The health care system isn't going to be much more 'socialized' than it already is, considering SS (Social Security, not Schutzstaffel) and Medicare are government run, and many insurance companies owe the government money.
You also don’t cite any facts, which I find rather disturbing, because it shows to what extent the media at the right can influence people from reason.
Isn’t extending health insurance to more Americans the point? Nobody except perhaps you family cares about your specific circumstance, seeing as you can already afford insurance. The bill extends Medicare to 150% of the poverty line, provides subsidies for those between 150 and 400% of the poverty line, and will reimburse doctors and hospitals for providing subsidies/free care to the poorer.
Do you know what 'socialized' means? Instead of trying to lower the price of medicare coverage so more people can afford to pay for it themselves, the government taxes the middle to upper class to pay for the others insurrance. This is a form of redistributing the wealth aka socialism. There are many ways to lower prices without the governement paying for people's insurrance including: investing in preventive medicine, reduction of abuse and fraud in the Medicare program, malpractice reform, allowing issurance commpanies to trade over state lines, immigration reform, est.
The health care bill should actually save money, seeing as it cuts federal spending for certain programs, and provides for taxation of businesses not offering health insurance, as well as uninsured individuals.
Explain to me why it is a good idea to tax small business(the greatest source of job creation) when the economy is bad. The "cuts federal spending for certain programs" is cuts in Medicare.
Why is this bill a good idea?*There isn't a single government agency or division that runs efficiently; do we really want an organization that developed the U.S. Tax Code handling something as complex as health care?
*"Free" health care isn't really free since we must pay for it with taxes; expenses for health care would have to be paid for with higher taxes or spending cuts in other areas such as defense, education, etc.
*Profit motives, competition, and individual ingenuity have always led to greater cost control and effectiveness.
*Government-controlled health care would lead to a decrease in patient flexibility.
*The health-care industry likely will become infused with the same kind of corruption, back-room dealing, and special-interest-dominated sleeze that is already prevalent in other areas of government.
*Patients aren't likely to curb their drug costs and doctor visits if health care is free; thus, total costs will be several times what they are now.
*Just because Americans are uninsured doesn't mean they can't receive health care; nonprofits and government-run hospitals provide services to those who don't have insurance, and it is illegal to refuse emergency medical service because of a lack of insurance.
*Government-mandated procedures will likely reduce doctor flexibility and lead to poor patient care.
*Healthy people who take care of themselves will have to pay for the burden of those who smoke, are obese, etc.
*A long, painful transition will have to take place involving lost insurance industry jobs, business closures, and new patient record creation.
*Loss of private practice options and possible reduced pay may dissuade many would-be doctors from pursuing the profession.
*Malpractice lawsuit costs, which are already sky-high, could further explode since universal care may expose the government to legal liability, and the possibility to sue someone with deep pockets usually invites more lawsuits.
*Government is more likely to pass additional restrictions or increase taxes on smoking, fast food, etc., leading to a further loss of personal freedoms.
*Patient confidentiality is likely to be compromised since centralized health information will likely be maintained by the government.
*Health care equipment, drugs, and services may end up being rationed by the government. In other words, politics, lifestyle of patients, and philosophical differences of those in power, could determine who gets what.
Patients may be subjected to extremely long waits for treatment.