universal health care

@winterose (39887)
Canada
December 30, 2008 1:06am CST
I just read a great review of the movie sicko by Michael Moore, I am in Canada and we have universal health care and I thank God for it, it has it problems of course but the good points outweigh they issues. If everyone had to pay for health care so many people would have to go without. Do you think universal health care is a good thing? Do you think the USA will ever have it? here is the review: http://www.ciao.com/Sicko__Review_10153772/RatingValid/1
12 people like this
19 responses
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
30 Dec 08
I wish the United States would get universal healthcare. My family has been without health insurance for a very long time now because it is very expensive and we cannot afford it. I'm not sure if we will ever get it here.
5 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Dec 08
It sure would be a godsend if you could get it.
2 people like this
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Well with our new president elect he says he is going to give health care to everyone. I am on disability and I have something called CareSource, it is really good pays for all of my medicine and doctor visits, no co payment. I think something should be done with the health care system, and what is being charged by the doctor's offices. I don't think it is right for the doctor or make me schedule a visit to get refills on medicine that I have been taking for 10 years, she knows I have to have it but will not refill unless I come in and she gets a office call that is about $200. only ripping off medicaid. We will see what he does when he gets into office.
4 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
i hope he can deliver it would help a lot of people who do not have the insurance coverage they need when they become ill.
1 person likes this
@riyasam (16556)
• India
28 Apr 09
i did read about this and we have cousins in the uk who donot have to pay a cent for the medical expenses.the healthcare system in india is not so good,hopefully there will be some improvement after the current elections.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
8 May 09
yes I hope you get better health care as well.
• United States
30 Dec 08
I grew up in the UK where we have national health service and I am a firm believer in the service. I have never in all my years of living in the USA understood why it still allows the medical community to get rich without benefiting the citizens who cannot afford to pay the extortionate costs of staying healthy.
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
yes health care should be for everyone
1 person likes this
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
I am also in Canada and I think that universal health care is the best thing ever! I think that the US should have it as well. Some Canadians don't realize how good we have it and just use it for silly little reasons. I've seen that movie SICKO and it's just sad how their governments can do that to people. The choices they have to make about which finger they want to save if two were to be amputated and still it leaves them broke. The insurance companies and the tricks they play. It's sick that's forsure! Happy new year
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
Yes we are very lucky
@CharRay7 (1549)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hi Carol, I live in the US and I wish we had universal health care like your self. We pay insurance premiums through my hubbby's work and then have to pay coinsurance and $250 deductible each year before our insurance comes into play. As you know, I am on disabilty and therefore get Medicare also, but if my husband gets sick, for every $100 bill he rings up, we have to pay $20. That doesn't seem like very much, but considering my last emergency room visit for a kidney stone was almost $8,000 and I didn't even stay over night, that would have been alot to pay if it would have been him. Don't even get me started on insurance plans! Happy MyLotting! Char
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
oh gosh that is awful, I certainly hope you get a decent deal with this new president.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
1 Jan 09
I wish the United States would have Universial Health care. I think alot of people would be better off if they did. Me and my husband have no health care at all and if we get to a doctor it cost us anywhere from $80-150 a doctors visit and that isn't including test and other things.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
1 Jan 09
I am hoping against all hopes that we will be able to get it since my husband and me have many health problems and have no way to deal with them unless we try to self medicate with over the counter and home remedies which only work to a certan extent. I would love to be under a real doctors care to we can atleast know what is truly all wrong..and not have to go bankrupt to get healthcare.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
1 Jan 09
I know it is so hard, so really hard.
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
30 Apr 09
I hear that health Care is frr in you County thst is very good. I wish it wss free here. You is so lucky! Well I hope you stay helthy and don't even ave to go to the Doctor. Stay Healthy!
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
8 May 09
I am not healthy but I don't worry about getting the best treatment because I have it here, I would never leave canada
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
2 Jan 09
Is dental covered under this Universal Health Care plan, then I pray the US would get it soon. Just to take my daughter to the ER, for a couple of XRays and shot in her rump that really hurt for a 6 year old. She had Pneumonia, bless her little heart. The ER bill was 800 and something, I haven't gotten the bill from the doctor that came in to say she has Pneumonia and wrote a prescription for her that I had to pay for. Luckily, we only have to pay less than 400 for the ER visit, don't know about the ER doctor bill yet. It would be nice to take my kids to the doctor if they are sick and not worry about if I have the co pay, or about the bill that will come down the road. This would be a dream come true if we got this, along with dental. I can handle doctor bills better, at least you can pay here and there. Dentist's wants everything up front, like they think we are going to run off with out paying, knowing we have to come back to have the rest done. I honestly don't see that happening, because the US is to greedy.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
2 Jan 09
no it is medical that is covered dental is not considered medical, at least in canada I am not sure about the other countries that have universal or free medical services.
1 person likes this
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
4 Jan 09
That stinks, dental should be apart of that, since most medical insurance companies also includes dental with their plans. At least my husband's medical insurance has a part for dental and vision. Still Universal Health Care would be wonderful, especially for parents with kids and for the elderly that can't afford to see a doctor and pay for their medicines.
• United States
12 Jan 09
Because it makes a good idea is the Main Reason it will never happen here in the U.S. There are fractions who think it will cost too much.So they will vote against it everytime. Meanwhile, there are many Americans that are dying . The same people whose tax dollars the government need. So, the people who think it is tpo expensive will be the same people who will wind up paying in the long run. Either they will be the only people who can afford to see a doctor. Or they won't be able to find enough healthy people to work for them. Or it will be their taxes that will go toward the bail out when their are too little uninsured people or we lose too many citizens.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
13 Jan 09
what gets me is some of the poorest people in the us are defending the current policy of not having universal health care, it is just so sad.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Jan 09
They are many who believe they Must do things on their own or they are considered freeloaders.But it isn't true.
@annjilena (5618)
• United States
31 Dec 08
i think we need unverisal health care here too they have it in egypt you don,t need insurance even if you not from that country.i think this is great because a lot of people can,t pay for insurance it so expensive.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
that is wonderful, I don't know anything about egypt I am glad even foreigners can get it.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Dec 08
yeah i watched that movie way back when it came out and that is why i wanted hillary clinton to win presidency.. she has been trying to get universal health care for the us since the 90s and this was her big chance.. obama said he was for it then changed it to where he is for it for kids and who knows what he has decided now since i havent heard a peep about it since he won.. we seriously need it here.. my hubby was stuck in a horrible job for years because of the benefits because i was so sickly that i couldnt go with out insurance and so everywhere here when you switch you lose insurance for at LEAST 90 days before the new job kicks in and well he is temping now so he has another 90 days after the 90 days is up to be hired so im without insurance for 6 months.. where as if we had had the universal option he could have switched anytime because i know how much and what i would have and have to spend.. i have my disability hearing in jan so im hoping i get that because i found out the new jobs health insurance is twice as much with half the benefits
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
gee that is really bad hon, but if you have insurance here when you change jobs you wait as well but never for what is universal, insurance here mostly covers the extras like medication, massages, private rooms in the hospital, more or less what is not covered with medicare but there are different plans, like you might have dental coverage with one employee but not with another and you might have glasses covered by one company and not another.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Dec 08
as an American i only can wish ! Americans have been totally brainwashed against this by greedy docs i lived in the UK as a child and i know it works it even worked 50 yrs ago so why not here and why not now!
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
and it works in canada too.
1 person likes this
@hildas (3031)
31 Dec 08
We have a good healthcare system here in the UK and I really am thankful for it also. I think the whole wide world should have universal health care as I know and even have seen on this discussion people are sitting with none as it can be very expensive. No one should be going with out health care in this day and age. It is really awful that people are suffering because of this. That is a good interesting article and thanks for sharing it.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
thank you for too for your response and added substance to this discussion
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36449)
• United States
27 Apr 09
Personally I have heard a lot of good and bad about Universal Health care and the type of care you all get there in Canada. If it really helps those who need it, then it is definately worth it, and could be cheaper than offering Welfare possibly as well? But I am not sure it will ever come here to the US, but it is definately time they think of better ways to help people with Medical issues for sure, as it about bankrupts most people who end up having a major crisis.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
8 May 09
I love canada and that is one of the reasons why, I could never afford the american insurance rates, and so many americans to not have any health care at all, I would be afraid to sleep at night
@mgmagana (3618)
• United States
1 Jan 09
I'm totally clueless about it. I've always had good coverage through my husband's work so i have never been affected by not having insurance. I do think that even if the US can't give out health care to everyone, then at least children should have it for sure. companies don't pay enough to afford health care here. I had a friend who was paying 600 a month for her and her 3 kids to be on her husband's ins. 600 A MONTH, that's an apartment payment! It's ridiculous how much healthcare is here in the U.S. there r no programs for the working middle class, either you have to be at poverty level or super rich to afford it, that's y so many americans r without it because majority are the working middle class.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
1 Jan 09
yes it is so sad, middle class people cannot have decent health care without being charged a fortune for it.
• United States
31 Dec 08
I am one of the few who can afford health care and thank God everyday for it. I had not thought in terms of whethet health care across the board for everyone would be a good thing. But after reading the review of the link you posted it sounds like it would be a good thing. That way everyone could have health care. Not just a hand full. I had not really given it much thought until the review posted link here. It is a very informative review.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
thank you for being so open minded it is refreshing to see that.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
27 Apr 09
I to saw this movie and it was very informative. i really do wish we'd get it here. that movie made me want to move so bad but dont have the means or money to even do that.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
8 May 09
yep that is one of the great things about canada, regardless of what some canadians feel, if they went to the states they would come running home fast when they saw they had to pay for everything.
• United States
27 Apr 09
No I don't. I think it's the worst mistake Americans can ever make and since 0bama is pushing for it, he's doing his best to bankrupt and kill this country. Once the government establishes a national health care system they control YOU. Health care can be used to encompass essentially every area of your life. Right now if you are afflicted by a condition or illness that needs treatment you get to decide, after listening to however many doctors you want to meet with, what the best course of action is for you. With a national health care system there will be one prescribed treatment for your condition or illness. If it doesn't work on you, then they will leave you to die. There are no alternatives. There are no second opinions. There's the "national" way to take care of your condition, whether it works or not or if it kills you in the process. It's the "generally accepted principal" that matters and the government won't care if it kills you or not.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
8 May 09
not sure that they would do that, and anyhow you would always have the option to carry private insurance, just like you can do in any other country in the world that has universal health care, imagine if you need a 50,000 operation, you don't pay a cent for it, how could that not be better.