Live to 43 or 86? Depends on where you live

How many of these "45 million" without health insurance actually have access through their company? How many would rather spend the money on a carton of cigarettes or a 12 pack of beer than pay for coverage? This has socialism written all over it.

Socialized medicine would exclude most people making $35,000 or less from paying for it. Are you ready to pick up the tab?

It also doesn't mention that the United States has the best medical providers in the world. That's why so many people come here for treatment. Socialize it and watch the numbers of doctors drop dramatically as well as the quality of care. Take a long look at Medicare to see how well the country would manage "our care".

I have worked in the medical field in Guinea for the past 4 years. In the United States everyone has access to health care. Maybe not all at the same level but everyone can get service. Hospitals are required to treat folks whether they pay or not. The people with insurance pay higher expenses to cover the non-paying customers. Medicaid pays for those without resources. What we are talking about is that all people must be served at the same level. This will never happen. I lived in Australia where they had universal health care. Eye exams were 4 to 5 months out unless you payed; then they were next week. Socialized medicine is not that wonderful and is still driven by money. Just look at Canada. People must take responsibility for their own lives.

In Guinea, folks just die without any chance to be helped. The area where I go, has one or two doctors for 250,000 people. Using this report to push for universal health care in U.S. is just not on the same plane. We as a nation are just a bunch of spoiled, over fed consumers wanting the government to take care of our every need. I believe that you have to know true hunger to appreciate food. Take care of yourself, take responsibility for your decisions, and work hard.

Dear h2o393184

Did you ever read the tale of the people who were so focused on getting something for "free" that they killed the goose that laid golden eggs...because they wanted roasted goose...and she belonged to them after all..so they ate the goose...and cheered at their good fortune...never being intelligent enough to realize that there would be NO MORE golden eggs...DUH! Moral of the story:there is NO SUCH thing as "free"...someone has to pay.

You Americans with a socialist agenda seem determined to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. You are always bi*ch*ng about the "rich"...but tell me, have you ever been offered a paying job from a POOR person....LOL< LOL....yep....truly mental midgets!

I did not realize that I was reading editorial section on this site. Oh wait I am not. Seems like to much bias here toward one opinion. What a disgrace and perversion of news.

I can not believe that I just read an article promoting international Universal Health care and branded as news.

My Prayer is that there are enough "thinking" Democrats left in this country to NOT VOTE OBAMA...simply because he is HARD Core Socialist.

Please, "Liberal" Americans...think...beyond today...and your frustration!

Global control of health will become a tool against us in the hands of those who hate the freedom you enjoy as an American.

In the U.S. the extremely poor can get Medicaid. The rich can afford good health care. It's the middle class that need help. They make too much for government funded programs, and not enough to afford good insurance and co-pays. What we really need is some sort of buffer for the middle class...making health care not completely free, but way more affordable than it currently is.

There should probably also be some limits put on Medicaid eligibility. For example, to the best of my knowledge (and I could be wrong) there are no time limits set for how long a person can receive assistance from Medicaid. I think there should be certain time limits set, where if something happens, you could sign up temporarily (say, 6 months) then provide some sort of proof that you are making an effort to better your situation. If an extension is needed, then it can be granted under certain circumstances. Obviously this would not be a rule for someone who is disabled, or who is working but still falling under the poverty line, but for those who just won't work, it should be.

This is another proponent of a unified world, a concept that Barack Obama embraces. The real foundation of this concept is the redistribution of wealth, which means America can pick up an even greater amount of the funding for the many countries that can't get off the ground because they are generally run by self serving dictators. We have already contributed far too much to nations whose people rarely see a cent of it. We are in no position to solve the problems of the rest of the world. Let Russia do it or, if that gentleman's government agrees with him, Great Britain can do it. Universal Health care is a joke. It doesn't work. It has bankrupted almost every nation that has employed it and their people still come to the United States when they can afford it. I lived outside of Detroit for many years and it confounded me how many people from Canada came there when they had serious health problems - and they were happy to pay. Let us all bury this ludicrous response to health problems and seek some formula that may actually work. Tort reform in the US would have a tremendous effect on reducing costs for the medical profession, thus reducing insurance premiums. This won't happen because we have seen fit to fill the halls of congress with lawyers who are not going to pass a law that will negatively effect their profession.

