Why can't New York state be in the forefront like Vermont? I love this idea!

I think the Vermont legislation is a great step in the right direction. I look forward to evryone in this nation having access to high quality, affordable health care. I believe a single payer system is the best way to accomplish this goal.

I agree. It is about time for insurance companies to be held accountable. BCBS of Alabama holds an 80% market share for major medical policies in Alabama. BCBS of AL dictates to the state instead of the other way around. Bring on a single payor system and watch private insurance carriers start reducing premiums in order to be competitive.

Another boondoggle that will explode out of ccontrol. We all know that the goernment cannot run a Health Insrance Program or any other program efficiently. At least people who have common sense and don't sit on the couch and watch Sitcoms etc and all those who want the government to hold thier hand know. Here we go again thosands of state emplyoees will be hired to run the program, will be overpaid, underworked, great benefits and unfunded generous pension and strong unions to help keep thier jobs and increase thier pay and benes.

Bravo for having the courage to attempt to move beyond the traditional health care sytem controlled by the disingenuous insurance industry. There will be glitches along the way, but have the fortitude to persevere past the ignorant criticisms that you will no doubt have to face. Best of luck.
R.B. Schulltz M.D.

This is a good idea. Hope it works in a smaller state and can be applied to larger ones later.

Go Cananda!!!

What a great day for all the citizens of Vermont. No longer will the patients be at the mercy of their health insurance. No longer will the patient's care be dictated by double digit profits for shareholders!

What a great day for bums who don't work! Those who do work will have big tax increases to pay for health care for deadbeats who contribute NOTHING to society.

Maybe this will help the tea partiers swallow the bitter tea they are serving in Washington DC over medicare. Many other nations in the world have one payor systems and they love it, even if they pay for it. All humans in the world need to have affordable health care that is not in the hands of those after all the profits they can get at the expense of someones health care. Go VERMONT!!

Hurrah for State's rights!! A perfect testing ground... Just be prepared for a mass exodus of working residents when the taxes start going up... Where is the evidence that "many people in the world love their one-payor system?" Have you ever talked with Canadians? I have. They "wait" and "wait" for ACCESS to care. This is the REALITY !! Americans like instant/real-time action...

Worried about Medicare??? There are $500 MILLION DOLLARS already being CUT for CURRENT benficiaries by the Affordable Care Act that is now LAW. The Ryan plan is ONLY a plan NOT a LAW. Beware of the Political Ploy to distract with the Ryan Plan to HIDE the REAL Medicare CUTS in the Affordable Care Law...

We, as citizens and residents of USA, must ask our representatives why they broke the government. They have been Senators or Representatives for many years - who gave them permission to break the system?

The government is our structure and process to provide for our safe environment. And, no, it is not cheap. People won't do it for free. Some of our neigbors don't even clean up their own mess. But, it should not be an investors paradise. Happiness is a personal responsibility.

We as, participants in the current healthcare system, must pay enough money to cover the CEO's salries (some as high as $20+ million )first before we cover "our" healthcare costs. If we can afford that then we can afford $20 -$30/hr "government" workers. We will not be covering the profit margin for the investors.

Marilyn, I know you would not want to be one of those "bums" (frequently service men and women with brain damage). The bum's care is usually covered by local property taxes in County hospitals. The more expensive your home the higher your "donation" to the county - Medicaid - system.

James and Terri, who gave you a guarantee you will never need your neighbor's help. Look at tornado alley. Did you know that help with elderly is about $200.00 per day (live-in or nursing homes). Please think before you repeat in accurate information. I see people at their most vulnerable in the emergency department and don't begrudge them the help they need. There but for the grace of (your)god go I.

So tell me what the Government either State or Federal has done and it has worked without increasing taxes and has been monitored?

Single-payor is the way to go. Healthcare is part of the nation's infrastructure. Currently it's in the same condition the roads were in before the Interstates were built. We need a coherent system incorporating education and motivation so that people will take better care of their health, and systematizing diagnosis & referral so that care gets to patients who need it A big caveat, though: Citizens need to realize that if they want to live in an advanced nation, i.e., one that treats health care like the human right that it is, they need to be willing to pay the costs for services, i.e., taxes. Nothing in our infrastructure comes free.