of questions? These questions have been addressed long ago and found to be fictitious. Move on to the REAL questions that address the deep and ever mounting problems that we're facing as a Nation. I'm so tired of the quibbling over things that won't help this country recover!

That being said, here is my health care question for Both candidates:

I would like to know why it is that during the primaries and now during the presidential speeches and debate(s) I consistently hear about how both of your plans are going to help lower and middle income people, senior citizens and Veterans, but I Never hear Anything about helping Civilian Disabled people? I am a 47 year old disabled woman living on less than $600 monthly from SSD. I depend heavily on my family, who pay more than half of my rent every month directly to my landlord because if the money was given to Me it would be counted as income and that would reduce what little I get from SSD plus I'd lose my Medicaid which pays my Medicare Part B premiums! The Caps are completely Unrealistic. I am barely making ends meet.

How are you going to help the Civilian Disabled People in these devastatingly hard times?

I would like to ask both presidential candidates and their vp candidates if any of them are or were following a low carbohydrate high fat nutrition style such as Atkins or similar, or if any of them are or were dedicated vegetarians.

Thank you, Heretic

My question to both candidates is this:

First: What would you do to end the disgraceful backlog of Social Security Disability applications which at this time is causing many to lose their homes, savings, family, and friends before being approved, if ever?

and

Second: Why is it allowed that federal and local housing can be allowed to say that you are not disabled UNLESS Social Security says you are disabled? It's not like you get turned down and you can just jump up and go run the 440! The body is still broken and yet you are denied services you need to live a minumum quality life.

Thank you.

Two states, Massachusetts and Vermont, have laws on the books striving toward universal coverage of all their residents. Senator McCain if this were successful, would you then consider universal health care for the entire nation?

Also, I would like to ask both candidates if they would ever allow a ban or curb our free access to vitamin/mineral supplements and if they would ever approve a ban on compounding pharmacies.

I would like to ask both candidates what they propose to do to fix the broken FDA?

Melissa

For Senator McCain:

Would you continue the policy of supporting abstinence only sex education programs, or do you believe that sex education programs should include information both about abstinence and contraception and safer sex practices?

Terri Warren, nurse practitioner

I would like to ask Sen. Obama:

You have said that you want to give us, the citizens of the US, the same health care as Goverment Officials. The problem is, the doctors that practice in the area of the country where I live are less than stellar and many people have to travel a great distance and spend a lot of money to find adequate care. In your Health Care Plan, would we be free to visit ANY medical provider we wanted or would we be assigned medical providers based on our location? Are the doctor's who want to participate in this plan going to be of lesser quality becuase there in not a vast amount of money to be made by insurance companies and patients?

My family is considered low income, but we make too much to get state health insurance and too little to be able to afford to buy our own health insurance, and my job doesn't provide company insurance of any kind. What will they do to prevent this gap from happening in the future? What are they going to do to provide more affordable health care and health insurance to low income families who can't afford health insurance on their own?

Mr. Obama

Why do support abortion? What would you do if your child came to you and said that she is going to kill her unborn child? I hope and pray that you do some research on pregnancy. There are so many couples who would love to adopt a child, but it's hard when people like you say it's okay to kill the unborn, but a crime to kill death row inmates. Don't forget what you said on the issue. "It's above your payscale" You're running for the highest position in the U.S. How much higher do you have to be on the payscale to answer that. I'm sorry, but you can't be God. I know many people won't forget how you voted on partial birth abortions. You voted in favor of it. Shame on you!!!!!! May God have mercy on your soul.

Obama does not support abortion, he supports a womans right to choose. He has also stated that he would work to decrease the number of abortions. I don't think you have a right to ask him what he would say to his daughter if she told him she was going to get an abortion. I respect the privacy of the children of the candidates, as in the case of Palin's unmarried pregnant 17 yo daughter. Yes, I agree there are people, not just traditional couples, who want to adopt children and there are not enough babies available. I suggest for these people that they look into the foster system. There are so many children that need a good home. And back at ya, how can people who are against a womans right to choose be for the death penalty? When dose life begin? I think Obama made a mistake about the answer being above his pay scale. Some people believe at the time of conception, others believe it is when the fetus is able to sustain life on its own. He should have given his answer. Even if he said at the time of conception he could have still defended a womans right to choose. Also, if you haven't gotten it yet, I don't think there is a chance that Roe vs. Wade will ever be reversed. You should work on decreasing the number of abortions through sex education and birth control as Obama is planning to do.

Candidates, what are you going to do to stop government interference in health care?

Dear Senators,

In the 1980s and as hospital stays became shorter, "home health care" was newly founded as a way to provide excellent personal and medical care to the ill, disabled, and elderly in their own homes and prevent warehousing in nursing homes. Not only the elderly now rely on home care services, but also the growing numbers of ill / disabled between ages 21 and 62. (Note: I'm not speaking of hospice care, but general "home care".)

Senators, does any government official recognize how "broken" the Home Health Care system has become? There ARE good companies and workers in home care. BUT, Home care companies are hiring many more untrained or poorly trained workers who lack good work ethics; who are prone to commiting Medicare and Medicaid FRAUD; who often steal or manipulate patients out of money, food, or possessions; who often abuse street drugs while at work; and who lack self-initiative and self-motivation. Just this month in Ohio, a woman was accused of a $30,000 to $40,000 theft from a disabled home care patient which occurred over several years.) States are not providing good training, or on-going inservices, or regular supervision by a nurse. Problems and patient complaints are just ignored.

Senators, ill patients do not always know the rules which workers should follow; patients lack information. Patients are at the mercy of this broken system with companies and workers who do not care.

HOW would each of you address the problems in Home Care and ensure patient welfare and safety while patients remain in their homes? WILL you create a States' and National ombudsman center for home care patients ages 21-62 years? (There is NO central advocacy or ombudsman now for this age group.) WILL you step up to help current home care patients receive the care they deserve? Every person---both of you Senators included--is one short second or minute away from an illness, accident, or disease that suddenly results in a chronic health condition. If you or a loved one was a patient now, I guarantee you that you would be appalled by what really goes on in home care situations! Please help us.

Thank-you from ... A 51-year old with severe (acquired) physical disability and chronic medical conditions.

(Note: Acquired disability is one which occurs from an accident, injury, or disease in adulthood, versus congenital disability which exists 'at birth.')

Regarding Medicare Part-D Drug Coverage....

How would each of you steamline and simplify the now very confusing and overwhelming Medicare Part-D Drug Coverage? Even States' Medicaid programs ADD to the messy situation when they automatically switch medicaid receipients from one Drug Company to another Company in the effort to save money. (I really hope one of you answers this--->) Have either of you actually read the "policy" and "formulary" books the drug companies send to patients??? Good luck trying to understand what the books say!! Give citizens better education and gosh, please streamline the Medicare Part D program. I doubt persons of ANY ages now understand their coverage!

Thank you.

If it were not for Marisa providing me with a CMS lawyer off-board, I would probably have never been reimbursed over $200 from Unicare (aka BlueCross Anthem, MedicareRx Rewards). Request for help from both a Senator Sanders' office and Congressman Welch's office went unanswered. Worse yet, I filled out very detailed complaints and never got so much as a phone call from the staff of either office!

I understood very well once I hit catastrophic, my copays drop to zero for the rest of the year due to my dual Medicare and Medicaid status. 2008 was a very challenging year finding a Region 2 plan that covered all my meds AND had a below-benchmark premium. As a result, I had to switch plans because the allergy medications that worked the prior year did not this year, and I had to select another plan that would cover my new allergy medications. When I switched plans for the allergy medication, Unicare reps repeatedly played dumb on the phone about my achieving catastrophic coverage under my first plan, so I switched out again to get away from their shoddy customer service. Then Unicare would not provide the corrected EOB showing catastrophic coverage reached and transferred in from Prescription Pathway, so I could not get my zero copays under Plan #3, resulting my getting back over $200 in copays I did not owe.

At Kinney Drugs recently, I was in line behind an male probably in his 60s asking why his Humana copayment came back HIGHER than the cash price for the medication. I asked him if he would make to catastrophic coverage, and he said no, but really did not trust me as being an authority on this matter. I told him to shop around and buy that drug off-plan for the cheapest price, even if that meant going to another pharmacy. At this pharmacy, the pharmacist on duty could only promise to check with the boss to see if she could drop the price for him. I kept at him, he kept ignoring me, and the pharmacy staff kept on with their line of checking with Brian. A pharmacy tech interrupted me at one point with a curt "THANK YOU!" because I was exposing them charging Medicare patients more than an cash customer.

I would like to ask the candidates if their plans to keep our govenment solid will actually work, or does it just look good on paper?

How many big business bail-outs would either one of them do? Would they do the same for middle America. The americans losing homes, jobs, insurance, etc? Would they bail us out if we were going to be bankrupt?

Are all these business's going bottom up being blamed on our president like so many other of this great nation's problems?

Kx2

The invisible elephant entered the room a decade ago. I speak of the (in)famous HIPAA Law.

Will either of you direct Congress to review HIPAA and return some patient rights TO the patients? Although intended to ensure privacy and confidentiality, physicians and providers mis-use HIPAA. And, just TRY to contact your Regional Office to file a HIPAA complaint---no one answers the phones and no one ever responds to messages!

