Should the US Start with the Premise that it WILL Provide Universal Healthcare?

[iNow]

I'm afflicted by skin tags, most are small but occasionally 1 becomes objectionable and gets removed. The one on the back of my neck needed cutting as it had got too big. Roughly 4 cm long and 1 cm wide and high.

Ha! Your example fails because we don't use the metric system in the US, so there!

 

Thanks for the real first hand description, John. That helps curtail the confusion on this topic quite a bit. Glad you got things taken care of and are back to your normal routine again so soon.

[bascule]

Hate to dredge this thread up again, but...

 

In 20/20 hindsight, I think starting with a limited public option that could, over time, grow into a fully fledged single payer system makes the most sense now.

 

I've talked an awful lot about how much universal single payer healthcare would rock, but I think starting with a smaller program that lets us work out the kinks and grow it over time is a better way to build the system. The US is huge, and rolling out a federal program on that scale has far more challenges than it does in European countries whose populations are a fraction of the size.

[iNow]

An interesting point. What you are describing is homologous in many ways to what is known in sociology and sales as the "foot in the door" technique.

 

http://changingminds.org/techniques/general/sequential/fitd.htm

 

 

Either way... I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not ready to call it a win until it happens. I've grown rather cynical these last several years. I want UHC, and I think a single-payer/Medicare for everyone approach is the best way to go. A public option is a good start, and I won't turn my back to progress... but... like I said, I'm not going to be counting any chickens until they've hatched.

[DrP]

Whatever happens I hope it works out well for you guys. We constantly moan and whine about our waiting lists, mis-management mis-spending of money, declines in service etc.. wrt to our National Health Service here in the UK.... but that's what we british do best - moan. On the whole it is a pretty fantastic system (and would be even better if we had a proper government who listened to the doctors and nurses instead of trying force unrealistic targets on them in their ignorance - wasting billions on poorly thought out schemes that the doctors never wanted in the first place) - anyone at all can be treated rich or poor, native or foregin. It is very fair. It stops the poor from not getting treatment just to save their money - thus saves lives. True there are horror stories, but that is usually due to poor manegement rather than actualy flaws in the concept. We still have private routes to fall back on if needed/preffered.

 

Anyway - good luck whatever route your country goes down. You've voted - now let them do their jobs and see what they come up with.... give them time...

 

And, Sincerely - All the Best!

 

Regards,

 

P.

[padren]

Just to say "wow" on this one:

 

http://www.news10.net/news/article.aspx?storyid=69832&provider=top&catid=188

 

The parents of a Sacramento State student beaten to death by a dorm mate last month said they were stunned to receive a $30,000 bill from the UC Davis Medical Center as well as a letter asking their murdered son not to return because of payment issues.

 

Gerald and Elizabeth Hawkins said last weekend -- ten days after their son Scott was killed -- they got a bill to their Santa Clara home for $29,186.50 from the UC Davis Medical Center.

 

In addition to documenting the 5 minutes of emergency room work done, the envelope also included a letter to "the patient," saying Scott Hawkins was considered indigent and shouldn't come back for further treatment.

[Mr Skeptic]

Let's add the other side of the story:

UC Davis spokeswoman Carole Gan apologized for the letter, calling the incident an accident of automation.

 

"We deeply regret that a clerical error caused them to receive a letter that brought even more distress," Gan said. "The patient's death in the emergency department should have been flagged as a death in the outpatient record."

 

Gan said the bill should have been sent to the Hawkins' insurance company.

[padren]

Let's add the other side of the story:

UC Davis spokeswoman Carole Gan apologized for the letter, calling the incident an accident of automation.

 

"We deeply regret that a clerical error caused them to receive a letter that brought even more distress," Gan said. "The patient's death in the emergency department should have been flagged as a death in the outpatient record."

 

Gan said the bill should have been sent to the Hawkins' insurance company.

 

I didn't mean to misrepresent the issue - just highlight it, sorry if it came across as one sided. I obviously no one would send a bill to dead person on purpose but it's still quite a kick to the ribs for the family when their already down.

[Peron]

I think the most interesting health care system was Japans. Although the costs of treatment do fluctuate somewhat. Besides that it was a great system.