Is Universal Healthcare a good idea? Will I end up paying double on my taxes?

Question

I love the stats that you have provided but there are too many factors that can influence the numbers. I need something concrete that will sway my opinion one way or the other.

Answer 1

Is Universal Healthcare a good idea?

Yes and No.

Will I end up paying double on my taxes?

Yes.

http://www.2sidesmagazine.com/Articles/A...

http://www.2sidesmagazine.com/Articles/A...

Answer 2

Universal Healthcare is a TERRIBLE idea.  

I lived in Canada for two years and witnessed the atrocities of universal, government, socialized healthcare.

Let's say you have a brain tumor; you will have to wait for six months to get an MRI.  You die while waiting?  Oh well.

You will get your hind parts taxed right off.

Just work and pay for it.  That's the American way.

Answer 3

Yes it is a good idea for America

Look at the facts, despite spending more on healthcare, PER PERSON, than any other country in the world, the USA has one of the western worlds highest death rates for kids aged under five.  Rates that are much lower in countries with universal healthcare.  

How is that good for America?

I live in a country with universal healthcare, yes it has problems, but the healthcare overall is better than what the average American gets overall.  No country with universal healthcare would ever think of having the US system.  Think why.

Answer 4

There would be an increase in taxes. Read what Carbonator says about  the government health care program where he came from. I work in a hospital in Texas--I am aware of a doctor that brought his mother from Canada to the USA to have heart bypass surgery. She was put on a list in Canada--for tests and whatever. Would have been 6 months plus for a surgery that she NEEDED to have in a more timely manner.

In regard to Mirriam M comments--there is gouging in the medical field--I am not aware to what extent though. But still don't make that much money. The insurance companies pay only a set amount per diagnosis. If a person comes in with chest pain--insurance companies have determined that the person should be in the hospital 23 hours and that is what they pay for. If the person is in there longer the hospital gets nothing past the 23 hours.

Plus there are individuals that have no insurance(private pay)-which means the hospital does not get paid. The hospital has to treat anyone that comes in the Emergency Department whether they can pay or not. This includes the illegal immigrates

Answer 5

its a very good thing i would mind paying more for this type of thing

Answer 6

The government completely getting out of our health care system is a good idea.

Answer 7

With Universal Health care, you have to wait 6 months for a heart operation!

And forget about going to the ER. You think the lines are long now... just wait for Universal Health Care. Bring your sleeping bag!!

Answer 8

I believe everyone should be allowed to get medical help when needed. And, I think anyone can go to a hospital for help and we who have health insurance end up paying for it by increased premium costs. But, here's the question: Should everyone be allowed the same housing benefits that you now have, or make the same salary you make,  drive the same kind of car you drive or have exactly the same benefits in every area you now have regardless if they can work or not, or provide for themselves? That's the Pandora's box that I am afraid will be opened. If I work hard for my livelihood, why shouldn't everyone else pull his own weight? I realize that is not possible for all people, but some just want hand-outs without contributing at all. I hope there will be a reasonable solution for all people, but I am leary about what the future holds for all of us. And, yes, our taxes would be raised in every area possible, especially if Democrats are put into office. Of course, that depends on what the majority allows. If the politicans start getting flack from their voters, they will modify whatever decisions they make into law if it means being re-elected or not. That's what we have become as a nation. Sickening, in my opinion.

Answer 9

It's a good idea within limits. There is, of course, no such thing as universal health care anywhere in the world. The question is one of how much care is paid for by whom. Neither private insurers nor the government is a good final arbiter of what care you should be able to get. In the US, we're long past due for a restructuring of the insurance industry, but we needn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, either.

Answer 10

If you look carefully at the results of the federal involvement in Education, it should provide all the warning you need to decide whether or not their becoming involved in Healthcare is a good idea.  

Unless, of course, you are one of the victims of those government schools and too stupid to see how the quality of education has declined to the point where the only "excellence" is in our basketball programs.

Answer 11

youll pay double only if  a DEM wins.

Answer 12

Not if gouging in the medical profession is finally criminalized as it should be.

Most of the expense of medicine comes from elborate schemes of price padding, from the manufacture of medicines down to hospital treatment.

The medical profession has very dirty hands and needs to wash them.

Answer 13

Let me tell you a true story about universal health care, and why is fails.

I live in Denmark, a Scandinavian, European country as you probably know. We have universal health care, as do Norway and Sweden.

Michael Moore loves to project our system as something just wonderful, where nothing's wrong - in his documentaries our health care system is just pure paradise.

Fortunately for him, he didn't really hear the public's take on this system before making the movie. Fact is that today government controlled hospitals are heading towards extinction in Denmark. Our 'newly' elected libertarian/conservative government have just made private hospitals legal, and boy is that industry booming. Is is predicted that over 50% of the Danish population will have a medical insurance within the next 4 years of developing the system in Denmark, where it was previously illegal.

Why is it booming, I hear you ask!? It is booming because the Danes are tired of the government controlled hospitals providing LOUSY service. For starters, the waiting lists are unbelievably long. Most people with cancer die while waiting for just their scan. Imagine how many survive while waiting for the surgery, if they even got beyond scanning.

Second, the level of service and technology is 3rd world like. We still cling to 20 year old equipment.

In our emergency rooms patients with open fractures can wait in up to 8 hours to be consulted - and who is the people checking you? 1st year students on medical schools! The people in charge of the public's health is medical students with less than 1 year of training, not to mention experience.

Why all of this mess? There's no competition. Nobody at the hospitals really care if their patients get cured, they receive their money anyway. And even worst is it, that I cannot switch hospital if I'm not happy with the service - I'm forced to use only 1 particular hospital.

Moreover, the system is corrupted by inefficiency. My god, when I'm in for eye treatment, the doctors spend more time roaming the corridors that actually treating patients.

I've hear tons of stories from people going to the US for medical help, because the "Scandinavian model" cannot provide adequate help and service.

In conclusion: government should exit both health care and education. Evidence shows how a pure capitalistic system runs much better and efficiently.

BTW. it doesn't make sense down-thumbing me. I'm telling the truth. Nice thing censoring me just because the truth is inconvenient to you.

Answer 14

Coming from a country that has universal healthcare, it IS a good thing. You'll pay more for your taxes but you'll not be ripped off by insurance companies. It's a good thing, believe me.