TOPIC: "The Patriot Act" adversely affects the ill and disabled still living in their own homes because banks REFUSE to allow simple banking tasks if a person does not have a "photo ID" --- even when the bank has known the person 20+ years and even though the bank receives a monthly direct deposit of a Social Security check.

Many ill or disabled gave up their drivers' licenses. Many ill or disabled who live "at home" cannot physically go to a Motor Vehicles office to obtain a "State Photo ID".

The Patriot Act therefore interferes with the "reasonable daily / financial / living" tasks ill or disabled citizens must do. Even though a citizen is bedridden, ill, unable to walk, they shouldn't be prevented from doing SIMPLE banking (cashing a check on the checking account already established; opening a small savings account; opening a small second account; opening a safety deposit box). Severely / chronically physically ill or disabled patients shouldn't be treated like terrorists just because we no longer have "current" drivers' licenses --- an old ID with a picture should be good enough if the bank has known the customer over 5 years. Alternate ID should be permitted--- pieces of US Mail showing current address; birth certificate; SS card; SS Benefit Letter. And, any bank who is preventing new or ongoing banking services now for ill / disabled persons should be FINED.

WILL you make specific provisions in the Patriot Act for ill / disabled citizens to be able to do simple banking tasks withOUT a 'current photo ID' as long as the bank has known the customer for at least 5 years?

WHEN (or WILL) you support reversing some of the over-zealous portions of The Patriot Act that encroach on US Citizens' rights to liberty and freedom of choice over their financial and personal affairs? Many citizens feel Bush went tooooo far in the name of "protecting" us.

McCain and Obama:

If the United States will be leaning more towards socialized medicine will be be following more of a Canadian system or a United Kingdom type of system? As I understand in the UK for a surgical procedure for a person that doesn't have additional coverage you may have call every day to see if they have a bed available for you at the hospital before you can check in.

Further, If we go more socialized is it possible for citizens to have private insurance and continue things as we know it? And, what would be the cost to the average tax paying citizen? Finally, would this help relieve our local cities budgets by removing some of the debt load of indigent patients and right off's of non-payment patients due to low income?

Thank you, Paula Wyatt

When was the last time that the candidates had a medical problem --- and could not see a Doctor because of a lack of money or insurance?

When was the last time that the candidates had a dental problem --- and could not see a Dentist because of a lack of money or insurance?

When was the last time the candidates needed to save $800.00 for a root canal, plus $400 for a crown --- while living on $600.00 or less a month total?

Does either candidate currently have an UNaddressed medical or dental concern that they've not taken care of because they had no money to pay or could not save up the money? (Unfair question? Yes, probably it is since US Citizens know the finances of both candidates. Senator McKane, would you sell one of your houses and use the money to pay for citizens of one town to get needed medical and dental care? I know... likely, NO.)

Whoever wins the Presidency, please remember how many questions you received from the un-insured and under-insured. (Boy, I sure wish I had full coverage AND owned just one house. I'll never own a house in my lifetime. I'm not for or against either one of you at this point, but gosh-dern, owning 7 houses is rather obscene to be honest. At least it is where I come from...)

How can the "mentally ill" ever have society and professionals view them without stigmas? What will you do to help educate physicians that when they encounter conditions or symptoms that don't immediately make sense that it's not just "all in the patient's head" (e.g. an "emotional problem").

Sexual offenders physically hurt and emotionally destroy the lives of millions of children every year.

What will you do to work to strengthen severe sentencing penalities against molestors and sexual predators? If not, why?

Dear Candidates: Would you please answer this for me? How would you please help a family who earns $40,000.00 a year, the husband works 2 jobs works 30 miles south of one job and 30 miles north of the other, the wife is disabled and they have a daughter. The wife is on 11 prescriptions a day and is on Medicare part D. Only 3 of her medications are generic. The rest are too new of medications are not available in generic form. One of her medications alone she pays over $200.00 for 9 pills. That is just one medication. The rest are worse. With a $750.00 Mortgage, gas as high as it is not even being able to afford food most of the time (having to go to the food bank and relying on the goodness of family and friends) how do you suppose she is supposed to afford $1200.00 per month for her medications until she reaches her spenddown? I can't! I do without most of my medications and only get the generic ones when I can and I don't go on Medicare Part D because I can't afford it unless my husband doesn't earn enough and then I get help from Medicaid. But, that doesn't happen alot. My question is: How are you going to reform Medicare Part D? We cannot afford the stupid spenddown. Who the heck can afford 1200.00 a month for medications. Most people aren't on as many medications a month as I am but Medicare Part D does not allow for people like me. It is usually meant for people who are on only a few medications and usually who have more generics. And we also need to free up more of the newer medicines to be made into generics. I'm sick and tired of spending my money on medicines , food and gas and nothing else. This is my daughers senior year in high school. It should be her happiest. It isn't. Why don't you think about that. You all have money. You're kids are happy and safe and have insurance and food. Mine doesn't. I hope that makes you feel crappy. Linda Kennedy from Iowa

What steps will be taken by you to have a generic inhaled steroid that is affordable for the millions of people with asthma and COPD that can't currently afford inhaled steroids because of the price?

What will you do to reform the awful Medicare Part D that leaves millions in the "donut" hole, unable to afford medicatons?

What will you do to make afordable insurance available to all people, including kids who are too old to be covered by their parents' policies, people whose jobs don't offer medical insurance and people who don't qualify for medicaid and/or medicare?

What wil you do to promote better preventative care and wellness and management of chronic health condiitions?

To Both Senators McCain and Obama,

My question is regarding dental care. There are programs in place for low income and elderly/disabled health care through medicaid and medicare, but no dental plan(unless you want a tooth pulled!) The prices are outrageous, my boyfriend works a full time job but has no dental coverage and we cannot afford for him to go to the dentist. I even know families that are working and have private health insurance but no dental insurance and they cannot afford it. There are health problems that can be caused by lack of dental care and for people like myself with diabetes it is a medical necessity, yet the medicare coverage I receive with my SSDI does not cover the dental work I need and I cannot afford with my disability payments. It almost seems like dental care is a luxury in this country, something needs to be done to make care affordable and accessible to every citizen of this country. What will you do to address this problem?

I'm self-employed and fall into a high risk category. I have to buy individual health care insurance and due to a pre-existing condition, the only plan I can qualify for is through The Texas Health Risk Pool which costs $3,600. every six months. I don't qualify for Medicaid, (nor want to.) Government controlled National Health care would just be GIGANTIC Medicaid, so it's pay no matter the cost or do without. I'd like to know if either candidate would create and support a "Watchdog" plan designed to monitor insurance providers, insuring reasonable, fair acceptance policies, competitive pricing and penalties for companies caught charging pirate prices to those trapped, (like me,) in a captive market . In turn, would either candidate support incentives to insurance providers who offer individuals plans without being penalized or declined due to a pre-existing condition; an automatic benefit afforded to those working for an employer and able to participate in a group policy .

I would like to ask either McCain or Obama Why cant we have the kind of health care system like Canada has. And also why the government cant just regulate the Insurance and Pharmacy Companies as to place a cap on premium costs and the high cost of medicine.

I like the way you are thinking, however, I think we are in a vicious circle of high malpractice suits (which lawyers get most of the money for) and high cost of malpractice insurance. I think if we can stop the cost of high cost of malpractice insurance for the doctors that do a great job, that would help to start the process of lowering premium costs. There needs to be a better way to punish the doctors that aren't good out there without punishing the ones that are. I am lucky enough to have a great doctor now. I have had a really bad one in the past that I could have sued his butt off and didn't. (I wish I would have) I have suffered a lot of mental anguish over his "error".

Senator Obama:

My daughter and I both have pre-existing health conditions which exclude us from getting health insurance through private insurance companies. We don't make a lot of money, but make too much to qualify for Medicaid. I do get health insurance through work, but it costs my family almost $1,000.00 per month to get the care that we need. The cost of the insurance basically takes my entire paycheck, so basically I am working for the insurance, and I don't bring much, if any part of a paycheck home. My husband doesn't make much money, so we are unable to afford to pay all of our bills as it is, and we have huge medical bills that are being added to that. I want to know what you plan to do for families who are in similar situations. Do you plan to have some sort of health care program that is going to be available to all families regardless of income/status, and would you be willing to fund some sort of program to assist families in need of help paying medical bills?

Thanks, Ashley in Texas

I am a 44 year old divorced female. I am disabled and low income and receive benefits from social security, medicare and medicaid. My son is 23 and a veteran from the Army and has health coverage. My daughter is 21 and in college and is covered by our new HIP program in Indiana. We are all satisfied with our current health care coverage. My greater concern is the future of Social Security for my children, and would like to know more about your plans. I am for IRA's to take place of it, if necessary, but feel they should receive the money they have contributed or at least part of it, to go into their retirement account. Is it possible for them to receive a part of their S.S. contribution to open an IRA? And what if they become disabled early in life, would they have any income benefits available to them, without Social Security as it is now? Thank you, Tina from Indiana.

I have a few questions...

1. If there's universal care, where are all the providers going to come from? Those with insurance already are waiting for appointments and then are squished into 10 minute time slots. Unless we add more doctors, and I mean qualified ones - no dumbing down the process to make it easier to become one - we'll just be waiting longer and longer for care.

2. If insurance is the problem (rejecting claims, denying services, restricting doctor choice) why would giving everyone insurance be the solution?

3. Can doctors unionize?

I would like to ask either of the candidates what their stand is on legalizing the use of marijuana for medical use.

Thank you,

Mrs. Mary Ghidotti Illinois

Millions of Americans such as myself suffer from chronic, lifelong pain. My questions is two fold. Do you support current legislation that supports reasearch and treatment of chronic pain. I know Mr. MCcain is no stranger to pain because of his horrible suffering in a North Vietnamese prison, and I can't see him letter anyone suffer needlessly as he has. Secondly, the DEA has been very aggressive in their fight to control the supply of narcotic pain relievers from getting into the wrong hands and should do so. Those persons stealing and illegally obtaining narcotic pain medication should be punished. They are the ones that have caused so much legislation regarding opiod pain medication and have caused many pain management doctors to leave the practice. Do you have any plans to make it easier for chronic pain sufferers such as myself to receive the medications that they need?I have read many reports of DEA investigations of pain management doctors, and I know of several pain mangement doctors that will not prescribe opiod medications because of all teh red tape and fear of being investigated by the DEA. I have even read stories of DEA agent raiding pharmacies and nursing homes and seizing medication from elderly disabled persons. This is a growing problem and causes many legitamate chronic pain sufferers from obtaining proper treatment. What is your stance on this sissue?

Excellent point and question Bama! They DO keep those of us who need the use of strong narcotics to help ease our chronic and acute/chronic(in my case and that of many!) undertreated I think. I know I'm lucky to get what I DO get in the way of pain medication, and I am so tolerant I need double the doses I get, but if I ask I'm afraid I'll get sent to another pain doctor that would start at the beginning again, keeping me in terrible pain for a very long time, if not permanently!

Rick P.S. Hope you're doing well and getting the proper dosages of meds now. Talk to you on the board!

Senator Obama,

You have joked on the stump about being a "skinny guy." If elected, would you develop a concerted and comprehensive plan to address the serious issue of childhood and adult obesity in the U.S.? If so, how? Would you agree that many of our health care issues and challenges could be solved if Americans were slimmer and more fit?

Thank you for considering this question.

Fincastle- I just wrote a paper for my masters degree on obesity in the US and the cost to the health care. In 2007, 133 million Americans were considered obese according to the National Institutes of Health and it cost the U.S. $122.9 billion a year in health care costs. This question addressed a large part of our health care expenses. My question would be Do you have a plan on how to implement programs that change people's poor life style choices which in turn, increase the cost of health care?

To both candidates,

How will you fix dental insurance in America? The yearly coverage limits on most dental plans has not kept pace with the rising cost of dental care. My dental plan covers $1500.00 per person a year in dental work. That amount barely covers one root canal and a crown and then the benefits are done for the year. Since research is now proving that proper dental care helps prevent other health issues, I think it is important for all Americans to have affordable access to a dentist.

Michelle

this is my question: How are you going to ensure that every child in this country has health insurance? There are so many kids in this coutnry that are sick, hurt, have cancer or some other disease and they don't have money or health insurance, and nobody seems to notice or care. Yet on the news we hear all these glowing reports about how our country is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to give life saving operations to kids in other countries. How can we as a nation justify this while kids in this country continue to suffer with no health insurance? And what are you, as my president, going to do to fix this and make sure every American under the age of 18 has access to good quality health care?

It is my opinion that there is an awful lot of wasteful spending within government. I believe strongly that more can be done more efficiently with the money that we all pay in taxes now, but also that taxes should not be cut. Is the short term cost of serious evaluation of this spending, especially that of the Federally sponsored healthcare programs, a priority for your potential administration or is the status quo acceptable for for the short term?

Second, how involved in my doctors visit do you believe the government should be and why?

I would like to ask Senators McCain and Obama respectably this.

As a 26 year old gay male who is learning to live with bipolar, working full time with no health coverage for my many Dr. appointments, living check by check with my partner of 7 years; where do you see us living equally among the population, financially, socially within your first term as President?

I am my sole support, and I make $1267.40 per month from my long-term disability insurance. I've been waiting 2 yrs.,11months for Social Security. My final S.S. hearing will be next month. If I get it, all the back money goes to the lawyers and the disability insurance company. Hopefully I would get Medicare out of it. Medicaid tells me I make too much money to get health insurance from them. Never mind that my rent is $570 a month. (Cheap for Seattle!) Or that by the time I pay my tithe, food, utilities, and for the modest luxury of cable and internet, that money is gone. I can't afford a car. I can't afford my 16 prescriptions I take every day. I have to get them via charity care at the public hospital. Last year I needed a CT Myelogram on my spine, and a sleep study for my sleep apnea. I was refused both of those because they were "too expensive." I have degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, spinal stenosis in both the lumbar and cervical spine areas, spondylolisthesis, and myelopathy. I had a spinal fusion done on L4-L5 done right before my last medical insurance (from my last job) lapsed. The former employer-Regence BlueShield-terminated my insurance retroactively, and left me with most of the bill for the operation and 7-day hospital stay. I want to ask 3 questions of both candidates: 1. How do you propose to fix the problems with Social Security and the Veteran's Disability backlog mess? 2. Do you plan to offer insurance for the poor, and working-poor, who aren't considered poor enough? I'm well below the poverty line. 3.Do either of you have the courage to implement a no-loophole flat 10% income tax for EVERYBODY in order to pay for this? Are you REALLY about CHANGE? Or just full of hot air?

Our local news reported that Sen. Obama wants to allocate more money for another Stimulation Program for the economy. A single person would get $2,500.00, a married couple $5,000.00

Well, what about us single disabled people who are forced to live BELOW POVERTY LEVEL on Social Security Disability yet we are disqualified from receiving any of this stimulus money? We are the ones who need it the most! We can not earn a paycheck because of our health and have no chance of getting a lump sum like that amount, that could change our lives!

I could buy a car and apply that money to many, many different options that would allow me to have basic needs that many people just take for granted. How about creating the disabled a stimulous pkg so we can do something really special like buy some food or a new pair of tennis shoes?

1) What are your views on abortion?

2) Do you plan to put money to help people with mental illness? I don't think we get enough money to help us from Medicaid/Medicare, programs to help us gather skills, and housing.

3) What do you plan to do with SSI and SSD? It is often needed for people with mental illness...I need mine right now, and would hate to lose it.

4) Are you dedicated to better heathcare overall?

Consumer1972 -- This is supposed to be a forum to ASK questions of the Candidates. Your charges are based on a lot of misinformation about Barack Obama.

To answer your first statement which has been passed around the Internet for quite some time and is totally false, please be advised that: Barack Obama's grandfather, a WWII veteran, taught him the Pledge of Allegiance and inspired his strong love of this country. There's even video of Barack honoring the flag, but people who want to tear him down claim he refuses to put his hand over his heart or say the Pledge.

Please go to this Website for LOTS of correct information regarding the smears and misinformation that are being passed around about Barack Obama: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome

You can totally support John McCain for the next President, but please don't spread around inaccurate information about the opposition. That doesn't help or benefit anyone.

~Rose~

Senator Obama:

I am a citizen of Illinois. According to Center for Tax and Budget Accountability report from Jan. 2008, your and my state owes Medicaid several billion dollars in unpaid bills and because of our poor fiscal problems, our state can not afford to "meet the demand for public services" such as universal healthcare. If you can not afford or achieve universal health care in Illinois, why do you think you can afford it nationally, especially considering the fiscal stress our country is in? Thank you. Jill

Report Source: http://www.ctbaonline.org

First to Lifes let me say I agree with you on some things! Sexual predators need to be on death row no questions asked, I am a mother of a 2 year old little girl and if some filthy 50 year old even looked at her wrong, I would be on death row. Another thing is I have to save money for braces because my dental plan only covers cleanings and other crap I dont need, and I am still paying a 7000 ER visit and been paying on it for two years now. There is a lot of problems going on and I dont know if either candiate can fix it but can you all stop feuding and answer America's questions. If gas and food continue to rise and insurance doesnt cover medical bills, non-profit hospitals will shut down right?

Both of you have pledged that, under your plans for health insurance, people with employer-provided health insurance can remain in those plans.

Do you believe that the monetary value of the premiums paid by the employer should be taxed as income?

My question is for Senator Obama,

Everyone knows health care insurance is very expensive and you have a plan to make it more affordable than it is now so everyone can get it. While millions of Americans do not have health insurance, many millions do have health insurance from their employers. What happens if employers stop providing health care since your plan would be so much more affordable than options now available? Who's paying the bill...taxpayers and/or employers? How much will that cost the government, the taxpayers and how do you know how much to budget for this program since you don't know how many employers will stop providing health insurance?

Jill

What are your plans for controlling the costs of prescription drugs?

Several biologicals are coming up or are past patent expiration, yet because these are complex proteins, hopes of generic companies being able to market their products as generics and not as new molecular entities (NME) requiring clinical trials from scratch are nil.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9401E6DC1E38F93BA15751C1A9669C8B63&fta=y

Also, there has been a trend over the last decade to exploit the NME issue with simple separation of stereoisomers and to market these as new drugs when people have been taking them as the unseparated mixture, and therefore already proven safe and effective. (Prilosec gave way to Nexium, recently Zyrtec gave way to Xyzal, such expected to be done next year with the chemical separation of Prevacid). Sometimes a chemical precursor of a drug going off patent is used as well. (Claritin to Clarinex, Zovirax to Valtrex). What can there be done to get Big Pharma to make truly new drugs, and not just repackaging old best sellers?

I would like to ask BOTH candidates how their heath plans would help a working mom in my situation right now:

I have been diabetic since I was 4 years old a wear an insulin pump--I am doing very well and work full time as a preschool teacher to support myself and my 13 year old son. I only earn $16,000 a year, but must keep this job as insurance is essential to me! My copays for prescriptions and doctor visits each month are between $100-$150, leaving me barely enough to pay my rent and feed us.

How would your plan help me, one of this country's hard-working poor?

After reading an article in Cookie Magazine, I have a question for both candidates. Why not push for mandated PAID FMLA leave as well as extending its 12 weeks to 6 months for the birth of a child? Don't our children deserve to have their mother around those first precious 6 months to a year of their lives?

Hi,

As a health care provider I would like to know what the candidates are going to do about tort reform. I also want to hear their solutions for both insuring uninsured families and how they will pay for this plan.

Thank you, Laurie Anderson

I have recently had to file for Social Security & it will take anywhere from 120 days for the first decision which the majority of the time is denied the first time around, then a person has to hire an attorney to appeal this decision which can take not only up to six months but if awarded the appeal, then the attorney gets about thirthy -three percent of your money that you needed to live on for all that time you could not work. I have a good chance at losing everything I have by the time a decision is made, I will probably be living in my car for as long as I can until it is taken away because I can't make the payments any more. I am a single white female with no dependents. The first response I got when filing & trying to get help is," I'm sure you have family & friends to take you in & help you?" And that kind of attitude is exactly why this country is in the shape it is in. I would like to know why you are so willing to help other countries with so much, let all these immigrants into our country & give them our jobs & then let big companies send the rest of our jobs overseas & give them a tax break for doing it when you are not even willing to help a natural born american citizen that has struggled all their adult working life to take care of themselves & then when help is needed you have the nerve to turn your back & try to limit the social security system & medicare I have paid into all my life? To me that is stealing from my pocket book & the government should be sued to pay it back. How about that? Tell you what, all the big shots up there in washington making hundreds of thousands a year, why don't all of you take a cut in pay & put that money into the pot for social security & medicare? Problem solved.

Question for both candidates:

Currently $1 of every $6 spent in the U.S. economy is spent for health care. The Congressional Budget Office projects that this could rise to $1 out of every $4 by 2025. Research shows that a significant portion of this spending on diagnostic tests, surgeries and medical devices is ineffective or unneeded. Despite the highest level of health care spending in the world, patient care outcomes and mortality rates in the U.S. consistently rank lower than in other countries.

What systemic mechanisms would you put in place to reduce per capita spending on health care while maintaining or improving the quality of health care?

How would you go about covering outpatient medications under Medicare? What would it cost the people in Medicare?

Medicare Part D quite simply is a ripoff. It is also extremely time-consuming, unreimbursed time at that, for the doctor's office to ask for prior authorization for medication, sometimes multiple times for the same person, if that person changes PDPs during the year, and even from year to year. As a person in this horrid program since 2006, I have witnessed: 1) people paying MORE than the cash customer price for a prescription when billed to their prescription drug plan (PDP), 2) plans advertising free generics when they are not (WellCare, Communitiy Care Basic) 3) my immunobiologic drug increasing from $1125 a month under Vermont Medicaid in 2005 to over $1600 a month currently. There seems to be a trend with the most expensive drugs to raise the price enough so a person makes it to catastrophic coverage with the same number of refills as the prior year due to increase in the size of the coverage gap, 4) no efficient means of TrOOP transfer for a person reaching catastrophic coverage and needing to change plans. PDP reps being uncooperative and playing dumb, telling people who have reached catastrophic already in the year "it starts all over again," and collecting copays from the person when not owed. 5) PDP providing poor service getting the same good scores on the medicare.gov site as terrible companies like Unicare 6) the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) being overwhelmed with dealing with the problems of PDPs not paying for medications, and the Boston CMS regional office telling my SHIP, "According to Part D guidelines (either SOP or statute) – the plans reconcile Troop transfers - CMS doesn’t get involved. If she wants her meds, she’ll continue to pay the $2/5 until the plans reconcile her transfer. She’ll be refunded accordingly once the 2 plans meet their requirement. We have no idea how long it takes plans to reconcile Troop transfers, but it’s safe to say at least 3 months, but possibly longer. That’s all the info we have here to share." This never happened, and without the help of Marisa Scala-Foley on this Web site, I am convinced I would never have been reimbursed. 7) Incentives for patients to switch to more costly BRAND drugs when their medication goes nonprescription. This year, when Zyrtec (d,l-cetirizine) became available without a prescription, a component of Zyrtec, Xyzal (l-cetirizine) became the drug covered by the plans because it required a prescription. So much for providing people the incentive to switch to generics! 8.) plans charging more for the same medication than the fixed ($4, $9.99 and $10.99) prices of the generic at Wal-Mart or supermarket drugstore chains. The cost savings of buying cholesterol lowering medications for cash and not using your PDP are simply staggering. 9) Seniors are so afraid of the penalty for not signing up for Medicare Part D that they are paying several times the cost of their one or two medications in Part D premiums in copayments than to drop Part D and pay cash as before. 10) for states, the clawback payment for Part D overrides the contracted prices they pay for their other Medicaid patients, which often are less. 11) With the help of the Medicare Rights Center, I wrote my own letter to appeal for a particular medication I was currently taking because my doctor told me she had "no time to write a letter." She reviewed my e-mail, made a couple of changes, and I submitted it. Unicare still denied the medication for the incorrect reason of misclassifying this medication as a cold medication when a labeled indication was for allergic rhinitis. This was another reason for leaving Unicare. The Medicare Rights Center has been successful in appealing other cases of misclassifying covered drugs as excluded drug classes.

Yes first i would like to ask if either or both candidates would sponser and back a recall vote of all elected officials president and down so us the American People could recall them from office just as you get fired for not doing your job. i also would like to ask if the government will stop taking money left over in SS and medicare and leave it there to collect interest instead of putting it into the general revenue fund. then there wouldn't be no shortfall of money

When are politicians going to start having to pay taxes out of their salaries to support Medicaid and Social Security like the rest of us?! When are politicians going to have to pay for their health insurance out of their paychecks like the rest of us?! When I'm facing forclosure on my house and losing my entire life's work because of the greed of the CEO's of big companies trying to wipe out the middle class of every dollar they have is the government going to bail me out like the big companies now facing ruin because they screwed the middle class for a buck?!

Senator McCain,

In your health care platform, you propose either allowing people to receive health benefits from their employer and instituting a new tax on the portion of their health insurance that their employer pays, or to let them go into the private insurance market and give them a $5000 credit for their families. This plan seems to suggest that you desire to move people from company provided health insurance to private health insurance. Is this correct?

If so: According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average family premium for health care is $12,106 per year, with an employee paying just $3281 of that premium. Even with your $5,000 credit, doesn't that mean that the average family would be forced to make up close to $3825 of insurance premiums per year that they are not currently paying?

Additionally, with insurance prices rising by 5 or more percent a year, will the credit be adjusted annually to keep up with costs, or will it remain at $5000 in the future?

http://www.kff.org/insurance/7672/index.cfm

Senator McCain,

80 million people in the U.S. have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease, 24 million people have diabetes, over 1.4 million people were diagnosed with cancer this year alone, and millions of others have some other chronic illness or condition*.

For people with health problems, being able to obtain insurance via an employer allows them to get private insurance at a reasonable cost. However, it has been suggested that if your health plan was adopted, many employers may use it as pretense to drop their group coverage, or that the price of group coverage might skyrocket due to the youngest and healthiest leaving the system.

Under those conditions, millions of people could find themselves denied insurance or priced out of the market by insurers who base their decisions solely on their bottom line. Your plan seems to cover this by suggesting that those people would be placed in a high risk pool, and that the state and federal governments would work together to bring insurance to these people.

Critics often complain that such pools are incredibly expensive, and well out of the price range of an average family. However, you state on your web site that "there would be reasonable limits on premiums, and assistance would be available for Americans below a certain income level."

My questions therefore are:

How are you going to get any insurer to agree to cover such a group of people, when they won't cover them on an individual level?

and

What do you consider to be a reasonable premium, and what is the income level you are talking about?

