Would Universal Health Care improve the quality of care in America?

Question

Current the U.S. ranks number one in cost and number fourteen in quality of care. Many countrys that rank above the U.S. have U.H.C. in some form. According to the World Health Organization

Answer 1

Yes. The improvement would be in the diagnosis of early symptoms, patients would seek simple treatment ahead of dire complications. Without preventive medicine, illness advances and becomes a financial burden to all: early to analyze is money wise.

Hilary Clinton lectured, advocated, spoke and "speaked" on health care issues and was appointed by Bill to a Health Care Committee way back when he became Pres. Wasn't that back in '93? What happened? Nothing. The Health Care problem remains the same today. Now, as she runs for President, the first thing she brings up in her announcement for the office is~ You guessed: Health Care.

The VA made 2900+ medical mistakes in two years resulting in 700 deaths give or take a few. And that, with all the injured and amputated GIs, makes my wee-wee water.

There must also be a shift in the medical mentality. And, we cannot make general statements for specific events, situations, failures.

Answer 2

Answering this is like trying to explain free markets and the opposition to socialism that the US feels. And really cant be done in a single short answer. The problems within the US whether irt economic or political are numerous and healthcare is only one of those issues. The US is going through some changes, big changes. All we can hope for is that is does not end up in total war and the people can sort things out. Because the people is all the US has left for what was supposed to be the “perfect union”.

Answer 3

That depends on how its implemented. By all accounts, the more-or-less scocialized system in the UK doesn't provide very accessible health care ind is plagued by bureaucracy and inefficiency.

At the other extereme, our current system of commercialized (as opposed to preffessional) medicine is not working--and is exorbinately expensive--a situation madeworse by the fact that the supposedly "privitized" Medicare/Medicaid system is little more than a pork barrel for HMOs and nursing homes--and far too many people are left out of the health insurance system.

What's needed is a fresh approach-and there's a lot of ligitimate debate about how to do that. But we need real solutions--not propaganda sound-bytes llike Bush just offered up. And we need to drop the notion that commercialized medicine (HMOs, etc) is "cost effective" because it obviously isn't.

Answer 4

Health care is a tricky one. You hear of horror stories of the Health care in Canada & England. Yet many forgeiners come to the US for there Major Health Issues.

I do know 1 thing is that I wouldn't want Hillary Care or base the US health care from any suggestions from the WHO. I would say we need to cut some of the fat out. But were would one begin? Few years back I'd go to the Doctors office and get a checkup for the flu or cold etc and it was Like $ 15 - $ 20.00 and now seems like they charge $ 150.00 The Doctor earlier was one of the richest people in town.

Were all greatful for the advances in the medical field but the cost is out of hand. To many Middle men possibly.

Answer 5

We first need to reform welfare. MAKE the welfare recipients work. If they dont work they dont get anything. If you dont work do you have money for food? Needs to have a 2 year cap put on how long you can draw it.

The children can eat breakfast at school for free, and they get lunch, give more money to the schools to feed them dinner too before they go home. At least the children would get real food served to them. Schools provide good meals, the majority of people using food stamps buy more soda's and unhealthy or FAST pre-made things.

To many wont go to work because they say " Oh id lose my food stamps" That's the point, work to support yourself.

And stop giving the deadbeats that only work part time, Draw full welfare, tax returns for thousands of dollars. Give that money to the state that is supporting them.

Once we get all the people working then we can tackle health care. Most states have coverage for kids already. Set a cap on what Dr.'s can charge. No reason for an Office call to be over 30.00. But one gets charged 150.00- for some family prac, and up to 900.00 for specialists.

A specialist shouldn't be over 60.00. The hospitals over charge as well. There needs to be a cap on medication also. So they can afford to fill the prescriptions. I have one drug that costs 347.00 a month. The pill doesn't take that much to make and dispense.

Answer 6

Money money money, is there people to pay for a system that covers all americans 100%. we spend it out already for Medicare, medicaid, fraud, social programs, welfare, write offs for nonpayees, etc... its there,

Greed stops it in this country, its sad we are the greatest country and are not willing to create a system that awards and delivers the best in the world.

So what if some doctors get mad and stop being doctors , let em leave. I assure you some young guy/gal would be willing to take a job.

Im tired of excuses, im tired of govt waste, bad wars, and tired of being cheated by all these damn greedy corporations. Insurance companies etc...

Insurance companies should only exist for life insurance only!!

Auto, home and health needs to be state and federal run.

Florida now is bribing insurance companies to come here and write homeowners policies, why do that, why pay them, why not pay people who need the money for disasters.

State of Illinois in planning on selling its state run lottery to private investors, Whats with that?

Where does it stop?? what when we are in a depression!! believe me its closer than you think. OUr oil based economy will soon get a shock. $4 a gallon will cripple this economy.

www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net

Answer 7

For me it would be great and the only way I could get coverage. I retired early and can not get private health insurance at any price because of a preexisting condition (diabetes). My state, Nevada, does not have a state sponsored high risk health insurance pool. Insurance companies are in business to make money, NOT to provide health insurance to everyone.

On the con side: As Ronald Reagan said, government is the problem not the solution.

Answer 8

It would depend upon the type of universal health care. I believe that a single payer system would be the best. Currently the cost of dealing with so many insurance companies is prohibitive. The insurance companies don't perform any useful function, as far as delivering health care is concerned. Want to cut out the fat? Cut out the insurance companies.

Answer 9

Cut out abusive lawsuits for doctors and hospitals and the costs would drop...doctors charge high fees to cover the insurance costs for mal-practice.
I am not saying a doctor or hospital should be immune but the some lawsuits are unfounded and are paid off in settlements to keep costs down.
Just ask John Edwards...the king of ambulance chasers.

Answer 10

It would improve the quantity of Americans who can use it, but not the quality. It's a Catch22.

I haven't made up my mind. Believe me, I think EVERY single human being in the US should have access to preventative care even if it means less attention to those who can already afford it. I had to use the system in the UK once and was grateful for it. But I am concerned not so much about the qualified individuls who care for you, but the upkeep of socialized medicine facilites. One of the reasons the US doesn't have outbreaks of infectious diseases the way, say, some Asian countries do is our standard of cleanliness.