Universal Health Care for America?

Question

Why have we not conformed to the idea of health care for all U.S citizens?

Answer 1

Because the Government employeed post man cant match the address on an envelope to the address on my mail box?

Because I spend 2 hours at the goverment DMV to do something that will take 5 mintues?

Answer 2

I will not defend the rigged system we have now. Government and the handful of large insurers take the patients, doctors, and all taxpayers for a very bad ride.

However, universal health care does NOT work in any country where it exists. NONE. The American public is sold a lie from start to finish and we ALREADY have government health care: Medicaid, Medicare, IHS are just three to mention. These do NOT work either. Rationing is the norm. Waits are typical. Providers burn out and leave. The costs escalate.

Concrete example: in 1998 the Medicare premium was $43.80. In 2008 it will be $96.40--up more than 100% in a decade--benefits are NOT up that much. Also the HMO type versions of Medicare decreased their prescription drug benefits in many cases to conform to the BOGUS donut hole shape of the Medicare prescription which was an idiotic idea from start to finish. Furthermore, for MANY expensive tests and procedures, even on a Medicare HMO, the patient pays 20% of the Medicare billed amount--they're not getting it for free. Result? LOTS of people on Medicare are ALSO on Medicaid.

There is NO FREE LUNCH. The doctors were NEVER proven to be taking advantage of the public before managed health care moved in like the mob and took over the health care field.

A few FACTS about "universal health care":

The Fraser Institute (Canadian) was hired to determine what was going on in Alberta and said by 2016 that HALF of the province's budget would go to health care if they keep the current system. By 2030, 100% of the budget would be consumed by health care. (“Canada’s health
system dream turns to nightmare,” 11 June 2004, Dr. Glueck).

Let's also realize that enough Canadian doctors find the system so stressful that WE get 500 of them a year from that small country coming to the US. (Bell, “Step into the single-payer rabbit hole,” April 2001, amsa.org). Also a 2003 survey of Canadian doctors found that nearly half were burnt out and 12% had thoughts of suicide (staffweb.uleth.ca).

The government is thinking about delisting some services (not offering them anymore). Thankfully there has been a proliferation of ILLEGAL for-profit health centers through Canada so Canadians can get care without leaving Canada. This is so needed that the president of the Canadian Medical Association headed such an ILLEGAL facility. They're illegal not because these are not qualified doctors, but because if the government offers a service, then the private sector is not supposed to in Canada. ("Individual Freedom vs. Government Control,” 1 August 2007, nationalreview.com).

Great Britain has the oldest national health system started in 1948. “Staff are being laid off, and deficits are at an alltime high (£1.07bn for 2005-2006)” (Hazel Blears, LabourParty Chair and Minister Without Portfolio, labourachievements. blogspot.com/2006/08/23-investment-innhs...
Alex Smallwood of the British Medical Association was quoted in the
Scotsman as saying: “’Rationing is reduction in choice. Rationing has become a necessary evil. We need to formalise rationing to prevent an unregulated, widening, postcodelottery of care. Government no longer has a choice.’” (Moss,
“NHS rationing is ‘necessary evil,’ says doctors,” 26 June 2007).

In France, 80% of the public have supplemental health insurance through their employers according to their web site (ambafrance-us.org). Private medical care in France is providing more than 50% of the surgeries and more than 60% of cancer case treatment. Vision and dental care are not well covered there. “The public system is facing chronic deficits and recent cost containment policies have not proved very successful.” The government is interested in
having more of the tab picked up by private insurance (Buchmueller & Couffinhall, “Private Health Insurance in France,” 2004, oecd.org).

Yes there are problems in Japan, the Netherlands, and Sweden as well for sure. Universal health care does NOT work. Governments overpromise, jack up taxes, ration medicine, and more.


Better plan than universal health care?
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Answer 3

Because the system we have now is much better than any socialized medicine would. Look at countries which have tried it. In the short term, it is always good. In the long term, the quality of care goes down, the time to see a doctor is GREATLY increased. The costs are enormous causing the quality of living to drop.

Why should my taxes go to pay for the lazy and drug addicted? Why should my taxes go to pay for health care for those who can afford it but choose luxuries before their health care? (Cell phones for every member of the family, IPODS all around, cable television, computers with high speed internet for each member of the family, South Pole brand clothing, all 3 family vehicles less than 5 years old, and a ski boat in storage for the winter...and no insurance) This is a REAL example of a family who claims that they cannot afford health insurance. It is not an extreme example. Drive through Harlem. Many have cell phones for every kid and no insurance. Americans do not know what poverty is, and they do not know what sacrifice is.

Answer 4

Because US citizens with health care have no need for a universal system, and they don't want to pay for everyone without health care to get it. Why would all Americans want a system that provides what they already have at a higher cost?

Listen to the grumpy old man! He knows what's up!

Answer 5

Because as Hillary said in order for everyone to have something some people are just going to have to give up what they have. Hmm, lets see I work my but off to have really good insurance and now I'm supposed to work just as hard so I can get worse health care for myself and my daughter so someone else who doesn't work as hard as I do can have the same substandard care.

Also I work in HR and my company offers health care that is mostly covered by the employer and 90 % of people refuse it, becuase they are young and don't think they need it. If that's what they decide who are we to argue with them.

Answer 6

Like the others have said, most people would agree that government or socialized anything promotes efficiencies. You should really understand how healthcare is delivered in other countries with "socialized" programs and don't believe the Micheal Moore B.S. Other countries like Canada or Sweden when you are 80 y.o. + and have drank most of your life and are in need of a liver transplant, they will say, you have lived a pretty good life, good luck. The point is you lose a lot of freedom in what you can have done. Now that seems pretty logical to me, but when it is your mum or dad who is in that situation and they can't get a liver transplant like they can here if they have insurance, makes it a whole lot harder to deal with those realities.

Answer 7

Socialized medicine? Because we didn't want it.
Because we can't afford it. Because people will go
to a doctor for a hangnail. Because government
doesn't do good running anything else, and won't
on Univ. Health Care either.

Answer 8

Government is the most inefficient means to distribute any commodity or service. Food is "essential" like health care, but we would never stand for a government takeover of our food delivery system.

Be very careful what you wish for - what government provides, it can very easily take away.

Answer 9

Because the U.S does not let them self being informed by other countries. Vote for a person who is offering this.
Also "they" believe that Social is a dirty word. But when you are in the army ,you have social health care. So it is around some where.Do vote for the right person,study what he or she is about.Get going !

Answer 10

I don't really like that idea. Let the government take over insurance, there by taking the profit out of it, there by making it affordable. Then let's regulate profit on hospitals and pharmaceuticals, making it even more affordable. No one should be getting rich off the ill and dying except doctors and nurses.