Why do Americans think Universal health care is imposible or even weird,when in the UK Health care is FREE?

Question

Hillary for president

Answer 1

First, it is not free. We pay in taxation. Also, many have to pay prescription charges. For every drug that we are prescribed, we have to pay about $4 (no matter how expensive it is) unless we are given it while an inpatient. Dental care is subsidised, but you still have to pay. Also eye checks are charged for as well. Not all have to pay prescription charges though. http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=888 Pregnant women, mothers of young children, children, the elderly, those on low incomes and those with certain medical conditions do not have to pay. But for those that do, is $4 that much?

The higher rate of taxation here in the UK is 40%. Those on lower incomes pay less, and until recently, our low tax band was 10%. But we do pay more in taxation than you do. However, we are still better off. Take into account health costs that you lot pay, and we are quids in. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care#Economics US health care costs you more than we pay in taxation. The reason is our money goes towards health, yours goes towards profit. Wastage occurs in all organisations, both state and private so that is not a major issue.

And, not only do we pay less overall, but our health care system has better outcomes. Life expectancy is higher in the UK and most other western democracies compared to the USA and infant mortality is lower.

I work in the system, and I know about the waiting lists. You do not have to wait nine months. You will not be admitted for most cases of food poisoning as in most cases, there is no need. You will get free emergency care, and not have to mortgage your house due to an uninsured illness.

And, if you do not want to wait, you can have private health insurance. Which as we have the NHS, again is cheaper than it is in the USA. Some employers offer it as well.

If you are proud to live in the richest and most powerful country, ask yourself, are you also proud that babies die in the USA that would live if born in a country with a different health care system?

It would be nice if you really think about what I have said. In the meantime, I hope you all have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Answer 2

Because Americans don't have an open mind, They are happy with the HMO's robbing the sick and the poor I think its gotta stop because now all Americans are hurting and our life expectancy is lower then Great Britain, Canada, Norway, France, Italy, They all live longer and healthier then here in the US I think the Health-care Management Organization System is broken and needs to be abolished and replaced by a national health care system which Americans won't try because they think its socialism want to pay every time you go to the library, or the get billed by the Police Department when get arrested or the Fire Department when your house burns down, Why shouldn't people pay for When your girlfriend has a baby or when you have a Heart Attack or when you're dying of cancer or getting prescriptions you have pay Hundreds and thousands of dollars of your money that's wrong, I'm not endorsing anyone for president until I know that they are real and honest about Healthcare for all people that makes a real difference, until then Watch Micheal Moore's "SICKO" and you know that Americans are wrong for say its Socialism and that they don't Care about you and it will be a New Day in America.

Answer 3

Guess what, we already have universal health care in the USA. It is called Medicare. And you never hear anyone over 65 say that they would like to abolish Medicare. So all we have to do is extend those benefits to the rest of us. Also, everyone understands that health care is not free. It's really just a question of finding the fairest and most efficient way of paying for it. Making health insurance universal will make it cheaper for most of us, since all the people who are not covered now will have to pay something into the system.

Answer 4

Britain for long has been a welfare state, while socialism is a forbidden word to considerable % of Americans. But Hillary has the patience to convice and make the Universal Health Care a successful programme. The other America deserves and needs the program. Change can't be instantaneous. Only dictators think they can impose and get results quick.

Answer 5

Ok, besides the obvious mistake that the US does not already have a universal health care system and that the UK health system is FREE (apparently you don't pay taxes) here's a question for you...

If Government Health Care is so great in countries like France, Canada, Japan and the UK, why are there still so many private doctors? Why are U.S. hospitals like Cedars Sinai and the Mayo Clinic full of patients from those countries?

In the countries so often cited as success stories for nationalized health insurance, the fact is that there is still demand for higher quality, private health care....the main difference is that the middle class is even further removed from access that quality health care because of their increased tax burden.

When people complain how the rich get richer, did you ever stop to think it's actually because the middle class is forced to accept a greater and greater share of expenses for those who cannot or will not put in their share?

