Hillary says she has never been in favor of socialized medicine

[Dan J 277]

At what cost to people who are working?

Comparing the US system to the UK or any other country ... apples and oranges.

Not really, many other countries are as developed as us and face many of the same challenges as us. The result, we spend way way more, and our health care quality and distribution is behind all other developed nations. So why do people keep trying to defend a system thats as bad as ours confuses me. Unless of course they own stock in health care companies. Then I suppose you could say life is good.

[natty bumppo 297]

Socialized medicine has it's problems and challenges too and is clearly not the answer either. Many may believe parents should do whatever it takes to make sure the kids are taken care of to have insurance. As a school nurse, I see MANY kids do without medical and dental care that is URGENT (but not life threatening enough to warrant an ER visit which will be treated regardless of ability to pay). So I feel torn in my political preferences because I've seen children...innocent and not at fault, suffer. CHILDREN suffer with pain and disability because their parents are not poor enough for indigent care, but not well off enough to pay what it takes for insurance or pay for healthcare outright. The TEXCARE or CHIPS program has been TAKEN AWAY from some families because of budget cuts (parents make marginally too much money). It's inexplicably heartbreaking to see kids suffer because of our healthcare system is at the mercy of politics. I just want these kids cared for. SIGH. These budget cuts are often the result of bills passed by REPUBLICANS who vehemently are against abortion, but will let children suffer in pain because their parents can't afford care. I just find it a little hypocritical.

we can have a good discussion ... thanks for your thoughts.

Suffice to say .. I've been there.

It's not just Republicans ... it's much older than todays issues and the Dem's also are responsible. Geez ... these people in DC have livetime health care ... why should they care about us?

At what cost to people who are working?

Comparing the US system to the UK or any other country ... apples and oranges.

Not really, many other countries are as developed as us and face many of the same challenges as us. The result, we spend way way more, and our health care quality and distribution is behind all other developed nations. So why do people keep trying to defend a system thats as bad as ours confuses me. Unless of course they own stock in health care companies. Then I suppose you could say life is good.

eliminate the illegal issue ... and how does it compare ?

[Dan J 277]

Socialized medicine has it's problems and challenges too and is clearly not the answer either. Many may believe parents should do whatever it takes to make sure the kids are taken care of to have insurance. As a school nurse, I see MANY kids do without medical and dental care that is URGENT (but not life threatening enough to warrant an ER visit which will be treated regardless of ability to pay). So I feel torn in my political preferences because I've seen children...innocent and not at fault, suffer. CHILDREN suffer with pain and disability because their parents are not poor enough for indigent care, but not well off enough to pay what it takes for insurance or pay for healthcare outright. The TEXCARE or CHIPS program has been TAKEN AWAY from some families because of budget cuts (parents make marginally too much money). It's inexplicably heartbreaking to see kids suffer because of our healthcare system is at the mercy of politics. I just want these kids cared for. SIGH. These budget cuts are often the result of bills passed by REPUBLICANS who vehemently are against abortion, but will let children suffer in pain because their parents can't afford care. I just find it a little hypocritical.

we can have a good discussion ... thanks for your thoughts.

Suffice to say .. I've been there.

It's not just Republicans ... it's much older than todays issues and the Dem's also are responsible. Geez ... these people in DC have livetime health care ... why should they care about us?

At what cost to people who are working?

Comparing the US system to the UK or any other country ... apples and oranges.

Not really, many other countries are as developed as us and face many of the same challenges as us. The result, we spend way way more, and our health care quality and distribution is behind all other developed nations. So why do people keep trying to defend a system thats as bad as ours confuses me. Unless of course they own stock in health care companies. Then I suppose you could say life is good.

eliminate the illegal issue ... and how does it compare ?

Doesn't change a thing. We spend about 2 trillion a year or about 16% of our GDP just on health care and all its related costs. Most other developed countries spend around 8% or so. varies a bit, but no other country is really over 10%. Fix our system, we could save up to a trillion dollars a year on health care. Thats assuming we go down to 8%, 10 % (or about 600 billion less) is probably a more achievable point. Illegal aliens have been said to be costing public services about 10 billion a year, maybe 50% is health care. So thats about a contribution of 5 billion out of 600 billion to 1 trillion.

If you are concerned only about illegal aliens impact on the health care system, you don't see the big picture. The impact they have on our system is tiny. Take a look at financial reports of your average health care company, if you want to see where all the money is going.

[natty bumppo 297]

my concern goes much deeper ...

Guess I need to visit Brazil or another country for good health care ... as it appears ... the US doesn't make it.

[Dan J 277]

my concern goes much deeper ...

Guess I need to visit Brazil or another country for good health care ... as it appears ... the US doesn't make it.

Some people have. Not necessarily Brazil. But to India and other places to have expensive surgery done. Doctors are usually US trained and it costs a fraction of what the same procedure would cost here.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0816/p03s03-usec.html

[natty bumppo 297]

my concern goes much deeper ...

Guess I need to visit Brazil or another country for good health care ... as it appears ... the US doesn't make it.

Some people have. Not necessarily Brazil. But to India and other places to have expensive surgery done. Doctors are usually US trained and it costs a fraction of what the same procedure would cost here.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0816/p03s03-usec.html

I'll quit here.

Plesae contact your Ins. compny and have your health care performed ... not in the USA.

Let me know your expenses ... as a USC.

