Universal health care- For or against?

[LeavingFlorida05]

Originally Posted by Amaznjohn

Sounds to me as if you support universal health care because of YOUR financial situation. Why should I pay for your health care, which should be your responsibility?

AmaznJohn, you're missing the point some people are making. You're already paying. Right now, that money goes to the pockets of CEOs and others, instead of being used to care for those who need it. So, who would you rather see get your money, someone who needs healthcare or someone looking to buy a second yacht?

[Amaznjohn]

Originally Posted by LeavingFlorida05

AmaznJohn, you're missing the point some people are making. You're already paying. Right now, that money goes to the pockets of CEOs and others, instead of being used to care for those who need it. So, who would you rather see get your money, someone who needs healthcare or someone looking to buy a second yacht?

This is MUCH too theoretical. Maybe you could be a little more specific.

[AngelAura28]

Originally Posted by Amaznjohn

This is MUCH too theoretical. Maybe you could be a little more specific.

Nope, John, I do not want your money. I believe the government is rich enough to not charge stupid amounts of money for healthcare! They should make the prices of the healthcare MATCH the person's income level, within reason.

Why should exploratory surgery to "save your life" be $10,000 or more? Doesn't make any sense. I believe, yes, surgeons and doctors should be paid for their work, like anyone else. Nevertheless, if some of us CANNOT pay, then the bill should be made to reflect that . . . and no one has to pay anyone else's bill. The bill would just reflect the ability to pay on a scale that is fair to one's income level.

Of course, some of you very wealthy people, who are do not struggle to keep a roof over your head or food on the table, would get pissed off if you had to pay (even though you can afford a decent price) more than us poor people. This is why we cannot help our poor in this country or make a fair plan.

And hey, I am not saying there's anything wrong with getting a "fair and decent price quote" for anything. I am just saying, those of us who work our butts off to get a job at McDonald's and still cannot feed our family or keep a roof over our head shouldn't be "left to die" because we become ill and cannot pay for a needed surgery.

To be honest with you, John, you are not paying for my medical care. I just don't get any medical care because I don't seek it -- due to my inability to pay.

I even turned away an ambulance when someone ran a red light and hit me and my car broadside. As the police opened my door with a crowbar, to get me out -- I still REFUSED an ambulance as I could not afford it! I figured the pain would eventually subside (two broken ribs), even though the accident was not my fault at all. I had liability insurance on my car, which covers NOTHING since I was not at fault.

Thus, be happy, John, I would never burden you with my problems. [I couldn't walk the block home and the police pretty much forced me to go in the ambulance. This was 2003; and the other guy's insurance still (to this day) do not want to pay me or the bills -- because insurance companies also do not respect or think lower income people deserve anything and that somehow I faked the xrays of the two broken ribs; and I wasn't in "that much pain" because, well, I assume us poor people do not feel pain (according to the insurance company?)!]

Ok, yeah, John, you pissed me off with you greedy ideas and accusations that I want anything to do with you or your money! You know where you can put your money -- and I certainly don't want it!

Now, if I become extremely ill and die . . . not sure who will pay to bury me; but, at least, John, that would be a one-time fee!

Thus, don't think I was even suggesting, in the least, that anyone else pay for me -- except perhaps our overpaid government!

And hey, John, if you have any heart [since you are obviously rich] -- does your company have an opening? I am looking for work!!! I am a fabulous Administrative Assistant and so far, for the last year, no one will hire me. Most offices like thin girls in their 20s. I'm a middle-aged overweight woman, with fifteen years top-notch experience . . . would you hire me?

[Amaznjohn]

Originally Posted by AngelAura28

Nope, John, I do not want your money. I believe the government is rich enough to not charge stupid amounts of money for healthcare! They should make the prices of the healthcare MATCH the person's income level, within reason.

Why should exploratory surgery to "save your life" be $10,000? Doesn't make any sense. I believe, yes, surgeons and doctors should be paid for their work, like anyone else. Nevertheless, if some of us CANNOT pay, then the bill should be made to reflect that . . .

Of course, some of you very wealthy people, who are "rich" and do not struggle to keep a roof over your head or food on the table, would get pissed off if you had to pay (even though you can afford a decent price) more than us poor people. This is why we cannot help our poor in this country . . .

And hey, I am not saying there's anything wrong with getting a "fair and decent price quote" for anything. I am just saying, those of us who work our butts off to get a job at McDonald's and still cannot feed our family or keep a roof over our head shouldn't be "left to die" because we become ill and cannot pay for a doctor.

To be honest with you, John, you are not paying for my medical care. I just don't get any medical care because I don't seek it -- due to my inability to pay. I even turned away an ambulance when someone ran a red light and hit my car broadside. As the police open my door with a crowbar, to get my out -- I still refused an ambulance as I could not afford it! I figured the pain would eventually subside, even though the accident was not my fault at all. I had liability insurance on my car, which covers NOTHING since I was not at fault. Thus, be happy, John, I would never burden you with my problems.

