How much would we pay in taxes if we did have Universial Health Care?

Answer 1

It depends on how we raise the tax's to pay for it.

Pretty much everyone agrees that it will cost about 1.5 trillion to fund.

Since we currently spend around 580 billion a year, we would need to raise an additional 920 billion thru tax's.

To do that using corporate and individual income taxs's, would require a 69% increase in tax revenue, over today.

Another plan, uses a 2 or 3% individual income tac increase, along with an additional 7% employer paid payroll tax.

So employers would be paying a 14.5% tax on their payroll cost, before they paid corporate income tax.

i did the math once,

Paying for it using just income tax's, would mean, most people making $35,000 a year, would end up paying more for health care than they do now.

Using an employer paid payroll tax, would hurt small business, alot more than the large corporations.

Answer 2

Part of the reason private insurance costs what it does is over use. Many Hospitals are over run by needless visits. The cause varies but include:

Low or no cost to user. The number of people showing up for minor things that rest and aspirin can fix is high.

County Hospitals over run by Welfare and others on Government programs. They bleed over to the private sector too. Drugs/Alcohol leading to health/accidents/injuries from fights/Dog attacks/ I go thru the ER at SF General at least once a month, it's a freaking zoo.

Equipment: The more high tech the more it costs. They have to get the cost back someplace.

Lawsuits: Juries award millions and then wonder why rates are high.

Insurance to protect themselves from the lawsuits. It's a Catch 22.

The Brits,Germans, French, Canadians all pay thru the nose and get little in return. In GB getting a dentist is like pulling teeth. Pun intended. Canadians come down to WA, MN, MI, OH, PA and NY for treatment. Germany is backing down it's system.

Responsible use at reasonable cost will help bring down rates.
Cutting out the BS lawsuits will help bring down cost.
Jurors using their heads will bring down costs.
Creating more bureaucracy to see a Doctor will create a larger divide in coverage than exists now.
Focus on preventive care will bring down cost.

To answer your question it will cost lots more than intelligent use of the private sector!

Answer 3

Take a little more than half of what people with health insurance now, more than any country in the world, and that's the ammount of revenue that would be needed for a Single payer program that covers everyone with a higher quality of care than most of us now get. About 50 cents of every health care dollar goes to administrative costs and profit, as opposed to 3 cents on the dollar for Medicare. It might even be possible to not put the entire burden of the middle class the way taxes are done now.

So, you'd end up actually paying less. But that's only in direct costs. More than half of all personal bankruptcies are caused by medical expenses--and 4 out of 5 of those people HAD Health Coverage. Eliminate that expense and both government and credit become cheaper. Throw in the cheaper drug prices you get when Health Care programs are allowed to negotiate prices, the savings in adminstrative costs to Health Care workers and Doctors, and lower fees resulting from fewer denied claims and the savings start piling up.

And, you wouldn't get stiffed for the cost of that ambulance ride, because you didn't pre-schedule it. Medicare paid for mine two years ago. Despite all the propaganda to the contrary, lazy government bureaucrats really are cheaper and more efficient than highly motivated corporate bureaucrats who consider every claim a personal affront.

Of course the Insurance Industry opposes it. Thousands of overcompensated executives would be out of work. And let me tell you, there's nothing sadder in this world than an MBA sitting on a street corner with a sign saying, "WILL LAY OFF YOUR EMPLOYEES FOR FOOD." Drug Companies hate it, because where there are National Health plans their profits are merely huge rather than obscene.

And Republicans hate it because it's "Communism," which these days is defined as the taxpayers getting an even break.

Answer 4

hard to say but if it was added to grocery's and necessities, well then everybody would be paying for it ,and that would be new and different . Might be worth it in a long run, your paying taxes for medicaid and medicare ,and a lot of the folks that are receiving that benefit aren't paying much at all. This way people that don't qualify for the benefits them self and have been paying out of pocket or going without would be able to see a Dr. Now, that ... would be progress.

Answer 5

More and more every year.

If you think illegal immigration is bad now, wait until health care is universal for all. Once health care is universal, everyone will go to the doctor for elective surgery, more checkups and visits, and more money will have to be spent to foot the bill.

How would you pay for 300 million people's doctor bills? If everyone cost an average of 4,000 dollars a year, that's over one trillion dollars. In other words, double our domestic budget, and double everyone's taxes.

But of course, with universal access to healthcare, people are going to be spending far more that $4,000 a year. I can't even estimate, but let's say they spend twice that amount. That's two trillion dollars, and that amount would absolutely COLLAPSE the US economy, end of story.

Answer 6

If you are an american then your govt could easily afford health care for its citizens. Im australian and our govt takes care of our health care. If we need doctors, hospitals, operations etc we get it without paying a cent. If we need a heart transplant we get it,(there are waiting lists for transplants of course), if we need cancer treatment we get it, if we need to go to emergency we get it, our babies and childrens immunisation is also free, my prescription meds cost me A$4.70 and after 52 scripts they are free,etc etc etc. We do have a private health insurance system but if you cant afford it then the govt steps up and provides. Im gob smacked that people in the us die because they cant afford medicines and medical treatment. The us govt should stop spending so much on war mongering and start spending money on its on citizens. Really any first world country has the ability to have free health care system. Im sure any taxes you pay will be worth it, especially if it saves lives. It could be yours.

Answer 7

You know how much you pay for Health Insurance, now? (Probably not, because your employer 'pays' it before taxes). That, plus about 20% to cover the uninsured, plus another 50-200% for general waste and inefficiency wouldn't be an unreasonable estimate.

Answer 8

Depends on whether you are rich or not. If you are making over $80K, I would expect to pay a lot (40%) and a lot more (50%) once you go over $100K. Don't forget to add in state taxes, Social Security (8%) and property taxes if you have money left over to buy a house. Good luck!

Answer 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me7P55V4yQM (Presidential candidate Mike Gravel explaining his idea for a universal health care plan)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PU9Lm6V1rc&mode=user&search= (Mike Gravel at the PBS Democratic forum answering questions and talking about several issues, including healthcare)

http://www.Gravel2008.us

Answer 10

consider what health insurance costs you now, then add on what it will be to support every ones health insurance.