We need universal health care

I wonder why people from Canada, England and France insist on coming to America for health care when it's free at home. Maybe they get what they pay for, both in quality and timeliness. Mr Burton, asking the entity that broke our health care system to come up with a better system, and run it, is just a little silly, even for "pie in the sky" lefties.

Universal Health Care would be worse than trying to get a flight out of Augusta.

Mandatory coverage, similar to the system in Switzerland, using the current system is a much better alternative("don'y throw the baby out with bath water"). The only thing that has to be dealt with is subsidizing those who can not afford to puchase health insurance. And the answer to that problem is a federal tax on cigarettes to fund a voucher system that enables the poor to purchase insurance.

"our own greed-driven system". Is that the way Mr. Burton feels about health care providers in this country? Being 82 I have spent many hours visiting doctors and hospitals and have never run into one health care provider whose primary interest was not my well being. Did they expect to be paid? You can bet your sweet bippy. Does Mr. Burton expect to be paid at the end of a work week? You can bet your sweet bippy. Is it greed to expect to be paid for services rendered? Heck no. Being paid is what drives the capitalistic system. That is what has made America great. Get on another kick, Mr Burton. This dog won't hunt.

Folks Universal Health Care is a wonderfully generous idea - just one problem - we can't afford it.

Mojo, Universal Health Care is only one of the thousands of wacky ideas of Hitlery Cliton that we can't afford Baby bonds, Government IRAs, etc.).

We need a better system than what we have now. Of course Canadians have problems with their healthcare system, but no system is perfect. I see no reason why everyone can't foot the bill. My husband pays our health insurance through his job, and it still is more than our house payment.there are people who are too cheap to but insurance, and when they get sick, they get care at an emergency room. I think we need to do something different. Let everyone pay. In Canada anyone who buys anything that is taxed is helping pay for healthcare.

Ok Adam, youve lost your mind. Talk to the good folks of Canada who are dying while on a 6 month waiting list to see a dr.Doesnt matter if you have a cold or cancer. You still must wait your turn and people are dying.

And People these people , vote.
HELLO

burton where are you coming from? congress needs to stop listening to the pharmadeutical and health care lobbyists and start following the will of the people what people? i'll sure bet it isn'tthe working people or the ones that worked all their life like i did and retired and still paying taxes to support all the freeloaders that won't work.

If everyone was taxed for healthcare, even the ones who won't work would pay. everyone buys shoes, clothes, tv,etc. the lazy ones who refuse to work would help pay their own healthcare.

Some people in Canada have to wait for elective surgery. They even come to our country for surgery, but our citizens have to wait also. I know someone who had been trying to have surgery that could save her life. She waited close to 8 months for her insurance company to approve the surgery.her dad was about to send her to Mexico for the surgery. Her insurance company finally approved it, and she had the surgery this month. The way our system is setup, insurance companies are telling drs how to do their jobs.

If you want to 'fix' health care, wouldn't you first talk with the pharmaceutical and health care experts. It seems to me you would get their take on the situation, not just discount them as not important. The same with the energy situation the Bush white house couldn't get an energy plan approved because they "met with the big oil people". Now, really, aren't these the people who have more knowledge of the subject. You don't necessarily follow their advice, but you should at least listen to them. As for universal health care, that is a hoot. The number of "uninsured" the politicians keep using is the people now on SSA, other government programs and Emergency rooms. Don't take my word, make a visit to the E.R and also talk with the clerks handling billing at the hospitals. EveryONE gets medical treatment.

Rose, That sounds like a health insurance problem, not a health care program. Every buyer of insurance should educate themselves on the plan they purchase. This is another 'let the buyer beware'. Now if the person is not paying, and using a goverment program, then they should change to a self paid insurance. I use Blue Cross..expensive but they never quibble.

mojo is right if we are taking a Canadian style healthcare system. However, if we look at what the Swiss have done and we add cigarette taxes for the poor, Universal coverage can be afforded.

danni, ask the drs what they think of insurance companies. they can tell you an earfull. More and more, companies are telling drs how to practice medicine. It is not an isolated thing. we have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ga. they can act up too.

The plan one buys has nothing to do with a company turning down a procedure a dr orders.Companies are out to make money.

The universal health care system in Canada and Europe allows the individual to opt out and purchase their own insurance if they desire to do so. It is great for those who cannot afford the high premiuns we are now saddled with; sure, you can pay for the insurance via payroll deduction, but the deductibles and co-pays are quite high, so you cannot afford to use the insurance; ditto for the Rx portion of the insurance. I am all for universal health care. A lady's spouse spent 6 months in ICU before he died; her total cost: $1.40, which was for cab fare to transport a piece of medical equiptment that her husband needed from the airport. The hospital located the item 500 miles away and it was flown to her community. Before you slam universal health care systems, please do the appropriate research. No country has the best health care system or insurance plan; while we do have excellant health care in the US, MOST OF US CANNOT AFFORD IT.

Meant to mention the lady lived in Canada.

mable8,,,Perhaps we are blaming the wrong people for this. A couple who resides in North Augusta (BTW-that is in S.C.), the man had triple-bypass surgery. The unpaid portion of the bill was something over $20,000. They filed bankruptcy, so that means that the taxpayers in Richmond County, State of Ga paid these folks $20,000+ medical bill. the facts are, things are made TOO easy for the dead-beats. Bankruptcy is a joke. You can still keep your home after you declare bankruptcy , you should also have to KEEP and pay your own medical bills. Happy New Year and a Great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Rose,,Do you really believe that? You think that there are not different plans. You should call your insurance company immediately and get some answers.

of course there are other plans, but anytime your dr files insurance, the company either approves or disapproves

it does not matter what plan you have, the insurance company can deny a treatment, but you can appeal

I did not say there are not different plans. I said insurance companies can turn down a treatment. that is telling the dr how to do his job. You won't find a plan that will ok every medical treatment you decide you want.

A study from a very reputable university has found that many people who are without health insurance actually could afford it. They just choose not to. Some how health care has come to be in the catergory of things that our governments are supposed to provide in the mind of a great many. There are also many, this study found, who qualify for programs existing already who don't bother to apply for it, but when in need, add to the burden on the system.

I just returned from Argentina. They have universal health coverage but the guide told us that people who could afford the care go elsewhere for treatment because of the wait. Do you really want that? I don't. This week I took a homeless person to the University Hospital because he said he was having chest pains. He received all the health care for free with no questions asked. Richmond County paid the bill. Not fair for the taxpayers of Richmond County.

A Canadian friend who travels in their RV throughout the year, and spends six months in the US during cold weather months, parked his RV at my house twice last year. The first time he flew back to Canada for the pre-op eval for his cancer surgery. The next time he left the RV here for six weeks while he flew to Canada, had the surgery, and initial postoperataive evaluation. After he and his wife came back and picked up the RV they eventually made it to FL where they took a cruise. Since she is also a cancer survivor (with care and surgery in Canada), their comment was "cancer causes cruises". No complaints from either about the Canadian health care system.

Our health care system does need fixing, but is more government control the way to go? More Urgent Care places where one with the sniffles or other small problems that don't require an ER for everyone especially those who can't afford insurance or refuse to get it can go.