How much more will I pay in taxes for Universal Health Care?

Question

Okay liberals, here's an honest question that doesn't required a paragraph of how much of a neofascist, Bush loving, poor people eating, money grubbing Nazi I am. It's a simple question for those that think they can answer it: How much more will I pay in taxes if liberals implement universal health care coverage? Most of you rant and rave about health care in Europe and Canada, but you fail to mention their ridiculous tax rates. So why should I pay thousands more in taxes each year for something I'm already paying for on my own?

SIDE NOTE: Can ANY of you answer this question without bringing up the war in Iraq, Bush, republicans, or using this as yet another chance to bash the right? It's a simple question! Why can't some of you answer it without ranting and raving?

Answer 1

If you don't make much more than minimum wage your tax burden for health care will be; what you pay in gross receipts tax, plus the value added tax that will be tacked on to purchased items, plus the sin (alcohol, tobacco & gas) tax, and the additional cost of products added to make up for what the manufacturers and transporters have to pay for their increased expenses related to the taxes.

You should be grateful to your government for offering to pay for the free loaders out there with our hard earned dollars.

Answer 2

It depends on how much the program ends up costing, how much comes from other govt expenditures, and how much you are currently paying for medical insurance.

According to most estimates, the cost per person is going to be somewhere around what most people are currently paying for medical insurance. So if you have insurance now, you probably won't be paying much (if anything) more.

The rest of the equation depends on what else the govt is paying for. Under the balanced budget model, any new programs must be offset from other programs. So, if your choice was to have govt pay for your medical care, or have the govt pay for research into whether the spotted toad is making a comeback in the southwest -- either way your taxes remain the same, the money just goes somewhere else.

Yes, taxes might go up. They might not. Until we see the actual proposal, and the bill finishing being written, it's just guesswork.

Answer 3

You wouldn't pay thousands more. You may not pay much more if any. Don't forget that you now spend taxes for Medicare, Medicaid, and you also pay for expensive private plans because health care expenses are deducted from corporate taxes (and thus, we make up for the shortfall). And don't forget your own premiums which I assume are probably rising each year.

Remember, countries with universal care not only cover everyone, they do it for less than us. We spend 40% more than the next closest country. This is because universal plans have more bargaining power and lower administrative expenses. 30% of what we spend on health care goes to administrative expenses while that cost virtually doesn't exist with universal plans.

Much of the money we spend NOW is not going towards the actual care at all.

Answer 4

Becasue part of what you're paying ends up as profit. We liberals would rather pay the same amount we're already paying in healthcare costs and have it ALL go to healthcare. It would make this country much more business friendly as well considering the trillions lost to the health insurance agencies every year.

Granted, governement is wasteful and inefficient, bla bla bla. Obviouosly there would need to be major reform in our gevernment for this to work. But I think we could make it work, and I think we could make it less expensive than private health insurance. Remember, our goal is to have better healthcare, we wouldn't support it if we thought we could make it more affordable AND better. If we the people had more control over the cost and pay structures of our health system, I think we'd have better control over our own health. And I think in the end that's the goal.

==ADDITION==
Our health system is what I call 'Illness Based', where it's in Doctors' best interest when you are ill, because that's their business. It's actually in the Health Insurance Companies' interest that you die fairly young.

By paying for our own health system, we could make our health system what I call 'Prevention Based' and here's my example...

If you walk into a Dr's office with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a smoking problem, and bad exercise habits- any Dr. would say you're at risk for a heart attack. But it' actually not in their Financial Best interest that you don't have a Heart Attack. If you have a Heart Attack it ensures them more business. It's actually in you Health Insurance Policy's interest that you die from that Heart Attack so you won't cost anything. (I'm not suggesting Dr.s practive this way, but I am suggesting HI Companies do.)

Now if we could change the rules and increase a Dr.'s pay based on how well they prevent illness, we'd all be healthier, and we'd pay less for health care as a whole. Less illness = less costs. The cost for your medication, and to subsidize a gym for to workout would be far less than the cost of your recovery from a heart attack.

Anyway- I feel strongly about this, email me if you want to discuss further.

Answer 5

I'm guessing 15-20% because none of the proposals have a plan to actually reduce the costs, they just shift around who pays and increase demand.

So yeah, 1.5 trillion the first year, and annual cost increases of 10-15%.

For perspective's sake, all the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last five years cost about half of one year's medical coverage for the entire country.

Answer 6

Hopefully it will drain all your funds and put you in the poor house, causing you to apply for the programs you hate.
And I consider your question just another rant against liberals.
You reap what you sow. The question is bait, so why whine about the answers? You are surely smart enough to know that not one person on this forum can tell you how much if any of your precious money will be taken from you.

Answer 7

Good question and I do not want Universal health coverage. I think in the long run we would pay more than we pay now.

Answer 8

You might pay with your life since socialized medicine ensures you a low quality of care and LONG wait times.

If you are a "burden" on the system (old, mentally handicapped, physically deformed), you might be gone quicker.

It's for "the common good" you know...

Answer 9

Liberals will tell me that "Iraq war this and Iraq War that!"

So there was no war in Clinton's years but why he did not propose "Universal Health Care"?

Answer 10

you should also mention the extreme waiting periods to get the needed health care. many people have died waiting to be seen. ask any Brit or Canadian.. they'll tell ya.