Why?\n\nLet's say each person in the US needs $5,000 of medical care every year. (just for this example)\n\nThere are 300,000,000 Americans.\n\n300,000,000 times 5,000 = 1,500,000,000,000, or 1.5 TRILLION dollars EVERY YEAR!\n\nHoly crap! Is this really a good idea?
212375
Yes because your premise is invalid.\n\nMany people use no health services and some use more than your example. In a population of that size the ones who use less subsidize the ones who use more, just like insurance companies.\n\nBob Higgins\nWorldwide Sawdust
442674
I agree with you wholeheartedly; in fact, I was thinking of answering a similar question. You forgot one thing though health care for everyone we are the richest country in the world.\nTo answer your question I wish I knew how to get it started it is what we need as much as I disagree with republicans I do not think I am better represented by democrats. The only exception being the republicans need to invade our personal lives. This is a perplexing question and one that needs to be answered.
323776
Over 50% of America doesn't have any health care, and that is why it cost so much. That is what the providers want in order to keep the cost's up just like the gasoline is going up. They call that an open market. I call it I don't have any health insurance.
675197
Absolutely not.  Our health care system is a mess, it's true, but I think the best way to fix it is with less government intervention, not more.  You see, as with everything else, you tend to get all the best and most expensive stuff you can when someone else is paying the bill.  Well, if the government is paying the bill, that really means the taxpayers.  It's not fair for healthy people to have their tax burden substantially raised because some others can't or won't take care of themselves.  Which leads to a related point:  If you're paying your own bill, you're more likely to take good care of yourself, so you don't end up paying more than you absolutely have to.
303166
You are a darling.  I think that the government is trying to cut down on the population.  Bush and his cohorts only care about their own agenda, and watch out for the next war in Iran.  The senior's are not only losing their healthcare coverage, but they are being taxed twice on their incomes.  Once when they earn it, and again when they take it out of any of their personal retirement plans.  That's why a lot of seniors retire to the Bahamas.  So that the government can't get their hard earned money twice.
500178
Americans are ridiculous about socialised medicine. Instead of putting government money towards a working plan that grants all Americans equal opportunity to be healthy, they shove it all into a big stupid war. In Canada, we are a capitalist country with a socialised medical plan that works well. Studies have actually demonstrated that Canadian medicare is overall more efficient and of a higher quality than American privatised health care. And doctors can manage to pay it off, because in Canada university education sin't as expensive either! i would know, as both my parents are doctors.\n\nEDITED TO ADD: Canada is also a large contributer to medical research. This is usually paid for by research centres and universities and has little to do with the socialized healthcare system.
662200
do you live in the USA? well i think that we should take care of our own first unlike what we currently do! we need to stop spending billions upon billions of American dollars over seas and our space projects and take care of home first ..... then worry about everything else..... the USA should not have a homless population muchless starving familes!
557240
We need a health care system in this country and it will be hard to get. You know who is in congress. pro business!\n\nWe need a way to pool the Monet, an have some say into some things, like costs!\n\nHMO's who have people who are paid over 2 million a year plus bonus, plus their stockholders. They are taking all that from you before they have paid a thing!! There are over 450 HMO's in NJ!\n\nWhen I retired from the state, all of a sudden the HMO who represents retired state workers can get pills that I was paying over $12.00 each, I can get a 3 month supply for $4.00! That's right! $4.00 for three months!\n\nMedications is too expensive and needs to be brought under control. I don't have an issue with someone making a profit, but a 14 Million dollar income for 1 person in an HMO? That is obscene, and they have at least 3 more making more than 2 million a year. Now multiply that by the # of HMO's and the money they return to their shareholders, who didn't work a damn day!. That's a lot of money that goes to everything but health care.\n\nI have a ton of those example's, and I am sure we have enough smart people, who are not politicians, who can come up with a health care plan. What do you think an HMO is?
163282
Well a democracy of course. But more specifically, Norway. There is not a huge  gap between the people at the top and those at the bottom. They take care of their own. Everyone has health coverage, and if someone has a condition that requires staying in a warm climate the  government picks up the bill. 26.2% of American children live below the poverty level. In Norway it is less than 4%. The difference between what CEOs earn and what the average worker earns is nowhere near what it is in the US. Taxes are higher, but people don't seem to mind the trade off.
