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?

No, your assessment is wrong. It is more than money. It is a belief based on personal responsibility. A belief in the individual having the basic right to make their own decisions on how best to utilize the resources available to them rather then having mandates foisted upon them in the name of the greater good.

It is also based on the fact the UHC has problems . . . . .and I don't believe the government belongs in that role although, as mentioned a page or two ago, they are deep into it now.

Every time I think of the Medicare CoP's meeting I get nauseous . . . . :no:

steph

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steph,

i admire your adamant intent to pay for your own medical expenses. i know what you mean, about negotiating, and cash discounts, too. i do the same with my $5000 deductible health insurance plan.

thing is, if someone in your family gets into a really catastrophic situation - the hospital and other providers are not going to accept your promise to pay payments. needed treatment would then come to an abrupt stop. (i mean for situations other than a quick in and out hospital stay.)

once it exceeded your resources, you'd hit a brick wall and need care for you or your loved one. remember the "cash before chemo" thread? eventually, you would end up applying for medicaid so you, your husband, or your child could get the care so desperately needed. you'd be trapped, too, because private individual health insurance is not going to cover pre-existing conditions, even if you could get coverage (which you probably cannot qualify for anyway due to the pre-existing health conditions you listed above).

while the above scenario is remote, it is a very real possibility of going without health insurance. you cannot say that you will pay for all your medical expenses yourself, when you don't have insurance.

i guarantee your love for your husband and children exceeds your desire to never end up on medicaid.

so many political threads . . i think i addressed this already . .

here it is . . . with the "brain damaged teens" post . . .:rolleyes:

no, i never said something medical cannot happen to my family. it has. during times we did not have insurance. and we made payments.

of course, we didn't have a baby like tim and his wife did, who needed intensive care for months.

and of course, my husband having a heart attack, having to be flown to a hospital for surgery, recovery, etc., . .. . i realize that is pricey too.

we are both very concerned about not having insurance right now.

i just don't think that is the reason for universal healthcare. most families healthcare bills are not catastrophic. there are other ways to deal with huge medical expenses - in my opinion.

steph

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

:trc:

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
so many political threads . . i think i addressed this already . .

here it is . . . with the "brain damaged teens" post . . .:rolleyes:

no, i never said something medical cannot happen to my family. it has. during times we did not have insurance. and we made payments.

of course, we didn't have a baby like tim and his wife did, who needed intensive care for months.

and of course, my husband having a heart attack, having to be flown to a hospital for surgery, recovery, etc., . .. . i realize that is pricey too.

we are both very concerned about not having insurance right now.

i just don't think that is the reason for universal healthcare. most families healthcare bills are not catastrophic. there are other ways to deal with huge medical expenses - in my opinion.

steph

steph,

i know you don't think your type of scenario is a reason for universal healthcare, and i understand and respect that. i was just addressing your statement that if something happens, you'll "make payments" as a solution. that's all.

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:trc:

oh my gosh madwife . .. . . I thought to myself "why is she posting that smilie with triangle-shaped nurses cap waving in the breeze?".

I put the cursor over it and saw "truce" . . . :clown: ah, it is a white flag. I'm a dunce. Or maybe that is a dunce cap. :D

steph

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Still, every thing I say gets the rolling of the eyes . . .. .:icon_roll

steph

***ROLLS EYES***

Sorry! I couldn't resist. :chuckle

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***ROLLS EYES***

Sorry! I couldn't resist. :chuckle

:D:yeah:

steph

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:D:yeah:

steph

You know how wonderful it is to roll your eyes at someone older and not expect a backhand from my mother??? HEHEHE

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...there are many adults who work there who actually have adult bills to pay.

This just goes on and on and on....

Who made the decision to work there (at Wal-Mart)? I don't work there.

A couple of times in my life I've been down and out. I always, always pull myself up with little assistance from anyone else.

After years of doing without, I got myself educated and got a good job. Six years ago I was making big money at a local business. One day, I was dismissed due to downsizing. My next job was for $6.50 per hour. I worked nights and weekends, went back to college during the days, and pulled myself up again. Today I am a Registered Nurse, able to take care of myself and my family. And yes, as part of the benefits I get, my company has an insurance plan. My field is such that if they don't provide insurance I could go somewhere else and get it, so they must provide. Such is the decision I made to look out for myself and my family. I choose not to spend money that I don't have. I choose not to be in debt. My car is 14 years old. I buy new clothes when the old ones wear out. My furniture is old and ugly, but usable. Money that I earn goes into my bank account and I pay my bills from it. My bills are less than my income, so I save money. It's called carrying your own weight.

I'm old, ugly, and stupid, but, I pulled myself up. Why can't others do that?

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This just goes on and on and on....

Who made the decision to work there (at Wal-Mart)? I don't work there.

A couple of times in my life I've been down and out. I always, always pull myself up with little assistance from anyone else.

After years of doing without, I got myself educated and got a good job. Six years ago I was making big money at a local business. One day, I was dismissed due to downsizing. My next job was for $6.50 per hour. I worked nights and weekends, went back to college during the days, and pulled myself up again. Today I am a Registered Nurse, able to take care of myself and my family. And yes, as part of the benefits I get, my company has an insurance plan. My field is such that if they don't provide insurance I could go somewhere else and get it, so they must provide. Such is the decision I made to look out for myself and my family. I choose not to spend money that I don't have. I choose not to be in debt. My car is 14 years old. I buy new clothes when the old ones wear out. My furniture is old and ugly, but usable. Money that I earn goes into my bank account and I pay my bills from it. My bills are less than my income, so I save money. It's called carrying your own weight.

I'm old, ugly, and stupid, but, I pulled myself up. Why can't others do that?

That's admirable but if you were able to do so you were in a place and situation that allowed you to. The I did it so why can't everyone else argument is fallacious but I suspect you already know that.

If you had 2 kids to feed and a mortgage and then were downsized you would be working 2-3 jobs just to provide basics. You wouldn't have had time to go to school or better yourself. You wouldn't have been able to do with out.

I am paying my entire way through school. I do without luxuries, I fund my retirement and I even save a little money. I work one job and rent a room. You think I or you could do that with 2 kids or even 1. Especially an infant or toddler?

Now say you were able to pull it all together. What happens if you become disabled or your child is sick? You'd be SOL. So many Americans are nowadays.

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That's admirable but if you were able to do so you were in a place and situation that allowed you to. The I did it so why can't everyone else argument is fallacious but I suspect you already know that.

If you had 2 kids to feed and a mortgage and then were downsized you would be working 2-3 jobs just to provide basics. You wouldn't have had time to go to school or better yourself. You wouldn't have been able to do with out.

I am paying my entire way through school. I do without luxuries, I fund my retirement and I even save a little money. I work one job and rent a room. You think I or you could do that with 2 kids or even 1. Especially an infant or toddler?

Now say you were able to pull it all together. What happens if you become disabled or your child is sick? You'd be SOL. So many Americans are nowadays.

whoops! Be careful. Do you know how many divorced women with children are working full time jobs and going to school to become a nurse?

steph

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You know how wonderful it is to roll your eyes at someone older and not expect a backhand from my mother??? HEHEHE

Oh man, I remember those times . . . . ouch.

I've felt like doing that to my kids but I've stopped myself.

steph

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