Elgin forum focuses on health care

How can America improve and reform its health care system?

It's a question that one could write a thesis on, and certainly a problem that can't be solved in one night or overnight.

But a group of about 40 Elgin-area residents met Tuesday night to share concerns and propose solutions as part of an information-gathering process for President-elect Barack Obama and his transition team.

"This isn't the end tonight. It's just the beginning of the process," said Tana Durnbaugh, chairwoman of the Elgin Area League of Women Voters health care committee.

Elgin resident Debbie Miller worked with the league to organize the forum, which was similar to hundreds if not thousands of others being held across the country.

Groups of residents shared horror stories and frustrations from their own experiences and those of loved ones and acquaintances to be compiled into a report and sent to Obama's transition team.

Solutions were not easy to come by, but concerns flowed freely.

Resident Len Lempa said having the profit be the main goal for doctors, insurance companies and hospitals has pushed the system to the verge of collapse.

"It's how can everyone make a buck," Lempa said, later adding "I think Americans should be ashamed of their health care system."

Laurel Bault agreed that people need to come before the bottom line. "It needs to be a for-care health care system, not a for-profit industry."

Some ideas presented were having employers pay enough taxes to support a public health care system, enhancing Medicare, having people accept more responsibility for their own well-being, and even having folks get insurance for differing levels of risk, such as protection against a catastrophe versus preventive medicine.

People who could not attend the forum but wish to share their stories, ideas and solutions may submit them online at change.gov.