Universal Health Care

[SaadBell 0]

Is the health coverage an issue that will affect your vote for a new president? Do you want universal health care? I think we need to something in this country about the health care system. How can the richest nation in the world, and we have people who go without any kind of heath care.

It is my aspiration that health finally will be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for.

[Heracles 417]

Everything comes at a cost. It is not as simple as being free.

[SaadBell 0]

Yea it is simple, if we could cut off the insurance companies that are making billions of dollars off the backs of good working people. The people who die everyday because of insurance denials, or have no heath care insurance. Shame, but we can start a war with no problems, in what, a few days we can invade a nation, but we can't get it together for health care for everyone. It is all greed, period.

[GabiandVi 34]

I agree. Something needs to be done. The thing is, there is no good model for the US. However, that is not an excuse not to try something. We have some of the best healthcare available anywhere in the world. It is shameful that some of our own citizens can't use it.

I also think it is important to point out that it is not the poorest in the US who go without healthcare. It is a large portion who fall between the poorest and the working class. If you are poor enough, you qualify for benefits.

[Heracles 417]

Yea it is simple, if we could cut off the insurance companies that are making billions of dollars off the backs of good working people. The people who die everyday because of insurance denials, or have no heath care insurance. Shame, but we can start a war with no problems, in what, a few days we can invade a nation, but we can't get it together for health care for everyone. It is all greed, period.

Who is going to pay for this? Are you willing to increase your taxes by 5 to 10% to pay for it? Are you willing to wait in line for service?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I also believe health care should be a right, not a privilege.

[GabiandVi 34]

Yea it is simple, if we could cut off the insurance companies that are making billions of dollars off the backs of good working people. The people who die everyday because of insurance denials, or have no heath care insurance. Shame, but we can start a war with no problems, in what, a few days we can invade a nation, but we can't get it together for health care for everyone. It is all greed, period.

I think what BY is saying is that Americans are going to have to rethink a lot of things if they want universal healthcare. Higher taxes would be a start. But it is much more complicated than that.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Who is going to pay for this? Are you willing to increase your taxes by 5 to 10% to pay for it? Are you willing to wait in line for service?

*wave* I am!

I'm not looking forward to spending 10K on having a baby.

In Canada, I don't wait to get into my doctor, just last week I had to get in to see him and he took me the same day.

Universal health care rocks, I don't mind spending the extra money on taxes so that everyone is covered and taken care of....not just the rich people who can afford it.

[JohnK 0]

Is the health coverage an issue that will affect your vote for a new president? Do you want universal health care? I think we need to something in this country about the health care system. How can the richest nation in the world, and we have people who go without any kind of heath care.

It is my aspiration that health finally will be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for.

Yes. I want some sort of univeral health care system, but I'm not sure I want a government-run universal health care system.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Absolutely. This is an issue I feel very strongly about. The current system is a national embarrassment. That some kind of choice exists in this supposed free-market system is a fallacy. Seriously, what choice do you have? Whatever your employer offers and/or whatever you can afford (if you're healthy, that is).

I know that no system is perfect, but our system has to be scrapped and rebuilt. Australia's and Germany's systems need to be looked at seriously.

Thinking of people who have gone bankrupt because of illness makes me want to cry.

I'd gladly pay more in taxes to help fund a universal system. The amount flying out of my paycheck every month for insurance (not even considering copayments, deductibles, etc.)--insurance that I could very easily lose if laid off--is staggering.

Edited April 15, 2008 by Big Agnes!

[Heracles 417]

Yea it is simple, if we could cut off the insurance companies that are making billions of dollars off the backs of good working people. The people who die everyday because of insurance denials, or have no heath care insurance. Shame, but we can start a war with no problems, in what, a few days we can invade a nation, but we can't get it together for health care for everyone. It is all greed, period.

I think what BY is saying is that Americans are going to have to rethink a lot of things if they want universal healthcare. Higher taxes would be a start. But it is much more complicated than that.

Yep you got it. Anyone who thinks free health care is simply a flick of a switch does not get how UHC works. I am not saying it cannot work or be implemented but there is going to be a huge adjustment.

[GaryC 7]

I also believe health care should be a right, not a privilege.

Let me ask you something. What else do you see as a "right"? A home? Food? A job? Clothes? If so do you think the government should also take care of that? At what point does a persons own responsibilities kick in?

[SaadBell 0]

Yes, I would be willing to pay extra taxes; I have to pay taxes now for a war I disagree with. Why not free heath care, and as for waiting in line, I was in the military and a military wife, and waited many times in line, but one thing I did know, I didn't have to put out $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to be seen. Ask someone from Canada and ask them if they like their health care. Of course the big insurance companies don't want you to want universal health care, they tell you the old myths of what it will be like, long waits, bad doctors, ok, compared to what, no health care period. There was this family, man and wife and one son, the man gets cancer, they are fully insured, the wife works at the hospital for the city. The insurance company denied and again denied drugs and life saving treatment, calling experimental. The man died, left his wife and son, the whole story is typically of the big insurance companies. What a waste, and the doctor that was treating him stated that if he would have had the Bone Marrow Transplant, he would still be alive. Health care should not be a profit making business.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I also believe health care should be a right, not a privilege.

Let me ask you something. What else do you see as a "right"? A home? Food? A job? Clothes? If so do you think the government should also take care of that? At what point does a persons own responsibilities kick in?

Do you think education is a right? (This isn't a rhetorical question.)

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Yes, I would be willing to pay extra taxes; I have to pay taxes now for a war I disagree with. Why not free heath care, and as for waiting in line, I was in the military and a military wife, and waited many times in line, but one thing I did know, I didn't have to put out $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to be seen. Ask someone from Canada and ask them if they like their health care. Of course the big insurance companies don't want you to want universal health care, they tell you the old myths of what it will be like, long waits, bad doctors, ok, compared to what, no health care period. There was this family, man and wife and one son, the man gets cancer, they are fully insured, the wife works at the hospital for the city. The insurance company denied and again denied drugs and life saving treatment, calling experimental. The man died, left his wife and son, the whole story is typically of the big insurance companies. What a waste, and the doctor that was treating him stated that if he would have had the Bone Marrow Transplant, he would still be alive. Health care should not be a profit making business.

*waves again*

I'm from Canada and I cherish my health care. It's one thing I'm terrified of losing when I think of moving to the U.S.

I have a wonderful doctor and I've never had to wait to see him.