Should citizens be totally responsible for their own health costs and take out private insurance?

Question

or is better to have a comprehensive health care system which provides free health services for all?

Answer 1

In an ideal society everyone would have what they need. Everyone would contribute the maximum amount of effort/time/whatever to society (by working). This isn't a novel concept, Marx has "been there, done that" only his ideas haven't come to fruition. And they won't...b/c they can't.

Right now our planet is made up of many cultures which use financial compensation as motivation: "The more money I have the more crap I can buy and the more crap I buy the happier I am." This cultural ideal leaves little room for "helping the common good." I'm guilty of wanting to accumulate wealth...and all the taxes really HURT (especially when I see it as being squandered away).

On the flip side, this ideal system includes people who don't work as hard as others. This is a personal choice but it has consequences - if you don't work hard you'll be lacking some things. (Although, I know that some rich people who don't have to work at all). I don't believe that I should work extra hard to benefit another person who isn't utilizing his/her full potential. A socialist system in a capitalist-minded society leaves a lot of room for free loaders - and those people don't get any pity from me and I really don't care about them. Mean? Cold hearted? Nah. I don't mind helping people if they help in turn. It's not about "what can you do for me" but I'm not going to bust my butt for someone who sits at home all day.

A comprehensive health care system cannot exist unless (1) all the people are willing to work for the common good and (2) all people are willing to contribute the most that they can.

As our system exists, having such a comprehensive, socialized system would put further pressure on the middle class to support the poor - the poor being people who cannot afford health insurance and the middle class being people who are working the hardest and getting screwed the most...meanwhile the rich can afford better, private insurance (private insurance companies won't disappear - in Europe many people supplement their national health care w/ private).

So public health care is a nice little idea but I don't think it is right for the country at this time.

Are you guys on here all five years old? It isn't *FREE*!!! It's accomplished - inefficiently - through higher taxes. Which, when the tax system is fair and the small elite aren't favored, works out just great. But that isn't the state of the economy in the U.S!!

Answer 2

It would be nice to have free health care, the downside is that with free health care, service and quality of service usually falls. What would be nice would be to continue to pay the normal (government regulated ) price and have 100% of everything covered (including Dental and Vision). The price needs not to be inflated like some of the prices that are out there, but a med to low cost plan that covers everything would be perfect. Really think about how much one spends in a lifetime for insurance, plus anything major is not fully covered, then look at how much of the healthcare one uses. The insurance companies are making a killing. Having to pay for our own private insurance wouldnt be bad (assuming that companis would cover 100% as well) but there are too many companies out there right now, and with so many different plans it is very confusing. It needs to be rethough, made even across the board, set amounts no more no less. That way those that qualify for givernment healthcare (or a reduced price) our tax money is going to a set cost. It would work out much more efficient than our current debaucle of a health care system.

Answer 3

Of the two choices you allow in your question, the best for the most people would be a comprehensive health care service that is essentially free for all. This kind of program would be more likely to stress preventative medicine because all groups, regardless of income,social status, or location would have more incentive to seek a medical opinion. Emergency rooms would be less crowded because the less fortunate and just plain dregs of society would be less likely to avail themselves of the policy of most hospitals to not turn away a patient in need.
A universal health care plan would be costly in taxes, but at least, in this case, there would be some return on the taxes paid.

Answer 4

YES, lets do like the French, Canadians, Cubans and British and give FREE healthcare for all citizens in America.

Go watch the documentary SICKO and learn how these other countries put America to Shame.

Shame on the Bush administration for caring more about corporate HMO's and Giant Pharmaceuticals than the people he supposedly governs and who put him into office.