Why I Am Against Universal Health Care
May 28th, 2008
It is a rare occasion that I step up to the political arena to publicly voice my opinion on political issues. However, this is an issue that has received a lot of attention and I’d like to give us some things to think about. Below are some reasons why I do not believe universal health care is a good decision for America.
1. We don’t need more government control. The government has enough control and say so in our lives. I’m not willing to hand over the reigns of my health care to them. The government can’t balance a budget or hold to their own standards. Why would I trust them with my health care? When has a government controlled anything been better than a free market?
“By getting government out of the healthcare industry, healthcare costs will plummet, innovation will increase, and more people will have access to the healthcare they need.” Harry Browne
2. Free health care isn’t going to be “free”. Some people claim that this new health care program will cost the same or less than the programs we already have in place. I don’t believe this and can’t imagine how it could be true. How could the government provide health care to everyone for the same price as the other programs that are provided only to those that meet low income requirements? It just doesn’t add up. Even Obama is against this idea because of the costs. This health care has to be paid by someone and it’s going to be paid by us and our tax dollars. If you think taxes are high now, just wait until something as expensive as universal health care is added to the list.
Hillary Clinton claims that her health care plan “improves health care by lowering costs and improving quality”.
3. Poor patient care will increase. Doctors will be busy meeting the needs of the growing number of patients. We know what happens when the government gets involved . . . there will be less say so for the doctors. Those great private practices that you used to love won’t be so private anymore.
4. We’ll see an increase in doctor visits and costs. Of course more people will be going to the doctor or trying to make appointments since they’ll have health care. What I mean is that people will be running to the doctor for every little thing.
5. It will become an expectation. Say we do get universal health care. What happens if the government can no longer afford the health care or they decide it wasn’t such a good idea after all? It will be hard to take it back once it’s in place. Government programs are seen as a “right” by the public.
6. Longer waiting times for appointments. Universal health care will cause people to try to see the doctor for every little ailment. More appointments and more people will cause a longer waiting time for appointments. Have you read some of the health care forums? People from other countries with universal health care are writing in and saying that it is taking them 6 months to see their foot doctor and 8 months to see the OB/GYN. How could waiting 8 months to see the OB empower women and prevent abortions?
7. It would destroy freedom for medical professionals. The government would determine how many medical professionals could work, what they would get paid, how much for each person examined they would receive. Doctors would be required to have the same liability insurance, but their income would decrease dramatically. If you think the health department doesn’t hand out dignity, just wait until doctors are limited on their pay and their hands are tied.
8. Lack of competition leads to higher costs and poor health care. We all know the benefits of having a little competition. When there is no competition, prices are always higher.
Huge waiting lists for care and visitations with specialists, a lack of sophisticated medical equipment, rising costs (which must be met by rising taxes), and a general increase in dissatisfaction with government-run health care are typical in all countries where the government, literally, calls the shots. (source)
9. I’m saying “no” to socialism. No, I am not paranoid. If we give people a choice on universal health care, it won’t be long until this is the only health care available. The socialist says if a person’s environment is changed, he will change. They believe he’ll be better to his neighbor or that she’ll seek contraception and not get pregnant. Socialistic principles change nothing about human nature. I agree with the statement by Lance Winslow, “We need to focus on prevention [sic] and education and responsibility. Also we need primary care costs lower and more doctors and less lawsuits too.”
Medical care is no different from any other commodity. In order to be most efficiently and widely distributed, it requires the unfettered signals of supply and demand, lest it fall victim to socialism’s standard shortcomings: bureaucratization, rationing, rising costs, overproduction (in some areas), underproduction (in others), and eventual failure. (source)
10. The government will limit services provided. Medicaid and Medicare recipients are only allowed a certain amount of eye exams, glasses, check-ups, and specialty care each year. If we move to universal health care, we’ll all be in the same boat. What about those of us that require extra care? Right now we can get it because we pay for it out of pocket. Universal health care will cap health spending. This will also result in fewer technological advances.
“… [P]eople who have access to Medicaid, for example – on paper they’ve got a great healthcare plan; they just can’t get any doctor to see them because Medicaid pays such ridiculously low rates for doctors, and they wind up having to spend five hours in an emergency room to be seen just for primary care because that’s the only place they can get medical treatment,” Grace-Marie Turner contends.
Turner says a major question the country must answer in November is whether to move toward a healthcare system in which government bureaucrats have a much larger role, or to reform the healthcare system around the consumer and “put doctors and patients back in charge.”
