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Originally posted by KMA-628
Brianna,
As I mentioned before, my abilities do not really fall under the "fix" column, I fall more into the "analyst" category. I have the ability to interpret and analyze data. Ideas abound and may take this thread in a totally different direction.
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ok... but do you agree that having such a larger portion of the population with a very limited access to health care is a problem? with all due respect it is somewhat difficult to accept an analysis of a situation that concludes "yup, we have a problem, i don't like your idea, and i'm not going to attempt to think of an alternative." I am perfectly willing to admit that health care is a very complicated issue that I am not solely qualified to fix, but i'm, open to new ideas, thus far I don't see any coming from the anti-state sponsor health care side. (ie not just you or others on this bored by politicians and their representatives).
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Originally posted by KMA-628
-Most "non-citizens" do not pay much in taxes, if any. It may sound crude, but they are the ones making out in the deal. i.e. I pay a lot in taxes, but I use private insurance and I rarely use the "system" (police, fire, etc). In terms of a "share" I pay for more than I receive and the "non-citizens" receive much, much more than they pay for.
There is no way their taxes, if they pay any, will be increased, so if you want them to have "free" insurance, I (and all of the other taxpayers) will foot the bill. I am not willing to do that because of the reason I have gone over in detail (i.e. per capita spending on healthcare).
REMEMBER: What you are asking is for me to bring home even less of my pay. So, in effect, you are trying to take money from my family.
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1. why would non-citizens have access to state healthcare? i can't get free health care if i'm visiting canada, this seems like a non issue.
2. most people are not aware of how much of their daily life is affected by things that are paid for with tax money. when you buy produce you are in contact with farm subsides, when you drive to work you are using a state built road, when you or your children go to school or a park that's tax money. and these examples are just things that you come into direct contact with, we all benefit from other tax programs in less direct ways, i'm safer because we have a police and fire system and my way of life would be much different if laws weren't established by a court system and our way of life defended by the military. i don't agree with all tax programs, but as a member of society i am directly affected by many of them everyday.
3. a state healthcare program is not something that will be only available to the poor, it would be available to all and everyone would benefit both directly and indirectly -- this is not a gift that you'd be giving to the poor and middle class it's a program that will benefit our society as a whole (including you.).
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Originally posted by KMA-628
-I could lose my membership card over this, but.....
I would seriously consider a "universal healthplan" if the per capita cost were more in line with other countries that offer this type of service. If the per capita cost was less, my tax burden would be less and I would be happy.
However, I require:
1. The ability to have and pay for my own healthcare. I am a free-market/private sector individual. I will always believe that the private sector can do certain things (i.e. private goods vs. public goods) better, more efficiently and with better quality.
2. A "rebate" or a deduction to cover the amount I am spending on my own healthcare (very similar to a voucher program).
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i don't see any reason why a USA system wouldn't be modeled upon one of the successful foreign systems. no one is going to take away your access to a private healthcare system, in fact most countries with state sponsored healthcare still have plenty of private options (usually to cover elective treatments or luxuries such as a private room during a hospital stay). giving you your money back is a different issue... i would have no problem with providing those who choose to opt out of thew state system with some sort of tax rebate, but i doubt it could be a large enough amount to completely cover the cost of private insurance since the state program is likely to be much cheaper on a pre-capita basis than a private program.
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Originally posted by KMA-628
**Side note: Just so you know where I am coming from. In order to save my daughter's life, I authorized the use of "experimental" procedures on her. These experimental procedures saved her life and were not covered by insurance. There is no need to go into the amount, but it put me into serious, six-figure debt. Because I am not poor and did not qualify for gov't aid (i.e. medacaid) I have to foot the bill myself. I am still paying for this and will be for a long time. My daughter's life was worth it.
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most parents are willing to go into debt for the sake of their childrens health, thank god for compassion and parental love. people shouldn't have to do this.
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Originally posted by KMA-628
This may not be the right answer, but I think healthcare needs to be competitive and 100% private. There is a natural effect in the marketplace when there is competition and no gov't interference.
1. Prices stay low and competitive
2. Quality usually goes up, not in every case, but usually.
Right now, healthcare is so heavily subsidized that there is no "natural" price control. Healthcare needs to be treated as a product.
Why? Because then the system has to answer to us (who are not lobbied nor are we in anybody's "pocket"). We don't like the plan, we go elsewhere. This forces the system into competition which brings price controls, etc into the picture.
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It's not possible for health care to be completely private without excluding large portions of the population from the health care system. a government system would also have to "answer to us", after all, this is a democracy.
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Originally posted by KMA-628
Granted, this will never happen.
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ok, so let's talk about more feasible solutions.
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Originally posted by KMA-628
We also tend to forget that "healthcare" and "health insurance" is a relatively new phenomena (same goes with SS and medicare)
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as are hospitals and medical science. new solutions to new problems.