USA Health Care Bill

[chrissa1]

Why is there such hatred and vitriol against this bill in the US? Is it led by the Insurance companies?

[stokemaveric]

there are 32 million americans without healthcare coverage,this new legislation will force those who dont have cover to obtain it,if they dont by the year 2016 they will be fined 2.5% of their wages...maybe the way we run the health service in the uk isnt so bad after all eh????...

[jno]

to a considerable degree; but many Americans feel much more strongly than Europeans do about interference by the government, even in things like healthcare. (That's why they rebelled against Britain in the first place.)

[Sandy-Wroe]

I saw a television report about a free health clinic, run by Medicine Sans Frontiers, I think, in some red-neck state. One of the patients was a young mother with inoperable cancer. It was suggested that if she'd seen a doctor sooner she might have had a chance at life.
A lot of Americans seem to think extending help to a neighbour is the first step towards a soviet style government. Their belief, the wealthy can buy the best health care in the world, the poor can die early.

[stokemaveric]

the u.s govt has made it mandatory for americans to buy health cover and the insurance companies cannot discriminate against people who have an ongoing complaint..it will be interesting to see how they will work that 1 out....

[BertiWooster]

So many americans without access to any health care provision - yes i know that america is ( was ) not unique . However look at their neighbour , Cuba - they may drive cars from the twenties , and live under a dictatorship , but compare their health care provision to that of the US , who afterall is suppose to be the wealthiest country in the world ( at the moment )

The vitriol from the republicans , reminds me of an episode from a television series , where one of the characters having an arguement in a restaurant with another diner , exclaimed - '' waiter , why do you let these ' poor' people in here ? ''

As for the sight of those republicans / republican supporters , shouting racist remarks at that black congressman who voted for the bill - shocking , to put it midly

And some of us run this country down . complaining how bad it is here ?

[tamborine]

Private health care insurance loose premiums......the good bit is third world sick will go to USA for treatment and ease our load.

[birdie1971]

Watch the documentary by Michael Moore called Sicko. The Americans who oppose this 'free' healthcare system have been sold a lemon over a number of generations and seem to think that it will do two things: 1) Remove their ability to get 'private' healthcare, and 2) Be a 'bottom-of-the-rung' healthcare system.

[chrissa1]

Thank you for these answers Abers. I didn't realise that they Had to buy insurance. I have and American "friend" on Facebook and I was telling her about my sister who had to have a mastectomy very suddenly. She had the operation within a week of it being detected and this lady was astounded that the NHS had reacted so quickly. I tried to explain about our National Insurance Scheme ie a small amout taken from everyone's wage to fund the NHS. Over there, they are fed the information that the UK makes you wait and wait for vital treatment so I put here right on that score. She gave me the impression that this Bill would take money away from the Insurance Companies and that was why they were kicking off.

[R1Geezer]

Making health insurance compulsory is no different from our "National Insurance" except that it's paid to private organisation. The big one here is the bit which says the insurance companies cannot welsh on paying for all the obscure reasons under the sun. There is an entire industry in the US, the sole purpose of which is to avoid paying health claims. Watch "sicko" it's a real eye openner. Regular reader will knwo that I'm generally not a lefty but on this subject I'm a form believer in some sort of national health provision. The US has a good opportunuty to build something good here.

[brionon]

Vested interests are against,it limits their power. Just as they are so anti Europe here !

[youngmafbog]

// small amout taken from everyone's wage to fund the NHS //

What ? So 12.8% from the Employer (which means everyone gets less because there is less in the pot ) plus 11 % up to 844 plus 1% over is a small amount is it.

Did you also tell your chum it is in fact a post code lottery the treatment you get here, dis you mention MRSA killing and maiming people, Did you mention the disgusting hospitals with the dead in corridors and patients not even getting water ? did you mention the fact that prescriptions are a redicolous price or perhaps you mentiuoned that despite milions of extra funding to the NHS it has simply just swallowed it up.

Whilst I agree in at least a basic helth care for all, please take off the rose tinted spectacles about our system. It is outdated and costs a fortune. We also run not the NHS but the WHS with many health torurists (perhaps you forgot to mention that too?). Just perhaps these reasons are why many Americans are opposed. ?

[Davethedog]

http://www.medi-smart.com/mrsa.htm

youngmafbog stop taking your facts from red top papers and spreading it. As I said yesterday MRSA is a far bigger problem in the US than it is here.

I know whats been reported but the only place I have seen people in corridors is in A&E.

How can you put up prescription charges as an argument? Medicine in the US is far more expensive than it is here. I had my tonsilis out 15 years ago privatly my prescription cios £14 then.

Most NHS trusts now are in surplus some are not

[chrissa1]

So youngmafbog, what you are saying is that the US system is better than ours and the fact that it's only for the rich people who can afford it doesn't matter?
Thanks for your input davethedog and Zeuhl, I couldn't have put it better myself. I intend to have a look at "Sicko"

[chrissa1]

I couldn't agree more zeuhl. Referring to my sister's experience again briefly, she had a swelling at the site of the op. She was given a needle biopsy straight away, when that came back 50 - 50, she was admitted 2 days later and operated on again as a day patient. The tissue was removed and checked out at the lab and came back negative, thank God. That whole week's treatment must have cost a few thousands and done for her, to quote the surgeon, "just to be on the safe side". Give me the NHS any day!

[Davethedog]

Thanks Chrissa

I think the NHS is a national treasure despite its faults. And anyone wanting to abolish it needs thier head testing.

I have stated elsewhere surely any normal decent person would want everyone to have proper health care not just those that can afford it.

[Davethedog]

That would be the Fox news just right of Hitler.

I'm at work so, hopefully, my gaskets will remain intact. :-)