What is the difference between socialized medicine and universal health care, if there is a difference?

Question

I heard this on ABC news a few weeks ago where some guy was talking about the current state of USA's health care system. He felt that America could function better if we adopted a system of "universal coverage." He then went on to say that universal coverage didn't mean socialized medicine.

So what defines universal coverage AND socialized medicine? Is there a difference between the two? Which one is right for America?

Answer 1

universal health care means everyone in a country has health insurance (I believe this is the system in Germany). Socialized medicine is where the government owns and runs all the hospitals and pays all the Doctors

Answer 2

There is no difference if you are talking about the government run programs which the Democrats are trying to push on us. The Democratic Party has been taken over by the Socialists just like the Republican Party has been taken over by the Religious Right. Neither represents the majority opinion of the American people. Look at any banana republic with its socialist dictator and tell me if you think socialized anything is right for America. Look at the former Soviet Union with its long lines to purchase the necessities of life at the one government owned store. - if those necessities were even available since the workers had no incentive to produce them. The heart of Socialism is the idea that wealth (or poverty) should be distributed equally. So the worker will get his or her share of the pie whether he produces needed goods or not. The story goes that a man was looking through a store in a European country and complained to the store owner, "Look at the price of a loaf of bread." " In my country stores would not be allowed to charge prices like that." To which the store owner replied, " Well, why don't you buy bread in your country then?" The shopper replied, "Oh, there are no bakers in my country !" The next time anybody tells you that this country has the best health care in the world, the problem is that some can't afford it, think of the baker. Under socialized medicine if you are dying you will have to stand in long lines waiting for health care. If it is even available the doctor is working only because the government forced him to go where he was needed. There is a slim possibility that the health care industry will come up with its own plan of wide if not universal coverage. The rest of the slack could be taken up by private charities. I have heard something to this effect. Wal - Mart is already moving in that direction with it's lower cost drugs. If that does take place it will not be socialized medicine because it will not be a "Redistribute the wealth" scheme of the government but will be run by the private sector - the people.

Answer 3

In socialized medicine there is just one payer. universal can mean that as well. but it can mean more than one. this is were the government is a safely net for the poor.(Much like what is going on in the US) This is were no one is turned down for heath care.(yes no one is turned down in the US now)

If any one thinks that socialized medicine is good they need to ask a nurse from Canada. You will find long waits for non emergency treatments. Very few doctors and long waits just to see one. You have very low pay for heath care works so no one wants to do it.

Answer 4

No difference. People come from socialized medicine countries to the USA for treatment if they can afford it and want to live. In Britain they are notorious for deciding older/terminal patients don't warrant the same quality or treatment as younger more productive people. I want to be in control of my healthcare, Hillary is just playing it up for popularity. HMO's are bad enough, just ask any veteran who has to travel and jump through hoops to get healthcare or meds through the VA now. If you want to reduce the cost of healthcare, you need to make a pact with the medical industry that the LAWSUIT INDUSTRY will limit damages, or more to the point, limit the LAWYER'S PERCENTAGE, because their greed is what drives up the cost of malpractice insurance, and as always in the end the consumer pays for it. So what happens in socialized medicine if you sue for malpractice? You win money from the US Government, which has much deeper pockets. YEAH!!!!! It's a lawyer's dream. Did I mention Hillary was a lawyer? Of course most of the actual in court practice she ever did was for a Rose Law Firm she later forgot all about, so kept those billing records in the White House closet to refresh her memory. More smoke and mirrors, more BS, more government in our lives, just what the lawyer ordered.