Our country is facing a huge reform in something that is immensely important - healthcare. Because we are looking at a major overhaul to something that is very important to the people of this country, this is a big deal and of course everyone is working hard to get it done right. This overhaul needs to happen, there is no question about it, but as always, the devil is in the details.

The misunderstandings and misrepresentations during this debate is what is confusing many Americans. Of course, the basic philosophical differences between Democrats (who think the government should be MORE involved in their citizen's lives) and the Republicans (who think government should be LESS involved) are shining through as well. Usually the back and forth between the two parties really frustrates me, but in this case, I am glad that we are trying to think about this by going over it with a fine tooth comb. However, the crazy lies being spread to try to scare people away from one type of reform is not ok.

One of the touchy topics is coverage in the public plan for end-of-life situations. Phrases like "Death Panel" have been thrown around, but it's just not true. The fear lies in the idea that people near the end of life will be counseled to reject treatment options in order to save the government money. David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, said the concern ignores that the current system pays doctors and hospitals more money for providing more, rather than less, care at the end of life.

The best thing to do? We need to stay informed so that we can fight for what we need and avoid plaguing the system. This is a great article for dispelling myths and understanding exactly what Obama's plan can do for us. Although you may have private insurance now, and you think this may not apply to you, in reality a change in a fundamental part of our lives like this will affect us all. We need to stay on top of it.

What parts of the health care plan concern you? What parts do you think should be non-negotiable?

Sources

Misconception over key issues at core of debate, SFGate.com

Myths and Falsehoods about Health Care Reform, MediaMatters.org