Where do you stand on Universal Health Care?

Question

Taking the Canadian system as your example and incentive. I have been waiting since June 9th for an ultra sound on my damaged shoulder, to see if there is a rotator cuff tear as they suspect and nerve impingement. The hospital told me yesterday they arent doing any ultra sounds on shoulders. They dont have the staff or the resources.

They dont "do" joints anymore.

I have been put on a 2 1/2 year waiting list to see a shoulder specialist. MAYBE around October or November of 2009 I will get to see one

My friend has been waiting for over two years for "emergency" knee surgery, so now its become a knee replacement and not a repair, and they have bumped her back further on the waiting list.

Americans have to REALLY think about a Universial Health Care system, if I was American I sure as hell wouldt want it.

The idea that you dont pay for medical expenses is also WRONG. We pay "user fees". My son needs physio badly for his back but it would cost him $50 each session, 8 times a month. Thats $400 and he wouldnt get it back from anywhere. Prescriptions, optical, dental, hearing aids etc are NOT covered. My mother had to pay $5000 for her hearing aids out of her own pocket.

You also pay for your medical coverage in Canada, except for Saskatchewan and maybe Ontario. A single person pays about $57 a month for coverage. Families pay over $100 a month

China has a good medical system, far far superior to Canada or the US or the UK. But they have a lot of people to support it. I was in so to see a Specialist there within an hour of checking in to the hospital, had an ultra sound and xrays while I was waiting to see him

That time it was kidney stones

Answer 1

As long as the US Congress and 80% of the healthiest citizens have affordable healthcare insurance there isn’t much danger of universal coverage in the US.

As long as Insurance and pharmacy company lobbyist are allowed to purchase lawmakers, nothing will improve for the average citizen. Healthcare cost will continue to increase and fewer will have access.

Conservatives in the US always present Canada as an example of healthcare gone wrong, but anyone who has faced the US system with inadequate coverage can testify that the US system has definitely gone wrong.

I think something in between could be a good solution. The government could just step in with major medical coverage to prevent a serious illness from becoming a bankruptcy situation. A means based yearly cost cap would be a great solution. With an important safety net in place. citizens could be frugal in the management their insurance premiums and out of pocket cost.
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Answer 2

I don't think anyone thinks universal health care is a bad idea. We just can't agree on how to provide it. Liberals say it should be a government-run, national health care system, like Canada and the U.K. Conservatives say it should be run and managed by private companies.

I don't really care WHICH way it goes as long as the end result is as follows:

If I am sick, I should be able to go to a hospital for free. If a doctor says I would be better off with a certain procedure, surgery, or medication, then that procedure or medication should also be free. All emergency care, including ambulence response and transport, should be 100% free of charge to the patient. All life-saving, or life-improving medical care and treatment should be 100% free. If a private company can make this happen, then great. But based on recent history, I have my doubts about trusting medical care to a profit margin.

Only the doctor and patient together should be deciding what health care is required. Not an insurance company or some HMO.

Answer 3

Holy cow , that's nuts Isotope, consulted Harper about those wait times.

Physio therapy ,unless you can get it in a hospital setting , some drugs , opthamology exams, unless you're a senior with diabetes or menacular degeneration, have all been de-listed in Ontario, and we have a horrible doctor shortage in smaller areas and the north , but despite all that I'd still rather have our universal health care system in Canada than the one in the US.

I know seniors aren't covered for hearing aides however on Ontario Disability Program I am . The hearing tests however aren't.

I think if your provincial health system isn't covering what you need then it's time to lean on your MLAs or MPPs and your premier to line up at Harper's door and start screaming for more transfer payments. Ontario 's covered everyone's freight for many many decades , but now when we're in a bad spot Alberta and the other richer provinces are looking the other way , saying oh we're ok.

Frankly I think Health should be an 80 -20 coverage, 80 from the Feds, under the Canada Health Act and 20 percent from the provinces and municipalities.

With all my health problems living in Ontario I have absolutely no problems with universal health care. As I say I prefer our system to the US , when they get with a large bill for everything.

