After reading both candidates plans I would have to go with Obama's plan. Neither plan is ideal, but if we have to choose… Why should Americans have to pay insane prices for coverage? All people should have the same coverage, just because you are a teacher does that mean you should get more coverage than a factory worker? I particularly like Obama's statement: "similar to the plan available to members of Congress". Why not if it's good enough for our elected officials, why can't everyone have it? McCain's plan sounds like letting the insurance corporations make billions in profit while Americans pay for it. Sure tax breaks like "$2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to offset the cost of insurance" sounds good, but look at how much you are paying for premiums every year. I pay $14000 for my family as I am self employed. So under his plan I would only be paying $11000, I think that is too much.

Sure as a doctor I am scared of change. I am also scared my family and friends won't get the health care they need. When insurance companies need to make increasing profits every year the prices will rise. Take the for profit insurance companies out of health care and cover everyone. My suggestion is Medicare for everyone, then you can purchase supplemental insurance at a rate that is controlled by the government, so private insurance companies cannot make enormous profits on peoples suffering. I can't believe that in the US our health care is mediocre at best, yet we pay more than any other country that has universal health care. How is it that we don't cover everyone yet we pay more? I guess when insurance CEO's are making billions, someone has to pay.

—James R. Hirt, DPM


There is not a healthcare crisis in this country. We have the best system of healthcare in the world. There is an 'access to healthcare' crisis. The insurance companies continue to increase their profit margins at the expense of providers who are constantly enduring the cuts in reimbursements while trying to maintain practices in a world of rising costs for doing business. This situation will eventually be the downfall of healthcare and push it closer to a breaking point.

—Ed Buro

True, physicians have been against change for so long and a great deal has been attributed to fear of lesser reimbursement for procedures. This fear of change however has also changed in the year 2008. Too many people are without health insurance. I treat many patients pro-bono because they have no health insurance and cannot afford to pay me. My office manager just told me tonight that a patient coming in on Friday owes us 600 dollars for orthotics, over the counter medications I gave her, plus multiple office visits. She has no intention of paying me. I'll continue to treat her but if too many patients become like her, I would not be able to afford my overhead. Hospitals are playing the role of family doctor because people without insurance go to emergency rooms to be treated for less than serious ailments. So the outlook on this is changing.

—Elliot Udell, DPM