Will a free healthcare system in America hurt or better our current system?

Question

I was talking to a friend from Slovenia, who agrees with my boyfriend from Norway, who said that in Europe, the free healthcare system is a burden because there are long lines, and the service is bad. But this is merely two opinions.

So, do you think a free healthcare system in America would hurt or better our current system?

Answer 1

I had a sister who lived in Canada and wishes that America would go to a free health care system. It was worth the extra in taxes to her.
There are WAY to many uninsured people in America. Working Americans who are either too poor to purchase adequate health care for there family's or make to much to get all the free health care the very poor are given.
Sad really.

Answer 2

Kerala, India has a fabulous medical system, though it is trying to mimic the west, and problems are now arising. Here, one can opt for private medical attention, or public, which is inexpensive. People can go for scans, X-rays and receive the report, interpreted by a doctor on the same day! There is no wait (as in two to three weeks) to see a doctor. Hospitals have outpatient units, so that people who cannot get in to see a doctor during the day, can do so at the hospital without paying "emergency room fees." There are 24 hour scanning and imaging centers.
After frequenting the medical system in California, USA, I believe in the Kerala system.
So, no, I don't think that a free system in America will hurt the current system. If anything, it will challenge the system to be more competitive...but there are so many facets to the system to make the whole machine run, such as doctor's malpractice insurance payments, student loan payments, high pharmaceutical costs, and so on that affect a day-to-day doctor's office. I don't know how the US will resolve it in a way that gives people the medical care that people deserve.

Answer 3

It's good to see that more and more Americans (at least 51%) are realizing our delima. It is really scary how so many people DON'T understand what's going on in our country especially when it comes to the free trade agreement. With our news medias now controlled by corporate America and not by journalists, it has become a well known fact that citizens all around the world are more informed about world economics than American citizens. Maybe it's because they (world citizens) are the ones who are most affected by decisions made by those of whom will benefit the most.

Answer 4

There is no such thing as free.
Free healthcare means much higher taxes and lower quality, you need only look at Canada and England 9both with much higher tax rates than us)
Canadians come here and pay for healthcare if they can.
In England there are two systems a private system where you foot the bill for rich people and they get good healthcare, and healthcare for the masses which is slow and poor.

Answer 5

Seeing as the American people whine all the time about the government why would you want them to take care of your health care? The care would be funded by your taxes thus would not be free. Maybe what should be done is more restrictions on insurance carriers. Maybe they should be taxed more based on the profits that they are making, or just keep rates more affordable.Then there is the millions of lawsuits that increase rates for doctors, how many suits are legitimate? Better yet try and eat heathy and take better care of ourselves wouldn't hurt either.

Answer 6

We have free health care in Australia and to ease the burden, those of us who can afford it take out private health cover or we can penalised by a surcharge through our tax system.

While we are not perfect, things here are 100% better than most places I travel. It is a social justice consideration that I would not be able to sleep at night if I knew my fellow citizens couldn't get access to healthcare just because of their income.

Answer 7

Socialized medicine is great if you don't ever get sick.
Socialized medicine is horrible if you get sick.
Ask any Canadian. There are 30 million Canadians and 300 million Americans. There are months to wait to get into a doctor. What they aren't tell the U.S. public is that the healthcare will be rationed. If you are a certain age, you may not get any surgery. If you are older than the chart for a treatment, you won't get it. We should improve our current system but not go to the British or Canadian system of healthcare. Remember it would be administered by the same people that are taking care of the Passport mess.

Answer 8

I don't think it should be free but maybe cheaper. Cause there are a lot of ppl out there that can't afford going to the doctor and die just because they couldn't get a antibiotic. the united states is the richest country but we have the one of the lowest life expectancy. I think most ppl in the united states are all bout the money and getting richer instead of helping other ppl. i think everyone should read the book "Natural Cures" you can find it on http://www.naturalcures.com I think it will change the way everyone thinks.

Answer 9

The closest example is Canada. When a Canadian wants healthcare and it isn't an emergency, what does he do? He comes to the US, where he can get it promptly. If the US adopts that system, where shall you and I go when we need care?

Answer 10

this is the wrong question. the question is, how can we cover those people who don't have health insurance?

the idea of 'free healthcare' is silly. the UK is exceptional with its NHS system. all other western countries have a national insurance system that covers everyone. the US has a health insurance system that covers most people. it just needs to be extended a bit.