Do you support Obama's health care plan?

Yes, I do, although I should point out that President Obama does not have a specific plan. He has outlined several goals that he wants Congress to include in a health care plan, but he has left the debate and writing up to Congress. Still, I think his idea of bringing competition to the marketplace and reducing costs is great.

What is end of life planning?

End of life planning is when an individual's primary care physician talks with the individual about his/her end of life wishes; for example, if a patient were to have a severe cardiac arrest, would s/he want CPR or would s/he prefer to not be resuscitated? This was a big discussion in my family, particularly after the Terri Shiavo matter several years ago. As a result of that, both of my grandparents changed their end of life documents with the help of an attorney.

I have health care insurance through my employer. Why should I care about the uninsured?

You should care because you're paying for them. When the uninsured receive health care - and can't pay for it - the cost is spread among those who have insurance, either though higher costs of care and/or higher insurance premiums. Also, if you were to lose your job, you would qualify for your employer's health care plan under a federal law called COBRA, but you would have to pay the monthly premium that had been paid by your former employer. And most people cannot afford the premium. Finally, insurance is part of your compensation package. Simply put, that means that as the cost of insurance rises, employers cut back on salary increases and other benefits.

Is this really a problem in my community? Are there really that many uninsured people?

Yes, it is a problem, particularly in areas that have a high concentration of low skill, low wage jobs. These jobs typically do not offer benefits, such as health insurance. The number of people in low skill jobs is increasing, as is the number of individuals who have poor credit due to unpaid medical bills. This creates a cycle of poverty that is quite difficult to break out of. It is estimated that over 14,000 Americans lose their health care coverage every day.

What's the difference among single payer, public option, and insurance cooperatives?

A single payer plan is one where the government pays for health care for all its citizens and runs the health care system. Single payer plans have been around for decades, and in the countries that have one, most people really like them.

The public option would be a government-run insurance plan that would compete in the marketplace with existing insurers. People would have an opportunity to buy insurance through this plan. The existing health care system would remain unchanged, but more people would have access to insurance, some with considerable public subsidy.

An insurance cooperative is a member-owned insurance company and is similar to a credit union. The people that buy insurance through the cooperative literally own it, and they run it by voting in a board of directors.

What's next in this debate?

Congress will reconvene in September and both houses will debate differing health care bills. If both chambers pass a bill, it's likely that the bills will be different and will have to be reconciled, so that one bill is given to the president. The process could be quick (over by October) or it could last through December.

What's a Death Panel?

It's a five member group, comprised of Sarah Palin, Bill O'Reilly, Charles Grassley, Dick Cheney, and Orly Taitz, who want to scare the hell out of people. (Just kidding)