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Site SearchIf you’ve ever been laid off, you know what’s coming: first, numbness and shock, then hurt and betrayal that your hard work has amounted to nothing. Then comes the real problem: paying the family’s bills, especially for health care.
In 2007, more than 45 million Americans were without health insurance. Now that the recession has hit, more people are uninsured. Millions of parents are waiting anxiously to see if they’ll able to afford doctor visits for their families under President-elect Barrack Obama’s promised health care reforms.
Even for those with jobs that offer insurance benefits, affording health care is a daily struggle. In North Carolina, family health care premiums rose an estimated 5.3 times faster than earnings for North Carolina’s workers from 2000 to 2007, according to a report from Families USA, a nonprofit that promotes high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. In that eight-year period, family health care premiums rose by 74.7 percent, while median earnings rose by only 14 percent. For family health coverage provided through the workplace in North Carolina, annual health insurance premiums in the 2000-2007 period rose from $6,649 to $11,618—an increase of $4,969, according to the report.
I used to hear people arguing that if we adopt universal health care coverage for every citizen, the quality of health care will suffer. I don’t hear that cry so much now that health care is out of the reach of so many. In 2007, health care spending across the nation grew by 6.1 percent to $2.2 trillion, translating into $7,421 per person for the year, according to the Associated Press.
We don’t have much to lose and everything to gain by trying to ensure that healthcare becomes a national benefit for every American, just like a free public education. Educated and healthy: that’s a great start for everyone. Then finding a job might seem less challenging.
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GOLO member since July 18, 2007
January 6, 2009 4:50 p.m.
January 6, 2009 8:00 p.m.
We need to look at all the Universal systems in the world, look at the ones that work best, see how we can fit that into our country. We can save money, get better health care, eliminate the number one reason Americans go bankrupt and make our manufacturers more competitive by tackling this problem.
January 7, 2009 9:39 a.m.
GOLO member since January 6, 2009
January 7, 2009 10:40 a.m.
January 7, 2009 11:57 a.m.
Why would a Universal Health care system be anything like our public school systems which are run at a local level?
There are dozens of advanced industrialized nations like ourselves that offer Universal Health care. They have different methods of delivering it, some rely more on private providers and insurers, other more public. All of these countries have lower costs than we do, all provide universal coverage and all eliminate the problem of people going bankrupt due to medical costs.
I don't understand why so many Americans prefer to have such an expensive inefficient system as we have. Shouldn't we be aiming to be number 1! (I think we're currently ranked 37th)
January 7, 2009 12:47 p.m.
January 7, 2009 2:03 p.m.
People in these countries with socialized medicine have longer life expectencies than we have. Instead of relying on scare tactics and myths, look at the actual data.
The US has the highest cost Health care system in the world. We have the highest percent of our dollars going to administrative costs in the World. Medical costs are the number 1 reason for personal bankrupcies.
The sad truth is... If you're healthy or have a government job that provides insurance you're always insured for medical expenses. If you're not, you'll be priced out of the market. Fewer and fewer private companies will provide health insurance in the future as they are competing on a Global market where the competition doesn't provide health benefits.
January 7, 2009 2:23 p.m.
PREFER?
I don't quite think that's the best word here. I don't prefer much of anything that is expensive OR inefficient.
A huge reason for America's problematic ILLNESS industry is that Americans will not & do not take care of themselves. Most do not eat healthy diets nor exercise on a daily basis. Most rely solely on their docs for drugs &/or surgery as the ONLY source of treatment. Most are too busy, do not care, are too lazy, or are too stupid to realize they are just human guinea pigs. The FDA is NOT protecting us, nor the USDA. Big Pharma is in control & wants it to stay that way. The food industry has immensely contributed to this problem as they continue to crank out "new" & "improved" in name only to pursue their bottom line-profits.
The US illness industry thrives along; the docs-hospitals-ins companies-drug companies-FDA want it that way.
January 7, 2009 3:58 p.m.
January 7, 2009 4:31 p.m.
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