It's estimated one third of Americans are either without health insurance or underinsured. According to USA Today, this results in thousands of deaths each year. 
  
     Saturday, one local doctor tried to rally support for single-payer healthcare, also known as universal healthcare. But, not everyone at the meeting agreed it was the best idea. 

     Healthcare, it's a hot button issue. One thing most folks agree on is that it needs to be reformed. "Certainly there are problems in our healthcare industry. In my opinion it's the high cost of healthcare," said Dr. Chris Wilkinson.
 
     But, he doesn't agree with the single payer system pitched in Saturday's meeting. Proponents, however, say it's the best way. "We think basically a system that would cover all Americans. In a form of Medicare-for-All," said Dr. Ahmed Kutty.
 
     Dr. Wilkinson's idea, bringing back a free market. This is something he feels Medicare took away. "It doesn't matter what I charge, the government sets the prices. Insurance companies
have followed their lead. I can charge whatever I want, but I get paid whatever they're willing to give me," he said.
 
     Dr. Kutty says that's why this will work. The new system would be funded the same way Medicare is, taking a tax deduction from both employee and employer. "It's been estimated that it will be about 2-3% for employee and about 4-5% from the employer."
 
     But it wouldn't leave anyone in the dark. Folks wouldn't be turned away if they weren't able to pay. Although opponents say they weren't denied before. "Back before Medicare, people got taken care of. It was fee for service. Two adults discussing the best thing to do for the patient," said Wilkinson.
 
    President Obama hopes to have legislation for healthcare reform on his desk by the end of summer. It's unknown which side he'll take.

Reporter's Notes by Laurie Dutcher:
  
"This plan, publically funded healthcare, is no different than many other areas of our life that are covered by a public payment plan," said Kutty. His examples: public education, Medicare, and the military.

Kutty also addresses the idea of the system being socialist, "That is a misnomer and a scare tactic used by opponents of the system. If that definition is used then the Pentagon and the military is the biggest socialized enterprise, because we are spending trillions of publically funded money on the military."
 
"I think this is not a good model because it treats people as groups. Society is best served by individuals helping and serving other individuals. In my opinion, departing from that model is going to make healthcare more expensive and poorer quality," Wilkinson said.

Several other countries already have universal healthcare. "About 26 other industrialized nations of the world. In fact, we are the only major advanced country that does not have a publically funded universal healthcare system," Kutty explained. His examples: Canada, the majority of Western Europe, Japan and Taiwan.

President Obama plans to sign some form of healthcare reform by October.

To have your opinion heard, write your local member of Congress:

Representative Adrian Smith

In the House, HR 676 (Improved Medicare-for-All) is being debated.

Or your state senators:

Senator Ben Nelson or Senator Mike Johanns.

In the Senate, S 703 (to provide healthcare for all) is being debated.