Living in a country with a national health service, I can't imagine having to pay for treatment if I fell ill and had to have an operation or whatever...No one chooses to become sick, it just seems so unfair to me!
2006-08-30 09:36:07 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Lol, I do actually realise that we pay for the NHS through taxes by the way, but that is far cheaper than having to pay every time you went to the doctor, especially since the amount you are taxed is dictated by the amount you earn, so it's never mroe than you can afford.
I dispute the idea that we have a lower standard of living and higher unemployment too, unemployment is defintely higher in the US than the UK (where I'm from, btw) and I'm pretty sure standard of living is fairly equal if not better, dependent on where in the country you live....As for the UK having higher taxes, I'm not so sure on that one, any figures to confirm?
2006-08-30 10:01:20 · update #1
Also, arguments about 'choice' are redundant, the NHS allows you to choose out of 5 hospitals for any outpatient or inpatient appointment.
2006-08-30 10:06:39 · update #2
It is unfair, but at least big businesses can profit instead of ordinary people, and that's what our country is all about.
2006-08-30 09:41:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 5⤋
I'm not American but I've spent a lot of time there and really some of these answers are amazing, some people can be so duped by free market propaganda that they say something like this ' you ARE paying for it - in the form of higher taxes, higher unemployment and lower standards of living.' Don't you know you have a lower standard of living because you are able to go to hospital!? it just defies logic.
Do all you people (i really do hate to generalise like this) who say i prefer choice, the free market mechanism for everything honetly feel that assistance is not neccesary in some aspects? Can you not realise the fact that healthcare is a right not a priviledge of those who can afford it? A kid born into a poor family doesnt deserve a playstation because the rich kid has one but doesnt he deserve the same treatment if he breaks his leg or happens to be born with Downs syndrome? come on.
2006-08-30 17:00:27 · answer #2 · answered by marco_syco 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have never objected to paying for health service or paying for health insurance but now I object to the ridiculous gouging by the drug companies, pharmacies, hospitals, health equipment providers and doctors. There has to be something that can be done to stop these groups from charging unlimited, and often outrageous, amounts for services and supplies . The elderly depend on Medicare and/or Medicaid for their medical needs and often the co-pays and drugs not covered by these insurance policies cause the elderly to have to choose between medical care and food. America needs health reform but what has been recommended hasn't been an improvement over the mess we already have. There needs to at least be a cap on the percentage of increase over the actual cost of drugs, supplies, and equipment that companies, hospitals, and pharmacies are allowed to charge.
2006-08-30 16:48:19 · answer #3 · answered by missingora 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not fun paying for something you can't afford, just to walk in the door to see a Doctor is 80 to 100 dollars, then if he does anything add another 100, lab another 2 to 300. So in one day you could pay 500 or more to see a Doctor, I try to go to a clinic for low income people, but that can be expensive also if they need lab work. It is unfair, but if you can't afford it then you can get on Media-cal if you are real poor. Sucks doesn't it.
2006-08-30 17:08:56 · answer #4 · answered by hexa 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is so unfair. One of the richest countries in the world and more than half the people have no healthcare. Our government is always ready with a handout to foreign countries or illegal immigrants, but those of us who can't afford health care go without. I know people who have lost their homes because they couldn't afford a hospital bill and a lien was placed on their house that they have lived in for years. I am 62 years old and cannot afford health care at over 600.00 a month, but I have to wait until I am 65 in order to get medicare. Hope I stay healthy until then. Thanks for the intelligent question.
2006-08-30 16:42:49 · answer #5 · answered by sassyk 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, technically you do pay in the form of taxes.
But I think it's appalling that out of all the industrialized nations in the world, the US and South Africa are the *only* countries that don't guarantee health care for their citizens.
2006-08-30 16:43:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the US you can get heath care with out having to pay. By the way how does it feel to be told you must Wait 6 months to a year for that non emergent operation? In the US your put on for the next week.
You pay for it to it is in your taxes.
With the government over seeing your heath care just who over sees witch pool the money comes form? Your heath care or the life ins. co.?
2006-08-30 16:56:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually you DO pay for your healthcare, you just do it with higher taxes. I have some friends in Canada who have told me they would die trying to get to an American hospital before they went to one of the state healthcare ones. We have charity hospitals and clinics here that people can go to who can't afford health insurance. Even the best hospitals have to take in a certain amount of indigents to maintain their charitable status. So its a misunderstanding that we do not have free healthcare in this country. Besides I would much rather pay 22% income tax every year and pay for healthcare insurance and get to CHOOSE the doctor and hospital I go to. Than to pay over 45% in taxes every year and not get to choose.
2006-08-30 16:46:52 · answer #8 · answered by Claire52 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's really not the issue whether people choose to be sick, the issue is control. How much control will your government have over your health care program. If you think you aren't paying for healthcare, I find that you haven't been looking at your tax disbursements from your paycheck.
2006-08-30 16:49:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is against all sound principles of freedom, liberty, and the Constitution to be forced to pay for others' medical treatment.
And, since you seem quite unaware of it, you ARE paying for it - in the form of higher taxes, higher unemployment and lower standards of living.
2006-08-30 16:43:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Really.. Then why do some many Canadians come to the US to be treated? I hear the wait on some surgeries can be up to six months. Besides, we have free healthcare if you don't want to pay for it , its called The Public Health Department .
2006-08-30 16:48:23 · answer #11 · answered by bereal1 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