Why should the U.S. change to a national or "socialized" healthcare system?

Question

Is it because everything else our Federal government does is done in such an efficient & effective manner?

You can sense my bias but I would like some arguments presented...

Answer 1

I live in Europe now, and I have experienced Socialized medicine. Trust me, you don't want it.

When people have to go to the doctor here, it is an all-day affair. Just getting an appointment can be difficult. Do you really want some dentist who gets paid the same no matter what working on your teeth? Do you think he's really doing his best, or working in your interest? Here, you have to find a private doctor and dentist to get decent care, so socialized medicine is a sham.

As bad as socialized medicine is in other countries, it would be even worse in the U.S. Per capita, Americans take far more medicine than any other people, way more. They also go to the doctor more often. Imagine if medicine were "free". How many fat Americans would start flooding the system trying to get fast, cheap cures for their "obesity disease"?

The only reason to socialize medicine is so the Democrats can have a stranglehold on voters. They always want to create some huge, inefficient bureaucracy. Then, when the program obviously doesn't work, they demand more money for it. Democrats want people to feel dependent on the government, when in fact they could do much better working on their own behalf.

Then, at election time, the Democrats keep reminding voters that their cherished program depends on them for its survival, so..... vote Democrat or else!

If responsible Conservatives point out it is a black hole for money, they are made to look like insensitive villains. We already have tax credits to encourage people to buy health care. This negates the need for socialized medicine.

Answer 2

First, as to your "government efficiency question", government workers get great medical insurance and retirement benefits, so it can be done. There has been some bad press about individual VA cases, but in general VA healthcare is considered very good.

Help small businesses, self-employed, who can't negotiate group health insurance deals like big business can. And the relative paperwork is a much greater burden for small business than large businesses. So many working people are getting listed as contractors and part-timers now adays, just so their boss won't have to deal with health insurance, or just to save money.

Improve international competitveness with countries that do have 'socialized' healthcare. A big reason American manufacturing gets kicked in the *** in employee benefits (not only because of unions) is health insurance costs for current workers and especially the millions of retirees. In socialist countries all health insurance covered by government, so companies don't have to cover it. Business taxes aren't especially high, it's VAT and personal taxes that share the costs among everyone. It's a bit like supply-side, with businesses getting all the tax breaks.

Preventative care. Uninsured typically don't see a doctor until they have to go to the emergency room in much more serious condition than might have been, with the cost usually eaten by the government or hospital. The logic for preventative healthcare for everyone is the same as for vaccines, abortions and public education, it saves society money in the long run.

Universal insurance doesn't have to be great, premium healthcare. Just partial, basic stuff, like a clinic checkup every 2 years, and extra checkups for a significant copayment. No doctor choices. No lawsuits. Medicine covered 50%. Some sort of sliding scale for treatment, if you aren't bankrupt on public assistance (ironically getting full health care), so you'd still pay $1000 for a $10000 operation. It will be crappy compared to what a private insurance will get you, but it will get you by better than if you didn't have any at all. Private insurance will of course still be available for those who want the luxury of full coverage and doctor choices. Like the difference between an all-inclusive resort and a cut-rate, pay as you go, resort.

It's also a principle of fairness for families who are uninsurable outside a big company plan. The TLC show on little people, they made the point they could not get any insurance at all because private insurance doesn't cover little people because of their higher risk of severe medical problems. They worked a family business, so where not eligible for medicare. After having to pay for a son's emergency operation out of pocket, the father had to go back to work as a salesman for a big firm just for the health insurance.

Answer 3

Universal Health Care. A system where everyone is insured. No deadbeats! Why do you think our health care is twice as much as the next most expensive country? Deadbeats. In our town a restaurant owner got stomach cancer and his family had a drive to raise money to pay his medical bills. They raised a lot of money. He got better and opened a second restaurant. No one, including his family, has insurance. Why should they? I heard one of the waitresses telling the other not to pay for a doctor, just go to the emergency room. She said she had never been billed once. Also, look at medicare, a government program, it works very well. Look at our infant mortality rate, much worse that Europe. Are you against abortion? What's the difference between abortion and letting a newborn die because you didn't take action. Lots of babies die in America each year because a lack of proper health care. Universal health care will save you money because you won't be paying for those who don't have insurance. Low income people already get free healthcare, so they are out of the equation. It's the deadbeat who simply saves money by not having it that costs you money. When he gets sick, he gets care but is often unable to repay due to his health.

Answer 4

Instead of a government run program I believe we should have AFFORDABLE healthcare for everyone. Even the poorest should pay something even if it is a dollar per office visit. Co-pays and premiums assessed according to ability to pay such premiums. Limits on law suits against licensed medical practicioners. Civilian and government joint oversight of the program. Doctors and other healthcare professionals decide on treatment not bureaucrats or insurance companies. Premiums can be deducted from one's pay. Medication, eye care, dental care would also be affordable and would have reasonable copay and premiums.

Answer 5

Sorry, they should not.

We have health care available to every person in this country, 24/7/365 regardless of ability to pay.

Now if you have that what is the problem? ANd why would you want to mess with something that is working so well.

Now if you want to dabble in something figure out the connection between the health insurance companies, their CEOs and majority owners and the crooks in CONGRESS they are giving millions of dollars to run for office. Now that sounds like a real screw job for American middle class at the hands of the insurance companies and the politicians.

Answer 6

Requiring people to purchase healthcare insurance would have the same effect as a national healthcare program but save a ton of money.
Creating a massive government department to "buy" healthcare for you is stupid. Government healthcare wouldn't be free. It would cost you added taxes.
If everyone were required to buy healthcare on their own, the free market would bring the policy prices down. Most people who don't have healthcare insurance are healthy young people who feel they don't need it.
As a result, insurance companies sell policies only to people who need it for health issues. If healthy people bought insurance also, insurance company could spread the profit base among more people, which brings the cost down.

Answer 7

America needs a national healthcare system for several reasons. First, the current system is inefficient, since Americans spend more (proportionally) than any other country, and our healthcare really isn't that much better than other countries (unless you are excessively rich) . Secondly, most people believe that all Americans have the right to adequate healthcare. People in the middle class can't afford basic procedures, and the huge insurance companies are to blame.

Answer 8

Don´t try to compete

The only people who really succeed at a socialist society are the Scandinavians... and they rank first for so many things.

It is an illusion that other people from other countries can be as good as they are. Keep your own model as it might work better for yourself. What works over there doesn´t always work somewhere else

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Various interests (HMOs, Insurance Companies, and some medical people) have sought to demonize "socialized" medicine, invariably because they fear interruption of their profit flow. The word "socialized" infers something that accommodates society. Where is the evil in that? The landscape is full of people who don't know what they're talking about but insist upon weighing in on subjects that need serious consideration rather than ideological rhetoric.