Do You Want Universal Healthcare?

Published

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?

If we have everyone contributing to an insurance fund we can establish what is called a "group cohort" and as an aggregate, society would pay LESS for healthcare.

If I make a modification to this statement I could definitely agree with Agrippa. If we have everyone contributing equally, then universal healthcare would be 100% okay.

At work, everyone contributes equally to the insurance plan. It's fair. If you want health insurance, you must contribute your equal share.

Unfortunately, 97.01% of the taxes paid in this country is paid by the top 50%. In effect, half of us would be carrying the other half in the matter of universal healthcare, and somehow that just doesn't seem fair.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
You paint a great picture and thank you for it. I sincerely mean that. We need to hear both sides. I'm curious about how your system would handle the freqent flyers: in my own experience, pregnant gals who come in by ambulance every 2-3 weeks, with a rash, or a cough, or leg cramps.

We certainly don't turn those people away and it's obvious they don't have money (or a job), even though they have cell phones, nice nails, unlimited smokes. They get cared for to be sure. Those of us who do have a co-pay have to evaluate whether that rash is really worth of an ambulance ride and hospital visit. And as a tax payer, it chaps me a bit when those same people declare that it's all "free." Well, free to them because I'm paying for it.

Out of curiosity, what do you think would have happened to my DH. Sixty years old, 3 weeks post-retirement from major airline, got a PSA result of 8.5. Biopsy showed 6's and 8's on the Gleason Scale. He opted for ASAP surgery, and not robotic because he wanted them to look around in there for any mets. His surgery was done 1 month to the day after we first got the PSA results and he just finished a 37 treatment radiation regimen that the doc recommended as a backup. Surgery was early December. The tumor was 60% of the prostate, into but not out of (as far as we know) the margins. The tumor was much larger in reality than the biopsy indicated. Under your system, what would his care have been? In our system, he got immediate and excellent care. Yes we have good insurance, but he/we have been working our bums off for 40+ years for it. It did cause us to think about what people do when they don't have good insurance. Still, it would be very unfair for him to be told to go home, and we'll just watch it (If I hear one more time that they don't even treat prostate cancer in Sweden, I may scream.) Under that kind of care, he'd be dead in a very short time.

Anyway, I am curious as to how his case would be handled in your world. Thanks.

In our system his care would have been just as immediate, including follow up and it wouldn't have costed a cent. What people don't realize is that when they talk about wait times they aren't talking about urgent situations. if it is life threatening then you get surgery immediately. A friend of mine had hip replacement surgery and waited 6 months only because the 3 week surgery date interfered with a family wedding and the 3 month date interfered with hunting season.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
Universal health care:

Question: If I as a US citizen, were in say, Canada, and became ill, how would I receieve health care and who would pay for it? Would it matter if I had health insurance in the US or not?

It depends on your coverage. If your private insurance covers you outside of the U.S. then they could be billed. I have no private insurance, only Medicare. Medicare does not pay for any treatment outside of the United States. I was on a day trip to Canada when I suffered an asthma attack. I went to a hospital's ER, received treatment, was hospitalized for two days and then discharged. I met with a hospital social worker, told her my coverage, told her my income. I was told not to worry. I never did get a bill. If you show up in an ER, in Canada, for treatment you will receive it, no questions asked. They don't base the availability of care on if you can pay for it or not.

Woody:twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
If I make a modification to this statement I could definitely agree with Agrippa. If we have everyone contributing equally, then universal healthcare would be 100% okay.

At work, everyone contributes equally to the insurance plan. It's fair. If you want health insurance, you must contribute your equal share.

Unfortunately, 97.01% of the taxes paid in this country is paid by the top 50%. In effect, half of us would be carrying the other half in the matter of universal healthcare, and somehow that just doesn't seem fair.

We can't all be taxed equally. Do you expect someone who makes minimum wage to pay 100 bucks out their paycheck just like someone who brings home 1300 bucks each paycheck? That's not fair. If they are going to tax us for universal healthcare it should be by how much we make. That's only fair. The government should decrease how much they tax us federally, decrease how much they spend, etc. We don't all get taxed equally. Some pay more some don't. It doesn't seem fair but that's how it is. I wouldn't want the government to say either pay the 100 dollar tax or get private health insurance. Not everyone can afford paying a 100 dollar tax or paying for private health insurance. We have to realize that some will pay more than others.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We can't all be taxed equally. Do you expect someone who makes minimum wage to pay 100 bucks out their paycheck just like someone who brings home 1300 bucks each paycheck? That's not fair. If they are going to tax us for universal healthcare it should be by how much we make. That's only fair. The government should decrease how much they tax us federally, decrease how much they spend, etc.

