Do You believe we should have Universal Healthcare? Why or Why NOT?

Question

How many people would give up a bit more in taxes to have good ready health insurance when they need it? How many consider it Socialized Medicine and should never be inacted?

Answer 1

I consider universal health care to be covered by a governments basic duty of care. The same as education and the police service.

The current system kicks people when they are down and it keeps the poor poor. They scrimp and save, and then then they are forced to spend it all on medical bills if they get sick. Even the middle classes can't escape. One minute they have good health care paid for by the company, the next minute they get too sick to work and are running on a ticking clock. If they get better before their benefits run out then they are OK, but if they don't then they are screwed.

Nearly 50 million Americans have no health care at all, and of those who do have it many have only basic plans that balk at anything more expensive than a pair of glasses. This is frankly disgraceful. America is supposed to be the most powerful nation on Earth, it can put a man on the moon on your tax dollars, but can't send a diabetic heart patient for a checkup without them first getting out their wallet.

Answer 2

Universal health care can be organized in many ways. It is not necessarily provided by the state.   In The Netherlands we have Universal health care. Everybody pays a monthly insurance fee to a  private company of their choice. The basic fee is the same for every adult, whatever their age or health history or their employment situation is. One pays $135,- per month. Low income people get $55,- government support per month.

There are waiting lists for some operations or consultants, but in general people are satisfied with this system. Doctors can earn a good income. The quality of care is very high. Operations and expensive treatments are available for those, who need them.

I don't think anyone in this country would want have the USA situation in stead of our system. The fact that millions of people in the USA are without health insurance is generally regarded here as scandalous.



Government information:

Home > Themes > Health insurance system

Under the new Health Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet), all residents of the Netherlands are obliged to take out a health insurance.

The system is a private health insurance with social conditions. The system is operated by private health insurance companies; the insurers are obliged to accept every resident in their area of activity. A system of risk equalisation enables the acceptance obligation and prevents direct or indirect risk selection.

The insured pay a nominal premium to the health insurer. Everyone with the same policy will pay the same insurance premium. The Health Insurance Act also provides for an income-related contribution to be paid by the insured. Employers contribute by making a compulsory payment towards the income-related insurance contribution of their employees.

Essential healthcare

The health insurance comprises a standard package of essential healthcare. The package provides essential curative care tested against the criteria of demonstrable efficacy, cost effectiveness and the need for collective financing.

  

Answer 3

Look at the record. In every country where socialized medicine has been tried it has been a miserable failure. It has nearly bankrupted England, and Canada isn't far behind. People die daily in those countries waiting for treatment, surgery, etc. Would you like to see that here in America?

The solution to the problem of rising health costs is to limit the amount of money a doctor can be sued for. This will lower his malpractice insurance premiums. Scrap the current locked in fee for services system used by the health insurance companies, and open up the medical practice field to competitive bidding. Each doctor would then be able to charge what he or she wanted to. Competition would drive the cost for services down. You simply pick the doctor who charges the lowest price for his services. Health insurance premiums would be lowered to follow the reductions in doctor's fees. Allow doctors and pharmacies to import pharmaceuticals from other countries where they are cheaper, so they can charge less.

The only government program I would envision would be one that took care of the truly indigent, and that system already exists. It's called Medicare and Medicaid.

Answer 4

Yes - because all people need it and it's only fair

No - because (some) people would abuse it

Answer 5

As a Canadian, I find most of your answers misleading and incorrect.  Americans seem to use this word "socialized" like it's something horrible and to be avoided. You also seem to be really against your government administering a universal health care program. What is that all about?  Your current government is doing a fine job administering the military at a cost of billions of dollars to the tax payer.  Why would you support that and not universal health care?

Canada is a democratic, capitalist country.  We don't view universal health care as "socialized." It is a program that ALL Canadians view as their right, it just happens to be administered by the federal government because we don't trust the private sector to operate a balanced program for all.

At last count there are 47 million Americans without coverage and many millions more that have inadequate coverage. That is an appalling and tragic legacy for the most powerful country in the world to support.

Sure, there's always room for improvement, but all in all, we have a wonderful system. BTW, administration costs in Canada are about 14 percent of the total costs, while in the US I believe it's as high as 32 percent.  So much for corporate administration.

Also, you may wish to check out various countries around the world to see how their "socialized" health care program is doing before you criticize.  Particularly the Scandinavian countries, France and Holland.

When a hard working American family in their retirement years has to sell or re mortgage their home to cover serious medical operations, there's definitely something wrong.

IMO, it's time Americans woke up and challenged the next government to bring in universal health care.  I wish you all well.

Answer 6

Everywhere universal healthcare is available, it is a total disaster. You wait forever to see a doctor who has no time for you, your treatment is usually slipshod due to so many other patients and you simply receive very sub standard care. bad idea all around. In UK you wait for months to get an appointment, so some people travel to Europe to get help abroad.

Answer 7

yes

it is a shame and disgrace that sick people in our country cannot get treatment because insurance is out of reach.

When someone is sick or dying they should be able to see a doctor and not put it off because they cannot afford it.

Often people with no insurance run up much higher bills because they wait till they are on their deathbed to seek treatment

Answer 8

Difficult question. I'd go for Social Medicine that is executed efficiently. However, there are downfalls to each type: money making machines that private insurance companies are try their hardest to deny coverage - people often don't get the treatment hey need; in social medicine people stand in long lines and often die before their time for free treatment arrives. So it's difficult and I am not sure which is better.