11. Hillary Clinton’s plan penalizes those who fail to purchase insurance. She even suggested that the government GARNISH WAGES of those who don’t get coverage. Are you kidding me? I thought this was America, the land that our men and women fought for so that we could have FREEDOM. I certainly would like the freedom to decide if I want health care. After she said that the government could garnish wages, she said that Americans would not be penalized. What exactly does she call garnishing someone’s wages? I would define that as a penalty. (source) The Clintons never cease to amaze me in what they consider the truth.
Hillary Clinton states that she wants the health care to be affordable. Oh, so it’s affordable and it’s a choice, but if we choose not to have it our wages will be garnished? Universal health care is not a cut and dry issue, not even within the democratic party. What’s next? Will they want to implant a chip under our skin? “Oh, it’s your choice to get the chip implanted, but if you decide against it you won’t be able to buy anything to eat.”
A government funded universal health care system will never provide what it promises. Instead of providing good health care for everyone, it will lessen the quality of health care that we receive. I can’t think of any government controlled or operated systems that run well. Do I need to name them for you? Then, why would we be so willing to hand over our health care to the government?
Everyone is welcome to comment on this article, however, name calling is not allowed. We are all adults and are capable of discussing this without talking ugly to one another, Remember, this is an important matter that will affect us all.
Happy Friday!
I think you nailed it. What a great way to look at health care. Not to mention all the self employed people who pay out the nose.
Comment by kellys — May 28, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
Karen, I absolutly agree. If people would look at the facts and not base their opinion on feelings or how great things would be in an utopian society we could come to a reasonable decision. It would be wonderful if we could all have free health care. Someone is going to have to pay for it. Is it fair that just because someone is rich that they have to pay for someone else’s health care? I’m sure alot of those people worked hard for their money. Do you want someone to tell you what to do with your money? Just something to think about.
Comment by Matt — May 28, 2008 @ 10:49 pm
Can you tell me who did your layout? I’ve been looking for one kind of like yours. Thank you.
Comment by Mike Harmon — May 28, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
A friend of mine just emailed me one of your articles from a while back. I read that one a few more. Really enjoy your blog. Thanks
Comment by Jamie Holts — May 28, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
I’m one that supports socialized healthcare because I see what great coverage my mother gets in Canada for injuries she sustained while working for OUR government who wouldn’t take care of what they caused.
I see what great coverage one of my best friends in England and her mother are getting.
Granted, I do think there should be limitations on what the government will support - such as eye exams etc. Even now, insurance only covers one visit a year - beyond that it SHOULD be out of pocket.
My insurance agent (BC/BS) told me NOT To take my kids off my dads insurance - because no one would cover them. They are 15 - were premature babies with a history of asthma. With the way insurance is going, they won’t be able to get coverage when they become adults. He told me to encourage my kids to go to college and stay on their current insurance plan as long as humanly possible.
We are the ONLY country who doesn’t have universal healthcare and why do we think a program that was brought in under Nixon is so good? Everything the man touched was foul.
The government oversees insurance for their own employees, welfare and for the elderly and what I’ve seen is people begging and pleading for government jobs. Can’t be all bad. What’s so wrong with adding the rest of the population?
I have to agree with Matt in that someone is paying for all healthcare now. Try checking with your doctor and see what coverage is for insurance and what self pay is. There’s a HUGE difference.
No matter which way we go - someone is telling us what to do - I’d just prefer it be the way that’s going to cost me the least out of my own pocket.
Comment by Gayla McCord — May 29, 2008 @ 6:54 am
Gayla: I understand your concern for your children having insurance. I myself may go back to working in public schools just for the insurance. However, the insurance does not mandate who you will see. My dad, mom, and I have all worked for the government and have received good health insurance. It won’t be so great though if all of us are seeing government doctors. The VA hospital is a really good example of this. You should hear all the complaining from retired and disabled veterans. They call the VA hospital the BUTCHER SHOP, and rightfully so. When my husband was an active duty Marine, I didn’t get much better care from their physicians. It was hard to get an appointment, the wait was long, you saw a different doctor every time, and sometimes I felt a bit embarrassed to be examined by them.
Comment by Karen — May 29, 2008 @ 8:11 am
Karen, I understand your concerns but you’re confusing socialized medicine with Universal Healthcare. I think if you do further research nearly all of your concerns are based on ideas behind socialized medicine. Right now what is on the table is Universal Healthcare, a private free market system that’s equitable and affordable for all Americans. If I may address your concerns one by one.
