What do you think about nationalizing healthcare which the Democrats want to do?

Question

I personally think it will ruin the benefits we have right now with individual companies funding the research instead of pennies from the government. Welcome to long lines and long even longer waiting lists.

Answer 1

Just take a look at other countries (Canada) and see how it's going for them. Im not looking forward to this....



And, I have to say, anytime I have dealt with a government employee, I seem to be dealing with unqualified individuals that lack knowledge. The government seems to employ people not based on education or experience, but rather other factors.

Answer 2

I think we need a better health care system - the best healthcare systems in this world are the socialized medicine countires. You get any treatments you need and contrary to what you say, those people do not wait to get medicine - of course they do here - if you are going to treat someone who has private insurance and you can charge their company $400 or you have a mecicare patient who you can only charge $150 for the same treatment, of course you will treat the first patient faster.... That is the problem.

As for you saying that pay decreases, you are wrong. The doctors that work in the Netherlands get paid more than our doctors - because doctors in America have to cover their expenses. With insurance and medicare telling our American doctors what to charge, or what they will be paid per procedure, the doctors are making less and less each year - and their overhead is going up. The doctors in the Netherlands get paid by the hour - and get paid well. I know some medical personel who have moved out of this country to get paid better and get better benefits. I also know some people from these countries - they actually go home to visit to get their dental and routine medical things done if they are not US citizens yet.

As for the claim that you should not pay for people who don't work - my husband works 80 hours a week to try to keep our family going. I am not able to work. I have been battling cancer for 2 years. When I was too sick to work anymore, I went on COBRA - paying $300 a month for my benefits, then I had to go on a state insurance (not medicaid) that I pay $365 a month for. We work hard, and despite paying out the nose for my coverage, I still have $10,000 in bills from the last 2 years. In addition to that, my doctors have to fight to get every little test approved. If I have a thyroglobulin blood level of 10 or more, it's easier, if it drops below 10, we have to fight just to get an ultrasound approved.

I know someone who lives in Austrailia with cancer - he gets every med, every test, every doctor's visit paid for in full, and he gets excellent care. He doesn't have to fight for any approval, and he sees the best doctors in the area.



Please educate yourself before ranting about something you know nothing about.

Everyone deserves healthcare - even those who don't work.



I'll bet if your grandma needed healthcare and didn't have coverage, you'd be singing a different tune.

Answer 3

There isn’t a thing about your question I understand. Who is proposing National Healthcare? Since this is not part of Barack Obama’s healthcare plan I doubt it would fly anyway.



What does “individual companies funding the research instead of pennies from the government” mean? Are you implying insurance companies are funding cancer research? They may contribute to it, but they mainly fund our politicians and their lobbyist.



For you to assume people who do not have adequate health insurance are lazy and prefer to live on the streets with your hard earned money is incredible. Do you have any idea how many working poor there are in this country? Or people who work hard at their jobs, but do not have medical benefits and do not have enough money to pay cash? What about the people who cannot afford the outrageous costs for a pre-existing condition when they can get coverage at all? Or those who cannot afford their copayments or the premiums for their spouse and children? There are thousands of people who have lost their jobs and are lucky if they survive on unemployment and making Cobra payments is out of the question. Do you realize before our economy took a dump the number one reason for going bankrupt in this country was due to overwhelming medical bills?



For you to assume these people do not try hard enough or work as hard as you do is a slap in the face to them and is egotistical and ridiculous. You should be grateful you are so fortunate and do not have to live in their shoes.

Answer 4

There are few people you will find who are more pro-free market than me ... but I am going to keep an open mind on what becomes of our healthcare system. There are problems now. Big problems. Costs far outpace the level of care. It's not just about insurance companies getting rich or doctors with fancy cars ... there are inefficiencies that we must try to eliminate.



I do believe that there is a lot of negative PR from morons like Rush Limbaugh who know nothing about healthcare, whose only purpose is to stir up sh*t. They are not authorities on anything. They spew crap just to get ratings.



Perhaps we should listen to people who live within the systems you say are so bad, most European nations have some sort of national health plan, Canada, and other countries. They have more valid observations to offer, as they live with the healthcare in their own nation.

Answer 5

I'm from Canada, and think your assumptions are laughable. You have no idea how it works here. Yes, our system is not perfect. You can wait for certain surgeries like knee replacements etc. You NEVER have to wait for any life threatning illness. We have had a stroke in our family, a mom with cancer, a sister with cancer and 2 very serious car accidents. All of them were dealt with immediately. All received top notch care.

Now, if you show up at the hospital with a sore throat, you're going to wait hours to see a Dr. and so you should. Every patient admitted is rated on a scale from an emergency down to a sore toe. That's the way it should be.

My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago here in Canada. She received her surgery, chemo and radiation right away.

4 years after her surgery her husband was transfered to a job in Colorado. Because she had a pre-existing medical condition her portion of the medical plan was $800.00 per month. Her husbands employer paid the other $800.00. Now you tell me how many people can afford that kind of money.

Answer 6

I live in Britain, and we have a national health service. I don't understand your objections, and I think you make a lot of assumptions - long lines and long waiting lists for example.



There can be nothing more frightening than not being able to afford treatment when you're seriously ill; often on this board there are questions from people who have inadequate insurance and are worried sick about paying unexpected medical bills. We never have to worry about that, ever. There's no leaving hospital hours after surgery because you can't afford to stay any longer.



I admit I don't know exactly what is being proposed in America; but if it's anything like our NHS it will be a huge improvemement.



The NHS isn't perfect; it's been run down by successive governments and there's been creeping privatisation for some years. But it's the best system in the world - I don't believe in patriotism, I think it's silly, but the NHS is one thing I'm proud of this country for.

Answer 7

I fail to see how making the medical community unionized government employees will make things better. But you are correct, the level of research done by countries with nationalized health care is laughable.

Answer 8

I have neither the time nor the desire to answer such a ridiculous question.

Good day to you.

Answer 9

you are right.