So once again we get back to the upper-income half paying for the lower-income half. The lower half should not expect an outcome equal to those who have earned it.

Despite working all my life (part of that time for minimum wage), I've found the time and put in the effort to complete seven years of college. It was difficult, but I paid the money and put in the work to do it. It's not my fault that others have failed to prepare for life in a sensible manner. There are those who are mentally or physically challenged and simply can't make it on their own. For those, sure - I'll be happy to help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
So once again we get back to the upper-income half paying for the lower-income half. The lower half should not expect an outcome equal to those who have earned it.

Despite working all my life (part of that time for minimum wage), I've found the time and put in the effort to complete seven years of college. It was difficult, but I paid the money and put in the work to do it. It's not my fault that others have failed to prepare for life in a sensible manner. There are those who are mentally or physically challenged and simply can't make it on their own. For those, sure - I'll be happy to help.

We pay for them anyways at this point. So what difference does it make if we have universal healthcare. Are you saying that lower-income people do not deserve the healthcare? Because that's the impression I am getting from you. It's a basic right that shouldn't be denied to someone because they don't make over $30k. You can't just say that lower income people are ill-prepared. You have to look at the demographics. I live near Detroit. Many of its citizens are at or below the poverty level. Some people take a two hour bus drive to work a minimum wage job or two minimum wage jobs that do not pay enough to pay the light/heat bill or put food on the table. NOR does it pay enough for private healthcare. Not all people qualify for federal aide for college tuition despite being lower income. We ALL deserve healthcare no matter what the circumstances.

Lets face it, people who work minimum wage already do pay taxes. They might not have as much taken out as you. But you make probably $3k a month, they don't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We pay for them anyways at this point.

Michigan RN, you make good points and I respect your views, and, I suspect your views will win out eventually. Too many people stand to benefit from others paying their way. Fortunately, this is the USA and everyone's vote counts equally, including those who contribute nothing positive to society.

We just differ in our viewpoints, but thanks for helping to keep things civil.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
So once again we get back to the upper-income half paying for the lower-income half. The lower half should not expect an outcome equal to those who have earned it.

Despite working all my life (part of that time for minimum wage), I've found the time and put in the effort to complete seven years of college. It was difficult, but I paid the money and put in the work to do it. It's not my fault that others have failed to prepare for life in a sensible manner. There are those who are mentally or physically challenged and simply can't make it on their own. For those, sure - I'll be happy to help.

Question. Who gets to decide who is mentally and/or physically challenged? You? Me? A group of lay people? A judge? My date of diability was November 29, 1988. I have been receiving SSDI since 1991. I have also been on Medicare since then. Some of my peers say that I have been sucking off the public *** long enough. I am capable of returning to work, any type of work. Well, I finally agree. I have just about reached the point where I can no longer adequately on my fixed income. My fixed income is not keeping pace with inflation. So, this Fall, I will attempt to return to work. I don't know how successful I will be. I fear that I may further injury myself, to the point I will no longer be able to live independently but circumstances do not offer me much of a choice. My medications, even with Part D are increasing. My rent and utlities are increasing. My food cost is increasing. The only thing that is not increasing is my income.

Woody:twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I just don't understand how it works in other countries but people insist it can't work here. Maybe the government, in the event that they do enact universal healthcare could give people the option of paying the full tax and have unversial healthcare coverage or let people decide if they want private health insurance, thus lowering or eliminating that person from being taxed.

For those of you who live in the UK, Canada or other countries could give me some input it would help.

Thanks TF, I'm not trying to be argumentative and trust me, I felt the way you did when this thread was started. We'll just agree to disagree at this point.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

For those of you who live in the UK, Canada or other countries could give me some input it would help.

:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

Are you kidding? Every time someone from Canada offers any input we get shot down by know it all Americans.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Question. Who gets to decide who is mentally and/or physically challenged? You? Me? A group of lay people? A judge? My date of diability was November 29, 1988. I have been receiving SSDI since 1991.

I was temporarily disabled a few years ago with a broken back sustained in a freak accident. Without modern healthcare, I would still be disabled.

My father was partially disabled from military service. My mother eventually became disabled from lupus. Both died early in life. My two sisters died early from cancer. Otherwise, life has been good to me. I am healthy and fortunate.

Woody62, for people like you, I'm happy to help out. Your disability has already been determined. I wish you well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

Are you kidding? Every time someone from Canada offers any input we get shot down by know it all Americans.

Not constructive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion