Ordering pizza the hard way

[Freakshow]

Why would it necessarily get worse?

It likely would. I have no guarantee that it would. But I am extremely satisfied with what I have now, and could not ask for much more. With the exeption of getting one voluntary experimental procedure, I have not paid a penny for care in 10 years. No deductables. No copayments for prescriptions. I walk right out of the drugstore with the prescription, and do not have to pay a penny for a copay. I get to see whatever general practitioner I want, and can change at any time. I have never had any problems going to see any specialist, and I have done so on many occasions. I have also had surgery and a hospital stay. Did not pay a penny. Never have. I have had fabulous medical care.

Given my experience with how government runs other things, I find it extraordinarily unlikely that they could give me the same level of coverage and service, with as little hassle as I have now.

 

[gnome]

I don't see the solution as dismantling the current system--private insurance companies could be free to continue doing business.

And yes, Freakshow, your taxes would go up... but because you are paying for the indigents' preventative care, instead of paying for the indigent's emergency care, it is likely that the portion of taxes that goes to healthcare PLUS the amount you spend on your insurance premiums, would probably go down. And perhaps not literally go down (as prices tend to be sticky that way)... but at least fail to rise when they otherwise might have-- so if you measured it in inflation-adjusted dollars over time, the price of healthcare per capita would be lower.

 

[Darat]

It likely would. I have no guarantee that it would. But I am extremely satisfied with what I have now, and could not ask for much more. With the exeption of getting one voluntary experimental procedure, I have not paid a penny for care in 10 years. No deductables. No copayments for prescriptions. I walk right out of the drugstore with the prescription, and do not have to pay a penny for a copay. I get to see whatever general practitioner I want, and can change at any time. I have never had any problems going to see any specialist, and I have done so on many occasions. I have also had surgery and a hospital stay. Did not pay a penny. Never have. I have had fabulous medical care.

Apart from the prescription charges (which are £6.50 for working people in the UK ) sounds like the Canadian, French, German and UK health services....

Given my experience with how government runs other things, I find it extraordinarily unlikely that they could give me the same level of coverage and service, with as little hassle as I have now.

Not all national health service system involve the state actually running the health care facilities and (I shouldn't really say this without finding the link first) I think it was shown that Canada's "social" health care system costs less then the USA to administer.

 

[Renfield]

That's one of the odd, conflicting views from the left, IMO. They are quick to scream big brother and invasion of privacy but then want government healthcare.

yeah, because national health care clearly violates my right to privacy since...

huh?

 

[Solitaire]

What people that oppose a national healthcare system sometimes fail to realize is that it's already here and they're already paying for it. Who do you think pays the bills for indigent patients that get emergency care? Everybody else. The difference is that by the time the indigent shows up, it's an emergency at four times the expense. That's a good plan. Wouldn't want to come up with some commie plan that saves money by offering preventative care outside of emergency rooms.

Look at Misha hospital budget in millions.

$1,328 Patient Services Revenue
$0,862 Less Uncompensated Care
$0,466 Net Patient Revenue
$0,034 Non Operating Income And Other Revenue
$0,470 Total Revenue
$0,030 Reinvestment Surplus

So if I read this right, they made a profit at the bottom line.
I know it's impossible, but if they didn't take uncompensated care losses then they could charge four times less than they do now.

 

[Tony]

You mean like this national system of surveilance? Yeah, you have a point there.

Remember jj, national healthcare is evil but government torture and censorship is A-OK. It's evil to force someone to pay for healthcare via taxes, but it's A-OK to force someone to pay more money for the military via taxes.