Healthcare, isn't it supposed to be a good thing?
By Makro74
@Makro74 (591)
March 23, 2010 8:31pm CST
With the passing of the Healthcare Bill, why are so many people against such a move which in theory provides healthcare for ALL Americans? The only reasons given that it is unconstitutional or the US cannot afford it. But surely, if we have a free NHS in the UK for the last 60 years, and other Europeans enjoy, why was healthcare so dependant on insurance. 32 million Americans currently do not have insurance, the Bill, in theory covers them.
But forgive me, I do not know the full politics because I do not live in the US, but on face value, this is a good thing right? Can someone enlighten me what the fuss is about?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
24 Mar 10
I feel the same way. Health care is a right, for everyone in my opinion. I don't know what people's problem is. I'm happy that the bill got passed, even though it is not the public option that I hoped for. I don't believe it is unconstitutional either. There used to be slavery in the constitution, we got rid of that. Same goes here!
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
26 Mar 10
Really, taskr, you can just go right out and buy whatever you can afford? Maybe you can but millions of Americans with preexisting conditions can't...at any price.
@mslena75 (561)
• United States
24 Mar 10
Because Americans are pigheaded and don't like change. At the root of all here the ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, and God forbid that people are started to be treated equally! I for one am pleased. It's not a NHS, but it's a step in the right direction. People are fussing because the plan will make carrying health insurance mandatory for all, whether through your employer or bought through an insurance exchange. People are very resistant to change. Some will even claim that people in countries that already have NHS aren't happy with it. Sad, really. I am happy that more people will have access to some type of health insurance.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
24 Mar 10
Well according to the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) this bill would leave 24 million, non-elderly people without insurance in this country, so despite what people tell you, this is NOT providing healthcare for ALL Americans.
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10731/Reid_letter_11_18_09.pdf
Now the mandate in this is unconstitutional. The constitution does not give the government the power to mandate people to buy health insurance therefore the power is left to the states. Massachusetts for example already has a state run health insurance system in place so people there are insured. See the government isn't PROVIDING healthcare for all these people. It is FORCING people to BUY health insurance. If they don't buy health insurance, they get fined. If they don't pay the fine, they get JAILED.
"on face value, this is a good thing right"
On face value, it sounds great. So do a lot of things. When you actually delve into the bill that is over 2400 pages long, you realize that it's not that great. Oh, there's also the matter of millions spent bribing senators and house members to vote for this thing. One house member was even bribed/blackmailed with water that was being kept away from farms in his district until he pledged his support for this bill. This process has shown us exactly how dirty Obama is and how low he's willing to stoop to get what he wants.
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
24 Mar 10
Health care won't be free in the states. We'll be paying for it out of our taxes, there will still be monthly fees, and there will still be a co-pay. We will all be forced to have it, and there's no guarantee the insurance companies will pay for a claim. This isn't the UK's health sytsem - it's a far more dysfunctional monster.
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
24 Mar 10
The fuss boils down to this. Whether the government has the right to determine the way health care is run and force Americans to buy something they may not want. No, it is not like car insurance.
You kind of have to go back in history to understand why so many Americans are against the bill. There was a distinct dislike (almost hatred) of government control back in the colonial days. Americans were an independent breed and resented government interference in their lives. The mantra was that you took care of your own without the government's help. Part of that libertarian streak still lives today. Many see this as a taking away the freedom to choose. Some believe that this will led to a slippery slope where eventually the government controls all aspects of our lives. Others merely resent the amount of taxes that are in the bill. There are more who don't like the back room deals that went on or the fact that it was apparent that some representatives sold themselves out. Add in the imaginary mathematics, the double talk, and lies, and yeah you will find quite a few angry voters. (Hence the tea party movement.)
In fact, the health care bill does not do some things. One it does not control costs. Premiums are going up regardless of this bill. It does not control or add doctors into the system. (It adds 30 million patients.) It does not allow people to keep their doctors. (This is actually dependent on the type of insurance the doctor will accept and whether or not he can actually afford to stay in practice.) It does not allow people to keep their current health insurance. (How can you keep something if the insurance company goes out of business or changes their insurance coverage because of this plan?) It does not provide for reform of malpractice suits. It does not allow for people to choose whether they want insurance or not. It does not make provisions for the states to actually pay for the expansion of Medicaid. (This is currently one of the biggest holes in the states budgets. Unlike Congress, the States actually have to balance their budgets. Which means cuts in things like education are far more likely and more creative taxing.) It does not cost what the CBO says it will. (No government creation ever does.)
Many Americans do not like this much intrusion of the government in their lives.
@jrocas05 (114)
• Philippines
24 Mar 10
I agree with this. Very well said.
I think what's going on is the "SUPERHERO SYNDROME". I think that "MANY PEOPLE" that don't agree with this bill are the people who can afford to have Insurance and the people that have already paid lot of money for insurance. they may think of it as being unfair that they already paid a lot of money and suddenly this bill comes and others can just have the same priviledge as they have been paying all their lives.
Americans are used to the RICH and POOR going on in the country and they hate that it will change. That is why they have hollywood, beverly hills and bronx.
@jennyjenny1 (66)
• China
24 Mar 10
i think in our life, the most important thing which we should take care about is out health. we are human which can not insist disease. the things we can do is to protect ourselves as much as possible. with the increasingly exployment losses or close-down of industries, the welfare now seems more domitating for people's life, there are millions of people who without the help could not afford the bulk of medical bills. i agree with you that the healthcare should be strenghten in order to benefit every citizens which can live happier in their country.
@momjessie82 (344)
• United States
24 Mar 10
As a single mother with 4 children who is on numerous medications for a heart condition, my insurance is set to be canceled on April 1st. I talked with my doctor today and not 1 of the 3 medications that I am currently taking cost less than $100.00. One medication costs $275.00 to buy it. So, I immediately came home and saw a commercial for the new health care plan. I called the phone number that was listed to find out about getting enrolled with the new health care that the President instituted. I was disappointed to find out that in order to become a member I needed to pay $184.95 today and then pay $89.95 a month for coverage. They also informed me that between 20 and 60% of my medical costs would be covered through this program. Ok, I am not a rich person and I simply cannot afford this price and then to have to pay extra on top of it to cover everything else that they don't pay. I think this is a huge reason that so many people are unhappy with the new health care plan. It is meant for those that are uninsured, but most of the uninsured are on limited income and this plan is really of no help to us.