Affordable health-care is a RIGHT, not a PRIVILEGE. Who said it was right that only the rich can have quality care? I'm as smart and in shape as the next person, but I did NOT ask to be given CANCER. I do NOT work in a risky job where I "caught" it. I do not smoke, do drugs, or drink. I do not have the cancer gene. Yet one little lump cost over $100,000. If I go to India, the exact SAME procedures cost around $10,000. So, those of you who are healthy right now, just wait until YOU get that first medical hit in the US.

Let's start talking about health-care in France or Sweden. They have great ones. Naysayers always point to the problematic ones (and remember, Maggie Thatcher is responsible for making the systems worse in Canada & the UK). Do we have to follow the same system as Canada? No. We can pick from the best. Does the government need to run it? No. Why don't we have a non-profit run the system? I believe it's in France that, when a doctor helps a patient get WELL, they actually get a BONUS. What a concept.

Every time someone mentions universal health care, someone else gets some idea that it's socialism. Well. maybe it is. So what? Our US Congress has a one-payer plan and they don't seem to be complaining. Get over it, folks.

How do we pay for it--because the costs WILL be high? Starbucks just closed 600 stores because they can't afford to pay all those workers' health-care (they currently pay over $200 million a year). Walmart tells its employees to go to the state & get Medicaid. When I first started working, ALL my health-care was paid for by the company; now I have to pay allot every month PLUS have a huge deductible. Anyway, why do you think Gas in Europe costs $9 a gallon? It's not because it costs that much more to ship it there. It's because the extra money is tax and that money goes into things like health-care. Corporations used to pay 30-40% in taxes. Nowadays, they get special 10-year contracts promising no local taxes. Most pay less taxes than I do, or pay none at all because of all the loopholes they have. Give 'em an equitable flat tax of some kind to help pay for health-care. I don't have all the answers, but I am POSITIVE that Americans have the tenacity & determination to get the job done and get it done right.

If you want free health insurance, vote Democratic. They're gonna fix everything! (Just like Bill & Hillary did).

To quote a member of the American Medical Student Association, based on patient self-reporting data from across Canada in 2003, the median wait time for selected non-emergency diagnostic tests (CT, MRI, or angiography) was 3.0 weeks. Needless to say emergency tests are conducted much more quickly.

From Ontario government website, current wait times for elective MRIs in my area (Toronto) are 41 days, current wait time for elective CTs is 19 days. Doesn't sound like 180 days to me. If you're interested in what Canadians think of their health care system just ask them, but don't listen to some Redneck from Podunk USA who has been brainwashed by the HMOs into thinking socialized medicine doesn't work. If you want proof our system is better, from the Los Angeles Times (Feb 23, 2004) "According to a World Health Organization report published in 2003, life expectancy at birth in Canada is 79.8 years, versus 77.3 in the U.S"....nuff said

I would like to introduce new example of universal health care besides Canada: France. They do have a lot of coverage for everyone who is in the country even if you just temporary worker, by default. The medicine is great, and you don't need to wait for 6 month, I am telling from the first hand experience. Only thing - their system is going to collapse soon because its a huge burden to the state budget, you can imagine..

So look around, take the best, and make it work.

Wow, I started quite a discussion, didn't I? I'm at work right now, wading through the typical night of drug overdoses, car wrecks, people with coughs or shortness of breath (who, when I go to bring them back for an xray ask me if they can go outside for a quick smoke). None of them have insurance, the drivers of the cars weren't wearing seat belts, the OD has been here a dozen times before, etc. Not to mention that almost all of these people have tatts, a car, booze, cigs, cell phones, Ipods, and even some have laptops with them.

