Do you think we will ever have a Universal Health Care System?

Question

In America, it is not right for self-employed people to not be able to afford health care. In America, will we ever realize all people need the ability to access health care? And do you think we will ever have a Universal Health Care Plan?

Answer 1

Yes. I think ultimately it will come down to a point when private insurance is just to expensive for employers to provide. When that occurs, smaller hospitals will feel the pinch first as reimbursment disappears, followed by the larger hospitals. Of course, the insurance companies themselves will collapse as the relatively healthy (you know the one in the HMO group paying for, but not using services) people will be the first to drop their insurance, soon no one can afford the coverage. Everyone at this critical junction, where hospitals, and insurance companies begin to both lose massive amounts of cash, and when people begin to die because they can't afford treatment, is where the government will have no choice but to step in and take over healthcare. Unfortunately, for many of us that will die because of the lack of action today on this issue, it will simply be to little to late.

Answer 2

I don't think so, I think (hope) there will always be interests here that would stop it. It doesn't matter that just the President wants it, Congress has to pass a specific law requiring it as well, and the way our system is set up, you'd have to have a solid majority in favor including a 60 vote majority in the Senate. On such a contentious issue, that will be difficult. Those opposed would use ALL options to stop it. I also think that when the issue comes to the forefront, as it did during the Hillary-care attempt, the American people get educated on the subject and turn against it at a high enough rate that it becomes unpopular. Ask people in England what they think, how they like waiting 6 months for an appointment, or having to pull out their own teeth because they can't even get a dental appointment.

Answer 3

We should all hope not! We have the best medical system in the world.... People from all over come to America because of John Hopkins, The Mayo Clinic... just to name 2 I don't hear of anyone going to France or Britain for a major medical procedure. Let's not go and try and fix something that is not broke. I would rather be happy knowing, I can see a doctor when I want to see a doctor. Just as an example... look at how many people have died world wide from the swine flu... How many in countries with socialized medicine.. and look how many in the states have died...That little thought should stop the insane thoughts of changing things... Then again, those who are pushing for such a horrid heath care system often can't add 2 and 2 anyway...

Answer 4

I hope not. It would be the end of medical care and bankrupt us to boot.

Have you looked for a catastrophic coverage policy or at an HSA? That should be affordable and allow you to save some money for future expenses.

It's not just self-employed hit with high insurance premiums, as they skyrocket employers are dropping plans, reducing coverage, and/or putting more of the premium price on the employee. However, when we look at what we get for our dollar that way, if it's expensive, good chance it won't be there when needed (half of all bankruptcies are for medical bills and most of those folks are insured).

You can find more than adequate medical care now at reasonable prices without insurance (walk-in clinics, flu shots, etc.) It's when you get sick that you need insurance (and that was the ORIGINAL concept of insurance). Yet too many covered find that their insurance is NOT going to help them out.

In universal health care--the countries are going broke, the care is rationed, more is pushed off on the private sector.

In the US where we have government health care, same deal occurs--care is rationed, systems are not self-supporting, and even with something like Medicare the "insured" need a "medigap" policy or have to use an HMO and still get hit with 20% co-pays on more expensive procedures.

Better idea is here (open the PDF, it's not the blurb):
http://www.booklocker.com/books/3068.html

Answer 5

I think something definitely needs to change, the percentage of my income that goes to health care is alarming. I'm not sure universal is good if it is a code word for government. I'd like to see all the money the state and people and businesses in it spend turned into a pool and the insurance companies bid on the entire pool. the down side is what ever is set as a minimum standard usually becomes the maximum benefit. I have spent 3 or 4 hours over the last two days trying to get medicare / MA to cover a particular pain med for a client of mine on comfort care. I'm told the prior authorization from the doctor may be processed on Wednesday if we are lucky, fortunately I had a provision that I could authorize it billed to the house until then!!! Majorly Frustrating....

Answer 6

I hope for those unfortunate enough to be left out of your healthcare system (or limited to the dregs of emergency only treatment) that you in the US get a universal health care system.

I live in the UK and work in the NHS (our universal health care system). It has problems, but not as many as the US healthcare system has. Despite spending much more per head of population than other developed countries, the US has worse health outcomes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care#Economics Life expectancy and infant mortality figures in the US are higher than in other developed countries, despite more money being spent (and wasted) in the USA.

