Many people involved in the political spectrum believe that universal health care is the solution to reducing the number of uninsured Americans, or even eliminating them. (That is getting them to be insured.) Supporters of universal healthcare believe that the best way to ensure equal access to medical care is to overhaul the financing of the nation's healthcare system. They think that decades of government funded provided programs like Medicare and Medicaid have contributed to the increased costs of medical care. Some supporters of universal health care say that the government could become a single purchaser, acting on behalf of all patients. In that way, the government could force health care providers to rein in charges and hold them accountable for the quality of care. Another proposal for comprehensive reform relies on mandating government subsidies in which the poor receive tax credits or money that enables them to purchase insurance. Finally, some policymakers favor a hybrid system of universal health care vouchers that includes government funding for basic health care, plus elements of choice and competition. Basic care would be universal, and there would be no means-testing for eligibility. However, participants could choose from competing plans and opt to purchase additional coverage. Others do not oppose the idea of universal healthcare but they disagree in how the goal of it should be reached. In particular, they contend that a government-sponsored medical program would result in less competition among providers and would ultimately produce poor care. They say that in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom, countries that have universal healthcare, have long waiting periods before a patient receives care. So they believe that universal run healthcare would only drive up the cost of healthcare, but also make it more ineffcient. Other critics say that the American healthcare system is a vital part of our economy and if it is to become universal many working Americans will lose their jobs. So, people with this viewpoint think that certain changes should be made to the healthcare system. Changes such as enhancing tax-free Health Savings Accounts and offering tax deductions for people who buy their own health insurance. In general, detractors of universal coverage favor empowering consumers with greater information on medical costs and quality. By making consumers pay greater shares of health care insurance and medical expenses from their own pockets, these policymakers believe that the market will naturally rein in medical costs.
In my opinion I believe that the healthcare system is set up to benefit the elderly right now. I think that is how it should be because the elderly are the ones that face the most health problems, but younger people face health problems as well. And I feel that everyone has the right to healthcare IF they want it. I don't think a college student, who doesn't want healthcare, should be forced to have it and pay for it. It should be a personal choice. I think the system with medicare is a good one right now, kind of like social security, you get out of it what you put into it. But with all the baby boomers hitting that critical age of 65 right now the medicare system is a bit overwhelmed. That is where I feel something needs to change with our healthcare system. Because right now if a family is receiving government funded healthcare for example, they are only allowed to receive care at certain places with that healthcare, and I don't think that is right. If they have a serious health problem they should be able to go see the expert just like every other American. My view on health savings accounts, I don't like the idea. I don't want to be forced to put so much of each of my paychecks into a government account each month. This is America, the land of the free, and I want to be free to do what I want with my money that I earn. And I want the freedom to choose if I want healthcare or not. So my solution to decreasing the large number of Americans that don't have healthcare, create competition between the different healthcare companies. Right now, these companies are free to raise their prices as much as they want and are making a killing because of it. If competition is created, prices will decrease and healthcare should become more affordable for the average American. Or, have a halfly run government healthcare system, have government healthcare available to those who want it. And let those people have health savings accounts and pay the government a chunk of their paycheck each month. But as for me, I will take care of my own healthcare. It's my health, my responsibility, no one else's.
Glenn Beck shares a similar opinion to mine. You can read more about it at: http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/32213/
ISSUE #2 -Ensuring Quality Care for Medicare Patients
ISSUE #3 - Safe to Eat?
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