And yet, they can't even pay a $50 deposit or co-pay to start to pay off their bill. But that poor schlamiel with good insurance who has never come to the ER after paying premiums for 20 years is going to get butt-pounded by his insurance company when he gets the bill.

It is quite simple, folks - consequences and responsibility need to come back to this country. We can't keep carrying everyone's water and never demanding that they change their lifestyle, habits, etc. If given a free ride, most people will never learn and will keep demanding that free ride all the time. And it will bankrupt us.

As for Canadians coming to the US for healthcare - I see it all the time, and we treat them like gods - they pay cash, up front, and we give them the best care and service. They may be one of the only things that keep some hospitals afloat.

Regarding the Socialism/Communism argument - I stand by my assertion. Socialism is evil. I do NOT support Social Security, any Welfare program, Food Stamps, etc. It is ethically and morally wrong. However, Veterans Benefits are NOT socialism. They are compensation programs for men and women who volunteered to join our military and put their lives at risk to protect us. They are just like a pension or set of benefits promised by a company you work for.

Lots of people above suggest that those who are sick or dying made the choice not to look after themselves - this is one of the great myths of the American Dream - that our lives are solely based upon the choices we make - How do you then explain how 2 babies born on opposite sides of the tracks in the UK have a 40% difference in life expectancy ... I guess one of them made the wrong choice of where to be born - stupid kid!

Universal health care, the provision of reasonable food and shelter to almost everyone on earth are probably alot cheaper than the billions and trillions spent on guns and bombs worldwide - the only problem is how to make money actually helping people instead of killing and maiming them!

I have heard that a sizable portion of the uninsured in the US have insurance available to them through an employer or other source, but chose not pay their portion of the premium. Some because they truly can't afford it, but others because they just don't consider it a priority and chose to spend the money otherwise.

If people are uninsured because they would rather have more disposable income, a bigger car, a larger house, expensive vacations, party money, etc. - that's their choice and they shouldn't be counted among those who are uninsured without the option of insurance.

I know families that have to pay up to $10,000 a year in health insurance premium out of their own pocket through their employer and it's a lot of money for them. But the health insurance is a priority to them.

As far as the developing countries go - maybe stopping the wars, building infrastructure, food, clean water, training and education for sustainable jobs, and decent shelter should come before worrying about universal health care.

The choice to eat balanced meals, exercise correctly and have an intelligent conversation with your
doctor, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner on why a procedure or test may or may not be
beneficial is one that every consumer should strive to keep. It would be better for a child of a
diabetic parent to watch her sugar intake and exercise moderately, for instance, than to use candy
as a comfort food and just wait for the diabetes test to turn positive.

It sure is interesting that the Christian right does not want affordable health care for everyone - as they continually deny same for the poor and the middle class amongst them via the vote - yet decry Darwinism as a demonic theory of evolution.

Firstly , too many 'Have nots ' have not because they DO NOT . Melissa,your thinking goes in the correct direction but it has one major failing , most of your money 'Does not go to help the poor ' , i have studied the yearly 'Report cake ' put out by World vision for a village in Cambodia , two thirds of the monies donated go to ADMINISTRATION !!! The only way your donations will be 100& successful is to take it to your prefferd country and apply it where it is needed , i have an adopted family in a village i have assisted to reach self sustainability , never ever throw money at poor people in any country , look at some of the reports about where it actualy goes in the good old USofA . I walled in the property(to prevent theft), taught them to take out the copious number of extra banana trees and grow a diverse crop of various fruits , supplied a farrow pig , a sewing machine , 2 extra rice paddies , a portable water pump(to increase yields and production) a hand water pump because pigs realy are clean if you keep them that way , plus they get more for the piglets because people realise healthy meat keeps them healthy also . Now the neighbours are a little jealous , so if you want a worthwhile family to assist directly for a 100% result , tell me and i can contact you , plus as many of your friends who have the same thinking as your good self .