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Part of the reason why we don't have as many "waiting lines" for healthcare in the US is because so many people aren't even IN the market in the first place!!
The waiting lines are a myth to begin with. When I call for an appointment for the dentist or other doctor for a check up, I have to wait between one month and two. Same time my mom in Germany has to wait under a single payer system. And my insurance will only pay the larger percentage IF i go to someone on their list. My mom can go see whoever she likes and only has a co-pay of around 10 Euros a QUARTER.
As far as emergencies, when I was in a car accident there and needed to see a couple of doctors after the initial emergency room visit, I had NO problem seeing a doctor the very next day. In the US my husband on the other hand had a pneumonia and the doctor would not see him, told him to go to the emergency room and waste a lot of money, since a regular doctor visit would have cost the insurance a lot less than the emergency room visit. Having lived in a country with a single payer system and having lived here for over 15 years now, I would prefer the single payer system any day over the current health insurance system here.
No, it IS an ACCESS problem. Some here would even call "accountability" (a/k/a "regulation," a/k/a SOCIALISM) evil meddling by the government that prevents the insurance companies from doing better at providing access to the healthcare market.
And, LACK OF COMPETITION? Are you kidding?
"Quality" of healthcare isn't an issue, because all of the industrialized nations enjoy great healthcare. And most of them outlive us and lead healthier lives overall.
Is it my responsibility to pay for the roads you drive on, even if I never drive on them? My responsibility to pay to educate your kids even though I don't have any?
I say yes. Because in the end, it HELPS the strength and economy of our nation.
Well there you have it we are fundamentally polar opposites, when it comes to the function of government. You are a liberal with faith in the government I am a conservative with faith in people. No surprises! We could dance all day and never get it it right we are not hearing the same song! I am OK with that! love ya anyway!
I am attempting to understand why people in the US are so opposed to any form of socialized healthcare.
You have public schools, police forces, fire departments, highway agencies, courts and other forms of infrastructure, so what “gives” when it comes to healthcare? ...
First, I will state that I don't oppose it with my current world view - as someone who will be self-employed in the future and who has researched future health insurance coverage as such I am definitely concerned about it. But second, I have been trying to understand the oppositional views and I think I have figured out some of the key points of contention. Those who oppose it believe one or more of the following:
1) The US government hasn't the ability to run a large-scale program well. There are numerous examples where the government has failed or been terribly inefficient and the most lucid one is the US Department of Education. Yes the US has public schools... but they aren't top ranked on a global scale and furthermore a significant percentage of them are terrible compared to the rest, and lastly those with money see them as so poorly run with such poor results that they pay for their children to attend private schools instead.
2) Large scale government programs are typically taken advantage of by non-taxpayers via either loopholes poor governance. Since illegal immigration is already near the top of perceived important issues for this snapshot in time, providing healthcare to all is a concern to some taxpayers who don't want to see illegal immigrants and their families become even more of an unjustifiable drain on our economy.
3) There is a decent percentage of Americans - educated ones with good paying full-time jobs, whose opinions are over-represented in places like CD-data because they are the ones with Internet access, the free time and the interest to weigh in on these topics. Almost all of these folks work for corporations and have subsidized healthcare... the monthly healthcare bill they pay is only a fraction of the real one sent to their employer. Although their bill has definitely risen each year over the past five... it is still quite affordable. What these folks fail to realize is that the real cost of health insurance is astronomical... well over 1000.00 per month for a typical healthy family of two adults and a child or two. If you are self-employed or un-employed, or let's say under-employed and/or self-insured (any of these), you know this. If you are not, then you might think that this "issue" is overblown - that although you may be paying 300.00 per month to insure your healthy family that it certainly doesn't break your bank account to do so. You might think that the rising insurance costs each year are ridiculous but not something to be as terribly worried about as whether to buy a new iphone.
The waiting lines are a myth to begin with. When I call for an appointment for the dentist or other doctor for a check up, I have to wait between one month and two.
