You really want universal healthcare???

Question

So who here really thinks universal healthcare is a good idea? Currently through Medicare and Medicaid the government spends three quarters of the dollars spent in our healthcare system. Hospitals and healthcare providers must absorb the difference between the actual cost of services and the insufficient reimbursement from the government. To make the difference up, they overcharge our insurance companies, who in turn raise or premiums. So everyone's solution to a system broken by the government is to pass it completely over to the government. Now that is sound logic in my book.

You know at one time, we actually had charity hospitals funded by private donations. Why do you think so many hospitals have names like Good Samaritan? The best part about it was that people couldn't abuse a "charity" based system because it wasn’t administered by some bureaucrat in Washington and the much more free market like private system worked so well that doctors used to actually drive out and make house calls. In the heavily socialized system in the United States, you are now lucky to get five minutes with a doctor. The only thing that changed since then was the ever increasing involvement in the system by the government and now people want to turn over the system they broke to them completely (real genius at work.)

And to the liberal who posted the long message, do doctors in Canada make housecalls in the middle of the night, like they used to do when we had a more free-market system? Heck don't Canadians come down here for healthcare?

Answer 1

The government is the problem. If I could consult with my vet, or my pharmacist, and buy any preparation I wanted without the FDA interference, It would greatly increase my freedom. (and my responsibility, of course) but would greatly decrease the expense of whatever I need>

Answer 2

1. You really want universal health care??

The issue is not universal, (yet) rather National, meaning all of the States in the U.S.A.

2. "Currently through Medicare and Medicaid the government spends three quarters of the dollars spent in our health care system. "


Other Countries including Canada and Switzerland have National Heath care. It is doable. We pay more in our war effort than it would cost to have National Health care.

It's really not a choice between protecting the group (the USA) from outside enemies (Iraq, Iran, Syria, N. Korea) or protecting the group (the people of the USA) from illness.

I, of course, agree that one problem in our country is poor management of any programs ( look at New Orleans). What can I say? We will eventually get it together?

3. Hospitals and health care providers must absorb the difference between the actual cost of services and the insufficient reimbursement from the government.

Under a National Health care plan their would be a uniforming of forms that would cut out an enormous amount of time spent on paper work. Also, under a National system, it probably would come to pass that all medical records for each person would be available for all Doctors (the possible medical chip implanted on you) - most Doctors and Hospitals have incomplete medical history for their patients- having that history would go a long way in reduced testing and mis-prescription- massive savings on waste and ultimately a healthier stronger and more intelligent society.


4. To make the difference up, they overcharge our insurance companies, who in turn raise or premiums

Actually, if health care were provided (like your mail service, your police and fire service) then insurance companies would loose almost all of their client base. However, there will always be those outside the system. Doctors of the highest esteem might only take what they set as their fee and thus opt to be out of National Health care. The wealthy will most likely not want to be in with the common so they will go to these doctors and some insurance companies that played to these people would survive. It would change the profitability of being a doctor -which is a whole different discussion,


5. So everyone's solution to a system broken by the government is to pass it completely over to the government.

This comes down to a major choice- do we as a giant group of people agree that we should take care of each other - "share".

At any point in history the democratic response to that will shift.
Recently the much publicized number of illegal immigrants (many who receive medical treatment paid for by the ` our system'.) have created an us/ them mentality within our society.

It comes down to a basic decision: should we take care of everyone within our boundaries? Some say no. Others say, if we can. Still others say: yes, no matter what.

My mind has been greatly influenced by my father who used to say, and impressed upon me, when seeing a less fortunate person: "There but for the Grace of God goeth ."

and to borrow your phrase: "Now that is sound logic in my book."

Thanks for the question- paul grant (follower of Basho)

Answer 3

I agree that some provisions must be made for the TRULY disabled, but there are entirely too many people abusing the current system.

Universal health care is another example of the government robbing us and giving it to someone else. Universal health care will just be another big drain on the public wallet.

Answer 4

I'm tired of MY tax dollars going towards the health care of others when I have no health care insurance myself.

Answer 5

I don't want someone who can't afford to be treated,
stand next me & pass on their contagious disease.
There are consequences for neglecting those less fortunate.