Health Insurance Debate

[Aluli]

Health Insurance


Should the U.S. government provide universal health insurance? Canada offers universal medical coverage to its citizens, but bans private health care operations. The United States, on the other hand, provides no universal health insurance, but has a thriving private practice. Federal coverage is often associated with long wait-times, inadequate cost controls and unmotivated doctors. The 44 million uninsured Americans, however, are proof that the private system often fails to provide affordable health insurance.


"Should the Government Provide Universal Health Insurance?"

[MichaelArchangel]

EDITORIAL
Universal healthcare is a worthy goal


It seems as though Hawai'i has been paving the way for universal healthcare since the passage of the 1974 Prepaid Health Care Act, which requires employers to pay the lion's share of premiums for their full-time workers.

But it pains us to learn that too many Islanders — 11 percent — are uninsured. Many businesses avoid paying health insurance premiums by hiring part-time employees. Meanwhile, the population is aging and in need of more health services, and the cost of those services and prescription drugs is steadily rising. Our health is at the mercy of the market.

The question is, do we want to place it at the mercy of the government? One alternative being floated by some Democratic lawmakers is universal healthcare coverage in the form of a single state-run insurance fund. According to the proposed legislation, a state authority would collect payments from private plans such as HMSA and Kaiser Permanente, Medicaid and worker's compensation insurance, among other sources.

We support the concept of universal healthcare, if everyone — and we mean everyone — is covered. Sure, taxes would increase, but then we wouldn't be paying those monthly premiums. Besides, it's justifiable to raise taxes to pay for human needs.

Of course, we have a lot of questions about how a state-run system would work, and whether the quality of healthcare would be compromised. We imagine that would depend on how the system is run. England's national healthcare system has managed to garner a poor reputation. On the other hand, France's socialized medicine is widely touted.

Here in the U.S., healthcare coverage has largely been kept away from government bureaucrats, but that doesn't mean the system is working as well as it should. More than 40 million Americans are uninsured. Many go to the emergency room for primary care, which is enormously costly. And private insurance doesn't always guarantee choice.

Many HMOs have notorious reputations as micromanagers when it comes to making medical decisions.

Hawai'i's healthcare system, largely dominated by the fee-for-service HMSA and Kaiser's health management organization, receives generally top ratings both for the quality of care and its relative affordability. We are far ahead of many jurisdictions, and there is a strong argument against fixing what is largely not broken.

But even in the Islands, there is a case to be made for healthcare reform that will bring coverage to a wider range of our citizens.

We're open to suggestions. But while the search goes on for alternatives, it is crucial that the underlying prepaid healthcare law be kept in place. It's far too important for the well-being of our state.

[Flynn]

Should goverments provide a universal health insurance ?

Yes




Will governments provide universal health insurance ?

Yes, so long as the tax payers are prepared to pay more taxation.




Will tax payers want to pay more to support those with less ?

I doubt it.



We are entering a user pays era, those who can pay for health insurance will, those who can't pay for health insurance and rely on a free health system will be treated last if at all.

[MichaelArchangel]

This is a time I don't want to agree with you, Flynn however it is apparent with the widen gap between the haves and have nots especially in the US I fear you are correct. The individual is more selfish than I have ever experienced in my 45 years.

It is a shame!

I beg to differ in the I do not believe the US government and the American Medical Association do not under any circumstances what universal health care. It is a corrupt government and those that own it do not want to give up their majority of the pie even though they are the very few minority!

What would Jesus do?

[AutumnRain]

Universal health care.. is that like the NHS have in britain.. that health care is given to EVERYONE free of charge, only its not really free because good ole tax man pays for it?

[MichaelArchangel]

Yes, AR this is what at least I am referring too.

I don't mind paying the extra taxes truthfully it will come down to the tax payer one way or another.

For instance the use of motor cycle helments is left to the citizen in some states in the union yet the amount of monies spent on TBI, tramatic brain injuries is astronomical and you bet we the tax payers shell out the cash for those that chose to not wear helments...

[AutumnRain]

its a way of life for both countries i have lived in.

we pay high taxes and everyone gets *free* healthcare. We dont have to worry about if insurance will cover it, if we can afford to see the docs etc. Its a really really good system.
Me personally, well i have extra insurance because I dont really like long waiting lists and if my kids are hurt I want them seen quickly instead of looooooong hours at a hospital. having extra insurance is also good for dental and eye probs which here in DK is not covered by the *free* healthcare

[anna_hun]

Originally Posted by MichaelArchangel

Yes, AR this is what at least I am referring too.

I don't mind paying the extra taxes truthfully it will come down to the tax payer one way or another.

For instance the use of motor cycle helments is left to the citizen in some states in the union yet the amount of monies spent on TBI, tramatic brain injuries is astronomical and you bet we the tax payers shell out the cash for those that chose to not wear helments...

Well you could say that to drug abuse, nicotine and alcohol-overweight-next
There has been debates about it over here...that those with higher risk should pay more for there medical insurance-and healthier ppl less..lol

[anna_hun]

Im a bit in a dilemma,im covered through the NHS-but we are in the mil.net and have to see there doctors and nurses over here..my daughter is diabetic and she has to see a german specialist in hospital for this for routine check ups..-The army has a contract with that german hospital-now on civvy street you could choose a different doctor-eg, hospital if you are not satisfied with your treatment, but I have no choice,I cant take out private health insurance as most dont cover cronical illnesses-like diabetis,they cover you only when you t ook out there private insurance b4 you got the cron.illness-sucks-
But in summer we mite get posted to another unit were we have been b4 and we get on with the doctors there-so lets hope...

[LaraB]

Of western countries,.. Aus and Sweden's are by far better than others.

The US system is just screwed, plain and simple. It's not just that there isn't health cover, it's that procedures are so expensive copmared to other places in addition.

Aus's system, although it has some pretty significant faults, is pretty good. Eg - i had to get a whole heap of tests and stuff done recently, coz i'm "young", they didn't want me having to wait and stress so they sent me thru first and it was all medicare covered... had i needed to stay in hospital overnight, would've only had i think it was $130? cost.. rest would b epaid for...

i know the private health cover i'm on is pretty good - yeah you gotta pay it weekly/monthly whatever, but overall its really good value.

It's just an American thing... when you h ave elitist capitalist right wing nuts running a country, the poor are gonna get screwed - if they all die out, the elitests would be happy so courset hey're not gonna fix it.