National health care anyone?

So here is what nationalized medicine can do for you....in an article entitled, "Court Weighs Alzheimer Drug Access Issue" from today's AP wire service, the story is told how many of Britain's alzheimer sufferers are are being denied access to drugs that can potentially slow the progress of the disease.

By allowing national medical officials to make the decisions based on cost-benefit analysis, these individuals have been denied access to the medicine that can allow people who are recently diagnosed with the disease to begin immediate treatment so that they can continue to take care of themselves and live a more productive life for a longer time. Is this what we want in the United States? While it's a seductive idea to have all medical treatment paid for by a national health care plan, this is the downside of that plan. Once the government (even if it's through an insurance program) becomes the buyer of medical services on our behalf, it has the right (and responsibility) to determine what care, how much, and how much it will pay for that care. It takes away our ability to make our own health care decisions.

While it is essential that we develop a plan that makes health care more affordable for everyone, the Clinton health plan is not it!! Any plan developed must put the decision-making process in our hands. The money should be ours, such as in a Medical Savings Account. This means that if the government wants to make tax dollars available to every citizen, the money must be given to each citizen for them to spend as they see fit. Perhaps a "Health Care Debit Card" can be pre-loaded and given to each citizen to use. These cards can only be processed at health care facilities, pharmacies, and doctor's offices. There is a potential for fraud, but look at our current Medicare and Medicaid system.....

Thoughts anyone?