It is my opinion - from experience - that health insurance companies are part of the problem with health care in this country. The idea of health care for profit is, to me, counter-intuitive if you want the best health care. Health insurance companies routinely deny valid claims, hoping you'll give up, or lose paperwork, and at the very least it delays their having to pay.

I think we should examine how other countries provide universal health care and select the most workable - I don't think any use an insurance company middle-man. The huge profits earned by the health insurance companies are but one indication of why our costs are the highest while our care isn't.

I believe our government should provide universal health care to all citizens and legal aliens with a co-pay based on income. The co-pay is to prevent frivolous doctor visits. Companies would be required to contribute in a fashion similar to social security payments.

Before such a step could be taken, we need to find a way to deflect the lobbyists influence on our legislators. The Medicare prescription drug plan is a huge gift to the drug companies and nearly impossible to comprehend - particularly for senior citizens, whom it is alleged to be for.