Here I go again. I worked all of my life. Was widowed in 1981 and had three teenaged daughters to raise and educate. I accomplished this by working in an almost exclusive male field, in sales in order to get paid top dollar. I paid lots of taxes and my children(two of which have advanced degrees and the other owns her own bridal business) and grandchildren are going to have the same opportunities I have enjoyed.

All who know me , know that I'm just a smidge above your raving socialist.

I am covered under Medicare and have a supplemental private policy. I see an internist, cardiologist and nephrologist on a regular basis. I have paid -0- zero zilch out of pocket expense for the doctor visits and all related tests I've had to undergo since my retirement, including the OSA Fantasia Run. Payed zippo for my Cpap and zippo for all the supplies I receive on a routine basis.

I count my blessings everyday and give all of the time I can to many charities. I wish everyone could have the care I receive. It could all stop tomorrow, but I think I would drag myself up by my bootstraps and work on the next phase of whatever life God has in store for me.

It ain't a "rose garden", but I wasn't promised one. As for Obama, it won't be 'his" socialized medicine...it will be yours and mine=the taxpayers. Make the best of whatever you get. BTW my lemon-ade stand needs a bailout.

Love and best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving from your cyber friend. JuJu

JMHO, our government doesn't run the health care system although there is no doubt that it has a lot of influence. Our system is cheaper and much more equitable and, of course, we have problems. HMOs and insurance based systems have problems too - all I have to do is to read the threads here to know that.

JuJu, you gotta be a bank to get a bailout! Maybe if you renamed it JuJu's Bank and Lemonade Stand, it would help?

life support for banks.

We should be so lucky that anyone in Washington is giving serious thought to addressing access to health care.

I get tired of knee-jerk reactions of any hint of Democratic health care initiatives as "Socialized Medicine." However much truth there may be in that, I question how many OSA patients can point to the management of their care and say. "Now there's a sterling example of free-market capitalism at its most efficient!"

Free markets depend on equal access to information. Do YOU have all the access you need to the information that determines the cost of your care?

If you have insurance that pays for CPAP gear, try this experiment: When reordering, ask the representiative "How much does my FaceClamp Model K mask cost? I want to know before I reorder." Let me know if you got a direct answer.

I am encouraging folks with sleep apnea... particularly those who are voters in the United States... to express you opinion about diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea to members of the transition committee for the incoming administration.

For the overview of the President-elect's health care reform plan and a link to share your opinion click here - http://change.gov/agenda/health_care_agenda/

We (the apnea community) have an opportunity to speak up and raise awareness about the seriousness of sleep apnea to the health care policy people in the new administration.

Thank you and best wishes for the holidays,

Edward Grandi

P.S. I firmly believe we can make a difference... call me a $!@# optimist, but if we don't speak up... things will never change and people we know and care about will suffer needlessly.

P.S.S. I am here in DC... let me help you speak with your elected representatives... health care reform is coming... let's get in on the ground floor.

I'd not seen this change.gov website before, so thanks for pointing it out.

It's refreshing to see an online source of information from the Presiident-elect's transition team, on a host of topics, each with an avenue to voice comments.
More to read, more to read.... I better get crackin!



Linda