Does the American healthcare system work as it stands right now?

By all accounts we have one of the best health care systems in the world. If you look at your chance of surviving any illness, and compare those chances with anywhere else in the world, you have a better chance of surviving here, than anywhere else. Of course it costs more. But then, that's how it is with anything. You want the latest greatest treatments, it's going to cost you the latest greatest price. Now there are things that need to be changed, but unfortunately, we're going in the opposite direction of the needed changes. Instead of more options, and free-market changes, we're adding more costly regulations, and restricting options. The government seems bent on increasing cost until no one can afford anything at all.

The present system of buying health insurance from private company to protect oneself against any future runaway health care cost won't work in reality. Unless the government can come out with a solution to contain the ever rising cost associated with personal health care from providers in health care industry, the insurance premium individual take out on personal health policy will continue to rise to keep the insurer ahead of profitable health policy underwritting. An alternative helath care system is to let the health care provider come out with an affordable and tax free fund that collect a small percentage of monthly premium from an individual as a form of advance payment for any unforseeable big emergency medical expenses as supplemental benefit, the sooner we can get rid of the middleman, the more of the premium can be shifted to the helath care providers to pay for the actual care a patient will receive.

I think you are right, but I don't know what the answer is. I am highly suspect of putting the government in control of it for a number of reasons, one too much increases the scope and power of government, also I never saw a government program that was efficient nor cost effective! I think allowing health insurance companies to compete across state lines could only help, now they cannot, something I cannot help but feel was brought about as a favor due to lobbying.

I think we need a system like Norway or the Netherlands. They both pay less for health care than we do in America. According to the studies I've read, and am a health educator by the way, people live longer, healthier lives in those countries. We have the most money of any nation in the world shouldn't we be dedicated to helping our people live the best life possible? As a person with a disability, I can tell you that Medicaid waste a lot of money by providing care in expensive nursing homes instead of cheaper community settings. They also waste a lot of money repairing stuff that should just be replaced, because of their time limit rules. Obviously, a wheelchair will last longer for someone who's 65 and doesn't leave the house a lot than it will for me, who is 35, has a job, and leave the house at least 4 to 5 times a week.

There are a couple issues I try to weigh before I make any decision on privatized healthcare vs. public healthcare. The first, of course, is whether or not the quality of care would actually be better. We do have a precedent here in the US. Look at the Native Americans. Government spends roughly $7,000 per policy for Natives (3x what a private policy costs... for an entire family!), yet Natives statistically have the worse level of care and die at a younger age--because they're in generally poorer health--than the rest of the population. Now, if government cannot provide adequate care for a few million people, paying three times what a private package costs (which means the taxpayers are obviously footing the enormous bill), then what faith should anyone have that they could provide adequate care for over 300 million? That point ties in with the second issue I try to weigh: the universal costs. As it stands now, we're already over 14 trillion dollars in debt. Taxing the rich at 100% rate (let's pretend that they could survive more than 1 season lmao!) would not do anything to even come close to paying the cost of simply giving people healthcare. Not when government almost literally shuts down, not because they cannot agree where to cut, but because they cannot even agree on how to stop government from growing by a measly 10%! Universal healthcare, single-payer, government-run -- whatever you wanna call it. It might work for a country of a few million people, without other huge expenditures, without massive immigration problems, and with increased government regulation and increased taxation across the board. But that isn't America. A private business might only be interested in profit, but the government doesn't care either. Native Americans are proof of that. I don't need to go off on a diatribe, spitting hyperbole about how crooked government is. Numbers never lie. And if they do a worse job with fewer people while spending more money, then increase that a thousand-fold and just see the disaster that happens. What is the alternative in the United States of America to private insurance? Our government is inept, addicted to spending, and full of politicians infinitely more self-interested than any CEO. It sucks that people don't have or can't afford a healthcare package, but the cure is worse than the disease.

well, you guys are lucky that you at least have sort of insurance to cover your back. here in india most of us don't even have that and add to that the status of our hospitals.

Healthcare in the United States is seen almost more as profitable business than a care for peoples health at all. All it takes is one broken leg, or a dislocated shoulder and without proper insurance you will find youself in thousands of dollars of debt. I like in Ontario, Canada and I must say I am very thankful for our healthcare. I've had many injuries for I like to participate in alot of extreme sports and if it wasnt for our healthcare here I wouldnt be able to afford to enjoy those activities.

Well... i do not live in US and i don't know in detail your healthcare system but i have heard many negative comments from people and friends used to live here.I have also seen in movies many difficult situations people encounter with the healthsystem in US and the way the treat to pateinets seems to me like more a profitable organization rather than a really system who cares for its citizens.