What are the pros and cons of universal health care?

Question

If America did implement universal health care would it be better or worse for us? Please give me some good arguements and reference.

Answer 1

Better
#1 less bankruptcies causing losses to American businesses, that are passed on to everyone else in the form of higher costs for goods and services.
#2 as above but greater impact on medical industry
#3 more access to preventative health care reduces the frequency that the rest of will run into someone on the street carrying a communicable illness and acquire it ourselves, thus reducing our own medical expenses.
#4 as rates of illness decline as mentioned in #3 so will insurance rates for those of us who pay for our health insurance.
#5 American businesses save on health care benefits for employees as a result of #4
#6 Incentive present to prevent welfare recipients from using the emergency room, that costs 3-6X of a regular office visit, for nonemergencies. Tax dollars utilized more efficiently=less government waste.
#7 less losses posted on business income tax returns as a result of #1= greater revenue through taxes, which may lead to an increase in education funding or lower taxes.


now this is assuming a universal healthcare model utilizing private insurers, rather than a socialized medicine model.
In reality, it is reversing the trend of escalating health care costs adversly affecting the finances of many individuals, and thus boosting the economy.

Answer 2

The main problem with government-implemented universal health care is that it would have to be implemented by force, like everything else the government does. If people really support the idea they don't need to get the government involved: they can set up charitable organizations, donate money, time, etc. If people don't support the idea then why should voters be able to force them to pay for it through taxes? I believe that before any government program is implemented the important question is not "Is this a good idea?", or "Do most people support this?", but rather "Is this something we have the right to force people to partiipate in and pay for?"

Having lived in the UK for a few years, I see that most people there like the idea that the NHS (National Health Service) is "fair". The problem is that "fair" means poor service for everyone, long waiting lists for tests and procedures that take a couple days to do in the already heavily regulated USA.

Answer 3

Browse around this site, it is interesting and helpful.


http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states.htm