Do You Want Universal Healthcare?

Nurses Activism

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

I know this topic has been discussed before on this site..but, I was curious for an updated response. How many of you would be willing to pay more taxes for universal healthcare? I find it egregious that the US has put a cost on maintaining/saving ones life! I traveled to Europe and the thought of them having to bring their checkbook to the hospital aroused literal laughs. It's the same notion that we'd have to whip out our debit card to firefighters before they turned the hoses on our burning homes. It's sad. I think the overall costs of UH would be beneficial...in fact, the raised taxes would still probably be lower than our rising premiums every 2 weeks! Thoughts?

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no!!!

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Specializes in Emergency/ Critical Care.
I know this topic has been discussed before on this site..but, I was curious for an updated response. How many of you would be willing to pay more taxes for universal healthcare? I find it egregious that the US has put a cost on maintaining/saving ones life! I traveled to Europe and the thought of them having to bring their checkbook to the hospital aroused literal laughs. It's the same notion that we'd have to whip out our debit card to firefighters before they turned the hoses on our burning homes. It's sad. I think the overall costs of UH would be beneficial...in fact, the raised taxes would still probably be lower than our rising premiums every 2 weeks! Thoughts?

I live in Canada where we already have universal healthcare and I love it! There are definitely drawbacks (money can't buy you a quicker date for that surgery) But I personally would be willing to pay even higher taxes if other services such as dental and eyecare were paid for. I like to know that I will never be turned away from any hospital here.

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Specializes in ICU, ER.
I live in Canada where we already have universal healthcare and I love it! There are definitely drawbacks (money can't buy you a quicker date for that surgery) But I personally would be willing to pay even higher taxes if other services such as dental and eyecare were paid for. I like to know that I will never be turned away from any hospital here.

I envy you :nuke:. How easy it is to become a Canadian citizen? (sadly, I'm not even kidding...)

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I'm not willing to pay more taxes to have universal healthcare. I'm sorry but there are people who will take advantage of it. My other concern is, is universal healthcare going to cover all of the ventilated patients who have no quality of life? Is it going to take the place of medicaid/medicare? And as it is, I'm already paying taxes up to butt because of the poor decisions our government has already made.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I guess it all comes down to your personal philosophy - do you think health care is a basic human right or a priviledge? I belive that ensuring basic healthcare for all its citizens is the responsiblity of a nation. Capitalism and 'rugged individualism' are basic US values - which helped us become a nation of unlimited possiblities. But that was then - and this is now.

It's really a hard one -- I am also a child of the '60's with a tie-dyed soul. Certainly I don't trust the federal government at all. But, on the other hand, no effective social programs have ever been established without their intervention.

My state is characterized by social Darwinianism (as a native Texan, I can say that - but don't y'all dare) that is best expressed by "if you're sick (poor, injured, old, etc) it's your own d___ fault!" Our leaders seem to believe that the best way to decrease crime is through mutual deterrence (give everyone guns).

But I live in hope that someday this will change. Universal Healthcare - BRING IT ON (please).

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I don't know how much my opinion matters because I am new here, but I am NOT in favor of universal health care. I don't think the government could do it without screwing it up.

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Specializes in L&D,Lactation.

yes!!!

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Specializes in L&D,Lactation.

GlennCoCo-Are you under the impression that it is not screwed up now?

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Yes.

Simple truth - you don't have enough money to afford old age. God willing, you will grow old. Then, sure enough, you will have some chronic illness. Maybe only diabetes, maybe cancer, maybe a hip replacement. You can't afford it.

And when your old, your health insurance will abandon you. They will just...plain...abandon you. Right when you need them most, they will no longer give you coverage.

I have universal healthcare, because I served in the military. It works. You should have it to. Who says you have to lose everything you ever worked for, just so you can go on Medicaid (welfare) just so you can have the healthcare you need to live?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

NO.

I was a military wife and the medical care we got in the military was so far from exceptional. In fact, it was downright dangerous at times. I am absolutely opposed to socialized medicine. There has to be some middle ground between that option and what we have now, which is also obviously broken. I have no idea what that middle ground is, but until its found I far and away favor medicine as a private industry.

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Absolutely not.

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