Health care needs fixing; but what do we replace it it with?
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
August 15, 2009 7:45pm CST
Health care in the US is a major topic right now. Our health care system is broken. We spend more money that ohter countries, but, we have worse results than many other countries (shorter life expectancy, higer infant mortality rates, etc).
But what do we replace it with? Canada and the UK are talking about moving away from universal health care while we are talking about going to it. What do they know that we do not?
The BBC released a study on health care in the US, the UK, France, and Singapore. This gave some basic comparison on cost and results plus at the bottom it actually discussed how the health care system in each country works.
Here is a link to the article - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8201711.stm
After readng ALL the details, I admit the US is not getting it's "moneys worth" as far as health care is concerned. But, after reading the details about the different health care systems, I don't really think I would want to give up what I have now to be in one of their programs either. They would be better than nothing if you are one of the millions of uninsured people in the US; but, anything is better than nothing.
Take a look and tell me what you think. If you have health care would you be willing to give up yours to belong to one of these systems? If you are uninsured now, which of these sounds the best to you?
2 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 Aug 09
I suppose I am being selfish but all I see is that the upgrading of our current health-care will impact my current care (which I am quite content with). Social security will be impacted as they will reduce that fund by millions, my choice of doctors will also be impacted, illegal immigrants are current getting emergency health care....... 
I am retired have paid into the social security fund all my working life, do have supplementary insurance so my bottom line is ...I want to keep what I have and make my own choice of my personal medical care.
I am retired have paid into the social security fund all my working life, do have supplementary insurance so my bottom line is ...I want to keep what I have and make my own choice of my personal medical care.@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
18 Aug 09
I do not want to give up what I have either. I am not on Medicare yet; but, we have excellent health insurance through my husband's employer. We pay quite a bit for our share and our employer pays more; but, I do not want it to change and the proposed plans could very easily affect our insurance and it's benefits.
So, I am also selfish.
But, I have to admit that the current system is not working for a lot of people and it has a lot of problems. (And, if the cost of doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions were not so high we would all be paying less for our insurance and have more money for other things.)
So, something does need to be done. But, I think we would do better to tackle ONE area of reform at a time instead of trying to overhaul the entire system all at once. Plus, the proposals being considered do NOT even start to eliminate all of the current problems our system already has. The health care reform that Obama is "spouting" is ill-concieved and poorly planned with no looking toward the future and the effects it will have on our country.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
18 Aug 09
I agree we could certainly try to fix the problems one at a time instead of Obama's foolhardy idea of mass changes which will cost the country for many years to come.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
16 Aug 09
I do not think our health care system in whole needs to be replaced but I do think there are areas within our health care system that need to be fixed. However in no way should we allow Bamacare to be instituted!
