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I never said the costs would be lower. In fact, the cost issue is the only real argument I see against it. Why not offer incentives (tax breaks, for example) t
by profquail 17y ago
I never said the costs would be lower. In fact, the cost issue is the only real argument I see against it.
Why not offer incentives (tax breaks, for example) to coerce the system into the right state? For example, if you go to medical school or nursing school and graduate in the top 50% of your class (from any accredited school), you would be automatically reimbursed for the entirety of your tuition by the government. This would create an incentive for more students to become doctors and nurses, which is sorely needed today; at the same time, it reduces the barrier to entry (the cost), creates motivation to do well, and also keeps the price of service (what the doctor charges you) down as well (since they're not having to pay back $200k in student loans).
At the same time, the system should require everyone to get certain tests on a regular basis (e.g. a yearly physical). If you don't take care of yourself at some kind of baseline level (the doctor should be able to tell from your charts), then you will be charged a "surplus" fee since you will be requiring more medical care down the road (e.g. heart disease due to lack of exercise). This would motivate people to get in shape, or at least they'd be paying for the extra costs of their own care. So, essentially, it's free as long as you play your own little part in the system.
On another note, all the people that I've heard argue against UH have all said that they don't want to pay for someone else's healthcare. While I understand where they're coming from (I hold mostly libertarian political views), you have to remember that the 'healthier' our society becomes (due to UH, or simply lifestyle changes, etc.), the "cost" per person is reduced. This is because healthier people are more able to contribute to society, rather than unhealthy people who must survive on the contributions of others.
- CWuestefeld 17y agoSetting aside the bureaucratic monster this would necessitate, it just seems completely unAmerican. How can you square fines for failure to exercise with "life, liberty, and the pursuit of hapiness"? And where in the Constitution is the federal government given the power to perform these things? Even if it were a good idea, I can't see where it's legal for them to do so.
- profquail 17y agoYou would still be welcome to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of hapiness". No one would be forcing you to use said healthcare system, but if healthcare was totally free, what's to stop people from totally trashing their bodies then asking for organ transplants on the public dime? In such a system, checks and balances need to be in place to keep people from 'gaming the system'. IF you wanted to use the public healthcare, then you should be forced to make some compensation back to the public if you are willfully (by using your right to not exercise, or you want to be a smoker, etc.) causing harm to your body which is then causing you need to need extra medical procedures and costing everyone money!
- DanielBMarkham 17y agobut if healthcare was totally free, what's to stop people from totally trashing their bodies then asking for organ transplants on the public dime? I guess the government is the entity to stop us. After all, as you point out, once you start using public money to pay for something that makes it everybody's business, right? So now the government is concerned with how I choose to totally trash my body, because it has an impact on public health costs. And what part of this was good, again? Yes, the part where we got free stuff from some magic place. As much as we want!
- profquail 17y agoNo, you'd always be able to see a private physician if you wanted to pay for their services out of your own pocket. If you can afford that, then feel free to treat your body however you want. If you're going to be costing everyone else money because of how you're living your life, then you can pay the difference between the extra costs of your healthcare and the baseline amount spent on the 'average' person.
- abstractbill 17y agoif healthcare was totally free, what's to stop people from totally trashing their bodies then asking for organ transplants on the public dime? Hell yes, if healthcare was free, I would totally be trashing my body and getting free organ transplants - again and again - I just can't think of a better way to spend my time! Seriously, what?