Should healthcare be free?

madlilnerd · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:43 pm Should healthcare be free?**

Do you think healthcare should be free?

IMO, a lot of it should be- I wouldn't want to pay to have someone help me give birth or look after me after a car crash, for example. However, some operations e.g. unnecessary abortions, gastric bypasses etc, you should have to pay for, as they are not essential.
It would be cool if healthcare was free, but you could donate to the hospital or perhaps tip the staff afterwards. Say you broke your arm playing rugby- the hospital fixes it with no obligation to pay, but you decide to give them �100 for treating you.
If healthcare wasn't free in my country I would be scared that I might get stabbed and then die in the street because I didn't have insurance.

Someone told me that Americans sue for compensation a lot of the time because they actually need the money for their medical bills, which are very high.... is that true?

Leo Wyatt · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:59 pm**

I don't have to pay for health insurance cause Charlie is in the army. But if we go to a civilian doctor and not the military doctor then we will have to pay something. But it depends though if it was a referral. If it was a referral Tricare will take care of it all. But, when charlie gets out of the army in about 4 to 6 months, depending if he gets a medical retirement, then we will have to pay. If he gets the medical retirement , we won't have to pay. I hope I am making since. I am probably confusing you huh?

LightningBoy · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:00 pm**

No, for both of the last two reasons.

Medical breakthroughs don't come from Governments, they come from Pfizer's, Glaxo's, and such. Independant business keeps medicine moving forward, and I sure as heck don't want governments smudging it up.

madlilnerd · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:25 pm**

But if someone was dying in the street and you were a doctor and could save them but they didn't have insurance, would you leave them to die?

Leo Wyatt · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:26 pm**

Doctors would have to save them anyway, they took an oath. I forgot the name of the oath. I could be wrong.

IntrepidIsMe · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:28 pm**

That oath is more of a set of guidelines. They don't actually have to follow it.

madlilnerd · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:28 pm**

That's the hypocrates (sp) oath, but is says they have to do no harm, not that they have to help people.

IntrepidIsMe · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:30 pm**

"Hippocratic"

And no, I don't think it should be free.

Leo Wyatt · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:32 pm**

IntrepidIsMe wrote

madlilnerd · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:36 pm**

LightningBoy · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:21 pm**

WeAz · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:26 pm**

Republican_Man · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:08 pm**

No, for both reasons stated in the poll. Because of that, I can't vote either way.

I say no because medical coverage simply isn't something the government should supply. It's not even that good of a system either.
Now, I'm not saying that America's system is perfect. It has a lot of problems. But there are many other ways to fix it than, say, making it government-run.
Besides, another level of beauracy isn't a good thing at all, and giving the government something else to screw up isn't as well. It's too much government control, etc. I say nay to making it government-run.

ACDC Girl · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:09 pm**

Health care is free here in Canada, because the government pays for it.

WeAz · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:46 pm**

^ Iheard there are long waits in Government run healthcare...

-WeAz

TrekkieMage · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:34 pm**

I voted for:

Republican_Man · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:45 pm**

Why should I have to pay for anyone's operation? It may sound selfish, but seriously. I shouldn't have to pay for somebody to get medical coverage. Well, on most levels, anyways. Certain programs that we currently have in place are, for the most part, acceptable.

TrekkieMage · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:48 pm**

Republican_Man · **Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:10 pm**

There are certain things that taxes should be in place for, certain public services. Medical coverage beyond Medicare and Medicaid should not exist provided by the government.

Lxe · **Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:27 am**

I have free health care through indian affairs. one thing the doctors have to deal with people abusing walk in time to get perscriptions trying to get some kind of drug for their addictions. because of that we have generic meds. if you ask me they are not strong enough some of the time for like out patient surgery.
after all that clinics have to do stuff a certain way and keep tight rein on things. the clinic here where I am at stopped taking walk ins

PrankishSmart · **Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:23 am**

No, because it would cost me personally, financially otherwise. Why should I have to pay for other people?

PrankishSmart · **Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:25 am**

Seven of Nine · **Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:44 am**

Living in a country where healthcare is free, I would have problems if I had to pay- not least because it's saved my life on more than one occasion. I really meant to tick the box yes, but pay for certain operations, but ticked the top one instead. Oh well.

The NHS is one of the things that makes Britain great, and I wouldn't like to give it up (no matter what our Tory-called-Labour party try to do). Not having to pay for healthcare at the point of delivery means I don't have to worry about getting ill. I also don't mind looking after people in need- I guess that's my socialist nature

lionhead · **Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:39 am**

i would say yes, makes for more taxes(also usable for other things), takes care of Insurances.

Birdy · Socialist Joined: 20 Sep 2004 Posts: 13502 Location: Here.

Of course! But is it manageable?
That's what I worry about. How would the government (or whoever) pay for it? Cuz a lot of money goes around in health care. Not only at the insurance company's.