Do You Want Universal Healthcare?

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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?

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
Even though it is government run each healthcare trust is responsible for it's own budget and we are very accountible to the public which is enforced by public groups. With this accountablity comes the appropriate budget and the responsibility for that.

There are some fines and finacial penalties for non complience which if you are managing on a limited budget anyway can mean huge difficulties.

Sharrie,

I appreciate your lengthy explanation of accountability, and some of it makes sense to me. But the previous quote stands out an example of how mismanagement on the part of the trust would negatively impact the patients they are supposed to serve. Am I correct?

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.
Sharrie,

I appreciate your lengthy explanation of accountability, and some of it makes sense to me. But the previous quote stands out an example of how mismanagement on the part of the trust would negatively impact the patients they are supposed to serve. Am I correct?

I would love to say no, because I am passionate about the principle healthcare for all, but all too often yes a lack of resources does impact on patient care and this is brought about too often by poor management. There are many examples of poor management within the NHS and unfortunately the patient is often at the end of this mis-management.

There are lots of things we do well but we need to learn from other healthcare systems to improve again what we have.

One example of this is there are huge drives towards increasing efficiency and this is something that I think we could learn a great deal from those that pay for healthcare. For example, I wonder what would happen in the US if a theatre was left standing redundant because of the patient being admitted unfit for surgery, the cost of this is huge and it still happens here. Pre-operative assessments are not routinely done on all patients before admission, we are getting better but I can still find cases, within my own area where our patients are admitted and then thier surgery cancelled for something like hypertension.

My own experience recently was to be admitted and I had informed the staff pre-op that I have a latex allergy however this was not communicated, I was almost cancelled, this would have meant theatre time, staff, anaethatists and surgeons standing idle. As it happened they pulled out all stops because my manager kicked up a fuss but it is this type of ineffeicency that infuriates me, firstly because of the massive impact physically and psychologically it has on our patients and because of the waste of our precious resources. I think we could learn a great deal and improve services from those who have to pay and are held more accountable for the money as well.

I don't think there is any system that is perfect, and I think we can learn a great deal from each other. I am not entirely sure what the answer is, if I did I would be a very rich woman. :D

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Duh. You keep the good-looking one.

Jokes aside, you raise good points. I've been thinking about this issue a lot today. This forum is good for that. I wish there was some answer to help those who try their hardest but come under misfortune while excluding those who won't help themselves. This sounds harsh, but I despise the thought of not carrying one's own weight.

I think the thing that has me leaning towards supporting UHC is that, for the most part, under out current system the only folks who receive help are those who won't help themselves. The hard workers who have come under misfortune have to lose everything before they are given help.

I don't know how to address the waste of people who won't contribute to society (because truthfully, the money spent supporting them is the least of it.....think of all the potential that we as a society are not utilizing because we can't figure out how to educate/socialize an entire subsection of our culture....bu that's a whole 'nother topic), but isn't it time we stop punishing the hardworking folks who are struggling with the mis-fortunate hand they've been dealt?

Peace,

CuriousMe

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Asking a question about paying more in income taxes for Universal Health Care is a little misleading. A lot of people on here pay little to no taxes if you are in the lower tax brackets. With EITC might even get more money back than was even paid in. Here is the question I want to ask:

A. Are you willing to pay $500-1000 per month out of your current take home pay to provide health care for everyone in this country?

B. Are you okay with that $500-1000 per month providing free health care to illegal aliens?

C. Are you okay with that $500-1000 per month paying for someone to have a sex change operation, and abortion, fertility treatments etc.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Sharrie,

Thanks for your input. I am enjoying this honest and well-thought discussion.

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Exactly! A. NO B. NO C. NO. I for one am not in the low tax bracket nor do I pay zero taxes. How about we install a flat tax, say 15 or 20% across the board for all U.S. citizens. This way those who don't pay any taxes can now contribute their fair share to society, and at least no one gets a free lunch.

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Exactly! A. NO B. NO C. NO. I for one am not in the low tax bracket nor do I pay zero taxes. How about we install a flat tax, say 15 or 20% across the board for all U.S. citizens. This way those who don't pay any taxes can now contribute their fair share to society, and at least no one gets a free lunch.

How would someone that doesn't pay any taxes be affected by a flat tax?

I do support a flat tax. I'm sorry, but as a citizen, people that make more are more responsible. No way should higher tax bracket people pay kess than lower tax bracket people...

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How would someone that doesn't pay any taxes be affected by a flat tax?

I do support a flat tax. I'm sorry, but as a citizen, people that make more are more responsible. No way should higher tax bracket people pay kess than lower tax bracket people...

Someone that pays no taxes would now pay 15-20% tax, just like everyone else. Make an equal and fair contribution of their income to society, just like everyone else.

People that make more are more responsible? You've got to be kidding me. So people that make less are less responsible, and less of a citizen apparently? I mean if you don't pay taxes, what are you then? A free loader? Or an illegal? Everyone should pay the same rate, regardless of income. At the very minimum no one should get a free ride and pay some kind of tax, at least 10%. And, if lower society does not like it, then maybe they should lose some rights....perhaps the right to vote.

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Someone that pays no taxes would now pay 15-20% tax, just like everyone else. Make an equal and fair contribution of their income to society, just like everyone else.

People that make more are more responsible? You've got to be kidding me. So people that make less are less responsible, and less of a citizen apparently? I mean if you don't pay taxes, what are you then? A free loader? Or an illegal? Everyone should pay the same rate, regardless of income. At the very minimum no one should get a free ride and pay some kind of tax, at least 10%. And, if lower society does not like it, then maybe they should lose some rights....perhaps the right to vote.

People that make more should be more responsible for tax rates. At the current time rich people pay less in taxes than middle class people. Um are you seriously ok with that. I doubt it.

Everyone that works and makes more than the poverty line does pay taxes. Maybe you mean that deductions and credits should be reduced...

If you expect someone below the poverty line to pay a comparable rate as everyone else then you are fooling yourself. We will have people not working on the books so they can eat. 1500 out a 10000/yr salary is a WHOLE lot more than 15000 out of a 100000/yr salary.

Of course, most people that denigrate the poor have never actually been poor. You should probably try it sometime.

The flat tax should apply but poorer people should still get the benefits they need. You can't just get rid of them or their needs because you don't like them. There are other countries that do that. We aren't those other countries.

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With a flat tax everyone would pay something toward income taxes in this country. Higher brackets would pay a higher amount even at the same tax rate (percentage) as someone in the lower bracket. Everyone would have a stake in the economy rather than the few doing the majority of the work for the everyone else. I worked hard to get where I am in life and those that do not should not be rewarded for their poor choices in life.

How would someone that doesn't pay any taxes be affected by a flat tax?

I do support a flat tax. I'm sorry, but as a citizen, people that make more are more responsible. No way should higher tax bracket people pay kess than lower tax bracket people...

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Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.

Flat tax, yes!

I have said for years that if every person who comes in for, oh, the runny nose that they've had for a week, the 2 am visit for diaper rash, etc., etc., had to take even $1.00 out of their pocket before being seen, they might reconsider whether it was a necessary visit or not.

The "rich" way more than their share. I'm not in that bracket, but I don't see how I or anybody else is entitled to what they make.

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Health insurance is nowhere near $500-1000 a month in Canada. I think my total income tax bill for 2007 was $4000, which I got back at tax refund time. In any case, I'm glad to pay the taxes to provide health care, as much I like the armed forces, roads paved and the lights on!

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