For consumers, the health care bills taking final shape in Congress don't rate close to a perfect 10. ...more

November 23, 2009

As some who also has no health insurance, and who believes that the government should do something to reform it, I am, on the other hand, somewhat disturbed by the attitude of people like Colleen Kasperek who is willing to take any kind of government health care system including this huge 2,000-page bill, which I doubt anyone in Congress knows what is in it. ...more

November 22, 2009

For more than a decade, the spouses of Tampa police officers killed in the line of duty have been offered a choice of health insurance plans at no cost to them – three this year. Last, the city sent a letter to the widows of three fallen officers explaining that that the because of budget constraints and rising insurance costs, it would only pay the full cost for one plan. Another plan would be offered but the families would have to kick in some money. ...more

November 20, 2009

As a breast cancer survivor, I feel particularly qualified to assert my opinion on the latest U. S. Preventive Services Task Force's guidelines regarding mammograms. I'm uncertain at this point exactly whose best interests are served by this organization, but as one whose "starting annual mammograms at age 40" prevented "one additional death," I hope my story merits publication in your newspaper. ...more

November 20, 2009

I do want health care reform, but not like what has been voted on in Congress. This hurts most of us. Taxes will go up, no doubt. Medicare suffers. That hurts disabled persons and the elderly — those we are entrusted to care for. ...more

November 17, 2009

There are many patriotic American holidays but none is more special and personal than Veterans Day. I believe this is because our nation was born through sacrifices of those who answered the call of duty. We cannot see or talk to those whom have served and gone to heaven's gates but there are still many here and many to come that are just like the ones before. This call of duty is very special to Americans. Although there has been a terrible time when we fought each other, it has made us a better country for history is a learning process and we all fall short. We have never fought to take another country's land; on the contrary we have fought to protect the lives and land of others. The call of duty for this nation is a righteous one and has made our soldiers the best in the world. ...more

November 15, 2009

Robert Whitener's letter in the Nov. 11 edition of Hernando Today, "Standing up for health care," cites a figure of 46 million uninsured Americans. This oft-quoted statistic is actually a gross overestimation of the problem, as recent research suggests the number of Americans who cannot currently afford health insurance is much lower. ...more

November 14, 2009

Every 12 minutes, another American dies from lack of health care. Tick, tick, tick... ...more

November 13, 2009

President Barack Obama and Congress will soon make defining choices about health care and troops for Afghanistan. ...more

November 13, 2009

People are listening to the insurance companies that would love to keep gouging us and dumping us when we actually get sick. All we want is affordable health care (not free) with real coverage when we need it. How about having an option to keep the corporations honest and fair? Everybody knows someone who would like to be able to purchase health insurance but can't afford it. Come on America, we can do way better. The opponents are the insurance companies and the politicians taking huge money from them! ...more

November 12, 2009