universal healthcare for America a good idea or no?

Question

I am writiing a paper about universal healthcare. I know that Vermont and Massechusetts have made it possible in their states, but that the system might not work so well for a dense population like California. What do you think? Is it a good idea to have the government provide healthcare regardless of employment status? Funding would come from an income tax raise.

Answer 1

I think it's a good idea... if anyone is paying for their own insurance... they know how extremely high it is... and that a raise in taxes most likely wouldn't be anywhere near what they are currently paying for health insurance...

Chainsaw: if you ever talked to anyone in those nations.. you know it doesn't take months to see a doctor... and are you guys saying that health care isn't a financial burden in the U.S.?

Answer 2

It depends on the plan and how its structured. What the tax raise is, what benefits, etc. etc.

Most/all who have healthcare insurance are paying premiums anyway. Plus the employers pay for it as well.

Many small businesses cannot afford to pay health insurance and so their employees or even the owners have none.

It could work if large groups and related pricing were put in place and joining were optional. Plans similar to current HMO's, PPO's etc. would need to be around too. Choice to some extent would need to be preserved.

Gov. for the most part should stay out of it. Each state, should have a super-group that people can buy into to get better pricing.

Problem is, the root causes are not being dealt with. Health care costs have had double digit growth for that last several years (at least).

Answer 3

Yes, the government should provide care, as essentially we do anyway, just in a different way, and there are pockets of people who get poor care until they are really sick and go to an ER and we end up paying for them anyway!

There is no reason to raise taxes, in fact it would probably be cheaper. Where you would get your money is from:

current employers share for those covered already!

Be like Gieco and eliminate the middle men! There are thousands of HMO's who are paying their CEO's, like Anthem, 2 Million in Salary and 12 Million as a bonus, while they raise their rates. And they have at least 4 people making over 1 million a year. In addition, the pay shareholders! That is all money coming OUT of the system for healthcare, but not a dime of it is being paid FOR medical expenses!

Governments portions for Medicaid and Medicare can be used,

Consolidate Hillburton Funds, which are funs that hospitals give for free care as part of them accepting government construction money!

Consolidation of some services. I live in an area that within 100 miles there are at least 20 hospitals that can do open heart surgery and at least 8 that can do heart transplants! Do we really need that many within that small an area!

Eliminate inflateds bills! Hospitas, though non-profit as far as the government is concerned, they make a LOT of money!

A lot of the people who are administrators of hospitals make a lot of money, which is not necessary, and the spend thei money to become a zero balance at the end of the year in stupid ways. We could truly make them non profit! $10,00 for an aspiren! plese!

Why do people automatically assume that their has to be a tax! There are a lot of places to get the money and it might not be necessary to raise taxes at all! Of course, there will be a lot of people who are making a killing right now would be among the jobless, which isn't all bad!! They can find anoyher field or work at McDonalds or minimum wage, like the other side always says about the non employed. Of course those laid off in the higher echelons should not have an issue with money if the were making 14 Million a year off of you!

Answer 4

Based on the healthcare system in Canada and the UK, I don't believe a universal system would work. People in Canada sometimes have to wait six months to have an operation. Rich people just go to their specialist anytime they want. Off course the have to pay, but ther're rich. A universal healthcare system, would drive the best doctors into private practice, where they can make big bucks, not settling for fees set by the government. The more government involvement, the worse are the services. We now have government involvement in the U.S. in the form of medicare and medicaid. It's not as bad as other countries, but it is going broke and services are being cut back as we speak. I believe Sweden has a universal system, but they pay 50% of their income in taxes. There is no free lunch.

Answer 5

Income tax raise, and how much of a raise are we talking. How much more can you afford to have taken out of your check each week to not only afford your health care but every other person in the state. From what I understand of what Massachusetts is doing is if you are over a certainly salary you have to pay for you own health care. Do they still get taxed to death too? I am against universal health care. If you want to fix the problem you need to cap payouts & you need to cut insurance premiums which are killing doctors and healthcare. Until you fix the problem I will not support any program that wants us to just throw money at it. That is piss poor managment and totally irresponsible use of the tax payers money.

Answer 6

Yes, of course it would! Every person should be entitled to health care reguardless of their income or social status. Every other industrialized country in the world provides health care for ALL of their citizens. Why not America? I believe that access to health care for all should be a human right. Not a luxuary for the few who are blessed with insurance or money. Thousands of people die yearly in America from diseases that are curable just because they don't have the money to go and see a doctor. By the time they are sick enough to go to the E.R. (The E.R. can't refuse care to critically ill people) a lot of them are well into advanced stages of diseases. I personally would be willing to take a cut in pay and pay higher taxes to ensure heathcare for all Americans. Before I went to college at age 34 I didn't have health insurance. For 11 YEARS I had bad attacks of abdominal pain and vomiting about a dozen or more times a year. The E.R. would stabilize me and send me home.
My last attack was critical, my gall bladder burst and caused peritonitis. I had emergency surgery at 3A.M. If I would have had insurance I would have been tested for the problem years earlier when it could have been taken care of with medication. Guess what? I now have insurance and four months ago I went into the E.R. with severe abdominal pain. I was immediately given pain medicine and sent for a CT Scan. What was the difference between then and now? MONEY!!! What a shame! I am willing to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure that nobody else ever has to suffer like I did. Universal Health Care might mean longer waiting times to get in to see a doctor for nonemergency care, but at least we wouldn't have people dying and suffering from curable ailments.

Answer 7

Of course I think it's a great idea. For the money that we're spending per second in Iraq (it was reported that the US is spending $6,300 per second in Iraq in today's New York Times) a small part of those funds could provide Universal Healtcare in the US. Not only would it improve the lives of our fellow citizens, but it would also return dollars diectly into the American economy. Those dollars that are being spent for healthcare are going directly to the American communities through service, cost of equipment etc. It just makes sense all the way around.

Answer 8

We have universal healthcare for the elderly, it's called medicare. It is a system rampant with graft and greed. It is causing such a rapid increase in the payroll tax that they are considering ending for people who can afford to but health care on their own.

Answer 9

It would be a good idea, but the government doesn't care for good ideas because it doesn't line there slimy pockets. They tried in the 80's to pass it forget which presidents wife pushed for it shows my age lol. Anyway everything would have to be regulated by the government and the pharmeceutical comapanies and the people who have special interests in these things would lose there shirts so they will never let it happen

Answer 10

My answer would be no for a number of reasons. Research the pros & cons of the healthcare system in canada to fingure out what your position would be. I'm guessing you might have to go with "yes" if you want to get a passing grade.

Answer 11

Who's going to pay for it. Why should more of my taxes and those of other hard working Americans go to pay for someone elses needs. Many of us choose our careers and employers with the benefits in mind.

They can buy a new big screen, cell phone, car or two, but have no money to pay for their health care. Just doesn't seem fair to those of us that do.