Comments on: Recession Leaves Many Children Uninsured

Families Are Losing Health Insurance, And Federal Programs Aren't Picking Up The Slack

[eclecticman1]

You know something is wrong with a medical system when the largest portion of money spent on it is used up in the last six months of a person's life. Put the money on the children and they will lead healthful, productive lives. Us 70 year old's should not be getting the lion's share.

[YCantWeAllGetAlong]

In my state, all children are eligible for the children's health program. Depending on your income, the policy can be free or there is a monthly stipend. I do not know how many states have the CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) but everyone should look into it. We have private health insurance through my spouse's employer, however, if anything were to happen, I would be able to obtain coverage for my children.

[lost_america]

Again,

The lack of living wage jobs with benefits is the root of the problem and the trillion dollars given to wall street and the banks has not produced any.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, thousands of tech jobs are going overseas to places like Bangalore India.

First it was the factory jobs, now it is tech jobs.

Where has our leadership been while this was happening?

Stuffing their own pockets from the short selling of the American economy.

I am all for national heath care, but, it will not solve the root of this problem.

[mrs_trepidatious]

Well then these children better go to church and refrain from sinning so God doesnt strike them with an illness as pestilence.

[afmcalax]

But wait Republicans have a plan ... a 5K tax credit for a 15K expense. Brilliant! Or even a better Repub arguement ... why were these kids so dumb to get born into families that could not afford health insurance. Blame the kids; not the system.

[putney1968]

This is one of the more disingenuous pieces produces in the "boo-hoo" series, Children of the Recession. Here is a realtor who until last year was a willing participant in one of the biggest ripoffs in American history, the great housing bubble. What happened to all the money she made selling over-priced houses in Texas? Who paid for her kid's braces? Has she considered selling her brand new Volvo and driveing something cheaper. Where is the father of the children in all this? I am a physician in primary care. It does not cost a fortune to take your sick kid to see me. We accept cash and will put people on a payment plan if necessary. Not having insurance is no excuse for child neglect. She is a fraud for getting free care which ought to be going to truly indigent people. I thought reporters were supposed to ask tough questions, not produce puff pieces. Of course, Katie Couric sets the bar mighty low when it comes to reporting. Folks, this is NOT the Great Depression. It's not even as bad as the recession of 1982-83. I bought my first house then with an 11.5% negative amortization ARM. I had to borrow money to make the 20% down payment. My new college grad step daughter just bought a house worth $200 thousand by putting less than 5% down and she has a 4.5% mortgage. Yes, the economy is down, but you clowns exaggerate the effects beyond belief. You don't need to report "happy news." Just try telling the truth for a change.

[LOL_AT_CBS]

The truth is that wages have been stagnant for the last 10 years and were not increasing to meet inflation before that. I agree with most of your message but times really are that tough right now. It's really tough for the working class though, not people who are crying in their Chanel sleeve because they can't buy both a pony and health insurance for little Sally.

[skeezix06]

Just try to get health insurance for a disabled adult child or try to get your adult disabled child in to see a doctor when they're dependent on medicaid because you couldn't get health insurance through your place of employment.

It's like trying to fly to the moon by flapping your arms. Ain't gonna happen.

[valh1]

Aghast, that is an excellent question. If doctors are suddenly forced to take pay cuts, will young people still dream of being a doctor, knowing that they can make similar money in careers that do not require so much time at college?

[LOL_AT_CBS]

Duh! Yes they will, but the doctors will be people that want to help people again instead of greedy people that want to make money. Not too long ago, health care wasn't a multi-million dollar industry and every little community had a doctor. I know from experience that now there are no rural doctors.

[aghast101]

I have a question. If this country adopts socialized health care who is going to pay the outrageous fees and wages the Health care community gets now? Is it right to force health care workers to take huge pay cuts? Or are we going to subsidize the doctors multi million dollar incomes?

[haygitreal]

This morning I watched two stories regarding the recession. One was a GM worker driving a nearly new SUV who lived in a nice home. Then this story. This Mom who once raked in 6 figures decided to give up her children's health insurance. Perhaps these people should wake up and live within their means, or a little below their means actually. This lady drove a very nice vehicle, lived in a very nice home, sported some BLING, and had a nice set of acrylic nails. Please, CBS; go to the people who REALLY need this mobile pediatrics unit and interview them: People who have LOST their homes, their unemployment benefits have run out, and are driving a vehicle that they pray doesn't break down. When times were rough for my family, we sold our home (took 16 months to sell it and that was before the recession was this bad), sold our jewelry except for our wedding rings, sold much of our furnishings as we went to a much smaller home. I have the internet because I am attending college; otherwise it would be a luxury as well! By the way, we did without health insurance for over a year.

[aabs]

This is exactly why we must all get out there and support HR 676 and S 703 in order to really reform our broken Healthcare system = these bills will give us SINGLE PAYER, Universal, Affordable Healthcare for EVERYONE ' and will save us Billions of dollars at the same time.
It will remove the insurance companies and their profit motive from all Healthcare.

[aabs]

This is exactly why we must all get out there and support HR 676 and S 703 in order to really reform our broken Healthcare system = these bills will give us SINGLE PAYER, Universal, Affordable Healthcare for EVERYONE ' and will save us Billions of dollars at the same time.
It will remove the insurance companies and their profit motive from all Healthcare.

[aabs]

This is exactly why we must all get out there and support HR 676 and S 703 in order to really reform our broken Healthcare system = these bills will give us SINGLE PAYER, Universal, Affordable Healthcare for EVERYONE ' and will save us Billions of dollars at the same time.
It will remove the insurance companies and their profit motive from all Healthcare.

[cathiemacdonald]

While it is heart-wrenching to see the plight of the children, did anyone notice the "rocks" in the mother's ears and her fake nails. I pay for my children's health care so I can't afford luxuries such as those.

[incog-nito]

Just another example why employment-based health care is stupid. Your health care coverage should not be determined by whether you work or not, whether your employer gives it to you or not, and what type of coverage your employer decides you should have. And it's not just the unemployed. The self-employed, the early retiree, the college student, those who are changing careers, and most importantly, people who come down with a major medical condition that forces them to quit working suddenly find themselves without coverage just when they need it the most. No wonder so many go bankrupt and are financially ruined because of health care issues.

Employment-based health care need to go away, the sooner the better.

[NancyLou9]

Uh, where's Dad in all of this? Being a single mom doesn't erase the fact there is a dad out there who should care enough about his kids to get insurance. Wanna bet she doesn't know or care? Wanna bet if he knew, he'd go for custody? This woman is being selfish, selfish, selfish denying her kids medical care because she needed the nice house and the nice car. Sell the house, rent an apartment, sell the car, buy a less expensive one, live on the proceeds until you get another job.

[number1GI]

It's called priorities

[bukeye3]

All I can say is I thank god I was born in the uk Health care is free paid by taxes and NO! children would have to suffer for the sake of money. Hope Obama goes further and follows our lead

[trisha19isu]

When we saw this story, my husband and I became very angry! This women is driving around in a $60,000 car and living in a very expensive house and she is saying she can't afford health insurance for her children. There are, in fact, many families who truly can not afford healthcare for their children, but can't get it because the resources are used up by people who choose to spend their money material items.

[LOL_AT_CBS]

This woman and other greedy people like her will bankrupt CHIP within the year. It happened before to children's health insurance in Texas and I guarantee it will happen again.