Healthcare

Healthcare was passed a couple minutes ago here in the US!
Everyone: What do you think about this?
People from other counties without healthcare: Do you think your country should have this? Why or why not?
Other thoughts?

Darn, you beat me to posting it.

Here's a link if anyone is interested--->http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35961584/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

Anyways, now that's it's practically through the process, I think it's a mistake. Health care was such a big issue to be somewhat rushed to a vote, not to mention the fact it's going to put America even more in debt than it is right now. But, it is what it is. Personally, I don't think anyone is entitled to health care, but there are plenty of things that need reform in America. I just feel that this was way too rushed, as well as the fact the bill barely passed on a 219-212 vote (quite a hairpin of a vote if you ask me). But like I said, it's already passed. Perhaps the Senate will touch it up, but now that it's passed, it's almost certain to go to the President to be signed immediately. What a shame...

I'm curious to know what exactly is included in the final version. I haven't been able to take a real stand on the bill because no one I heard talk about it would just straight up say what was included. You have crazy republicans saying that they will kill your grandparents (obviously a lie, but whatever), and the hardcore democrats pushing it without even really saying what it is about. I just wish I could get a straight up list of all the major changes that will now actually occur because of this bill.

Anyway, I'm glad that reform is at least started. It can be altered as necessary later. If one thing was certain, it was that the private health insurance providers have screwed over the US for long enough.

That's true. To my knowledge the US is currently the only developed country in the western world without some form of comprehensive health care for all citizens. It is about time.

You can blabber on about how people aren't entitled to healthcare, but that is immoral. If you saw someone who had just tripped off a curb and sprained their ankle are you saying you would just continue walking by without even asking how they are at a minimum?

Here in Canada everyone is covered whether you are a new immigrant or have lived here all your life. With this being said, we choose our own doctors, when we go, if we go, etc... We do pay for services that are not covered such as dental (surgical tooth extraction), eye, and special services (podiatry) if you do not have a plan. Which i see as perfectly acceptable.

The provinces implement healthcare and the federal government mandates what health care must entail through the Canada Health Act. Most provinces require that you pay into health care premiums in order to fund the system. This makes it effectively a tax payer funded system. Recently last year Alberta did away with premiums (thanks Ed, maybe if you had kept these our defecit wouldn't be expanding), so if you live in Alberta all basic care is free. I personally believe a mixed system is best where all basic and emergency needs are covered with extras needing to be paid out of pocket or by private insurance, and private doctors would be allowed to practice (suppose they're a big name doctor) but they would give up government subsidies.

What's important to remember in any political system, is that politicians will sell their Bill. The democrats will hype it up and the republicans are going to be fearmongering. The best advice for this and anything political is to do your own research and don't blindly follow a viewpoint.

I think that the bill is a start but has been significantly watered down over the past months while it navigated the path from the President to the senate and house (and back and forth.) My issue with the Bill is that it doesn't ensure automatic coverage if you do not have an insurance plan. Coupled with this I don't have cozy feelings about the costs still involved after having it watered down. The main reason I supported Obama in 2008 was health reform. I'm not entirely sure as I don't read the US legislation that interests me, only the Canadian legislation. Nonetheless, I think I would support it.

With this last sentence I would like you to note that I am one of the most conservative (take that as small c) people that I know.

PS: If anyone has any questions about the Canadian system, please do ask

if the health care reforms actually succeeds in what it is suppose to do. which i highly doubt considering how many health insurance lobbies there are it will actually SAVE us a few trillion dollars.

prevention will always be cheaper than treating it. like the whole idea of exercise and diet will prevent ___ so no pills needed to pop in, etc. think also like cancer with early detection. you find it early. use maybe 2-3 bags of chemo, they can probably stay at home and come in once in a while to check. rather than if the person does not have insurance, doesn't get it checked and it grows which you end up hospitalizing the person etc.

the US spends the most in health care, 15% of ould GDP goes into health expenditure, with 30% of that money goes into hospital care.

video news report for it

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=18747941

also there is a stupid system in place with medicare and medicaid and other public insurance that if you want help with you drugs or care, you have to be dirt poor.
plenty of elderly people have lost their homes, their entire savings.
those who are on it and are in their 40s or so that can work, are told that they have to say at 0 income in order to get the medication they need.

if they make any money, they are out.

our health care system has major flaws but quite frankly with so many lobbist it will not take long for the companies to find loop holes and rip people off.



and on a side note, Iraq and Afghanistan HAVE universal health care which of course we are funding.

and may i ask HOW in the world did you come up with that conclusion?

I know!
I am a very outspoken liberal at my school, and living in redneck land, that's not a good thing
Everyone (mostly jokingly) was calling me a socialist
Silly rednecks.

I think the point he's trying to make is that Americans are being forced to pay for other peoples health and care. Hardly capitalistic imo. Not saying there is a problem with caring or taking care of people, but when you are taking other people's money and spending it in this way, I think socialist and communist ideas come to mind (at least for me). Anyways, I'd rather not belabor the point cause I don't think anyone here is going to change their views on the subject, but as for me, I don't like it when the government takes in my money and spends it on health care for someone else rather than something I can get at right now. If you think about it, health care is just like social security. They are taking your money and paying for someone else's well being. Ever heard of personal investment and responsibility??? Take care of yourselves. Again, I'm not saying if a person wasn't on the street in trouble I wouldn't help them. I certainly would. But, I don't think any government should take citizens money and come up with any program. All a government should do is keep the country together and take care of laws. It shouldn't have any hand in how the people live or how to spend their money. That's just my opinion. Say what you may, but you won't be changing my mind.