Dodd Joins Physician and Victim of Health Care Costs Discuss Health Care Reform

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) joined Dr. Mohammad Akhter, Executive Director of the National Medical Association and Dana Tillman, a victim of the health care crisis, at a press conference this morning to discuss the economic impact of skyrocketing health care costs. Democrats are committed to reducing the cost of health care for families, businesses, and government while protecting choice and assuring affordable, quality health care for all Americans.

Health care costs are rising faster than our economy is growing, Dodd said. Almost half of all foreclosures and nearly 62 percent of bankruptcies were caused by financial issues stemming from medical costs. We cannot afford to continue down this path. It is not just unacceptable its unsustainable. Now is the time for health care reform - our economy depends on it.

Said Akhter: Getting health care of the highest quality should not have to break the bank. Many countries are able to deliver better care for less money. We can do this, but we dare not miss this opportunity.

What happened to me could happen to anyone at any time, Tillman said. I was a full-time employee and worked hard, planned well. And yet one unexpected emergency was so expensive that it started an unstoppable domino effect. Two years later I'm still struggling. Its a broken system. We can do better. We have to do better."

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[onlyrey]

Senator Dodd, my support to your plan.  Please keep the public option!

[onlyrey]

We all want something to compete with ill insurance companies. Do it, create a public completing plan.  You already have the infrastructure, madicare works much more efficiently than insurance companies. Medicare deals with the riskiest portion of the population at a fraction of the cost!!!!!

[onlyrey]

I say DO IT, propose a competing public plan. We want it, there is no reason why it would destroy anything, it will just bring HEALTHY COMPETITION to a sick system.

[ladylordess]

Let's not RUSH into anything like we did with the stimulus.

[ladylordess]

Let's delay this issue, at least until we can afford it. Let's not force business to have to supply insurance, especially if it will put them out of business. Let people become responsible and purchase affordable health insurance. Don't tell me that it can't be done.

[cleffnote]

Thank you for working for us Senator Dodd. Medicare for all is my preference but I know you're trying to get it close to that and I appreciate it. Our group insurance coverage went up another 30% last month, that's after the insurance companies told President Obama that they were going to trim back. Don't believe them Senator Dodd.