[trailmix 77]

I'm disappointed. I was originally thinking of voting for Obama, then I changed my mind as I don't like his HC plan. I thought Hillary was pro- universal healthcare. I would have discovered all of this eventually as I will look at all of them as the election draws nearer. Anyone want to point me in the direction of a candidate who does support UH?

It isn't just children that suffer. Adults suffer too. No human being should have to suffer because they can't afford insurance and/or a co-pay. All human beings deserve the right to equal health care, I find it so hard to believe that the U.S. is still working under such a corrupt unfair system.

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

Anyone want to point me in the direction of a candidate who does support UH?

here's one

[natty bumppo 297]

I'm disappointed. I was originally thinking of voting for Obama, then I changed my mind as I don't like his HC plan. I thought Hillary was pro- universal healthcare. I would have discovered all of this eventually as I will look at all of them as the election draws nearer. Anyone want to point me in the direction of a candidate who does support UH?

It isn't just children that suffer. Adults suffer too. No human being should have to suffer because they can't afford insurance and/or a co-pay. All human beings deserve the right to equal health care, I find it so hard to believe that the U.S. is still working under such a corrupt unfair system.

I had medical expenses in Brazil ... and am still paying for these expenses. Even given that I am a spouse of a Brazilian citizen (I’m correcting procedures performed in brazil)

Enjoy your euphoric international health care.

I'm not a believer.

[Boiler 45,538]

Reference to the UK is a bit misleading, it has a National Scheme, supported by both the left and the right, not a socialsed system.

US Gov spends more per capitae then the UK Gov does.

UK system is not very good, there are better ones.

It only looks good compared to the US.

But that's not saying much.

Health Tourism is big business, and if there are not major changes in the US, will only get bigger.

I would be happy to sign up for a programme that offered this at a premium saving.

I'm disappointed. I was originally thinking of voting for Obama, then I changed my mind as I don't like his HC plan. I thought Hillary was pro- universal healthcare. I would have discovered all of this eventually as I will look at all of them as the election draws nearer. Anyone want to point me in the direction of a candidate who does support UH?

It isn't just children that suffer. Adults suffer too. No human being should have to suffer because they can't afford insurance and/or a co-pay. All human beings deserve the right to equal health care, I find it so hard to believe that the U.S. is still working under such a corrupt unfair system.

I had medical expenses in Brazil ... and am still paying for these expenses. Even given that I am a spouse of a Brazilian citizen (I’m correcting procedures performed in brazil)

Enjoy your euphoric international health care.

I'm not a believer.

Why did your travel insurance not pay?

[Dan J 277]

I'm disappointed. I was originally thinking of voting for Obama, then I changed my mind as I don't like his HC plan. I thought Hillary was pro- universal healthcare. I would have discovered all of this eventually as I will look at all of them as the election draws nearer. Anyone want to point me in the direction of a candidate who does support UH?

It isn't just children that suffer. Adults suffer too. No human being should have to suffer because they can't afford insurance and/or a co-pay. All human beings deserve the right to equal health care, I find it so hard to believe that the U.S. is still working under such a corrupt unfair system.

I had medical expenses in Brazil ... and am still paying for these expenses. Even given that I am a spouse of a Brazilian citizen (I’m correcting procedures performed in brazil)

Enjoy your euphoric international health care.

I'm not a believer.

Do the same thing in the US without insurance, and instead of paying it off, you will probably be looking at declaring bankruptcy. Leading cause of bankruptcy in the US, you guessed it, medical bills.

[Boiler 45,538]

And that includes people with Insurance.

[trailmix 77]

I'm disappointed. I was originally thinking of voting for Obama, then I changed my mind as I don't like his HC plan. I thought Hillary was pro- universal healthcare. I would have discovered all of this eventually as I will look at all of them as the election draws nearer. Anyone want to point me in the direction of a candidate who does support UH?

It isn't just children that suffer. Adults suffer too. No human being should have to suffer because they can't afford insurance and/or a co-pay. All human beings deserve the right to equal health care, I find it so hard to believe that the U.S. is still working under such a corrupt unfair system.

I had medical expenses in Brazil ... and am still paying for these expenses. Even given that I am a spouse of a Brazilian citizen (I’m correcting procedures performed in brazil)

Enjoy your euphoric international health care.

I'm not a believer.

I am not recruiting believers - so that's ok - I am not familiar with Brazil's health care system, I assume they have universal health care and you weren't covered? The same holds true in Canada - it's not for everyone it's for Canadians and PR's.

[natty bumppo 297]

I'm disappointed. I was originally thinking of voting for Obama, then I changed my mind as I don't like his HC plan. I thought Hillary was pro- universal healthcare. I would have discovered all of this eventually as I will look at all of them as the election draws nearer. Anyone want to point me in the direction of a candidate who does support UH?

It isn't just children that suffer. Adults suffer too. No human being should have to suffer because they can't afford insurance and/or a co-pay. All human beings deserve the right to equal health care, I find it so hard to believe that the U.S. is still working under such a corrupt unfair system.

I had medical expenses in Brazil ... and am still paying for these expenses. Even given that I am a spouse of a Brazilian citizen (I’m correcting procedures performed in brazil)

Enjoy your euphoric international health care.

I'm not a believer.

Do the same thing in the US without insurance, and instead of paying it off, you will probably be looking at declaring bankruptcy. Leading cause of bankruptcy in the US, you guessed it, medical bills.

been there done that ....

unless you've been there done that ... quit now .... please ... it's better for you.

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

I am not familiar with Brazil's health care system, I assume they have universal health care

they don't.........