Answer 6

It isn't free. You pay a tax surcharge on your income (and your employer pays). In addition IIRC the government kicks in some cash out of the general fund which means you have higher taxes.

But the problem isn't that it is Impossible. The problem is it is impossible to get the kind of health care American consumers want -today- and have it be universal in the way folks in europe have it without a MASSIVE government expenditure.

Answer 7

That free healthcare in the UK is paid for from taxes.
I am open to the idea of universal healthcare, but afraid to see how much our taxes would go up.
I am 26, and in good health, always have been, so for a person like me, it wouldn't make much sense to be paying taxes for the rest of my working life to something that I will rarely ever use.
BUT....it would be nice to know that if I was injured, or my health went south suddenly, that I wouldn't have to worry about how I'm going to pay for gigantic hospital/doctor bills.
Like I said, I'm open to the idea of it, but I guess I would like to learn more about how it would be implemented and paid for first.

Answer 8

Here's your "free": Higher taxes, higher Dr. visits, higher prescriptions, Higher ER costs, or cut and dice our military and national security--Bill did it in the 90's, why wouldn't hillary do it today? (birds of a feather flock together)
They gotta rob peter to pay paul someplace. It's kinda like your own check book---what you gonna cut to pay for later? Only it involves billions/trillions instead of hundreds.
The only "free" is their ride to the bank.
Canada has "national healthcare" and people wait for MONTHS to get simple care. So, if you're diabetic and low on meds you could be dying to get in line (literally). Most "national healthcare" has a cap, or only so much of it that you are able to use.
Other "advanced" countries with "national healthcare": France, North Korea, the former Soviet Union, Iran. Get the picture? All of them have one thing in common, they're communist or socialist/communist (which is a lighter form of communism).
Are you SURE you want hillary controlling your health care?
It amounts to government controlling our lives. Long live capitalism! the true earmark of a free society.

Answer 9

Universal healthcare is available in a lot more places than just the UK... However their are a LOT of reasons it wont work here. One is the insurance companies, they don't want to go out of business.... secondly is our fear of our own governments inabilities... We can't take care of just the elderly right, do you really want to put your life into the hands of a really messed up system? Then you also have the American view of losing a freedom, since some people think that they will lose their freedom to chose.

Now, as far as Hillary.... her plan really sucks. Lets just FORCE everyone to have insurance, and make the Insurance companies cover them. Part of that is good, since like, I can not get health insurance. I have epilepsy and a spinal problem that is pretty nasty, it is expensive and I go through physical therapy every week. No insurance company will insure me. Luckily, my state is one of the only that offers its own universal health care system which I can get (our taxes are also a lot higher).

You can't really compare the taxes either, for a regular healthy person, insurance is affordable, but once something happens, you have to pay up to your deductible, your co-pays and everything the insurance company won't cover, you will really be wishing you had been paying that 40% tax rate. It is a LOT cheaper in the long run, specially after something happens since your rates go UP.

So, under Hillary's plan, I would be able to get regular insurance, but I have to pay for it. She would force me to pay for something. And you know that insurance prices will go up along with what they cover. In the end, we will just get screwed, got health insurance but they wont cover my chemo when i get cancer so I lose everything and die miserable... That is what I think of when i think of hillarycare.

I am happy as it is, I get free healthcare from the state that covers everything I could possibly need. Now, if we elect Ron Paul and get some major government changes done, I might be more trusting of a federal plan.....

Answer 10

Because the universal health care in the UK and other countries has so many downfalls and is paid for by very high taxes. There is a difference in the concept of universal health care and the reality of making it happen. Also the quality of treatment would greatly decline. It's not a good idea. What is a good idea is making health insurance more affordable and requiring employers to offer it to employees, and also to make medicaid more available to the working poor who can't afford or aren't offered insurance. Other than that, HILLARY CLINTON ALL THE WAY!!!!!!