This is for Senator Obama - all these programs that you say you are going to give to the people of this country does come with a big paycheck. With the problems in Wall Street lately, how are all of your so-called programs going to be "funded" - I just saw on TV this morning that you Senator and Senator Joe Biden had the most "earmarks" ever and that both of you are considered the most liberal politicians this country has. Tell the truth here - don't just beat around the issues - how are you going to fund healthcare in America - the way I understand what you said is healthcare for all - if the government provides healthcare for all people isn't this socialism???? The taxpapers are going to be taxed enough from the Wall Street mess - we have a democratic Congress and a Speaker of the House so don't blame all of Wall Street problems on the Republicans and don't speak about change - the change you are thinking of is more debt and more liberal programs.

One other question - with all these problems in our country - how can someone like you, Mr. Obama, solve them with the lack of experience you have brought so far - we need good people who can make intelligent decisions - as you can see I am a McCain-Palin voter - we need a conservative candidate especially in these very trying times. Sarah Palin has more experience for a Vice President than you have for a President, Mr. Obama!

Dear Senator McCain and Sentator Obama:

My husband passed away in November of 2005. We had health insurance , were hard working middle class Americans. The insurance company we had at the time made a choice to not cover a very important procedure (A ICD until implanted ) to "try" medication for 9 months and hope that would help his heart condition. The doctors all agreed he needed the procedure but it was still denied. He died a week before the scheduled procedure. It was a $70,000 procedure that the insurance company was refusing to pay for. There is no doubt that there are millions of uninsured, several small companies no longer offering health care benefits because they simply cannot afford it. Insurance companies are cutting corners and trying to save expenses (in my case my husband died because of it). This country has the knowledge, technology and ability to offer stellar healhcare to all our citizens? What are your plans to ensure that we as Americans have access to the healthcare and resources we need to not only prevent conditions but be able to pay for procedures that could possibly save lives?

I would love to ask Obama how he can sleep at night knowing that he is part of the reason that baby's are put on a table in the "dirty laundry room" in his hospital and left to die, but he wouldn't answer that question. I wouldn't vote for him if my life depended on it, and it does, so i'm not!

I would like to ask both Candidates these questions?

I was forced out of my job by my medical condition. I have worked since I was 15 years old. I have 45 quarters in to Social Security and I am 36 years old.

I have applied for Social Security because I am told by my doctor's that I can not work every again and they turned me down. They, Social Security, told me that I can be a cashier. I though it was rather funny seeing as how I walk with a cane.

My questions are:

1. Why is so hard for people with life threatening illnesses, that can not work any longer to get help from the government?

2. Why does it take so long for them to make a decision on whether or not I can get money that I paid into a plan for, for over 20 years?

The purpose of me paying social security out of my checks over the last twenty years was so that if I get sick and couldn't work it would be there for me. Correct me if I am wrong!

Although we are a country that spends an enormous amount on our health care system, we still see extreme health disparities between the "haves" and the "have nots", suggesting that the quality of your health is many times determined by the size of your wallet, the color of your skin, or even the neighborhood that you were born into.

If you are elected President, what reforms would you promote that fosters the concept of "social justice" within our health care system and address the root causes of health inequites.

Sen. Obama: you have criticized Sen. McCain's health plan that is VERY similar to Sen. Ron Wyden's (D-OR) bill, S.334, "The Healthy Americans Act " that shares bi-partisan co-sponsorship among liberals and conservatives. Sens McCain's and Wyden's proposals would guarantee private health insurance to every American by 1. mandating every American to have health insurance and 2. provides individual subsidies and tax deductions for health insurance that would primarily benefits working class Americans -- families & individuals earning up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. It appears to level the playing field for Americans who are self-employed or work for small businesses who can not afford to provide health insurance under the current system. On its face, Sens McCain's (Wyden's) proposal give us Americans the same choices that you and all other federal employees enjoy in the federal government -- Consumer Choice to select a health plan you want for your family and in a Competitive Free Market where health plans are competing for your premiums. Seems pretty good to me as it covers every Federal Employee from the President of the United States and the postman that delivers my mail. If the guy delivering my mail can afford and choose his health insurance, it seems like the rest of us can probably make heads or tails of the health insurance choices and afford them too.

QUESTION: Why are you critical of Sen. McCain's proposal when it seeks to give all of us "regular folks" the same choices that YOU have, especially as the subsidies and tax breaks are not provided to the "rich" - individuals earning more than $125K and families earning more than $250K.

I am a 55 year old male. I have been married for 24 years. My wife has taught school for 27 years & my daughter just started college. I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C seven years ago & shortly afterwards my wife was diagnosed as well. I am in early stages of cirrhosis & have muscle wasting. Both of us are just barely able to do what we have to do. We both fit no at risk groups. We did not do IV drugs, have no tattoos, piercings, surgeries, blood transfusions etc. We both are geno typa 1A the most common & hardest to treat. There is ONLY treatment that has it's own horrible side affects & with at best 50% remission but no cure or vaccine. Over five million Americans have Hepatitis C & the government is keeping it QUIET! If it were NOT for the internet & support groups with people WITH this disease talking & sharing the TRUTH about it WE the PEOPLE with it would STILL be in the DARK. Doctors know LESS about our disease than WE the patients DO. WE live it EVERYDAY. It's common knowledge that doctors have been paid big bucks per patient to treat from the drug manufacturers. ALL most doctors want to talk about is TREAT but CAN'T intelligently answer QUESTIONS about Hepatitis C. This disease was diagnosed in 1990 & 18 years later there is STILL no vaccine & NO real cure. This disease IS being SPREAD by a lot of other means that NO one is TALKING about. It's been in the news of late where hospitals infected huge numbers of people. This is 2008 NOT the 50's. I am MORE afraid of medical facilities than I am the DISEASE. There is NO reason NOT to get the TRUTH out to the American people that this is NOT a DRUGGIE disease. If you get blood to blood contact ANYWHERE / ANYHOW you can catch Hepatitis C PERIOD. That can be at a medical facility having the most routine procedures done. We MUST have & ENFORCE proper sterilization at ALL levels. Simple things such as a barber shaving your neck with the same straight razor he uses ALL day long customer after customer. That jar of blue liquid does NOT kill Hepatitis C. Nail salons, the dentist NOT to mention a WHOLE new GENERATION getting infected at tattoo parlors. I'm sure you get the PICTURE. So my question IS ? WHAT are you going to do about it ? The surgeon general was going to send out letters years ago & it NEVER happened ? They said they could not afford it. People sent them stamps only to be told to stop ? The TRUTH as far as I am concerned is that the government does NOT want the truth KNOWN. We have veterans that got it in the military from air gun injections. We are NOT leppers & we NEED a VACCINE & a TREATMENT that WORKS. PLEASE I beg you to learn the TRUTH about our disease & DO something to bring about a REAL cure. The medical profession is getting RICH treating us with POISON & using us for lab rats & guinnea pigs. It is a HUGE business & WE are paing a HUGE price with liver transplants & our LIVES.

My question is about access to birth control. The current trend in this country is that more and more doctors and pharmacists are refusing to offer birth control pills on the basis of their personal religious beliefs, rather than medical science. Our current administration supports the right of doctors to do this. Unfortunately, some women live in rural areas where the one pharmacist in town refuses birth control prescriptions.

One issue that hasn't been discussed in this debate at all is the fact that many women use birth control pills not for contraception, but rather to control reproductive issues. I personally have severe menstrual cramps, and without the pill I would have to take incapacitating amounts of painkillers. Birth control is an effective treatment for gynecological issues like endometriosis, and is sometimes even used to normalize a woman's abnormal cycle before she tries to get pregnant. In light of this, do you still think a woman's access to birth control should be dictated by a pharmacist's religion?

Sen. McCain: When you stated that the US would not leave Iraq until we had one the war, what do consider winning the war?

Sen. Obama: What is your stand on allowing the people of the US to own guns as long as they are trained to use them properly? Do you intend to pursue taking guns out of the homes which would not allow us to protect ourselves in the event of an intruder coming into our homes? Do you oppose people owning guns that allows them to go hunting which then provides familes food in their freezers?

Thank you both,

Rebecca (Phoenix, Az.)

Dear Sens. McCain & Obama, I believe that the hidden costs of healthcare contribute to the high cost of healthcare. If patients knew ahead of time what they were being charged for a medical service, they might make smarter decisions on what they do. A patient should be allowed to know the total cost of their medical treatment before they decide to be treated. Medical institutions should be mandated to publish set fees for standard medical care and estimated fees for open-ended medical care such as surgery. We need to bring financial transparency to our medical system so that we create a more competitive field that would help keep costs lower. How do you feel about more transparency in our healthcare fee systems and what would you do as President to address this? Thank you. Elaine Masters Fall City, WA

My question is for both Mc Caon and Obama. I wan tto know what isw going to be done to help people find work. I live in a very small town and right now more buisness are going out not coming in. With the wages paid in this area i can not afford to drive and pay daycare, yet we can barely get by with the cost of living on one salary. I am fortunate enough to live in a state that has health benefits for children and adults( wich my husband I are not covered because he makes too much) but a universal system would be great. I'd be willing to pay the taxes not to have to pay the bills later!

I would like to know where the candidates stand on increasing SSI and Disability payments to cover the increased prices of everyday items such as food, gas, utilities, and shelter. Because at the currant rates of pay for these programs, people can barely sustain above poverty level living.

