Universal Health Care- USA- ???

[Evanescence]

Your friend and mine, GW Bush was here in Lancaster at a town meeting today. He talked about this childrens health care issue and Universal haelth care. Ironically, he and I agree that Govt should not govern or be affiliated with health care.

So, how about it? Should the USA make health care universal for all Americans? Can we trust them to do this?

GO!

[clemsontigers23]

Your friend and mine, GW Bush was here in Lancaster at a town meeting today. He talked about this childrens health care issue and Universal haelth care. Ironically, he and I agree that Govt should not govern or be affiliated with health care.

So, how about it? Should the USA make health care universal for all Americans? Can we trust them to do this?

GO!

Simple answer: no.

But Obama's subsidies plan for the impoverished seems like it could work. Overall universal healthcare, though, is a horrible idea. Good luck getting any type of critical surgery anytime soon if it's enacted. There's a reason why Canadians come here to have major surgery, because the waiting list in Canada is so long. I've heard horror stories of people having to experience extreme hardship because they weren't able to get a simple procedure done.

[cheewiee]

Simple answer: no.

But Obama's subsidies plan for the impoverished seems like it could work. Overall universal healthcare, though, is a horrible idea. Good luck getting any type of critical surgery anytime soon if it's enacted. There's a reason why Canadians come here to have major surgery, because the waiting list in Canada is so long. I've heard horror stories of people having to experience extreme hardship because they weren't able to get a simple procedure done.

I actually like Obama's subsidy plan over what the other democrats have put out... If only Obama was Pro life, I would be pro Obama....

[Jesuslove]

Your friend and mine, GW Bush was here in Lancaster at a town meeting today. He talked about this childrens health care issue and Universal haelth care. Ironically, he and I agree that Govt should not govern or be affiliated with health care.

So, how about it? Should the USA make health care universal for all Americans? Can we trust them to do this?

GO!

I think so. Helping your neighbor is the Christian thing to do. No American should be without some form of healthcare. Can the Government handle this? I"m not sure, but we need to find a way to ensure that all Americans have access to health insurance.

[clemsontigers23]

I actually like Obama's subsidy plan over what the other democrats have put out... If only Obama was Pro life, I would be pro Obama....

Well, no conservative candidate has said anything about working to outlaw abortion, and the leading candidate (Giuliani) is pro-abortion, so I can live with that, as much as I hate abortion.

[cheewiee]

Well, no conservative candidate has said anything about working to outlaw abortion, and the leading candidate (Giuliani) is pro-abortion, so I can live with that, as much as I hate abortion.

Yea... so then does anyone deserve my vote? It's something I am struggling with...

[rossid]

Huckabee is my write-in if he is not the nominee.

Universal Health Care? Yes. A government program? No. How do you get the rich and young/invincible to get health care? I don't know. You can't force them - yet.

[Evanescence]

No one has any commentsw on RFID chips and health care?

[Mr.Elwood]

Just like a any Church organization where 20% do al the work so the other 80% can feel good about "being there", the American public is falling into the "entitlement" mentality. Soon there will be enough people doing little or nothing for free government everything, while the other 25% of us work to pay for it, that they will vote themselves what they want because most democrats (and now republicans) pander to easy block votes and not what is best for our society.

We will have National Health Care.. It's just a matter of time.. people are selfish and lazy in general so we just can't escape it..

[mat1583]

I think so. Helping your neighbor is the Christian thing to do. No American should be without some form of healthcare. Can the Government handle this? I"m not sure, but we need to find a way to ensure that all Americans have access to health insurance.

Helping your neighbors is the Christian thing to do, but we are not a Christian nation. I also think it's not a Christian thing to use coercion to steal the money from people through income taxes to pay for universal health care.

While I agree that all Americans should have the chance to obtain health insurance, I do not think that all of them should be granted health insurance by private organizations. I do not think a chain smoker should be granted the same health insurance benefits and access that a non-smoker receives. If it were so, then healthy people would be spotting the bill through increased premiums for people that choose to make unhealthy decisions (smoking, heavy drinking, promiscuous lifestyles, obesity, etc).

I think a private insurance company should always have the right to deny health insurance to those people. If an insurance company chooses not to deny those people, then at least I have the right to choose a different insurance company that has different policies. If universal health care becomes reality, those choices fly out the window.

-washboard

[WeaselInYerFoot]

I think so. Helping your neighbor is the Christian thing to do. No American should be without some form of healthcare. Can the Government handle this? I"m not sure, but we need to find a way to ensure that all Americans have access to health insurance.

Indeed, it is the Christian thing to do. But obligating people to pay up demeans the sacrifice and makes it a government thing to do, not a spiritual-Christian action. Take for example, what Catholic hospitals used to be and what some still are. A big majority of them ran on donations and are notorious for their quality.

