The Current Health System - Pros and Cons ( Archived) (58)

I find both the Republican and the Democrat critiques of each other to often be of the "knee-jerk" variety - that is, they're basically reflexive responses based on an overall ideology rather than on individual analysis of particular viewpoints/positions - and nowhere does this seem more evident than with the present health care debate.

So...my question is this: What is your experience of the current U.S. health care system? I'm curious about whether those who oppose "socialized medicine" (a fairly good description of the current U.S. system, by the way, which is HEAVILY funded and regulated by the federal, state, and local governments) believe the current system has no problems or is simply better than "universal" health systems extant in most other industrialized countries.

What changes would you recommend in our system (assuming you believe it has substantial problems)?

I'm just happy with what I have....however unhappy for those who don't have health care. I can give no opinion or answers, just sitting in the corner scared that if we get socialized medicine, then I'll be one of the ones left to my own devices.

Lady, you already are experiencing "socialized medicine," right? That is, the government heavily assists, and often covers all medical expenses, for those over 65.

I was a member of a cancer support group with chat and forums in 2000 when i was fighting cancer, I talked to several from Europe that had socialized medicine and they had to wait weeks sometimes months for a test or scan that I got here in hrs or days at most. I also talked to some from Canada that would come to the US to have their cancer treatments as it was better here. That is all I know of the health care system, I received the best care useing my own insurance. And am still alive today thank goodness.

.......Sorry to ask a real stupid question here ,and I am curious to know, as an outsider and I hope someone can explain this one to me....If an American Citizen who has a no,so called 'Health insurance' policy and really gets sick with a life threatening illness.....what happens to him or her.....?????????
I watch P.B.S Hour here in New Zealand and seen the the heated debates on Health reform in America........

J.D

I am generally very reluctant to openly display my ignorance, but I cannot understand the brouhaha over this issue. I admit that I am not seeing the television pundits or reading all of the articles currently written on this subject, so I may be missing some very valid arguments AGAINST reform to our system as currently proposed.
But I just can't for the life of me understand how people could be content with the status quo of health care in the U.S. If anyone of us had a serious illness or injury while uninsured (let's assume we lost our jobs through a massive layoff and lost our insurance and were simply too strapped financially to pay the high premiums for an individual policy)...well, if something catastrophic happened, are the opponents to reform ok with seeing life savings being swept away in order to pay for the $75 aspirins and $100 bandages?
Are we insane?
Of course reform is necessary!
The pharmaceutical companies and insurance providers have control. I firmly believe that we need to take back some of this control.
Somebody please do enlighten me. Why, precisely, should I be against healthcare reform? I'm willing to be convinced that I am wrong, but it will have to be one hell of a convincing argument.

Not totally. Medicare isn't that great. I have Blue Cross with my retirement. The bills are sent to Medicare and they don't pay too very much believe me, then they go to BLue Cross which covers the rest.
I never have to pay anything...just a co-payment on medications which I don't use anyway.

If I had only Medicare, I would be in serious trouble...bring on the catfood...yum

I heard of one particular case like this. A gentleman in Canada sold his home in order to bring his wife to the US for cancer treatment because she couldn't get it there. Fortunately, she recovered..

Thanks, Lady. That's interesting. So your retirement included a lifetime "subscription" to Blue Cross?