Which is better for US Citizens, socialized health care or no health care?

Answer 1

Neither.

What we have now (for-profit healthcare) is best.

You know the old saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Answer 2

Between the two? NONE.

People who trumpet the idea of socialized health care have NO IDEA what it really means.

I'm an American, and I've been living in Germany for the last nearly three years. Germany has socialized health care. Here are the problems with it:
1. They have a 19% sales tax. That's right, 19%.
2. The autobahns are in terrible shape. It doesn't help that 90 MPH is considered slow when driving on it, but you would think that they could repave it once in awhile.
3. NO lights on the autobahn, not even near large cities like Frankfurt and München (Munich).
4. Cost of living is high. You can find prices all over the internet. Things are MUCH more expensive here than they are in the States.
5. There is no set minimum wage, so workers can be paid as little as two dollars an hour.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070618/germany_minimum_wage.html?.v=2
6. The medical care system is mediocre. It's actually comparable to the military health care system, which has so many flaws it's ridiculous.

So I say ABSOLUTELY NOT to socialized medical care.

I'd rather pay for it.

And don't even get me started on the price of gas here!

Answer 3

Once again the monumental ignorance about universal health care and the efforts by many to demonize it by adding the word "socialized"

Listen up .

Here in Canada we have universal health care.The most important thing for YOU to realize is that our hospitals for the most part are privately held and run and doctors who are essentially in most cases associated with these hospitals have great freedom AS DO OUR PATIENTS.

The ONLY function that the government plays is it collects the premiums ,it sets standards of care and negotiates prices for drugs etc.Otherwise,the health care system here is run like that in the US.

In many ways our health care system is less "socialized" then that in the US.

For example in the US ,the HMOs control what doctors a patient can see and if they are allowed to see a specialist.In Canada ,doctors have full authority over these issues and can make the best choice for their patients.

In the US you have "bean counters" in the HMOs doing a doctors job.

Most important ,your system now with the new drug legislation ,destroys the whole essence of free enterprise by forbidding any government or agency to negotiate drug prices with the manufactures.

This is a travesty of the 'FREE MARKET" concept.

In Canada,our government can use it's enormous buying power to fully exploit the "free market" aspect of capitalism .That is why we have drug costs so much lower than yours.

And one more all important FACT.

Health care costs in the US represents some 15.5 % of the US GDP while in Canada it is only about 9.5 % ,a huge difference especially considering that EVERY CANADIAN
has health care while in the US some 47 million do not have any health care and another 30 million have what is classified as inadequate health care

Also because we have a "ONE PAYER" system,the administration costs of health care in Canada is a fraction of that in the US .

Answer 4

What are the main factors of escalating cost of health care? There are probably several factors, but two of the main contributors are: extreme government underwriting the cost of health care, and the costs related to litigation for malpractice.

Think of it this way: If you are not paying for health care, how sick will you need to be before you will go see a doctor? That invites abuse of the system. If you are a provider, how much will you charge if you know you will be paid whatever you charge? That is a ticket to greater cost and inefficiency. If your profits are limited by mandatory price caps, how long will you continue to provide the highest quality of service? That is the pathway to diminished quality of service.

What is the single best way to reduce health care costs? Preventative maintenance — and almost all of us have the capacity to do something about that. Do you eat large quantities of junk food? Do you fail to exercise and watch your weigh? Are you a smoker or an excessive user of alcohol? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it is alright — this is America — you have a freedom of choice. But if you answered yes, please don't ask me to subsidize your bad habits via a system that seeks to economically equalize those who are health conscious with who are indifferent.

Universal health care will make care worse for almost everybody. Why should your company continue to pay for an excellent health care plan for retirees or current employees when the government does it for free? A company program that you liked could be replaced with a less personal and friendly system. The doctors you knew and trusted could be replaced overnight, disrupting your continuity of health care and treatment. Wage earners will see the value of their negotiated labor contracts fall in value with universal coverage, because part of the fringe benefits built into your total compensation paid for a superior health care plan.

Answer 5

In the manner in which you posed your question it leaves little room for alternatives to the two extremes in a sense, though, I expect you are getting at something to support health care for all U.S. citizens. Massachusetts has an interesting model. They continue employer based health care, and offer, a sort of government sponsored HMO, if you would, that allows a person to have a health insurance plan. In essence, the model collects the uninsured and gives them rates through insurance plans seeking economies of scale that can offer competitive pricing. This makes sense, it builds upon the employer model, gives reasonable health care to those with none, and, does not interrupt people's service, if, they are happy with their employer based health care plan. In essence, everyone wins!

Answer 6

The first 4 answers show how the need for a national plan, 'socialized health care' is imperative. The neo-cons clearly prefer capitalist health care, even though the poor are left without under 'for-profit' health care.
And down with capitalsm, it reeks!

Answer 7

Socialized health care is a must if Americans want to stay well. We have big business invading the medical decisions our doctors and we must make - it shouldn't be in the hands of commercialization. What we have right now is NO HEALTH CARE for 50,000,000 Americans. We are America and we MUST do better than that!

Answer 8

It is never better to allow US Citizens to go without health care.

Answer 9

Tweaks to the current health system are the best. Socialized health care will not work in America. We are a too conservative country (not necessarily in terms of republican/democrat, but compared to Europe and the rest of the West) we also like to have the best of something. Socialized medice will take that away, the US government won't pay for things like Valtrex, or Viagra, or some birth controls(the patch, seasonale, ect), people in this country want these things, and the full price is too much for most people. We won't be willing to give up these luxuries for overall 100% health care, and nor should we. We offer medicare and medicade for emergencies and life threatening issues. Yes, they need to be paid back in many cases, but I would rather take 10 years to pay off cancer treatment and be alive than get it for free but not live as long because of a waiting list.

Answer 10

if you are meaning "socialized health care" vs. "no GOVERNMENT PROVIDED health care", then I would say no government provided health care is better. If you are saying socialized health care vs. no health care of any form, neither are good, but maybe I would take socialized health care. Quite honestly, we have too many lazy people who are living off of the government money. Socialized health care destroys the economy because our taxes would skyrocket so high that our paychecks would diminish to nothing. It would be like.... we work, we get everything provided for us, but we make no money for ourselves. And that, my friend, is socialism- the number one component for turning into a communist state.

Answer 11

The US can implement a universal plan that would rival any other countries.
We need to rally with the politicians who agree it is time for a social program.
My answer to your $ is socialized health care, definitely.