10 Responses to “Does America Already Have A Version Of Universal Health Care?”

1. 

   dnafairy said on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 11:57

   Yes it does, that’s the ironic part. Everyone living in America has health care.
   If you’re elderly, you have Medicare.
   If you’re poor, you have Medicaid.
   If you’re neither of those and don’t have private health care, no ER or free clinic can refuse to help you.
   Here’s where it gets weird. Ready? Because of that, some kind of universal health care makes sense. Because we as a society are not willing to let people die in the streets because they get sick, it makes sense to develop some sort of system that we all pay into in order to reduce the overall cost.
   I strongly dislike people who are uninsured and choose not to have it, even when it is an option. Why? Because if they have an emergency, all of us on insurance foot a good part of that bill, especially if they have no qualms about wrecking their credit rating.
   I also strongly dislike the fact that medical insurance companies get to pick and choose who they insure. They (understandably) pick the healthiest (ie most profitable) people to insure.
   Anyway, yes, we already have a version of universal health care, so since we’re stuck with it, we might as well make it more efficient.
2. 

   Paul B said on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 15:07

   without medical care, the only thing you are entitled to is emergency treatment. So the uninsured end up getting sicker, and costing us all more in the end.
   There is a version of universal healthcare. Incredibly America has it for the elderly, where you have the most cost and the least benefit.
   And, of course, for all those politicians who tell us that unlike everywhere else in the developed world America can’t afford universal health care.
3. 

   Obamanable Faux Man said on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 15:46

   “making additional billions” isn’t exactly correct. They’re making less than they would have (settlement) and those who have health insurance who ultimately pick up the tab of the irresponsible are being robbed of billions.
   Consequently, that shuffling concept is the one primary reasons hospital costs are so high…they have to make up their losses somewhere.
   Malpractice lawsuits and liability insurance are the other reasons.
   It’s not a mind blowing concept either — as one would expect, those who pay their bills into a system they use will likely encourage stability within that system — as in it operates how it was intended.
   But it’s never the non-paying consumer that’s greedy or has the problem…it’s the functional system that has problems when not used properly.
   It’s like getting pissed at GM when you put sugar-water in your gas tank and your car stalls.
4. 

   rotorhea said on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 18:42

   If you want to know what Universal Health Care in the US looks like, go to a VA Medical Center.
   Delphi, You and I pay for what the DC crowd has. They take it out of business and personal income taxes collected by the Fed Gov. They don’t go to the 24-Hour clinic on the corner. They go to the Mayo or Mt Sinai or some other top medical facility. The medical care that the crowd in DC enjoys is $$$$$.
5. 

   freebird said on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 23:19

   here is my perfect health care solution.here it is.
   first if you are rich you can pay out of your own pocket for health care.period.
   sec.if you are poor you can go to free clinics or pay a sliding scale fee.like you can now most of the time.so the rich and the poor are covered.then that leaves the good ole middle class .well heres my solution for them .if they get health care through their work or have to buy it out of their own pockets then what they should be able to do is what ever they spend over a certain amount lets say 200 a year then they should take that out on your taxes at the end of the year and get that back.its plan and simple.then the government doesn’t own you and you have more freedoms to go where you want as far as doctors,or clinics and its just better.
6. 

   wunofdam said on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 2:48

   For minor health or medical issues, yes it does.
   However, for major medical issues, it doesn’t. Only individuals with very good insurance, or the extremely wealthy are privy to the treatment.
7. 

   Big Luie said on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 5:38

   i agree with tom. im a disabled veteran too. and actually legal and illegal americans technically can recieve health care due to the fact that both are able to serve the us military.
8. 

   Tom said on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 12:33

   A select few do, I being one of them, but then I am a disabled veteran, and the VA takes care of my needs, be they service connected or not.
9. 

   delphi said on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 13:01

   Really? Is that why in a moment of not being insured. I had an emergency that cost me over 10 grand.
   All I want from health care is the same deal the D.C. crowd receives.
10. 

    Captain M said on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 17:31

    NO