Comment: Will health care providers/hospitals be forced to perform abortions or face consequences? I believe abortion will be considered "general health care" and funded by tax payer dollars. Is this true? And lastly, what % of Americans are opposed to abortion? by C

Comment: I want to know 'exactly' how the healthcare plan will work as it relates to Seniors. from Standish, ME by Beverley

Comment: 1) Is the plan going to change the part of healthcare that is not broken or only address the gaps that exist? 2) How does the plan compare to the Canadian system? 3)Any cost cutting method will affect quality of care, how will the plan affect the standard of care we have now? If the quality doesn't suffer how will costs be contained? 4)Will there be long wait times as there are in Canada? 5) Given the state of the Social Security System, should't government fix that before we (the people) also entrust our health care system to them? from Auburn Maine by Gary

Comment: i believe health care for all is a good idea. That being said, why does the federal government believe that the individual states are not able to run their own health care communities? massachusetts has started this and even with its implosions it probably has a better chance of reacting to circumstances and managing its system than washington politicans and lobbeys can. do you really believe that a committe in D.C. can solve the health care needs of a community in alaska, hawaii, and mississippi better than local control could? this program , plus others, are presented with pie-in-the sky projections of how they will be paid for. that ALWAYS turns out to be a lie. not just a lie , but lies that are off by factors of tens. probably not one senator or rep that votes for the bill will give up their private insurance or golden federal employee insurance and put themselves and their family, unconditionally, into the new federal health care social commune. plus, the reps admit no one has read the whole bill, an admittedly difficult thing to do, but maybe they should do it anyway instead of spinning reasons why they don't. question- why not let the states do it? and don't tell me because its because the fed plan will save money. from freeport by ron

Comment: Who will be eligible? How expensive will it be? What kind of coverage will be provided? from South Paris by L

Comment: How are they going to pay for it without middle class tax increases? from Whitefield by Marc

Comment: What would the government do differently then other countries that have universal health care, and how will they pay for it without raising taxes? from Lisbon, Maine by Justin

Comment: The Debate and issue with health care has been going on as long as I can remember. In the nutshell we should adopt the same type of system that Canada has, a social medicine system. Doctors salaries are capped at no more than $65,000 a year. Live up to the oath that they took during med school, it's not about making money, it's about helping people. If you don't really want to do that, then go find another job. With some of these issues in mind we could save Billions a year, and cover every person in America that want's to be covered, with decent health care coverage. Another aspect is the insurance companies and the fraud that is rampant thru that system. It's not the patience causing it, the health insurance companies have no one to blame for that but themselves. Contract with Canadian pharmacutical companies, forget the US companies, they have been screwing us for years.Because to them it's all about profit not the betterment of humanity. from Parsonsfield,ME by Clem

Comment: I dont have a question i just dont want his health plan i have no insurance but feel his plan would not be good. why do we need a major over hall of the system why not some fine tweaks here and there and try to fix it that way first. look at all the other countrys that have socialised medicine its fine if you cut your finger or break and arm but wait till your in your 60s and 70s and you need your hip replaced and they tell you well we dont really have the money for that or your realy not a productive part of society so we cant do that now you say it wont happen blah blah blah so lets look at public schools and public saftey the min. somesays we need to cut back those are first places every one starts if you think they wont start with heath care once they have there hands in it. Or look at it this way they want a private option well say they tell the red sox that they are now in charge of baseball they make the rules to make it a more far league you dont think the red sox wont stack the deck in there favor you cant have the ones making the rules also the ones running the compition but as the liberal gut less media that you all have become wont say boo to obama or stand up and say this doesnt make sence then well be stuck with what they give us hope i never get really sick from Limington Maine by Jason

Comment: Will legislators give up their great private health coverage and retirement programs and take the socialized health plan they are proposing for us? Also will they join Social Security and give up their current retirement plan? from waldoboro by carl

Comment: What makes you think the govt can run a program of this size when it can't run anyother program as efficent as the private sector. Nothing will be equal or fair no matter what. Get use to it. from Wells by Tim

Comment: Why are you trying to push this "reform" bill through so fast? Why can't the Congress have ample time to review and research in order to make sure this is the course of action we should take? by sarah

