Because People will abuse things that are free. Why Universal Health Care?!?

Question

I have no problems with affordable health care but not FREE health care. Just like a lawsuit, if it is free, people would love to sue anything for money.

good answers, folks! Maybe we can really debate some issues without calling each other names.

Answer 1

Good point.

One reason to structure the plan (if at all) to provide only partial coverage for common activities (say 90% of office visits and simple medical procedures)....

I'm opposed in principle to any govt-sponsored charity. But if we're going to have it, we need to discuss the issues in depth so we can address rational concerns such as that.

Answer 2

Well it's interesting In Denmark for example every person has a right to education, health care, hospital care and money. The welfare system is based on the rich paying high taxes so the poor can have money (and wow what's different than here you ask) well this results in a lot less crime, because everyone is entitled to money.

Nobody is allowed to touch their children (corporal punishment) in any way shape or form! And when they say ZERO tolerance in the schools they mean it. In fact kids don't even have exams there. They are taught to think for themselves and articulate their thoughts, that is more important than memorizing facts.

In Denmark there are dentists in the schools and each child's teeth are cared for, including orthodontics...for free...and at school.

So hey, I don't know why you guys have to make such a huge whooplah about things. I think if you got to travel outside of America you will see that there are pluses and minuses to everything, but certainly as an outsider, all I see is that the people of America are losing big time with what you have going there right now. You, the people, are suffering, and some of you don't even know it.

The abuse is there because the inequity is there. If you were to balance things out it would be different. But in all honesty, the USA is too messed up to ever be made right...in this lifetime anyhow.

How you can deny yourselves basic human rights and call yourself a democracy is way beyond me.

This has become a war of the haves and have nots, and they are trying to bring this ridiculous concept to Canada too.

Answer 3

Nothing is free. Taxes will fund it. It's not free.

But WHY should we have universal health care?

Because HMOs are bleeding us dry and ripping us off. Doctors don't want them, patients don't want them.

The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. 28 industrialized nations have single payer universal health care systems.

Federal studies by the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting office show that single payer universal health care would save 100 to 200 Billion dollars per year despite covering all the uninsured and increasing health care benefits.

The United States spends 50 to 100% more on administration than single payer systems.

There would be free choice of health care providers under a single payer universal health care system, unlike our current managed care system in which people are forced to see providers on the insurer’s panel to obtain medical benefits.

Answer 4

When arguing against universal health care, conservatives always seem to assume the there is nothing more that the average person would like to do than sit in a doctor's office or Emergency ward and read a 17-year-old issue of Time Magazine or Reader's Digest while waiting God knows how long to be seen. This is on a par with arguing, as Ronald Reagan once did, that trees cause more pollution than cars.

Universal health care saves money in the long run because people seek care earlier, before small problems become big ones. I live in a country with universal health care (Canada) and I've worked in hospitals. I haven't seen a lot of people abusing the system. Anybody can come up with examples of stupidity; people are people.

Universal heatlh care is the humane thing to do and the cost-effective thing to do. I defy anyone to come up with actual proof (published studies) that a free market, insurance-company-driven heatlh care system such as exists in the U.S. is better at delivering care than a universal health care system.

Answer 5

I cannot understand how in a democracy we can deny healthcare and medical attention to anyone. Someone mentioned lawsuits and by having universal healthcare this problem would be alleviated. That some would take advantage and abuse the system goes without saying but have we become so calloused and resentful that we have stooped to the same level?

Answer 6

For low income families and persons, I think it should be free. Right now to get anything free from our govt. you can't have any assets at all. (Poverty guidelines) The problem is with Insurance companies, they need to be regulated. Then I would agree that most of us could pay a premium of some sort. I also agree that something could be done about limited suing prat ices.

Answer 7

For those that want this, I can only say be careful what you ask for, you just may get it. Because with the loss of a free market to excel in, there won't be near as many good dr to go around.

Answer 8

Yes, the 'freeloader problem' is a real issue. It's not like it can't be adressed, nor can it really be completely eliminated. It's part of the trade-off involved. How badly do you want to get healthcare to those who need it but can't afford it. Enough to pay for them? Enough to pay for an equal number of freeloaders?

Answer 9

Every other developed country on earth has free universal health care and they seem to have managed just fine!

Answer 10

You are correct.
My Mom and sister are nurses. They have dozens of stories of welfare recipients taking advantage of the system. They take Government funded cabs to the hospital, say they are sick, treat the place like a hotel, and treat the nurses like servants...after all this - NOTHING is wrong with them. One lady, after a week's stay at St. Mary's Hospital, admitted to my sister she just needed a break from her kids! SO DO WE ALL but most of us don't abuse the government to have our vacations.