Actually I have no complainst about the cost for an anesthesiologist. I realize these individuals use poisons to put me into a coma like state close to death,so I will endure surgery, and then they bring me back.
And I contend that primary care physicans have to spend way to much time taking on more patients each year so they can insure their incomes remain the same as a prior year. Almost each year, Medicare pays less for services, pays late, and requires more documention. HMO's, PPO's, and etc. require more patients in the pool for the same monthly payment.
The number of graduating GP physicans, physican assistants, and nurse practioners have not kept up with the population increase.
I wonder how much wait time it is going to take, when we add 47 million plus people to the system.

Medicare is not free! Look at the medicare book and you will see the costs. also look at what is not covered. This is why you see medigap insurance advertised on TV. Plus you started paying in 1964 and keep paying until you are 65 then you have Part B deducted from your SS. And it is 96.40 a month. Health care is not free here in the good ole USA. Let's fix what is wrong with our healthcare. You don't buy a new car because you need tires!

Bighorn I say those with no insurance should get the health reform and they should have to pay a copay just like everyone else. People with insurance should be left alone. Yes, I to was at Walgreens Pharmacy and their a mother on medicaeid what makes me mad is that she had 4 kids and another on the way. She had to pay nothing for her meds I ended up paying
135.00 dollars.

Like the wife witnessed earlier today....A mother picking up TWELVE SCRIPS for her kid with a cold. EVERYTHING including a simple saline nasal solution (non-drug) was included because MEDICAID is paying for it all. And the Mom was talking about having her nails and hair done since she had a date for Saturday night.

We need HEALTH CARE REFORM, but in the oposite direction!

I hear ya, Legion. I have worked in the health care field for 22 years, and I have no answers. I am also a patient, as are my family members (isn't everyone at one time or another?), and we experience the same "waiting game" as do you and yours. I know that many times, in this small town anyway, the family doctor is also the OB doctor, and sometimes they are at the hospital during clinic hours delivering a baby, because, naturally, that baby ain't gonna wait. Outside those unscheduled emergencies, however, there really is little excuse, PARTICULARLY in a small town. Of course it is even worse in large cities. You're right people are pissed off, and rightly so. I am one of them. No, I don't have a solution; I believe things are so far gone that there is possibly no way out of this mess. That is just my two cents, for what it's worth.