Universal health care- For or against? (CNN, health care system, solutions, how much)

[dreamofmonterey]

and why. What is everyone's opinion and/or experience.

[fishmonger]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

and why. What is everyone's opinion and/or experience.

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.

[windflower]

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

I completely agree with that. The health care system in the USA is top-loaded to benefit the insurers themselves, and the fallout from that affects everyone, directly or indirectly, whether they have insurance themselves or not. Property taxes keep going up in large part to pay for the ever-increasing cost of health insurance for teachers (via increasing school taxes) and civil employees (via increasing town and county taxes).

While doctors will often lower their fees for uninsured patients, hospitals never do. It infuriates me that for the exact same procedure or billed item, a hospital will accept 40% less (they call this "the negotiated discount") from an insurance company but will insist on receiving their entire billed amount from an uninsured patient; worse, they will have no hesitation in suing that patient if he or she does not pay. I have seen this firsthand, by the way. It is nothing less than the 'rape' of the uninsured by hospitals.

It's time to level the playing field for all concerned.

[silas777]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

and why. What is everyone's opinion and/or experience.

Well since you asked.I am really tired of all the overstated and fearmongering hype from the left on this issue! health care is definetly an issue in this country and there are plenty of good solutions but this whole entitelment argument really is a socialist load of crap. How many people who are for universal healthcare are driving around in a new car going home to their new house so they can turn on their 260 channels of cable tv and listen to some socialist tool on cnn rail about the millions of unisured people in this country? If you want to pay for Bill Gates and Warren Buffets perscriptions go ahead, but you will never convince me that it is my constitutional right to have you pay my doctor bills!

[ShadowXOR]

Who would NOT want this?

And universal health care is about health and survival. This isn't about communism. TVs, fancy houses, cable, etc. are luxuries. We are talking about the basic need to cure any ailments you get. Don't take the argument there because it doesn't belong here.

[silas777]

Originally Posted by ShadowXOR

Who would NOT want this?

And universal health care is about health and survival. This isn't about communism. TVs, fancy houses, cable, etc. are luxuries. We are talking about the basic need to cure any ailments you get. Don't take the argument there because it doesn't belong here.

Shadow, I am counting to 20 before responding as to not be condecending or rude! The left is always clamoring about how many people in this country can not afford health insurance and that is the basis for their argument for universal coverage, well my family plans,works hard and makes sacrifices so that we can take care of those things, why should I pay for some joe's health care who doesnt want to make the same sacrifices for his family but cant seem to go without those luxuries you referred to!

[ShadowXOR]

Originally Posted by silas777

Shadow, I am counting to 20 before responding as to not be condecending or rude! The left is always clamoring about how many people in this country can not afford health insurance and that is the basis for their argument for universal coverage, well my family plans,works hard and makes sacrifices so that we can take care of those things, why should I pay for some joe's health care who doesnt want to make the same sacrifices for his family but cant seem to go without those luxuries you referred to!

I know there are a bunch of leeches in the system but that doesn't mean everyone isn't worthy. I personally DO have health insurance but my family were bums and I moved out at 18. It was until I was 22 that I got a job that provided health insurance AFTER I worked with them for one year. I'm sorry but it isn't just that easy that you work hard and get health insurance. If anyone serious happened to me in the four-years I didn't have health insurance I would have been SCREWED. I was out on my own trying to live in expensive Southern California. Money didn't grow on trees. I worked hard and was very lucky I wasn't hurt!

Yes, working hard you will eventually get health insurance. But what about that period that you don't have it? No one sent me to college (I'm saving up). Life just isn't easy for everyone, sorry.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by silas777

Well since you asked.I am really tired of all the overstated and fearmongering hype from the left on this issue! health care is definetly an issue in this country and there are plenty of good solutions but this whole entitelment argument really is a socialist load of crap. How many people who are for universal healthcare are driving around in a new car going home to their new house so they can turn on their 260 channels of cable tv and listen to some socialist tool on cnn rail about the millions of unisured people in this country? If you want to pay for Bill Gates and Warren Buffets perscriptions go ahead, but you will never convince me that it is my constitutional right to have you pay my doctor bills!

Actually- Dishnetwork went out this evening for 3 hours and I had to call to complain- they make $280.00 month off me for mediocre programming.

Did I say I wanted to pay for Warren Buffets healthcare?. He could have paid for my fathers, who was in the Korean War.

[fishmonger]

"Shadow, I am counting to 20 before responding as to not be condecending or rude! The left is always clamoring about how many people in this country can not afford health insurance and that is the basis for their argument for universal coverage, well my family plans,works hard and makes sacrifices so that we can take care of those things, why should I pay for some joe's health care who doesnt want to make the same sacrifices for his family but cant seem to go without those luxuries you referred to!"

...that there's far too many people who don't fit your description who currently can't afford healthcare or health insurance. You could be a real estate agent or some other type of self-employed but well-off person and still not be able to afford necessary healthcare if you've had cancer before... health insurance companies maximize profits by avoiding those most likely to use the insurance. And even for the ones you don't like, we pay for them anyway when they're forced to go to emergency rooms for non-emergency healthcare.

How much of a person's quality of life should be determined by how much money they make? How is healthcare any different from fire and police protection? And how can we expect people to "pull themselves up by their own bootstraps" if their arms don't even work because they can't afford to fix them?

[spunky1]

I am against it. I believe if people need assistance they can look to their friends, families, community, and churches. That is how it use to be and it worked out fine. All we have to do is look to our northern neighbor and see that socialized medicine does not work.