I would like to know why the cost of different procedures varies depending upon what insurance a person has.Why do we allow the insurance companies to run our healthcare? Also, why aren't all doctors required to treat patients the same way- regardless of their insurance status? It seems like de-regulating the health care system will get our society as far as de-regulation the banks and Wall Street.. And=why, why, why, arent all children covered with health care? And you professionals are just as much to blame- you go right along with the insurance companies. Did they stop teaching ethics in med school? (if I sound angry- I am!)

Several regular posters to the Infertility Treatment Board including Joy1019, Nikki, Heddam93, LindsayK3383 and myself would like to know the following:

1. Given that a growing percentage of people suffer from some form of infertility and the exhorbant costs of treatment, what is your position on the Family Building Act of 2007? In other words, adding 'infertility' as a disease?

2. What is your position on the operation of clinics and other healthcare providers that offer infertility treatment including in vitro fertilization? What restrictions or requirements would you instill on such providers?

I would like to ask both candidates what they perceive as being needful of medical help through Social Services. My daughter is fighting cervical cancer and is pregnant with her 5th child. The pregnancy was not planned and the cancer was found after she became pregnant. My son-in-law is supporting her and her three children from a first marriage, a daughter from his first marriage and now two from this marriage. He makes a laborers wage. She has been turned down for a medical card!!! Is she just supposed to go ahead a die because her husband will not abandon her and the children, or because they won't lie and say that he has. SEEMS TO ME LIKE SOMETHING IS NOT QUITE RIGHT HERE!!!! By the way, they have no insurance. It is not offered by his employer and they cannot afford it on their own.

My question; "How are u planning to educate the public about std's to eradicate the social stigma among the general public?"

Question for Senator Obama:

Do you still chew nicotine gum? If so, why won't you wean yourself off it since it's been over a year?

One of the greatest barriers to the success of consumer-directed health care and Health Savings Accounts has been a lack of pricing transparency from the healthcare providers. How would you simplify, streamline and create transparency in the complicated medical billing process?

I would like to know what stance each of the candidates take on the issue of Health Care reform. We have working class people out there who still have no insurance. We NEED a National Healthcare system. When my husband and I were both unemployed, we tried to get healthcare JUST for our son. We were over the "break even mark" by about $40/month, so we didn't qualify. So my son, unfortunately broke his arm. We are STILL paying that $10k bill, and that was 5 YEARS ago.

I would like to know whether either candidate is willing to bail out our failing healthcare system by nationalizing it the way we are planning to nationalize the failed mortgages and bad credit from the Wall Street firms? If our government is willing to take on 700 billion in debt to save us from the mess the Wall Street created, how can we justify not taking on whatever debt we need to take on to help our children and ourselves meet basic healthcare needs?

I would like to ask both the candidates the following questions;

1. Why can people come to this country illegally and receive welfare and food stamps yet people who have worked and paid taxes are going bankrupt when they have a chronic illness and can no longer work?

2. What are they going to do to encourage private business to find treatments to help those suffering with chronic pain disorders such as Fibromyalgia, chronic back pain and Myofascial pain?I do not feel we need more government funding but we do need to give incentives to the private sector and create more jobs as we try to help those in pain.

Factcheck:

ILLEGAL immigrants CANNOT receive welfare and food stamps.

The only immigrants who are eligible for welafare and food stamps are the LEGAL immigrants.

Get you facts straight, please!

Do you think the nations of Europe and Canada were foolish to adopt single-payer health care systems for their citizens?

Q- With such a large population in the US infected with type 1 herpes, why hasn't there been a more public push to understand and cure this disease that costs 100 of millions of dollars? Can we please find a vaccine and cure by the end of your term?

I have Medicare part D. Because my income is $11.83 above the limit for receiving help with my prescriptions, when I hit the "donut hole" I end up paying 38% of my yearly income for medications. When I add the 16% of my income for Medicare part B co-payments, 54% of my income goes to health care. How would the candidates address this?

I am a single mom with a 4 year old autistic son, his only insurance is Medicaid. He needs long term residential care his doctors tell me but Medicaid does not pay for this. I work as a home health care provider during the hours he is in school but even with his SSI I do not make enough money for private insurance much less pay for residential care. What do you intend to do about long term mental health care benefits or programs for children?

Thank you. Sarah Falcon

Unhealthy lifestyles are contributing to an epidemic of type 2 diabetes and obesity in young people and adults, an increase in violence in our schools, and an increase in the number of younger women dying from heart disease. These are sentinel events that fuel healthcare costs and place undue strain on American families. We have become a sedentary society, starting with latch-key children in the first grade. Europeans don't suffer from this epidemic. Which candidate can we depend upon to look at establishing a NATIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE BOARD - one that will have legislative authority to reverse these alarming trends? We must be bold and look at all segments of our society and find ways to remove obstacles to being active and healthy and eating fresh, nutritious foods without additives. The Women's Heart Foundation has established a successful heart disease and diabetes risk reduction program for at-risk high school girls. We want to do more. We're here to help.

Hi,I'm new to this site that you have and trying to read up on somethings.I hope you answer the question that I have.I've been trying to get pregant for a while now and it seems to be nothing happening I did the timing process and the calender thing too when it's time.I thought one day I could have been so I went to buy one of those dollar test's cause I heard they do the same like the rest,but anyway I bought ,took it ,and really couldn't tell was it postive or negative.I decide to wait it out and see what would be some diferent outcome towards myself.The last time I had my period was in august the 19th thur 24th that was the last,and now it september bought to be october 2008.Could u please answer these question's and conserion's.

It could be pregnancy and you may just need to re-test depending on when you took the test. Otherwise, you may want to call your doctor.

Our boards dedicated to Getting Pregnant or Trying to Conceive (TTC) are wonderful supportive places to get answers to your questions about fertility and becoming a mother. Our Could I be Pregnant support group will have ideas on when to test and share in your waiting.

This is for both candidates! Why is it america can spend billions bailing out a bank,kicking but in wars then spend billionions to rebuild them!!Time we spend money on our own people.Our own american familys. Time for america to take care of america.UNITED WE STAND.

TOM Roberson rhodes MI

For each candidate:

Both of you describe yourselves as reformers ready to change Washington. Describe what specific legislation you have introduced/sponsored in the United States Senate to improve healthcare in the United States. What is the current status of the legislation? How did you rally your colleagues to gain support for the legislation? (Do not include speeches or talks....I am interested in specific legislation introduced on the floor)

For Barack Obama:

You sponsored the Health Care Justice Act in Illinois. It passed, but was referred to a task force for implementation. On January 26, 2007, the final report of The Adequate Health Care Task Force was issued. The final recommendation is that employers must contribute to the health care costs of its employees either by providing voluntary coverage or by paying into a State fund. The exception is for those under 400% of the federal poverty level for which the State would provide care. Is the same type of "Universal Healthcare" that you would support as President? As a U.S Senator how come I cannot find any references where you were actively involved (not just through speeches, but through actions) in any healthcare reform issues? For John McCain...Is this the type of healthcare reform you are supporting? What are the differences, if any?

So many politicians and ordinary citizens are crying out for some sort of national health care. Great Britain and Canada's systems are often cited as good examples of where we should be headed in this area. In talking to people who are from Great Britain, though, I find that they are highly unsatisfied with the system in their countries. A huge concern is that short of a major, lift-threatening emergency, surgery and/or other treatments may be delayed for months. Is this where we will end up if a national health care plan is put into play in the U.S.? Just because the government provides a service doesn't mean it will be a good or beneficial service. Why should be believe that our government, and that includes ***both*** parties won't make matters worse?

Candidates are often citing numbers ranging from 35 million to 50 million of people who have no health care and/or insurance. Do these numbers include illegal immigrants? Will illegal immigrants be covered under any kind of national health care plan?

Can you elaborate on the following items that several activist groups have asked for in regards to a national strategy to end AIDS and remove the "abstinence only until marriage" clause for doling out funds?

A national strategy must include the following items:

My son joined the Army in 1998 and was released after serving a year in Kosovo just at the brink of the Iraq conflict. As a veteran, he is due health care benefits and has attempted to apply for them. However, he is encountering bureacratic balderdash with a blank application being returned to him for "additional information" and no explanation of what that information is. I know he is not the only vet that gets thrown against that paper wall because we encountered similar problems attempting to get assistance for my father who is a World War II veteran and needed help in caring for my Parkinson's afflicted mother prior to her death. We were told almost two years ago that we would be lucky if the benefits arrived before both of them died. We are still waiting. My question is why is this so difficult? Some of the most deserving and patriotic of our citizens are cast aside by their own agency rather than giving them every assistance and guidance possible to help them re-enter the society for which they risked so much. Please tell me how we can obtain healthcare for my son and home care for my father. Thank you for your time.

As a 32 year old mother living with Multiple Sclerosis, which also affects around 400,00 Americans, I would like to know where you stand on funding research for auto immune diseases as well as your stance on stem cell research?

I would like to know if either candidate has any plans for taking the sexism out of our national health care programs-starting with the new vaccination for the HPPV virus--of which males are the carriers-whether they are clinically AFFECTED by it is irrelevant to the spread of disease, if they are INFECTED with it,it can cause cancer in the women they then sleep with. However , just this morning, I discovered that men get throat cancer when infected with it--so maybe it WILL be given to "our young boys," too.