You need new doctors then
I called yesterday to schedule an appointment with my physican for a checkup. I could have gone this Friday but, I'm busy. So, I will see him next Tuesday
Well there you have it we are fundamentally polar opposites, when it comes to the function of government. You are a liberal with faith in the government I am a conservative with faith in people. No surprises! We could dance all day and never get it it right we are not hearing the same song! I am OK with that! love ya anyway!
Too bad our government isn't made up of "people" we elect, huh?
I called yesterday to schedule an appointment with my physican for a checkup. I could have gone this Friday but, I'm busy. So, I will see him next Tuesday
As for my dentist? A few days - at most
Well, you are lucky then... that was not the way it was in MD. I had numerous doctors that had waiting times for over a month for a check up. My boss, who was a diabetic and saw lots of doctors, had the same problem. One doctor, an endocrinologist, had a 3 month waiting period!
Soon I will need a dental check up so I will see what the doctors here in MA are like...
First, I will state that I don't oppose it with my current world view - as someone who will be self-employed in the future and who has researched future health insurance coverage as such I am definitely concerned about it. But second, I have been trying to understand the oppositional views and I think I have figured out some of the key points of contention. Those who oppose it believe one or more of the following:
1) The US government hasn't the ability to run a large-scale program well. There are numerous examples where the government has failed or been terribly inefficient and the most lucid one is the US Department of Education. Yes the US has public schools... but they aren't top ranked on a global scale and furthermore a significant percentage of them are terrible compared to the rest, and lastly those with money see them as so poorly run with such poor results that they pay for their children to attend private schools instead.
2) Large scale government programs are typically taken advantage of by non-taxpayers via either loopholes poor governance. Since illegal immigration is already near the top of perceived important issues for this snapshot in time, providing healthcare to all is a concern to some taxpayers who don't want to see illegal immigrants and their families become even more of an unjustifiable drain on our economy.
3) There is a decent percentage of Americans - educated ones with good paying full-time jobs, whose opinions are over-represented in places like CD-data because they are the ones with Internet access, the free time and the interest to weigh in on these topics. Almost all of these folks work for corporations and have subsidized healthcare... the monthly healthcare bill they pay is only a fraction of the real one sent to their employer. Although their bill has definitely risen each year over the past five... it is still quite affordable. What these folks fail to realize is that the real cost of health insurance is astronomical... well over 1000.00 per month for a typical healthy family of two adults and a child or two. If you are self-employed or un-employed, or let's say under-employed and/or self-insured (any of these), you know this. If you are not, then you might think that this "issue" is overblown - that although you may be paying 300.00 per month to insure your healthy family that it certainly doesn't break your bank account to do so. You might think that the rising insurance costs each year are ridiculous but not something to be as terribly worried about as whether to buy a new iphone.
What others might not realize is that my health insurance coverage is considered a benefit and is deducted from what I would otherwise receive in a base salary. For example, if I'm applying for two jobs at two seperate companies, company A might pay a salary of X, while company B will pay X -10% + pay a portion of my health insurance. In effect, company B is using health insurance as PART of my salary, not as a supplement. So, with company B, I'm actually paying a substantial amount for health insurance considering I would be getting a higher salary with company A.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silas777
burdell, i believe you and i have been to this dance before! I most definately believe that we need to get the government out of education !
Then what do you see as the purpose of government? To invade/occupy sovereign nations? To provide cushy lifestyles for 535 people? And please don't say defense because frankly, I see little purpose in defending a nation of uneducated, unhealthy people.
And of course, the nation will suffer the consequences of masses of uneducated, unemployable citizens.
Yay for the 1800s!
Just a quick FYI, every year at the national spelling bee championship there are usuall numerous homeschooled and of course private schooled kids in the finals and winning it! If you are saying that the federal government is responsible for the best educated kids, you really need to get out more!
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