Would you prefer a single payer health system?

Question

I know too many people who have gone completely broke because of an illness or accident. Is single payer a way to prevent this? There's plenty of people from other parts of the world so if like everyone's opinion of US healthcare.

Answer

Sickness shouldn't bankrupt you. In this day in age where we have the most advanced medicine, no one should be scared to go the doctor or hospital because they can't afford good health insurance or any at all. No matter your age, race, social status or economic class, you should be able to have the opportunity to seek healthcare. People are people. It could be you that needs healthcare but can't afford it.

Answer

This is why I LOVE being in the UK! We get "free healthcare" that covers everything. Accidents, illness, doctor visits and giving birth etc. All we pay for is prescriptions, unless exempt by pregnancy, old age, young age or it's the contraceptive pill. Employers (or the government if someone is on benefits and not working) pay a small amount on your behalf every month. It works well and people get looked after.

Answer

This is why im 100 % grateful for the NHS in the UK :)

Answer

I'm a big fan of single payer with the option for private insurance to cover the extras, but all medically necessary/recommended stuff covered by basic insurance.

Answer

My MIL died with several hundred thousand dollars of medical bills that collectors were hounding and harrassing her about until she moved to hospice. She had stage IV metastatic breast cancer and went over her insurance's catastrophic cap, so she was billed directly. No one should ever have to worry on their deathbed if their family is going to get stuck paying for treatments that didn't work to cure you after you're gone.

I went to the ER once, needing stitches for a nasty laceration on my foot. My insurance picked up the tab, but I did get a statement that itemized everything they covered. The hospital billed my insurance $35 for JUST the suture thread. Had I been uninsured, that visit would have set me back about $3500. My sister's itemized bill for the C section and 4 day hospital stay for her and my niece would have been around $75,000. Who can afford that?

Yes, we need single payer healthcare. We also need better sick leave so people can rest and recover without worrying about being fired for calling out or worrying about spreading germs.

Answer

Can someone explain this in more depth? Just want to get my facts straight.

Answer

I think our Healthcare system in the US is deplorable. I feel like the AHA made it a tiny bit better in one way, but it also seriously exposed a large issue within our country. And the rates for insurance are crazy, and only go up every year you age. It makes you not want to get old, or you're like me and thinking about working until your death day just to have insurance to cover the cost of being a senior (if you don't get it through your job). Healthcare is a right. We shouldn't have to pinch pennies to take care of ourselves. Children shouldn't have to be denied time with their parents because their parents picked up extra work to pay for health insurance or medical bills. When I first heard of the AHA, I thought that it would be closer to a single payer system, bit after being one of those people that lost their insurance after the AHA took place and only learning so after being in the hospital, I was very disappointed. And I'm not knocking the AHA, but I wish it were better. But I don't think a single payer system will happen here. It will cost a lot in taxes, and people cry about welfare being taken out of taxes, so I guess we are stuck with the way things are now. :/

Answer

Reading some of these comments makes me crazy jealous. Very nervous of the bill I'll be getting, once the baby arrives.

Answer

I spent 6 months in the hospital last year due to post op complications and was on home health care for the first 4 months of this year - my medical bills were over a million dollars.

I am currently 35 weeks pregnant and since week 8 have been on Lovenox that is $1100 a month.

Medical bills up my behind and no way to EVER fully pay them off. I have been able to get a few written off or reduced but that doesn't help with the larger picture...

Would you prefer a single payer health system?

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