According to a recent study on the economic impact of chronic disease in America, the current fiscal impact of chronic disease is over $ 1 Trillion in treatment cost and lost productivity. These costs are projected to rise over the $ 4 Trillion mark by 2023. As president, what will you do to stop the escalating fiscal impact of chronic disease?

Many people are forced to endure heavy financial burdens due to the cost of treatment for serious illness such as cancer and MS. What are the chances of government assistance for the additional costs the necessary treatment brings about. Reinaldo Tallahassee, Florida

Needless to say skyrocketing health care costs are a big problem. In fact, it makes the current financial problems look like a mole hill. Two questions: Health care is currently overrun with fraud. Estimates are as much as 30% of health care dollars are obtained via fraud. How would you address this issue? Americans are quickly becoming the most unhealthy people in the world. If our enemys just wait we will rot from within. How do you intend to address this issue?

McCain, what is your most recent cancer diagnosis and most recent cancer prognosis?

I'd like to know why neither of you have directly addressed the millions of Americans in this country who experience disabilities? For 30 years, there has been great movement in peoples' rights, parent voice, now youth voice, young adult college education into careers of their choice, healthcare, housing, transportation, leadership, voters rights, to name a few. But it's just beginning, we can't stop now! The current administration expects kids with disabilities to meet certain benchmarks, but doesn't fund states/communities the extra dollars needed to support them. Funding for; inner city youth employment offices, community counseling, youth with disability employment projects, residential treatment for youth with mental health issues, are all gone due to "budget cuts". What will your administration do to stop the "cuts" and continue the 30 years of "peoples' rights & abilities?

Here's what I would ask the candidates if I could.....

Americans take 75% of all prescription meds in the world however the US ranks 29th for life expectancy (www.worldlifeexpectancy.com) which places us well behind most industrial countries. We have the highest obesity rates and many of us do not have health care coverage at all.

The US health care structure is a for-profit endeavor where only the wealthier can have high quality care without going bankrupt. Our health care system is a "sick care" system and does not encourage and will not pay for "wellness care". Our current health care system would not profit from a wellness care model however Americans would profit fundamentally by focusing on good health BEFORE they got sick.

Who will profit under your health care reform initiatives? Americans? Or the health care providers? Do you believe health care is a "right" or a "privilege"?

To Senator Obama- There are several life style choices people make that increase that amount of health care dollars they use(obesity, smoking, drinking, noncompliance with meds etc.). In Alabama for state employees that participate in one of these life style choices they are charged $25.00 a month for each one to help cover the extra cost to their health insurance. How do you plan on dealing with this issue? Is the skinny, nonsmoker who has no life style related diseases going to pay for them?

With so many other industrialized countries (Japan, England, Switzerland, etc) having nationalized healthcare, and it working for them (i.e. good, costs less, everyone covered), why cannot the US create something that works (cherry pick the best features) so that healthcare is not such a crushing burden on everyone (including companies)?

I saw a Frontline episode on PBS and it made me think we are still in the dark ages relatively on this issue.

Cliff

To Senator Obama- I have two questions. 1. How are you going to fund universal health care? 2. According to the AACN, by 2025 the nursing shortage could be as high as 500,000 open jobs and more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2016 as the health care system stands today. Not only would it create a large shortage in nursing but also a shortage in physicians. According to the AAFP, there is a "severe" shortage of physicians in Massachusetts. If we add 44 million more Americans to the health care system who is going to see them and who is going to take care of them?

For both candidates:

With mental health services becoming a large issue recently; and with access to mental health services significantly limited by existing private health insurance plan coverages; do you support legislation (such as Sen. Kennedy's legislation) which would require insurance carriers to treat mental illness like any other medical condition? And would you sign such legislation?

I would like to know how they plan on parity with mental health issues because of the growing trends of under insured for mental health issues and so many of our honorable vets and families that are coming back and dealing with brain disorders that are just as important as the physical illnesses and injuries.

Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other places allow medications to go out of date and then are forced to dispose of them. This is not only a health hazard for our water system but a waste of money and medicines that could be used elsewhere. Many individuals who cannot afford medications could use them. They could be given to clinics, emergency rooms, and pharmacies to give to patients who cannot afford them. It would help our nation's healthcare crisis and would help keep these meds out of our water systems. How would you address the issue that these medications, that end up as medical waste, would be better used by giving them away before they expire?

I honestly believe that God gave us enough resources in this world to carry every being through life. If we would just get past the power trips, monopolies, and accumulation of excessive wealth. There is enough to feed, clothe, house, treat and medicate everyone in this world. God gave us that. Unfortunately, only a few in our world control how, when and where our resources are given or sold. Many of them, of course, are only out to make a dollar.

Again my question is: How would you address the issue that these medications, that end up as medical waste, would be better used by giving them away before they expire?

What do you know about the Canadian health care system? Why do you not like it? Have you studied the Canadian health plan? Have you asked any Canadian if they would change for the health care sysem of the USA?--I have and have foud none..Do you know that Cnadians do not need a private insurance company? Would you like for me to send you a synopsis of the Canadian health plan?--Wayne Barns

FEW QUESTIONS. 1) WHY CAN'T WE HAVE MORE AFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR $50.000 AND UNDER.

2) IF WE WOULD STOP SINGLE PARANTS FROM HAVING 2 OR MORE FATHER LESS .IN SAME FAMILY .GETTING CHECKS EACH .I KNOW A PERSON WHO HAS 8 KIDS. 8 CHECKS . NO FATHER PAYING. WHY IS THAT

3) IF YOU CAN DRAFT US TO THE SERVICE WHY CAN'T UP MAKE THE FATHERS PAY CHILD SUPPORT FOR THERE OWN KIDS.

4) AFTER WOMEN HAVE 2 KIDS. WE SHOULD IN STALL SOME THINK THAT WILL QUIET GETTING PREGNANT AND CAN'T BE REMOVED TILL THEY ARE MARRIED OR MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO AFORD THERE ON HEALTH CARE.

5) SAME WITH FOOD STAMPS..

6)WHY DO WE HELP EVERY BODY ELSE FROM STARVING,WAR. BUT I SEE OUR PEOPLE FOODLESS DIE-ING .? WHY

7)WHY IS IT WHEN THERE IS A DISASTER UP NORTH SOUTH GAS AND EVERYBODY GAS GOES UP . AND VICE /VERCEA?

THANKS FOR LETTING ME BLOW STEAM OFF.

IT WONT GET FIXED BUT SURE FELT GOOD THANKS ...

Two questions that our family has been unable to receive help with after numerouse letters to representatives, Medicare, health insurance companies: First, what will be done to stop health insurance companies from refusing to pay for emergency treatment because the hospital the patient is sent to is not on their list? Second, what will be done to stop Medicare Prescription Companies from refusing to pay for prescriptions that doctors have ordered; especially when these medications are vital to a patient's health? It is terrible that so many people in this country have to suffer financial debt and serious medical illness because our government officials refuse to get the health system under control.

Senator McCain or Senator Obama,

I am a white female living in Ohio. My question regarding health care in America is How are you going to prevent the health insurance companies from raising the health care costs especially for low-income families and single women like myself?

As the next President, how would you encourage the adoption of Electronic Medical Records to ensure continuity of care for a patient both within a single healthcare setting and across all healthcare disciplines regardless of provider network, insurance carrier or US state where services are provided?

AS we are an aging population what is going to be done about helping us to be able to afford our prescription drugs. There are still alot of prescriptions not available by generic by our insurance companies and even those, without some type of outside help, are out of reach for us??

Even more important I am only 50 and have to look forward to working as long as I can because even with my 401, no assistance with the social security we have to pay into for those retiring now!!! I have no choice about paying into social security by choosing to place in to another retirement plan of my choosing!!! Gone money!!

Thank you

My husband and I work full-time jobs. My employer does not provide healthcare insurance. Our insurance is through my husband's work. We both have chronic health problems like hypertension, arthritis and type 2 diabetes. We barely live paycheck to check. We do not have a big or fancy home and no expensive toys. We can not afford a yearly or any extras. My husband's health plan has a very high deductible, so his employer puts money in a fund to pay our healthcare costs. When that money is all gone we still have a sizeable deductible to pay before the insurance company pays a thing. The fund money is supposed to be enough for average healthcare expenses. We consider ourselves to be relatively healthy older adults, yet we still need more than the fund money to get us through the year. With the price of everything rises, especially energy, how our we supposed to survive?

For Senator McCain

There seems to be a paradox about the Republican party being known as the party of both corporate greed and ironically that of Christianity. I can't speak for Jesus, but I would think that he wouldn't deny anyone health care no matter what there age, or having had any kind of previous health condition. Senator McCain my question to you is: Why if we are mostly a Christian Society, that we deny millions of American citizens health care? What do you think Jesus would do?

