Primetime: Americans Question Obama on Health Care

Questions were also raised about public vs. private insurance, and whether a new national plan would drive private insurance companies out of business; or force Americans out of their preferred private insurance, and into the government’s plan. 

In addition, several audience members, including Gail Wilensky (who ran Medicare under the senior President Bush) questioned the cost of the President’s proposed plan.

Earlier in the day, on a “Good Morning, America” interview with Diane Sawyer, Obama outlined how the government would raise the estimated $1 trillion a new health care plan is estimated to cost. He cited a possible $300 billion in savings via cuts in the current system; an additional $600 billion reallocated from the current system; and $300 billion in revenue from increased taxes on the rich (individuals making over $200,000/families over $250,000).

“We have to have the courage and the willingness to cooperate and compromise in order to make this happen,” said Obama. “…I’m absolutely convinced that we can get it done this time.”

So, what would this new health care system look like, for those of us with breast cancer?

No one can provide specifics at this point. But the presumption could be made that many limits would be age-based; and that perhaps, over a certain age, a woman with an aggressive breast cancer would be denied, say, a prophylactic mastectomy. Or an older woman whose breast cancer had metastasized might be restricted to a certain number of chemo courses, where now there is no limit.

Treatment limits of some kind will almost surely be included in the President’s preferred health care reform bill. And, while some may see denial of treatment as morally wrong, I believe it makes sense, both fiscally and culturally.

I hear President Obama when he says we must “cooperate and compromise.” To me, that means those of us in the Boomer and “greatest” generations have to step aside for GenX and the Millennials.

If there are only so many dollars in the system, let’s spend them on our children and grandchildren, those who’ll shape the world’s future. In doing so, we prove our courage by letting go. And we leave an invaluable legacy: a healthier America.