[Jesuslove]

Helping your neighbors is the Christian thing to do, but we are not a Christian nation. I also think it's not a Christian thing to use coercion to steal the money from people through income taxes to pay for universal health care.

While I agree that all Americans should have the chance to obtain health insurance, I do not think that all of them should be granted health insurance by private organizations. I do not think a chain smoker should be granted the same health insurance benefits and access that a non-smoker receives. If it were so, then healthy people would be spotting the bill through increased premiums for people that choose to make unhealthy decisions (smoking, heavy drinking, promiscuous lifestyles, obesity, etc).

I think a private insurance company should always have the right to deny health insurance to those people. If an insurance company chooses not to deny those people, then at least I have the right to choose a different insurance company that has different policies. If universal health care becomes reality, those choices fly out the window.

-washboard
Whether we like it or not, we pay for things that we don't support whether it be for the war, needle exchanges, abortions, etc. How do you draw the line when denying coverage to people who make unhealthy decisions? Should those who frequent McDonald's be denied health benefits for obesity related diseases? Should smokers or drinkers suffer without insurance because they can't overcome legal addictions? Who would have the final say in determining which lifestyles get healthcare? If your theory became law, the insurance companies would be fighting to deny everyone coverage.

[mat1583]

Whether we like it or not, we pay for things that we don't support whether it be for the war, needle exchanges, abortions, etc.
How about instead of saying "whether we like it or not" we actually try to change that?


How do you draw the line when denying coverage to people who make unhealthy decisions? Should those who frequent McDonald's be denied health
benefits for obesity related diseases? Should smokers or drinkers suffer without insurance because they can't overcome legal addictions? Who would have the final say in determining which lifestyles get healthcare?

Currently it's the insurance company that has the final say. This is true with life insurance, car insurance, etc. If you participate in dangerous, risky behavior, the costs of your insurance plan greatly increases...at least offsetting the costs to other clients somewhat. Do you think a life insurance company should be forced to cover someone who is a thrill seeker and a regular skydiver? In the same way, why would you think that a health insurance company should be forced to cover a chain smoker?


If your theory became law, the insurance companies would be fighting to deny everyone coverage.
That doesn't even make sense. If they deny everyone coverage, then they don't make any money. They have no incentive to deny everyone coverage. They do have incentive to deny coverage for people that are involved in risky behavior. This applies to homes as well. Do you think insurance companies should be forced to provide coverage for houses that have been built in the middle of a flood zone? Or if they are forced, should that coverage be affordable for all people? I think not.

Even if health insurance coverage couldn't be denied, the government should not have a say in how much companies charge individuals. That's basically the goal of universal health care...to make it affordable and available to everyone - no matter how risky their behavior is and how costly it is to those who do not participate in risky behaviors.

-washboard

[Evanescence]

Still no comments on RFID chips and our Insurance companies?

Hmmm...on another thread on a very conservative message board, no one touched it with a 10 foot pole...

Same here...

[mat1583]

Still no comments on RFID chips and our Insurance companies?

Hmmm...on another thread on a very conservative message board, no one touched it with a 10 foot pole...

Same here...

What are you talking about? I have no comments because I have not seen any questions raised about both together. This is a thread about universal health care, not rfid. There's already a thread for rfid...

-washboard

[Pixie Wildflower]

Simple answer: no.

But Obama's subsidies plan for the impoverished seems like it could work. Overall universal healthcare, though, is a horrible idea. Good luck getting any type of critical surgery anytime soon if it's enacted. There's a reason why Canadians come here to have major surgery, because the waiting list in Canada is so long. I've heard horror stories of people having to experience extreme hardship because they weren't able to get a simple procedure done.

This is ironic. A friend of mine needed a certain procedure and couldn't get it done in the states, so she had to have it done in Canada! It didn't cost her either.

The thing is no system will be perfect since imperfect humans will be running it. That said, my hubby receives excellent care through the VA in SC. I know they are not as good in other places, but if you implemented something similar on a nationwide level for all Americans, you would need to make sure it was overseen constantly.

Like I said, my hubby has excellent care. He doesn't wait that long (I know-I've been with him). I've often waited longer at my private doc. The VA has been a godsend for us.

We do have insurance where he works, but the deductibles are three thousand dollars each! Because I didn't have 3000 dollars laying around, I couldn't get an endometrial ablation that would have lessened the symptoms I suffer from during my cycle. So, I just pray for my menopause to hurry and come along! We both have chronic illnesses (both diabetic, he's type 1 and I am type 2 with PCOS, fibromylgia and other problems). The VA bought him an insulin pump to help him manage his diabetes better. Through our insurance, he would have to bought it and have it go to our deductible.