1. Universal healthcare is a free market healthcare system. Still private doctors, private hospitals, private insurance companies. Right now you’re healthcare is controlled by insurance companies whose only motive is profit. Is there a more suspect motive than profit? I think not.
2.Of course it’s not free. Nothing is free. Why would you expect free? It will be cheaper because people will have access to preventative care and it will be cheaper because there is widespread fraud in billing practices and insurance industries. Also we won’t be paying for uninsured people’s catastrophic illnesses or accidents - which saves tax payers an enormous amount of money.
3. You think it’s good for your customer service that other people can’t afford to go to the doctor? Uh. Ok.
4. I hope we do see an increase in dr visits because preventative care is the most effective and cost efficient way to manage one’s health.
5. You’re confusing socialized healthcare with Universal Healthcare. Universal Healthcare - which is what is on the table currently - is not something the government pays for. It’s exactly what we have now - with private insurance pools, contributions from employees and employers - but everyone gets access and it becomes affordable. The government is only subsidizing the healthcare for the poor - but we already pay for them so it’s not an added cost. It’s estimated that we will save $1.48 trillion in healthcare spending.
6.Bring a book or your laptop. I wait 8 months now to see my OB/GYN.
7.Freedom for medical professionals? Medical professionals are still employed by private companies or have their own practice.
8. Universal Healthcare INCREASES competition because it allows all the people in the country more choice between all the insurance plans. Currently the people really have to go with whatever their companies chooses. It also increases entrepreneurship and capitalist ventures by not tying people to their corporate jobs. With Universal Healthcare we’re going to see people free to start a company and change the way we work which increases capitalist competition in all markets. Bloggers will be able to buy health insurance. We’ll see women have access to the benefits of a fulltime job but be able to do it from home.
9. Universal Healthcare is not the same as Socialized Medicine - as I said. Under our current system the insurance companies are refusing to insuring sick people. It’s a system designed where only the business benefits and not the people. We’re a nation of The People. Our businesses are meant to serve people, not the other way around.
10. As I said, Universal Healthcare supplies health INSURANCE to all people - just like what you have now. It does not take away your privilege to pay more for eyeglasses or have plastic surgery or any other thing you want to pay for. Doctors, optometrists, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies all remain PRIVATE.
11. A mandate requiring people to buy affordable insurance - is Republican Mitt Romney’s idea and he’s made it work in Massachusetts where he was Governor. The idea is that tax payers currently pay trillions, for uninsured people who get in accidents or terrible illness. The state assists the poor in obtaining plans, but they do fine people - like the ticket you get for driving uninsured - for irresponsibly not paying their health insurance bill.
Everyone in Massachusetts has health insurance, everyone can go to the doctor and everything is still private. If people choose not to make insurance a priority and instead finance a pretty car the tax payers pick up the tab on their cancer treatments - that’s not fair to the tax payer. It’s saving the state billions of dollars - there is ample evidence that Universal Healthcare can and will deliver what it promises for far less than our per capita current spending on healthcare. http://www.mittromney.com/healthcare
Right now there is a bill called The Healthy Americans Act and studies show that his plan will save $1.48 trillion and everyone can go to their own doctor and everyone can change jobs or work for themselves without losing their insurance. http://www.standtallforamerica.com/page/s/careyoukeep?gclid=CKjTltzny5MCFQWVFQodMzxTjg
Comment by Tracee Sioux — May 29, 2008 @ 9:34 am
hi Karen! what a surprise, I clicked over here to find out about Freebie Friday and find this. I support your right to express yourself but unfortunately I find your view terribly horrifying.
I used to always think the world would be a better place if women ruled the world, we’d be concerned about the majority and take steps to help the extraordinary. What you’re saying is that YOU can afford decent healthcare so to hell with the rest of the country.
As far as the military, I’ve been a Navy wife long enough to go through various medical plans. I agree there was a period of uncomfortableness with going to male doctors in uniform, that’s life, I know they try to provide female physicians as much as possible for everyone’s comfort.
Besides you can now upgrade to be seen by any dr. so the point is now moot. I’m not going to say it’s the best thing ever, but I’ve had three kids through the system that have been wonderful experiences for FREE! all of the follow up etc… and the peace of mind that *if* something went wrong we’d be fine (huge).
