The fact is that the United States already has universal healthcare. Anyone, regardless of their coverage status or ability to pay, can go to the doctor or the ER for help. The doctors must treat them and do whatever they can to preserve the patients’ lives.
Then when billing time comes, those who are unfortunate enough to a) not receive coverage through their employer and don’t make enough to buy coverage b) are unemployed or c) have preexisting conditions must pay out of pocket. With the exorbitant rates for healthcare in the US, this frequently bankrupts people. The hospital absorbs the loss by raising their fees and further bloating our healthcare system.
In the 90’s the US decided that people had to have car insurance to drive. People who elected not to have insurance still crashed into other people and could not afford to pay to fix the cars. Their lack of insurance did not just affect them, it had consequences for people who made the smart decision to pay for insurance too.
If healthcare was truly private and competitive, doctors would not treat those who cannot pay. It makes no business sense. But healthcare doesn’t work as a private enterprise because people need it. People will continue to pay higher prices, and more people will fall into bankruptcy (driving up cost of healthcare).
An insurance mandate is necessary for our nation. Our bloated system takes away a larger portion of our GDP than any other industry. Nearly every president (liberal and conservative) has proposed some type of universal healthcare. It is a good decision for our country.
hyup.