336539
I dont know. I really dont know. How would you find out? Government statistics? Not a good vote-getter! Even if you go back to previous governments , its still pretty hard to judge how scrupulous they were.They , of course , 'justify' the expense - 'defending freedom' , a 'cost-effective' health service,an aging population affecting pensions ( gosh , an aging population , that must have come as a surprise!). Bit of a rant here , but I feel that you understand!
148523
America is the only industrialized nation in the world who does not have a national heath care system. People who aren't wealthy, don't have health insurance, and aren't poor enough to qualify for medicaid, get screwed.\n\nIsrael also has guaranteed housing, while we have homeless.\nDoesn't make sense to me...
160351
Well, the situation is... in the U.S. if you're rich, you can afford insurance and medical care... in Canada, everyone gets it but not on their schedule... so rich Canadians come here to get it on their schedule...\nSo... I look at the census... the median household income for America is approx. $40,000, so that's half of America making $40,000 or less a year. If your household is making $40,000, (probably  a two income household, with two people making on average $20,000 each)you probably can't afford even a small procedure to be performed and if you get a procedure, you'll be in debt for at least a couple of years (not to mention the costs of medication), and that's if you're insured. (Also according to the census, 32 percent of Americans don't have medical insurance).\nWhat I'm saying is, according to these numbers, over half of America clearly can not take advantage (without severe financial penalty) of the American healthcare system as it stands, and thats a sad state to be in. \nAnd it's getting worse as insurance goes up 5+ percent a year (for the past few years) and wages are barely rising at all. \nSo, if you're rich, you probably like it, if you're not... you probably don't.. but there are more poor pepole than rich, so hopefully we can get some changes.
54577
It comes down to GREED! Everyone is out to make money in healthcare. The Bush greed monkeys have the health industry paying them left and right to keep the prices going up and up! Lets get someone in office that will get universal healthcare! Im sure the middle and lower class would approve, but hey the Bushits dont deal with anything but the upper class!
583114
Yes, Americans do have to pay for their own health care IF they are lucky enough to have the money to afford it.  Otherwise, they have no insurance.  Where do our taxes go?  Every place EXCEPT back to the American people.  That's why we have millions of uninsured persons in the states.  Sad, isn't it?
536372
I would support it , if it could be proved to work.  We are supposed to be the greatest country, then we should make it work.\n\nI am sick of hearing about it making our taxes go up.  of course it will.  but are you forgetting that you will no longer have health insurance premiums.  If our taxes go up much less than what the cost of our insurance was, then it is a good thing.  \n\nI also have no problem with government health insurance if run right.  We all know that group insurance is the best.  Why not make one giant group with everyone in America eligible?  make it affordable.  I live in a state where 1 in 4 doesn't have health insurance.  If it were more affordable, that would make a difference.  My current coverage is with a very small group  and it cost me 10 to 12 thousand a year to cover my family.  I can't afford that.  most Americans can't afford that.
72117
All US citizens can get healthcare whether they have health insurance or not.  What many people don't have is insurance to cover a major medical occurance, despite this fact, people that have major illnesses and no insurance, still get medical care.  They will just pay for it the rest of their lives.\n\nThe US is a capitalist society.  Doctors want to make money just like everyone else.  The US also has the best medical facilities in the world.  In other words, money gets you the best.  If the US were to go with a national healthcare plan, chances are the best would turn into second best.  Doctors would become discouraged and become a lawyer instead, what we don't need are more lawyers.
424780
I think this country has gone over the edge as far as helping others.  My tax dollars go to pay for other peoples education and when I need money there is none for me.  I knew someone who got flown in from a different country to have heart surgery completely free of charge.  Would anyone in this country who works and pays takes get that for free ?? Hell no.  My own grandmother got money from the govt for being old.  She had never worked a day in this country.  I think those things are wrong.  The people who live here and pay taxes dont get as much as people from other countries do.