One of the reasons my husband stayed with employer for 30 years when he could possibly have earned more elsewhere was because of the promise of health insurance that would continue as our secondary coverage after we were on Medicare. We are both in our seventies and don't have a guaranteed income except Social Security. We do have a rapidly sinking IRA. Will we be taxed on the secondary insurance we receive as a retirement benefit? Will the company be taxed so that they stop this benefit to us? PatK71909

Would you support those of us who have been denied health insurance because of existing conditions (cancer, heart) the ability to purchase ,at our cost, the same group health insurance that federal employees are offered. I am 62 and retired. We saved, watched our spending, did everything right for retiring early except developed cancer. Except for a Minnesota high risk policy, I can not purchase insurance. I am not asking for a hand out, just the ability to buy group insurance.Maybe my situation affects 50,00 - 100,000 people, but I am asking for support at no cost to the Federal govt. It is unfortunate that I may have to go back to work just to get insurance coverage. Thanks for listening

My husband has Medicaid and Medicare plus Blue Cross Medicare RX, on the otherhand I am only 55 years young and don't have health insurance. There is a program in San Bernardino, CA called MIA but I do not qualify because I own a car, a truck and two Harley's! I would like to know from both of the candidates what they can do for me? We are living on my husbands SSI/SSA and let's hope that the financial crisis doesn't take that from us either!

My question is for both candidates.

Why do you think it is the job of the federal government to provide health care for every American and where does the Constitution authorizes you to fund such a program?

I would like to know why Medicare recipients are required to pay a penalty of 10% (per year eligible for Medicare) if they miss the required sign up period? When my husband lost his job in 2002, I kept the COBRA coverage from his job for 18 months instead of taking the Medicare immediately. The COBRA coverage was better than the Medicare, so I wanted to keep it as long as possible. That means I am being penalized for saving Medicare money by staying with my original insurance company longer. That just doesn't make sense to me. That means I am paying a 40% penalty on my Medicare premium, which really puts a dent in my already small disability check.

To Barack Obama:

Please explain your definition of “Universal Health Care Coverage.”

Also, What choices of health care will be included in your Universal Health Care Coverage? HMO’s ONLY? PPO’s ONLY? TRADITIONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE ONLY? OR WILL THERE BE FREEDOM OF CHOICE?

I consider “Mandated Health Care Coverage” for anybody … not just children … to be the same as socialized medicine?

I have a question for both Senators that I would like them to respond to if they would, please.

I have studied the Healthcare System that they have over in England and other parts of Europe, I believe they call it "National Health Insurance" ( NHI ) over there. From what I have discovered most Europeans are unhappy with their form of health care system, because it puts them, as patients on a rationing list for medical services as well as surgeries. It also has had a reverse effect as far as the dental health of patients through out England. When England started this new Health Plan, they promised Englanders they would put a new smile on everyone's face, well they did that, but the problem is, it's a toothless smile in most cases. Another problem is a lot of people are being placed waiting lists for surgeries and medical services, after their case has been reviewed by the NHI board if it deems them to be a viable patient ( not to old for the surgery or medical service ), then and only then are they allowed to get the treatment. Sometimes it takes months and up to a year for a patient to recieve treatment. If they feel that you are too sickly or that you are too old and that some one else who is younger and not as sick is waiting for the same procedure of treatment, then they get the treatment or surgery and you are denied treatment and surgery.

*Question #1--Will this type of treatment of patients happen under either one of your plans where patients who are deemed sickly or too old would be denied treatment or care in favor of someone younger or healthier?

Also, when patients travel outside England to seek treatment because they want to go to a specialist, they must get approval from the NHI for the procedure, if they deem that it wasn't necessary, then the patient must incur the costs of the entire procedure, even though it would have normally been covered had they waited to be seen in England. But because the patient wanted a specialist and did not trust the doctor who the NHI sent them too, because a lot of their good doctors have left England for other areas, it seems that the NHI, has the right to deny the patient's bill when they submit it for payment.

Question #2--Under either of your plans, would patients be allowed to choose their own doctors and specialists when it comes to a patients own healthcare decisions or would they be assigned to doctors and told what specialists they had to go to for certain conditions, like what we had during the HMO years.

Personally, I think Universal Healthcare is a mistake for this country. All it is is socialized medicine, with the government telling patients who and where they can go for medical treatment. Patients need to be able to control their own medical decisions, that's their right as human beings. The more government keeps taking away from us, the more freedoms we keep losing. It's one thing if they want to give us all health care WITHOUT THE STRINGS ATTACHED, but they don't, they want to control who we see, where we go, what procedures we get, what medications we get, what tests we get, most likely they'll want to control when we also die. This is just wrong in every sense of the words. Remember the problems with all those HMO's back in the 1990's, that was a sample of Universal Healthcare, but only big business controlled it then, now government wants to try there hands at it. It won't work!!! Remember how many people died under the HMO plans because of all the beauracrats, the same thing will happen with this mess.

Sens. McCain & Obama I would like to hear your plan on exactly how you intend on paying for the Health Insurance plans you both have, and kindly explain (briefly) what your plans are.

What is your reply to lifting the ‘boycott’ limiting prescription purchases from other countries.

While Americans understand the idea behind some drugs manufactured in other countries not being up to FDA or other American pharmaceutical standards, most are. There is a high percentage of Americans (United States citizens) who cannot afford the cost of prescriptions here in their own country even WITH subsidized insurance if they are fortunate enough to have it. These are often folks on either NO income or limited income who have no or limited access to any assistance plan. It becomes a choice between eating, heating, or medication. To limit such choices to U.S. citizens is not only criminal negligence, but it’s also holding us hostage behind our own borders.

Nearly a decade ago I fell into that bracket and needed a prescription I could not afford to fill because the cost in this country was too high. I was able, however, to have it shipped to me at 50% (that including shipping costs) of what the prescription was anywhere here in the United States.

Making it illegal to purchases prescriptions or medical procedures beyond our borders is akin to ‘walling’ us in rather than ‘walling’ other countries out. This is a global community and rather than putting legal restrictions on what can and cannot be purchased it would be better to provide advisory or educational material or information concerning such purchases outside the auspices of FDA or other U.S. mandatory restrictions.

I would like to ask both candidates about their stance on medical marijuana. Will they support funding for research? Will they make it easier for scientists to study the drug without any legal problems? And if further scientific research gave more support to the viability of the medicinal value of marijuana, what would their position be as far as any reform legislation?

Alex Nordeen

I ama thirty year old female and have a health care question for bothe candidates. I work a full time job and a student who has two chronic health conditins. I have no insurance. What are you going to do to help me if you become president. I take a lot of prescription medications and i can not afford them. Tell me how your health care ideas will help me with this situation

I have the same problem with my medications. I too cannot afford the medications prescribed for me. The situation is intolerable !!!!

Why don't you have insurance?

I would first try to find a full-time position that has benefits. If benefits are available it may be expensive but they would be guaranteed.

In the meantime, contact 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669), the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. You may be able to get a break on your prescriptions.

Best wishes.

I am Bipolar and have had a Heart Attack. My medication cost more than I get living on disability. I am in the " Doughnut hole" and can' afford a lot of my medications Without my "Medications" I am very likely to end up in the hospital. How can the Doughnut hole be cost effective ? The "hole" must be closed to keep people on their medications. I, like many people, have to take my medications for life.

My question for both candiates concerns sleep apnea. Sleep apnea affects more than 18 million adults and children in the United States. There is substantial medical research to support the connection between it and other serious medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and depression. If elected president, what will you do to address this very serious public health issue?

To Senator McCain, Today's Americans are a very unhealthy group of people. The majority of adults and many of our children are overweight. Most Americans don't get enough sleep, exercise or fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. You and your running mate have said that you will encourage Americans to take more responsibility for their health. This is easy to say; however, today's society is not supportive of people taking good care of their health. The food and restaurant industry have been allowed to go wild with producing high calorie, high fat, low nutrient foods. Then these foods are highly promoted and directly marketed to children so that they become hooked on a processed food diet early in life. With the way our economy is most families have two adults working in order to live a moderate lifestyle. With both adults working 40+ hours per week, things like preparing healthy meals, getting daily exercise, sleeping adequately, and taking time to foster mental well-being get pushed to the back burner while people live in survival mode. Stress level in America is at an all time high for my lifetime. I have never seen so many people so dissatisfied with how things are going. Finally my question, if elected president, what will you do specifically to support Americans in living healthier lifestyles which is likely our best bet for reducing healthcare costs?

I would like to know what the candidates' thoughts are on drug companies and their effect on how patients receive their health care. And what, if anything, are they planning to change about the current way that drug companies are included in the healthcare system?

Thank you,

Mary, RN Belleville, WI

With so much emphasis being placed upon healthcare, retirement and financial responsibilities, etc. why do members of congress (both house and senate) have their own separate plans for these items? Why is it that congress takes care of themselves first, before the American Taxpayer, including salary increases?

I am a cancer survivor and should be under a Dr.'s care. However I am not. I have no insurance and a job that does not provide healthcare. Tell me canidates, how do I see a Dr. and how do I get insurance? I had a cut on my finger and had to go to emergency, they billed me $770.00 for 12 stitches. I can't pay and won't be able to. Now what if I got cancer again, what do I do? What are you going to do for me so that I can see a Dr. as needed? Signed Susan Wrigley Crete, Il.