Answer 4

Thank you for your post!

It seems that many here in America have been influenced by people like Michael Moore films and liberal politicians into believing that universal health car offers a better solution. What they do not seem to realize is that universal health care basically gives one lowest common denominator care. It's fine if you don't mind sitting in the clinic all afternoon to see a doctor about getting an antibiotic for strep throat. However, if you require any care that requires a specialist you are pretty much out of luck.

It is nice that someone who is actually living the Universal Health Care nightmare has come forward with a specific example of the problem such systems have.

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I would really like to see Aunt Karen's list of countries with Universal Health Care systems to do work.

Answer 5

The American healthcare system is corrupt, greed based, and simply immoral. We have the best state of the art technology for certain types of procedures, which is the reason some people travel here from other countries. But the quality of our all around health care is pathetic.

I think we need to socialize at least part way. But we need a uniquely American health care system that allows entrepeneurial competition to stay at the top of the technology game.

The way it works now is all about making profit for drug companies and insurance companies who are actively working to jipp patients as best they can.

Everyone must worry about whether they are covered, which is actually bad for your health. When my brother got cancer, he would have never been able to handle all the insurance hassles by himself. You have to pull teeth just to get what you are entitled to. I remember him getting a message saying he was covered AND a message saying he was NOT covered in the mail by the same place on the same day!

Imagine having cancer, and having to worry incessantly about whether or not you can afford treatment.

Answer 6

In all developed countries in the world, the U.S. does not have a universal health care. Universal Care is not perfect, for Canada they have Universal Healthcare and yet not every citizen of Canada has perfect treatment plans from various conditions. Canadians have to wait longer than anyother country. U.S. would never would, it would cost 2 Iraqi Wars fundings which would add up to more than $20 billion dollar in U.S. health packages.
How far would an oridinary citzen in the U.S. do to live longer? Even if, an oridinary citizen in the U.S. has full coverage they still live about the same adverage year as a Cuban. Cubas spend around $200 per citizen compared to U.S. that spends $375. Plus, we have illegals in the country that is sweeping the free healthcare programs, that the gov't is providing. Not enough money, so there will not be a universal health care.

How far would you go to get more than 100,00 people unempoyed and costs for 2 Iraqi wars fundings to just have a none-perfect universal healthcare?

Answer 7

The waiting lists for diagnostic procedures and elective surgery in some provinces is outrageous. I recall the time when Prime Minister Mulroney had to ship his mother off the Florida for cardiac by-pass surgery at his own expense because the waiting list in Quebec was so long she would have died ahead of the scalpel cutting into her chest.
I'm also told that (in a display of grim humor) the provincial medicare plan in Quebec is called "Plattsburgh New York" because that's where the provincial health authorities ship a lot of patients for elective surgery. In my ancestral homeland of Norway, despite massive oil revenues to underwrite the health care system and a population of about seven million, over one quarter of a million Norweigians are on waiting lists for surgery.
We don't have a health care crisis in the U.S. We have a health insurance crisis.

Answer 8

I would definitely welcome a Universal Health Care System. I live on a very limited budget, am disabled, and cannot afford health insurance. Unfortunately I have several conditions that require being seen by a doctor every couple of months. My medical bills are piling up and my prescriptions are getting hard to pay for. Help would be greatly appreciated. Maybe someday the normal citizens of this country will be worth enough that our politicians decide to do what's right.

Answer 9

I live in British Columbia I have had an angiogram an angioplasty a rush to the ER a free ride from the ER at 3 Am plus regular doctors visits Diabetes and heart meds. a wait in the hospital but happy with BC medical and Pharmacare. What would happen if i lived in The USA?I think it may depend on who your doctor is

Answer 10

Most people want it, but forget that it takes the Federal government:
-4 days to mail a letter 200 miles through the post office
-3 days for FEMA to get water to Katrina victims
-wastes more money every year on pork spending
-spends more money on education per kid than 27 other countries with lower test scores than in those countries.

I don't trust or want the government with that burden on their shoulders. It would be better to open up competition to allow more health-care providers to work privately for less financial burden on the people.