Yes, we wind up paying alot out of pocket but still need the insurance, because if I had to go to the hospital, it would be better to be 3000 in debt rather than much more.

We are not poor enough for Medicaid or similar aid, not rich enough to shrug off that 3000 deductible.

Someone needs a plan to help those in the middle. It's a really hard struggle for those who have chronic illnesses and need medical attention frequently.

[clemsontigers23]

The thing is, if we had free healthcare for everyone, people would be going to the doctor everytime they sneezed, and then we'd all be in a mess! The waiting times would be unbelievable! I can think of dozens of people who would be this way!

Very bad idea, but I do think the poor and lower middle should get some help with their insurance...but not paying all the way. Make them realize they still need to work for it, that they can't just live off it.

[DareDevil]

The thing is, if we had free healthcare for everyone, people would be going to the doctor everytime they sneezed, and then we'd all be in a mess! The waiting times would be unbelievable! I can think of dozens of people who would be this way!

(...)


You can always do what we do here. Everybody has to pay 10 Euros just for going to the doctor! It is not THAT much but it is still an efficient tool to make sure that people don't run to the doctor for every single minor bruise or cold.

[mat1583]

You can always do what we do here. Everybody has to pay 10 Euros just for going to the doctor! It is not THAT much but it is still an efficient tool to make sure that people don't run to the doctor for every single minor bruise or cold.

That's what an insurance co-pay is for. Mine is $25 I believe.

-washboard

[rossid]

Cathy is right.

But I'm against universal coverage, which will probably be like Medicare, which stinks.

Hey, Canada just has prematue babies and/or mothers airlifted to America, with their 'perfect system'.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,300939,00.html

[Pixie Wildflower]

The thing is, if we had free healthcare for everyone, people would be going to the doctor everytime they sneezed, and then we'd all be in a mess! The waiting times would be unbelievable! I can think of dozens of people who would be this way!

Very bad idea, but I do think the poor and lower middle should get some help with their insurance...but not paying all the way. Make them realize they still need to work for it, that they can't just live off it.

Well, they would have to think it over very carefully and make sure there is no abuse. As it is, a lot of people run to the emergency room now that don't need to, because they can't afford to pay a dr. and an emergency room can't turn people away, only try to collect the bill later. Related to another matter, this is how the bulk of illegal immigrants get their health care and why some hospitals are in danger of going out business because of the losses.

Whether you have a private system or a government system, there will always be flaws that will need to be fixed. Let's just hope that if America had a system, it would learn from what others have done and vastly improve things.

But I have seen it done correctly, albeit at a small level. I just feel for people who have suffered because they can't afford their medicines. I know of one family, the father had his health insurance cut off at work. The mother, who wasn't getting her meds died. Later the dad had a heart attack and died. Too many people are dependent on whatever their job provides, because they can't afford the steep premiums. Even then, what jobs used to provide as a benefit for workers has really went downhill. In the past decade, my hubby's insurance has been changed 3 times and the last time was when we were hit for those steep deductibles. It really does hurt. OUCH!

[Pixie Wildflower]

Cathy is right.

But I'm against universal coverage, which will probably be like Medicare, which stinks.

Hey, Canada just has prematue babies and/or mothers airlifted to America, with their 'perfect system'.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,300939,00.html

The trick is not to do like everyone else, but do it BETTER! That might take some thinking and planning, as well as leaders who care about the people who voted them in as opposed to lobbyists for the drug and companies and other special interest groups.

Regular, affordable insurance used to work, but something has happened to make medical costs skyrocket. For one thing, it is Americans that bear the cost of research. Why is that? Why should our drugs cost three times as much? Something really stinks here. We need some kind of reform before more people suffer and die or go bankrupt because of a catastrophic illness.

Once again, I am grateful for the VA. Because the costs out of pocket for me is enough, let enough if we had costs for hubby. He became diabetic when he was in the Navy in the 1980's and the VA has been with him ever since. We are lucky enough where we live to have people who do the job right, though I know it's not that way everywhere! That's why you would need people making sure it is!

We are going down to Columbia Monday, so hubby can consult with the endo that helps him tweak his pump. He can even get gas money reimbursed for travel, though many people are more than glad to simply get the good care they receive. I want to take a moment to ask your prayers as we travel tomorrow. We kinda enjoy the trip down!

Anyway, we all know we need an improved system, we just need to hear what various candidates are going to do and decide accordingly.

All I know is that if it could be ran like my hubby's VA services, I would be all for it, but only time will tell.

[bdfwinn]

If the USA institutes socialised medicine where will the Canadians go to get good medical care?
Bill