universal health care vs private health care

Started by 11mc22, December 26, 2008, 03:09:16 AM

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January 17, 2009, 09:21:15 PM #30 Last Edit: January 17, 2009, 10:22:00 PM by ffejpsycho
I live in Canada (Vancouver, BC) and from my experiences I am extremely thankful for our health care system. There have been a few occasions if we had not had it, I either would have died, or been put seriously in debt. From my experience if you need the surgery, or or in condition you need to see someone, You get it right away. It is only for trivial shit that people should not be going to the hospital for in the first place that get the wait times. If you need something, the doctor can mark you priority, and you get it rather quickly, if it is something that can wait, there is a wait. To me it makes sense. I think even someone who doesn't earn a dime should get any medical attention they require. There are now private practices that someone can pay to get stuff done out of their own pocket if they so desire as well (I have no problem with these). A while ago I had an asthma attack and my lung collapsed, I was rushed to hospital. I was not working at the time, and had not payed my medical in a few months, I was rushed right in and spent 4 days in ER Acute care, received free medication. When I was able to breathe on my my own again, I thanked the people who helped save my life and went home. It did not cost me a dime, and I did not have to fill out forms, or wait any time before hand. I later went back to work, and only had to repay the medical (MSP-Medical Services Plan) I was behind on - Roughly 160 bucks. My only complaint in Canada is that Medication is still quite expensive, although if you are under a certain gross earnings you can get it for free as well. Like I said this is my own opinion, based from personal experience. This is not supposed to be taken as the way things always are(I am sure there are testimonies that say the exact opposite as well). I just thought I would give a word as pro-socialized medicine as no one else here seemed to be pro. I am just extremely grateful for it. Thanks for listening hope, this was not TL;DR

January 17, 2009, 09:25:59 PM #31 Last Edit: January 17, 2009, 09:31:56 PM by Andy120290
Well, life expectancy is a little longer in Europe and Canada, but if what I read is correct, it is not that significantly longer. It is true that a healthier lifestyle is the easiest thing that can be done to increase one's life expectancy.

One thing I am getting tired of hearing is this "obesity problem." I mean those people made a conscious choice to eat what they want and exercise as much as they want. It is not my problem. Let them do what they want as long as they are the only ones that suffer the consequences.

On ffejpsycho's post: It is my opinion that, despite the obvious problems with socialized medicine, there are numerous people who swear by Canada's healthcare system, but they are probably the lucky ones. And there is no such thing a free healthcare either. It is my understanding that Canada's universal healthcare system is one of the primary reasons that taxes are higher than in the United States.

January 17, 2009, 09:47:22 PM #32 Last Edit: April 13, 2009, 01:06:47 AM by 11mc22
Quote from: Andy120290 on January 17, 2009, 09:25:59 PM
One thing I am getting tired of hearing is this "obesity problem." I mean those people made a conscious choice to eat what they want and exercise as much as they want. It is not my problem. Let them do what they want as long as they are the only ones that suffer the consequences.

my point was that people in Europe and Canada have a longer life expectancy than the US and if the US wants to increase its life expectancy then Americans need to improve their lifestyle.
health care isn't why people in those countries live longer.

i agree that people who choose to be obese can make their own choices and i should not interfere, but again the whole point was to show you that health care really isn't all that big when it comes to life expectancy and America is able to increase Life expectancy if they choose to. and people who keep complaining like Michael Moore that Canadians live longer then what he needs to do is get a treadmill and get healthier, not get some sort of single-payer government system.

and thats my point. I'm not against people who eat too much Mcdonalds or anything like that.

Quote from: Andy120290 on January 17, 2009, 09:25:59 PM
And there is no such thing a free healthcare either. It is my understanding that Canada's universal healthcare system is one of the primary reasons that taxes are higher than in the United States.

yes, I agree. It is not free Health care, we pay for it. I just personally am ok with paying higher taxes, So that everyone has access to the medicine they need. Even those who can't afford to pay the taxes for it. It helped me in my time of need. I am more than happy to help others in theirs.

I now have a job that pays my Medical, but it would be quite ignorant of me to say "Well, I don't need this health care system. Why should I have to pay taxes for it?" I may need it again in the future, and there are people who do need it now. I don't believe it is a perfect system. It has obvious flaws, as you said. I don't swear by it, I just believe it to be better than the current North American alternatives.

The same guy also made a video about the history of healthcare in the United States. But by judging by its 3.5 star rating and numerous negative comments, I am guessing that its accuracy leaves a lot to be desired.

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Because I am not an expert on this subject, I would take anything in this guy's videos with a grain of salt.

Quote from: Andy120290 on January 18, 2009, 12:34:37 AM
The same guy also made a video about the history of healthcare in the United States. But by judging by its 3.5 star rating and numerous negative comments, I am guessing that its accuracy leaves a lot to be desired.

No, that just means that it upsets the political views of a lot of people. It's just like religion.

Quote from: 11mc22 on January 17, 2009, 10:48:39 PM
ffejpsycho,

there is another solution to America's health care problem.

get rid of the private insurance companies and let the consumer's make decisions for his/her own money.


I agree this sounds like a good solution, Will it ever be done? With the power HMO companies hold I doubt it. Evidence and reason don't hold a lot of weight, in regards to policy and institutional change. Not when there is so much money to be had.

I just meant canadian system was better than any current system in north america, I realize that there are better possible solutions out there. I only wish that institutions were actually changed according to evidence in our societies, but that definitely is not the case. Canada does not pay a whole lot of attention to evidence either. :(

Quote from: MrBogosity on January 18, 2009, 03:05:14 AM
No, that just means that it upsets the political views of a lot of people. It's just like religion.

How accurate would you say his videos are then?

Quote from: ffejpsycho on January 18, 2009, 11:41:33 AMI agree this sounds like a good solution, Will it ever be done? With the power HMO companies hold I doubt it.

Please note that HMOs exist because of the HMO Act. It's corporatism. Before then, they'd tried forming HMOs but they didn't last because no one wanted them. They passed the HMO act calling it a solution to the health care crisis, but really all they were doing is forcing something that the people had already determined they didn't want.

Quote from: Andy120290 on January 18, 2009, 02:40:21 PM
How accurate would you say his videos are then?

Couldn't say; I haven't had a chance to watch them yet. I'm just commenting about how little ratings mean.

Quote from: MrBogosity on January 18, 2009, 04:35:12 PM
Please note that HMOs exist because of the HMO Act. It's corporatism. Before then, they'd tried forming HMOs but they didn't last because no one wanted them. They passed the HMO act calling it a solution to the health care crisis, but really all they were doing is forcing something that the people had already determined they didn't want.

Thanks for the info,

it just proves when someone say "There ought to be a law" there probably Oughtn't

January 19, 2009, 07:39:34 PM #40 Last Edit: April 26, 2009, 02:51:36 PM by 11mc22
heres a video about Obama's health care plan

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March 10, 2009, 03:08:53 AM #41 Last Edit: April 26, 2009, 02:51:12 PM by 11mc22
[yt]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xgyAApyrKt8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xgyAApyrKt8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/yt]


OUCH

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For Socialized Medicine (from that DonJack1776 guy):
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