In the UK there are waiting lists for routine problems. Problems that can not wait are treated as emergencies. Also, in the UK, people can also have private health care.

I can understand Americans being proud of living in the richest and most powerful country in the world. What I can not understand is why Amercians settle for an expensive healthcare system where babies die that would have a better chance of life if born in another developed country.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2167865,00.html

Answer 7

The problem with health care is cost. We need someone who can figure out how to lower the cost.

Malpractice insurance is too high, because it is too easy to sue. These people become health care professionals because they want to help people. Well, sometimes mistakes are made. Do we have to crucify them for a single mistake?

Is your leg worth 20 million dollars? Pobably not. You can have mine for 1 million.

Answer 8

A liberal is a conservative who's been bankrupted by medical costs.

You see in the responses here that some people believe in "every man for himself", others, "all for one and one for all"

We'll have it when it becomes obvious to even the most blind ideologues on the right that illness doesn't notice if you're rich, and certain illnesses make sure you don't stay rich.

These imbeciles bitched to high heaven about Medicare, and now they're not turning down the benefits, or trying to dismantle it -- because they know the people want it and they'd be tarred and feathered, or worse, if they even tried.

A single risk pool is the only sensible solution to market segmentation and cherry picking to get young healthy premium payers who don't get sick and leave the people who need medical care out in the cold. Switzerland still has insurance offered by private companies, but they pool the risk.

One can only wish a bank account draining illness experience on all the self-righteous proponents of I got mine and the devil take the hindmost.

Answer 9

There are hospitals where people can go and cannot be refused service regardless of their ability to pay. Under the current system there is no way for these hospitals to re-coup their financial losses-yet they are required by law to accept any one and everyone. Consequently the working poor and the unemployed poor cannot afford preventative health care services and end up at the hospital when they have become severely ill. If they could have preventive health care services their health care costs overall would be far less expensive then the care received after they have become severely ill and hospitalized.
I think that if the government-by law-requires hospitals to accept patients who cannot pay the bill then the government should be responsible for helping to pay for that expense. Other wise it is like the hospitals are required to work without pay-sort of like being "slaves" for the services provided. Locally emergency rooms are becoming a rarity-entire hospitals are going bankrupt-and that means less service for everyone-including those who have Health Insurance Policies. It is a lose/lose situation for everyone. Can it be corrected? Well the negative concept of "Socialized Medicine" faces major opposition. But don't we have "Socialized Education" in the form of a public school systems? And "Socialized Military Defense"? And a "Socialized Government" supported by our tax dollars? Think about it.
Here is a scenario:
You have adequete health care coverage which you pay for. You have a stroke-a heart attack-a car accident and must be transported to the emergancy room for your life to be saved. But the nearest hospital emergancy room is miles away. You die enroute to that hospital. Guess what? You just paid for all the uninsured persons-WITH YOUR LIFE.
Joe;
The Military is doing the best they can considering who they have as a "Comander and Chief"-The school system is failing our kids and I am in favor of vouchers to private schools which do a better job for lower costs. As for Hilary-I never said she was my absolute choice. What I said was:
I am drawn to Hilary Clinton because of her in the White House experience-not as a President-but having direct access to a former President-Bill Clinton. It is not a Woman's Lib thing for me either-it is a desire to have a President that is willing to listen to the "people" instead of stubbornly insisting on their own agenda.
The money that is going for the "Agenda's" could be better spent and the taxes revised to save the Middle Class which is currently joining the ranks of the poor.
I am keeping an open mind about the candidates and researching (financial contributors is of special interest to me). If your views reflect those of Ron Paul he will not likely be my choice any more then Hilary would be yours.
With that being said-my senerio is still true. You will still pay for the uninsured if hospitals are "going out of business" and you happen to need emergancy service that is too far away to save your life.
For smug policy holders-The 17 year old who had coverage dies waiting for a transplant because the insurance company failed to approve it for so long-approving it at last when she was on her death bed on the same day she died. That is in the news TODAY.

Answer 10

I believe we should have better nutrition information, identify and stop eating processed food with harmful preservatives, and have preventative care.
A Universal Health Care System is an issue for the insurance companies to handle at this time, as it mandatory to have car insurance, we should obligate the same company to insure our health, with minimal increase in premiums instead of just a receipt for payment every month.
Until people start saying enough is enough, nothing is going to change, when have our rights turned to privileges, more law means less freedom.