Chellie Pingree listens to ideas on health care reform

Comments about: Chellie Pingree listens to ideas on health care reform
MANCHESTER -- The United States needs to make a serious investment in health care -- and fast, the head of the...
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LewistonT of Lewiston, ME

Jul 3, 2009 6:33 PM

Chellie was working her way thru the State when she aided in driving the mandates to push insurance companies out of Maine so why should she want them in this country? She and her daughter need to go back to their little island and leave us or U.S. alone and stop driving us in to poverty

heyyou of waterville, ME

Jul 3, 2009 12:27 PM

There is no insurance company because the state regulated them out if the state. The stated caused this issue and now wants to fix this problem with tax money. How about reversing the laws the drove up the cost up and forced the insurance company out.

SlyME of Augusta, ME

Jul 3, 2009 1:27 AM

Hear that train a'comin'

"The health care crisis is like a disease killing the American middle class," said Mila Kofman, superintendent of the Bureau of Insurance.

Kofman said a public option… would bring "competition based on quality and efficiency." "I am fully committed to improving the private health insurance market," Kofman said. "That is why I support a public health plan option."

The fear of not having health insurance can hurt the entrepreneurial spirit, said Paul Santomenna, who spoke on behalf of Physicians for Social Responsibility. That's been one of the failures of the current employer-based system, he said.
"One of the blocks to entrepreneurialism is you have to put yourself out on a limb, and one of the biggest risks is putting it all out there without health insurance," he said.

Dr. Jo Linder, chairwoman of the Maine Medical Association Executive Committee, said change must happen this year.
Her group, which represents more than 3,000 physicians, medical students and residents, believes that all Americans should be required to buy health insurance.
"Research evidence shows that, even if we provide public subsidies to those persons who cannot afford insurance, many persons will not choose to purchase insurance," she said. "We believe it is reasonable therefore to require persons to purchase insurance, with appropriately provided public subsidies."

Here she comes; even if the Republicans have to be dragged along like a little red caboose.

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