As far as the costs, who cares, this is the spendiest country in the world, we spend on all kinds of craziness but you’ll oppose spending on health care? Also interesting to see you’re obviously ok with public “education” as you would work for it.
‘
It’s not about money or elitism and believe it or not I do agree with you!! our government is going to dominate every human in this country before to long, that’s the main point, they will obviously store a LOT Of information about each and every person, who knows how they will use it.
Good luck, I just want to make sure you understand I totally support your right to express your opinion.
Comment by Delphine Burkes — May 29, 2008 @ 10:37 am
Delphine: Far from it. I AM NOT saying that I can afford healthcare “so to hell with everyone else”. I haven’t had health coverage in YEARS. You’d think that someone like me, that qualifies for government programs would be screaming “give me more”, but I’m not. Just because I can’t afford health care, doesn’t mean I think the government should be in control of it.
Comment by Karen — May 29, 2008 @ 11:08 am
Delphine: Working for the government doesn’t mean I agree with everything that they do.
Unfortunately, most of the government run hospitals and clinics still provide very poor care, which is why many military families upgrade to “out in town” doctors. The horror stories of the govt clinics are still happening today. I recently received an email asking prayer for a family because the wife had passed away at a govt hospital after she had a baby. The problem that she had was minor and she should not have died from it.
I see univeral health care as just another way for the government to control us and get involved in every part of our lives. Like you, I believe they’re collecting all this information. I believe we’re not far from a card that they scan that stores all of our information.
Comment by Karen — May 29, 2008 @ 11:17 am
I’m going to take a stab at responding to Tracee, if I may…
There’s something that doesn’t smell right here. How does guaranteeing that everyone gets into a system that uses private insurance companies differ from the status quo?
Obviously the current system is broken, but I believe it’s broken at many differen points– doctors charge more because they’re billing an insurance company rather than a patient. Insurance companies are denied the ability to write really cheap policies by government regulations so that those people who would carry catastrophic health insurance cannot get such a policy.
In reality, it’s the current government’s involvement in health care that’s part of the problem.
So, who’s going to pay? That’s the point of this point– we’ll get the illusion of free care without the reality.
If preventative care is a good thing, then the insurance industry will capitalize on it to make money.
How will adding another government bureaucracy decrease fraud? Have you seen the amount of money tied up in Medicaid fraud?
Just how many people are having uninsured illnesses and accidents?
Preventative is one thing. What we’ll see is people going to the doctor because they got a hangnail, because they ran out of bandaids, because they have a little cough that might be a big one. It’s actually something that will spiral out of control to the point that no one will want to be a doctor.
This comment cracks me up. You say that the government is not going to pay for healthcare, but then you say that it will. And then we get the “what is poor”? Poverty levels vary.
Obviously you haven’t seen what government regulations do to businesses. Every time the government starts paying for something, it also starts making demands– about who can be seen, about the quality of care, and if you want to be a part of their club you have to ascribe to their rules.
You’ll also have price controls. This is what’s happened in England. The amount of money a doctor or nurse can make will be held down lower than it should to keep costs low (I do agree that some are overpaid now, but this is an incentive to enter the field). So that will also result in fewer doctors and fewer choices.
Businesses serve the people as a way to make money. Suffice it to say, businesses will go out of business if they take on patients are not a good risk. You wouldn’t lend your money to someone that has a history of theft, and the insurance company has to take a risk insuring you for an amount where they can be likely to make money. They’re not knowingly going to insure you from more than they are going to get in return. They are not a charity.
Looks nice on paper, but these places will have to qualify, and when the majority of people get on these roles, you will see these private businesses fade away because they would not be profitable anymore.
Just because he’s a Republican doesn’t mean he can’t have a bad idea.
Comment by MInTheGap — May 29, 2008 @ 2:47 pm
Good post, Karen. Whether or not people believe it, medical insurance is not an inalienable right. There’ve been times I didn’t have health insurance because I couldn’t afford it; other times, I have been able to afford it.
Either way, I don’t expect someone else to pay my bills for me. Nor do I wish to even start down a slippery slope that will eventually lead to government-controlled health care. I think Universal Health Care is a bad idea, and I want no part of it.
Comment by Revka — May 29, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
[…] Karen has a great article on Health Care at A Healthy Balance […]
Pingback by Fave posts from the blogoshpere — May 30, 2008 @ 9:22 am
Billions is still a pretty good profit and health insurance companies don’t have an “inaliable right” to make TRILLIONS.