Now, if I become extremely ill and die . . . not sure who will pay to bury me; but, at least, John, that would be a one time fee!

Thus, don't think I was even suggesting, in the least, that anyone else pay for me -- except perhaps our overpaid government! And hey, John, does your company have an opening? I am looking for work!!! I am a fabulous Administrative Assistant and so far, for the last year, no one will hire me. Most offices like thin girls in their 20s. I'm a middle-aged overweight woman, with fifteen years top-notch experience . . . would you hire me?

You obviously have a misperception of me and/or my financial status. If I contributed to that, I apologize. I have a small side business that does very little because I work full time for someone else. My side business only provides me a very small amount of money to help subsidize my main salary and I'm not looking to expand any time soon, maybe when I retire. I am very middle-class and have had to struggle to get here.

I know where you are coming from. I too, at one time, had to watch every single penny coming into and going out of our house, with two children to raise. I kept working and learning until I was able to reach a relatively comfortable lifestyle, now that my wife and I have no children to support. But, we are not rich by any means.

I'm sorry for your dilemma. I know it might be difficult and even unfair, but I would suggest you do whatever is necessary to make yourself marketable. From what you've told me, no one is responsible for your condition, other than yourself and no one has the power to remedy it, other than yourself. Opportunities are available if you look in the right places. It may require you relocating, or going back to school. but you need to use the abilities that you obviously possess to put yourself in a position to sustain a reasonably comfortable fiscal condition. No one should be put in the position to need to turn down medical help. If you look to the government to protect you and to provide for you, you WILL be disappointed. Just ask the folks in New Orleans.

Good Luck.

[tooexpensive]

Originally Posted by Pixie Dust

Just throwing this out there. My son (18 yrs old) had knee surgery because of a football injury seven months ago. He had a graft put in replacing hi mls, miniscus and lateral ligaments. The boys have insurance through there dad, AMerican Airlines a United Health Care plan. His physical therapy was 3x's a week at an out of pocket of $30/per visit. Needless to say after two weeks I couldnt continue paying this; thus not recooperating as he should and his knee continues to give him problem. Doctor says PT but I cannot pay $90/week. Is it fair??? I dont think so. Yes this country needs a change in health care. This same son wants to join the armed forces but with his knee like this be cant and he has ALWAYS been a great athlete.

I buy my own health insurance, at $200 a month, with dental and no script plan. I have recently had arthroscopic knee surgery. My physical therapy session copays are $60 , three times a week. So, Pixie, I feel your pain. If you can imagine, with my premiums, that is $920 a month. I have scaled down to once a week and am trying to work with the PT office on a payment plan. Otherwise, how am I going to get better?? I live modestly, drive a 10 year old car, do not indulge in excess, and still have a problem with my copays. So, yeah, something needs to be done. The uninsured are not the only ones with problems.

[texdav]

Originally Posted by fishmonger

We're the only country in the industrialized world that doesn't have it, and there's something inherently wrong with a system where health insurance is unfailingly the hardest to get for the people who need it the most, often through no fault of their own... pure for-profit health insurance has proven to be neither humane nor fair. Plus we pay far more than most other countries for healthcare and get crappier results than those countries in many areas as a result.

I thnought thsat China had it but saw a show that they don't.The quality of healthcare is debatable in amny areas of the world. In fact ;many americans that have lived in other countries point out that in places like the UK;it is not what we have come to expect.

[boiseguy]

I'm all for universal health care... as well as a private sector health care... if you got the bucks and want to be in 5 star luxury while your getting your tonsils out... more power to ya... but if you're a single mom working for minimum wage.. and you need treatment for a life threatening illness... you should have access to it without making you bankrupt or more impovrished...
it comes down to what we value in a society... we can value personal choice and human dignity at the same time.... if you're a rich business owner and feel like it isn't your problem.... while your workers who make 6 bucks per hour can't even afford a doctors visit... then by all means do what you have to do.. but don't think for a minute your taxes should not pay into a system that values human dignity and life for every american... as far as I'm concerned anything less would be unamerican.. I'm sick of companies thinking they can turn american workers into impovrished labor with no sense of responsibility for their wellbeing. In America we have standards this is not china... if you want to be able to impoverish people and be the only sources of employment leaving people without choice.. then go to china.. and don't come back or sell your crap in america... you should be banned from doing business here. If you want to do business in the largest market of the world.. its time to be accountable and own up to our standards and its time for us americans to make our standards known and accept nothing less... I applaud government intervention on this issue...

[Greatday]

As long as any healthcare system is VOLUNTARY not Mandatory, it might work.