Comment: I want government to stay out of the private sector. Everything they touch fails. Look at the programs - Social Security which is going bankrupt. The bailouts for the auto industry. We don't even have to look very far to see how expensive socialized healthcare costs. Look at the failing Dirigo Health program. And this is one of the programs they want to use as a model. Are you kidding me! I like my healthcare the way it is. I say to the government. Stay out of the public sector and out of my life! from Lebanon, ME by Bryan

Comment: Why isn't Tort Reform a part of this? Actually Tort Reform should come first. from Saco, Maine by Greg

Comment: I would like a strong public option to compete with the health insurance companies. I am afraid that if there is no public option, the private insurance companies will continue to gouge the public with increase in rates and abusive practices. The government is already very involved in health care that we receive every day - and does a good job in keeping Americans safe from abusive health care practices. Unfortunately, in states such as Florida, with a rapidly aging population, there may be more abuse than in Maine or New Hampshire I am an RN. In fact, if reform does not pass, the for-profit health insurance industry will become even more abusive. Those of us who are paying insurance premiums right now are paying for all the lobbying they are doing now to destroy health care reform. They are desperately trying to save their own necks and jobs. from Standish by Maurie

Comment: Is there anyone looking at a worse case scenario if our projections for the cost of health care is wrong? If so, what are those projections and what are the plans to counter those problems. from Westbrook, ME by Daniel

Comment: How can such an enormous plan not come with a high price tag. How will it be paid? How would the plan run? Would their be a limit as to who is covered for what services? Why the hurry? etc. from Augusta, Maine by Suzanne

Comment: Why do you think we the common people would be pleased to be controled by the government? I am very scared of the consequences on us ,who are seniors. from Otisfield,Me. by EVELYN

Comment: Why do you hate capitalism so much, why are you trying to destroy this country and all it stands for? What are you on an agenda to ruin the lives of millions who work hard and deserve to keep what they earned? P.S. How was that $75,000 night in Mew York, or those trips to Europe for your family? Are you enjoying the taxpayers dollars? by Ryan

Comment: health care is all about big business making big profits!All the medical facilities should be allowed to make 12 percent profit like the defense industries.I would like news 13 to report on this so the public knows whre their money is going. Thanks: from me. by frank

Comment: before health care lets ask and get proof if hes even qualified to be the U.S. President, which I dought! MR. Obama lets see your birth certificate that so conviently is not being shown! from Casco by Rick

Comment: Will Congress and the President be subject to the reformed health care system? from Canton by Joe

Comment: Given that the President, congespersons and senators are the citizens employees, why is it that we are providing them with a health insurance plan that far exceeds what is available to the average US citizen, especially those that are un or under employed? from bolton, MA by fred

Comment: If this health plan is so great, why did Congress exempt itself from having to participate? from Winslow by John

Comment: I want to know why medical liability reform is not on the table. According to the American Tort Reform Association, "the practice of "defensive medicine" as a means of reducing or avoiding tort liability is a major contributor to health care cost." by Ellen

Comment: Do you really think that you are qualified to answer questions about pending legislation that even those responsible for creation and passage haven't read and are completely ignorant of both the implications and the outcome? Did they give you a copy of their talking points? from s. paris, me by c

Comment: we should be doing something about illegl imagration frist there are 12 million illegls in the USA and thats a big cost that needs to be taken care of then we can afford health care. from Cornish, Me. by Albert

Comment: what insentive is O'bama's plan going to have to our young people to go into the health field? from Augusta by Michael

Comment: Isn't this still America? We still should be allowed to have a right to have the freedom to choose to see a doctor or not and to live.The price of this dangerous plan is another way to kill this country . I truly don't see that you are proud of this country . You are doing what you can to destroy us. The seniors still pay taxes too you know.we are not just stupid ,worthless people. We the people voted you in!It is clear that our voices are not important! You just want control.You forget that you work for us.. I am so scared and terribly upset thinking of the consequences of your plan! from Otisfield,Me. by EVELYN

Comment: Can Obama gaurantee that the private health insurance that he says I will be able to continue to buy will; 1). the present benefits continue un-abated? and that the premiums will continue to be affordable? from Kennebunkport, ME by Freeland K.

Comment: My biggest issue is cost. I recently lost my cobra insurance because I could not afford the premium. The insurance companies have the public over the barrel. They have a monopoly so you must pay the cost if you want coverage. If you are unemployed like I am, I am trying to pay my bills and stay afloat. Can't afford insurance until I return to work. from Harrison/ Maine by Marina

Comment: Will we taxpayers be forced to fund abortions? from Rockland, ME by William