two out of three American adults think health care coverage should be a "guarantee"

[pickledpepperRN]

This link was sent by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)

http://www.resultsforamerica.org/

SURVEY: ONE-THIRD TO BUY CHEAPER CANADIAN DRUGS, 100 MILLION FIND INSURANCE COVERAGE CUT OR COSTLIER

Faced with a double-barreled crisis of shrinking health care coverage and fast-rising medical costs, two out of three American adults (67 percent) now think health care coverage should be a "guarantee" as in Canada, Britain and other nations, according to a new Results for America national opinion survey. Three out of four American adults (78 percent) agree that health care is a necessity like water, gas and electricity and should be "regulated by government"...

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I agree, but whose to pay and how, that's the challenge.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Teddy Kennedy believed that health care should be nationalized and guaranteed to all also.

[Katnip, RN]

Tweety is right. Who will pay? It would be nice to be able to walk in to your own doctor and not worry about your insurance and therefore doctor, changing every year, too.

[memphispanda, RN]

There is no need to ask who will pay. There is only one possible answer--U. S. taxpayers will pay.

[NurseStacey143, ADN, RN]

if our funds and taxes were better managed....My bet is the money could be found. How many times do we use tax money to fix streets...that were fine to begin with, or new stadiums, when the ones we had were already great? Besides....when people become very sick, we pay the cost anyways. If everyone had access to healthy check ups etc....they could be treated sooner and CHEAPER! Everyone knows its much easier and cheaper to treat a cancer for example in stage 1...than the aggressive treatment we pay for at stage 5, that unfortunalty usually just prolongs their lives but doesnt cure. Just my thoughts....

[Katnip, RN]

I don't think I'd trust the same people who are managing Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security to manage national healthcare.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I don't think I'd trust the same people who are managing Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security to manage national healthcare.

Me either.

However I do think all Americans have a right to grocery coverage. Food should be guaranteed.

steph

[donmurray]

Could it be any worse than it is? Either through higher premiums, and/or taxes you are already picking up the tab. With everyone in work contributing, and no insurance company profits taken off the top, there should be plenty cash to fund healthcare for everybody who needs it.

[RN Rotten Nurse]

Wether you agree or not is beside the point. Self-employed families can't afford to pay 1000.00 dollar a month premiums. It's going to come to national health care because there is no other choice. It's already more than 50% national already when you figure medicare and medicaid consumers. The only people that actually PAY for their health care now are us middle age working class citizens who actually pay for insurance and pay our bills because we have a conscience.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Ok bear with me and remember I live in a nationalised health care system (Ask ANY questions you like - I will try to find answers - this isn't about who has the best system it is about finding a more equitable system that works for you in America)

Please correct me if I am wrong but in your current system

Your employer pays your health care insurance.

That insurance is not counted as part of your income for taxable reasons.

You are at the mercy of your employer as to what coverage you have.

Your employer also covers your family for insurance?

[hypnotic_nurse]

Ok bear with me and remember I live in a nationalised health care system (Ask ANY questions you like - I will try to find answers - this isn't about who has the best system it is about finding a more equitable system that works for you in America)

Please correct me if I am wrong but in your current system

Your employer pays your health care insurance.

That insurance is not counted as part of your income for taxable reasons.

You are at the mercy of your employer as to what coverage you have.

Your employer also covers your family for insurance?

It is different for everyone. SOME employers offer health care insurance. SOME employers pay all or a part of this insurance (sometimes a very small part). I don't believe that is counted as taxable income. Yes, we are at the mercy of our employers although we can buy private insurance -- but it is often not affordable. If you have had health problems, private insurance may not be obtainable. Some employers offer family coverage, but this can also be very costly. At my institution, covering self and family is $800/month with the employer paying $200 of that cost (so $600/month out of pocket -- OK for the MDs, OK for some nurses, not OK for secretaries, assistants, and others who make very little).