jorgelito

I pay $0 for healthcare, get full benefits and $20 co-pay (or was it $10?) thanks to an employer that values my skills and college education (thank you free market system!!). I don't smoke, drink heavily, nor do drugs. I have no preexisting conditions.

If someone decides to smoke and then gets cancer as a result, well then, I am very sorry but you have to take responsibility for your own actions. I would be very pissed if I had to to subsidize someone elses irresponsible choices. I work very hard for my salary and benefits.

So then, would socialized medicine be abused as a fix it all system for irresponsible people? I stay healthy and am careful with my actions because I do not want the expense of health care (especially when before I didn't have any insurance at all. A broken hand cost me $7500 cash). Therefore, I acted responsibly. I think free health care would just open up a wealth of abuse and overburden the system. People abuse the health care system here in LA to the extent that hospitals have to close down and ER centers close too.

Having said that, I do agree that the healthcare system is in need of reform. I'm not sure which part needs fixing: doctors, insurance, hospitals, patients or lawsuits.

Will, you mentioned that you think the insurance companies are to blame. Can you expand on that a little? I used to think the same thing but I'm not so sure. Maybe Jazz can give us some insight. I do know in my case, I paid $7500 cash for surgery on my broken hand. The doctor gave me a steep discount because he knew I just graduated and therefore no longer covered by school insurance and did not have a job yet. The hospital charged the most despite my financial hardship. They told me that if I had insurance, they would have charged around $25,000. I almost had a heart attack. I actually know why they charge so much but that is for another thread.

It's the same with car repair/service too apparently. Different prices depending on whether or not you have insurance.

I am interested in hearing about the Canada and UK systems.