Do You Think Socialized Medicine Is The Answer?

Question

With the rising cost of health care and the pitfalls of HMO. Should we take a cue from the UK...

Answer 1

Like everything Else it has it's Pros and Con's
I think it's a good idea,however there is a waiting list that can sometimes be years long depending on serious the condition is in. Then when your appointment comes up you can get bumped if a more serious condition comes in, then back on the list.
I'm all for socialized medicine even though all year long you have taxes for that taken out of you check on payday.

Answer 2

Here in Canada we have health care that is even more socialized than in the UK, and it's a mixed blessing. Taxes are astronomical to pay for it because everyone thinks it's "free". The best doctors leave the country because they can make much more money in the US (the government limits how much they can earn here). All things considered I think a mixed system is best: government-run for basics and for people who can't afford it; private for "frills" like cosmetic surgery or private rooms.

The biggest problem is that socialized medicine was invented at a time (1930's in Canada) when health care was very cheap because there wasn't much that doctors could actually do. All of the high tech machinery, procedures, and drugs that have been developed over the past few decades were unheard of then, and it's become apparent to everyone except politicians that we need to change the system to address the drastic increase in the types of medical care available.

Answer 3

The cost of healthcare is rising everywhere, and no country is able to manage it effectively. The countries with socialized medicine have been looking for other payers to help the state foot the ever-expanding bill. The problem isn't so much socialized or private medicine. The problem is how is anyone going to be able to pay for all this healthcare-- especially as the population in industrialized countries becomes older and older. I don't know the answer, but it's a hell of a big problem!

Answer 4

One word:

self-responsibility



With socialized medicine, it's easy to think, "Oh, I don't care, the government will pay for it."

Can one be self-responsible in the scheme of socialized medicine (or even the insurance deal in the USA)? Of course. It's the same reason that gives welfare it's situation...some use it to better their lives (and get off welfare) and some use it indefinately.

If you knew for a fact that when you turn 66, you were going to need open heart surgery and it was going to cost you $100,000 would you live your life any differently if:

a) the government would pay entirely for the surgery
b) you had to pocket the entire expense
c) you just died
d) health insurance paid for 50% of it

I'm certainly not the expert on health care and it's costs. I could go on and on being on my soapbox about how I think things should be different.

It's easy to blame...it's my genetics, it was an accident, I was young and stupid, I was old and feeble, it was his/her fault. I'm not here to say that everything is one's fault, nothing like that, it's just that we are conditioned (even saying that is blaming) in our society (at least the American one) to be quick to blame, instead of looking at IF there was a possibility that we could have responded differently...acted different, the list goes on.

Answer 5

Loving the question . . . . .
However the UK ain't got it all entirely rosy y'know.
The public medical system still relies on private medical companies to provide them with said medicine.
These companies spend vast amounts of money, just like they they do in the US, and then obviously this "cost" has to be accounted for in some way. (JUST DON'T GET ME STARTED ON CORRUPTION!!!)
anyway to take a recent example; (i know this could blantently get me into a lot of trouble)
there's been this new cancer drug; called herceptin ( I'm probably spelling it wrong)
The facts go a little something like this:
1) Company that produced it claim it's useful for SOME (yes only some and that's a small some statistically) cases of breast cancer.
2) Government testing agency (NICE) (No I'm not making this up!) have NOT yet (as far as I know) given it the OK.
3) It costs approx £1000 for a weeks dose, and has to be taken continuously.
4) The "company" (well?) even state that it only has minimal chance of actually ridding patient of cancer.
5) The media ( just love 'em ) told the population about this wonder drug, blantently blowing it out of all realistic proportions.
6) "Jane Doe" has breast cancer, and has read the papers.
She goes to the doc and says " please help; I'm dying"
Doc says "well, sorry there ain't much we can do"
Jane says " What about that herceptin?"
Doc says " actually, in your particular case it wouldn't really help much"
Jane Says " *&#$^"£$*!% B*!"^~ *!"~&$ !"*$&! "#%*&!*$@ %!£$*%& THIS I'm getting a lawyer!"
7)Off it goes to court, Jane wins, gets her drug, dies 6 and half months later.

The moral of the story is? > > > > > > ? ...... ? . . . . ?

Answer 6

That is a very compelling question Julii, however, my knowledge of socialize medicine is limited, so to offer an intelligent opinion would be impossible. I'll tell you one thing though, countries with socialized medicine do not want for anything. Everything is taken care of for them and at little or no cost to the recipient. Sounds like a better plan to me.

Answer 7

Sure, let's just go ahead and wreck the economy and give all control over our lives to the government. You DO want them to decide which doctor you can see and when you can have treatment or surgery DON'T you?

This seems like the answer, but only to the simple. When you look at the reality of how it actually works, (England, Canada, etc.) you can see that it is not an intelligent system. People from Canada often come over the border for needed care so they don't have to wait months and months for life saving care.

Answer 8

No. We need to put in the "Quick Clinics" and use generic drugs. and personally I would rather pay for my doc's kids new bimmer if I can see him with no notice and go to the doc I want. We also need to get legislation passed to stop frivolous Mal practice law suites that are the real reason that the cost is rising, because the insurance for all docs for Mal practice insurance is rising so they raise costs.

Answer 9

I don't think it's "THE" answer but I think it's a start.

I read yesterday that health insurance for a family of 4 in New York averages to about $900 a month.

Who can afford that?

Answer 10

Yes, socialized medicine seems to be working in Canada, New Zealand and otherparts of the globe and the U.S. system is sorely lacking and prohibitively expensive for so many folks.