Why Can’t A Large Economy Like US Provide “Free” Health Care As It Is In UK And Canada?

There are many inaccuracies and scare stories floating around about how bad health care is in Canada. The longest I have waited in an emergency room is probably 4 hours. That is because they take people ahead of you who they feel are more seriously ill. The longest I had to wait for surgery was one week, although some people have to wait longer for non life-threatening surgeries.

Our taxes are not ridiculously high at all, probably no higher than they are in the US. I don't find 15% high. And even if it was slightly higher, I would be willing to pay for it.

Our health care system is not perfect, but I'm grateful it exists.

A couple of factors, mainly a fear of tax and years of Republican rule.

Having worked in the public health systems of both the United Kingdom and Australia I know the limitations of 'free' heath care. It is far from perfect but it works and efficiently uses resources.

It is the only civilized way to care for the people of a country. On the international stage the health care issue ranks a podium finish on great American embarrassments.

You don't have to be a communist to want your fellow Americans to be looked after, regardless of income.

The current system has handed too much power to private health providers and artificially inflated prices.

In answer to your question - the US can do it if they have the will and the poiticians think about what is good for the peolple rather than continuing with petty squabbling. I have my fingers cross that Obama will stand up to the health insurers.

good luck!

Hello I don't know much about the grovement over in our other counties to much, but when I was working in a docotors office i did learn somethings how the other part of the world works, yes they have free health care but it really isn't free as you would think, they get the bill on the tax's that they pay. It goes in other places they do pay more as just as much just not in bills like we get. They pay in all taxs. But it would be nice if we could do that becuase I don't mind paying a little more when it comes to our health. Right now with the flu all around us this kind of coverage would work. we pay alot of taxs anyway it might as go for what we want like being healthy. Thank you I hope this helps with this question.

You are correct that health care isn't free in Canada or UK or any of the countries that have various forms of government health care. Taxes pay for running the program and for the doctors and other providers. However, costs are much lower in Canada and UK and the results in terms of longevity and infant mortality are significantly better than ours here in the U.S. where 45 million don't have health care insurance and many of those who do find that their insurance coverage is inadequate or doesn't cover what they need at all. Like credit cards much health care insurance is full of tricks and traps for the insured. A single payer, universal health care system would cost much less than our current system and deliver better results. In Canada and UK private health care services are available for those who are able to pay and want to pay and for non-covered services such as cosmetic surgery. The simplest solution to the issue of a government option would be to allow anyone who chose to do so to opt for Medicare coverage and pay the required premium. This is what worries the insurance industry and why they are fighting against health care reform to the point of putting out phony, misleading studies about the effect of the proposals being considered.

The US can but the right combination of leadership and innovative concept has to come together. I don't know if Obama is really ready for this level of challenge. Another consideration is the party bickering as long as they are at each other that kind of program is doomed to fail. It will be a long process with alot of bugs and if its partisan they'll be more finger pointing than you can stand.Peace.

i have always wondered this myself after watching the movie 'sicko' everyone should watch that!

for those people who don't understand debt and deficit we have a deficit of only 450 billion which is a better way at looking at our debt. Ultimately universal health care would lower our costs and bring down the deficit. There is absolutely no reason we couldn't have universal health care. The politics of it are just getting in our way. By the way, our national debt will at this time will reach 12 trillion in ten years so what makes you think we have a 10 trillion dollar national debt now. Think about it!

And furthermore, we are spending 255 billion dollars a year on health care right now. Other countries spend less than half of what we spend. I have a hub you all need to read......

Are you silly? It is not free. We pay for it dearly hence our standard of living is so LOW. I a RN and cannot afford to live like my counterparts in UK or Canada. In the UK you pay a greater amount of taxes to get to s-called free healthcare. Which half the time is influenced by post code lottery and long waiting times. So dont think it is all so great!

We can provide health care and probably do it better then any other country that has universal healthcare. But because most people in our country aren’t educated about the healthcare issue, the media can change the minds of Americans whenever they want and whatever the people in power wants us to believe we will believe. Americans are basically trained to do what their told; as much as we love freedom we don’t have much freedom because we allow elected officials and Corporations to run our lives. What we need to do is get rid of most if not all our elected official and get rid of them every 8-10 years until they understand that they work for us not themselves. (elect new people into office every 8-10 years to keep idea fresh and reduce the amount of partisanship in our government.

Most european countries has free healthcare, here in Sweden even university is free, but we have quite high taxes, I don't know if the healthcare here is better or worse than in US but I'm pleased with it.

Because we're bigger than either one of them (making a comparison pretty much moot) and doing so restricts the quality of care to an "are you economically viable?" price tag range based on whether one is worth it or not. How much is a human life worth these days?

Because, our government wants to control everything.

If you were really interesting in helping the average person in the U.S. save a couple bucks. Then products such as penicilin, and basic antibiodics would be made legal for purchase over the counter without a perscription. As it is in Mexico, or S. Korea. That would eliminate about 40% of family doctor bills.

We have a large economy but we're 10 trillion dollars in debt.

We cant afford to pay for schools

We cant afford to pay for police and fire departments

Before I graduated they turned half the lights off and turned the air up so it was hot i the schools at some point. (This was last year).

This year in my area each school has to fire 9 teachers and get rid of sports.

How can we afford heathcare if we cant afford schools?

There isn't an existent government agency that presently runs efficiently; do we really want them handling something as complex as health care? With that It would have to be paid for with more taxes and that would cut defense spending and education, which is already in too deep and failing miserably.

There's still no guarantee it will cover only US residents considering the Illegal Immigrant migration woes. Also Patients would be likely to curb their drug costs-Heck I'm curbing mine now by buying a Fibrate Med. every other month instead of monthly as it should be taken. Patient confidentiality is likely to be compromised, mine just was trying to explain this madness to those insanely for it! Hope this answered it and there's many more reasons. Thanks.

From what I have heard and read .There health care is horrible .You think you have to wait a long time here for emergency care .It is 100 times faster than there I have heard of people waithing hours for real life threatenig injuries.And if you call free the fact that they pay ridiculously higher taxes to cover it .Our health care is cheaper and better Here. If you need a surgery (In most cases even if you dont )you can get it right away.There you have to wait months .

Free ? Far from it in my opinion.