In fact companies are not protected at all under the constitution.
But, I get it. Some people hate change and aren’t open to solutions because they are getting too much out of having the problem.
Comment by Tracee Sioux — May 30, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
The actual numbers are these from http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml
Total spending was $2.3 TRILLION in 2007, or $7600 per person.1 Total health care spending represented 16 percent of the gross domestic product. In around 5 years they project it will be 20%.
It’s projected to dramatically increase as baby boomers retire and become medially needier.
If we save 1.48 Trillion by getting rid of inefficiencies and fraud, the health care industry is still pulling in .82 TRILLION dollars if there was NO increase in spending. $1 Trillion is still an enormous amount of profit.
They aren’t in danger of going out of business.
Comment by Tracee Sioux — May 30, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
Tracee, I’m sure you will have some kind of snide comeback for this comment, too, but I never said insurance companies have an inalienable right to huge profits. I get just as angry as you when I see insurance companies’ ridiculously increasing profits - some made at the expense of people’s very lives.
I completely agree that insurance companies (and the medical profession in general) are out of control and that something needs to be done about it. I just don’t believe Universal Health Care is the answer. I believe MIn The Gap has stated my position much more clearly than I ever could.
You are welcome to your opinion. I know that I am not going to change it, and I am not going to waste my time on debating you any further on it.
Comment by Revka — May 30, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
Mike: The design was done by RS Designs.
http://designsbyrs.com
Comment by Karen — May 30, 2008 @ 11:42 pm
I’m not being snide Revka.
This is a very important issue that deserves much discussion. Confusing socialized medicine with universal care and shouting “socialism! socialism!” is a critical mistake.
Min the Gap is arguing against socialized medicine (citing England for example) - with some valid concerns about socialized medicine - but they aren’t concerns about Universal Healthcare which is a capitalist system that allows everyone affordable insurance through private insurance companies.
I’ve been thinking about your statement Revka, “I’ve been uninsured for years but, I don’t expect anyone to pay my bills.”
In fact, this is not true. Uninsured people ARE expecting the taxpayer and insured people to pay their bills.
The uninsured are a massive liability for tax payers. One catastrophe, accident or critical illness and you are a tax payer burden. In one short week a hospital bill will exceed your ability to pay. It won’t be because you’re irresponsible or immoral, it will be because you’re not a millionaire. One life flight is over $100,000. One ER visit for observaton can be over $20,000. If you could afford to pay that then you would have insurance.
Hospitals are not taking long drawn-out payment plans anymore, because they benefit more from the tax write off and the payment from the state.
When people can’t pay their bills they can retroactively apply for medicaid - and the state pays your debt. Which is why Republican Mitt Romney wanted everyone in his state insured. Because they were spending billions every year on this kind of debt.
If you don’t qualify for medicaid then the hospital “writes it off” , which is a nice way of saying, “raises the price of health care for the insured patients.” That’s the main cause of healthcare inflation.
The uninsured are not morally, in the “right”. They are not morally superior. They are, in fact, irresponsible and costing tax payers in the Trillions. And it effects everyone.
If you don’t like universal healthcare - what is YOUR plan? What do you think would actually work?
Comment by Tracee Sioux — May 31, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
Confusion is rampant and justified. I am moving in the direction of simplification.
I am working on “The Essential Single-Payer” system. In it I exclude all insurance companies and all federal health agencies such as Medicare. The system is reduced to fund flow with no baggage such as Board of Universal Quality and Access.
Control is returned to physicians and the individual seeking care. System operates
at the community level.
All funds will continue to come from federal and state sources. By excluding insurance and gov agencies I anticipate enough savings to serve all. Plus overall cost reduction to reduce state and federal financial pains.
I am still developing the plan and putting parts with more detail on my Blog
“http://jerrysillman.wordpress.com”
I am in process of changing the Blog name to “Essential Single-Payer” if I can figure out how. Sometimes the simplest things seem imposible.
Jerry
Comment by Jerry Sillman — June 2, 2008 @ 9:46 am
Hi again. My Blog name has ben changed. Check out “Essential Single-Payer”.
I am trying to bypass all current problems in healthcare delivery. It’s a challenge.
Jerry
Comment by Jerry Sillman — June 2, 2008 @ 11:01 am
http://balanceindiet.com/?p=550
Comment by Karen — October 21, 2008 @ 11:48 pm