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We Need Universal Health Coverage In America NOW

1) The government can't run anything. I don'tmore MRI scanners in Orange County, CA than
trust  the  government.in  all  of  Canada.
The current gang in Washington may be a goodWith our generous funding and the tremendous
reason not to trust the government to docapacity of our health care delivery system,
ANYTHING  right.the delays would not be a significant
limiting  factor  in  the  U.S.
However, Medicare and Social Security are
good examples of systems that run well and5) Americans do not want "Socialized
on time. People receive their checks the sameMedicine."
time every month and health care is provided:
on  time.Socialized medicine is a system in which the
government owns the facilities, and the
2) I'm a free market person and don't wantproviders  of  care are government employees.
any  part  of  "socialized  medicine."
In sharp contrast, a single payer system uses
Single Payer Insurance is defined as a singlethe existing private and public sector health
government fund with each state which payscare delivery systems, preserving private
hospitals, physicians and other health careownership and employment. The unique feature
providers, thus replacing the currentof a single payer system is that all health
multi-payer system of private insurancecare risks are placed in a universal risk
companies.pool, covering everyone. The pool is funded
in a fair and equitable manner so that
It would provide coverage for the fiftyeveryone pays their fair share in taxes,
million  people  who  are  uninsured.unlike our current defective system in which
some pay far too much while others are not
It would eliminate the financial threat andpaying their share. The funds are allocated
impaired access to care for tens of millionsthrough a publicly administered program
who do not have coverage and are unable toresulting in optimum use of our health care
afford the out-of-pocket expenses because ofdollars.
deficiencies  in  their  insurance  plans.
A single payer system has no more in common
It would return to the patient free choice ofwith socialized medicine than our current
health care provider and hospitals, not theMedicare  program.
choice that only the restrictive health plans
allow.Socialism is a dirty word in this country.
Universal health care for all has been
It would relieve businesses of theequated with socialism, and much propaganda
administrative hassle and expense ofhas been communicated by the press, by right
maintaining  a  health  benefits  program.wing politicians, by medical groups such as
the AMA or anyone else who has an agenda to
It would remove from the health care equationkeep the 1500 plus health insurance companies
the middleman-the managed care industry-thata thriving market with profits that
has broken the traditional doctor-patientundoubtedly  help  to  pay for their agendas.
relationship, while diverting outrageous
amounts of patient care dollars to their own6) A Universal Single-Payer would lower the
coffers.standard of care to a level of mediocrity for
everyone, preventing the affluent from
It would control health care inflationexercising his or her option to obtain the
through constructive mechanisms of costhighest  level  of  care.
containment that improve allocation of our
health care resources, rather thanOur current system is characterized by
controlling costs through an impersonalessentially two alternatives: either no
business ethic that robs patients of care soinsurance with severely impaired access to
as to increase profits for the privilegedeven a mediocre level of care, or being
few. Single Payer Universal Health Care wouldinsured by a managed care industry that has
provide access to high quality care forwhittled down what is available until
everyone  at  affordable  prices.mediocrity has become the standard of care.
Only the relatively affluent have access to
3) Canadians have long waiting periods andunlimited  care.
come to the U.S. for their health care needs.
Therefore, such a plan would make for waitingThe generous level of funds that we have
periods  in  the  U.S.already dedicated to health care, adding to
this a more efficient administration with an
First of all, ask almost any Canadian if theyexclusive mission of optimum patient care
would trade our system for theirs. The answerwell above the mediocrity that we now have,
is  a  resounding  "NO."lays the foundation for a universal health
care  system  in  America.
They may have to wait for elective surgeries,
for instance, but we have to wait for theseA single payer system does not preclude the
kinds  of  surgeries,  as  well.affluent from paying, outside the system, for
a penthouse suite in the hospital, or for
Canadians have the option to buy extracosmetic surgery or for any other service
coverage to get heroic measures covered, saythat would not be part of a publicly funded
in  the  case  of  Cancer  treatment.program.
At 9% of their GDP, they are spending muchBut if Americans knew the truth, and would
less than we are as a nation. We, theturn off their TVs and use that time instead
wealthiest nation on earth, spend 14 % of ourto change this country, using the power of
GDP.grassroots politics, to make a single payer
universal system a reality for all, then we
4) Our country cannot afford to insurewould finally have the best health care
everyone.system  in  the  world.
Our country already has enough fundsAny group with the passion to change the
dedicated to health care to provide theworld, one issue at a time, with a loving
highest quality of care for everyone. Studiesintent,  can  do  it.
have shown that under a single payer system,
comprehensive care can be provided for-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
everyone without spending any more funds than=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
are  now  being  spent.
Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer,
Not only do we have more than sufficientmusician and the creator of the e-book called
funds, we are also a nation that is infamous"Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover
for our excess health care capacity. TypicalYour Calling and Destiny.
of these excesses is the fact that there are



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