• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care coverage?

Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care coverage?

  • Total voters
    17

X Factor

Anti-Socialist
Dungeon Master
DP Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
66,791
Reaction score
39,611
Location
El Paso Strong
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Conservative
Saw this question in an article I was reading, "Is it the responsibility of the federal government to make sure all Americans have health care coverage?" Thought it interesting but I had to shorten it to make it fit, plus I wanted to change from the question of the way it should be rather than the way it is.



 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover

I'm Canadian, of course I say yes.

But you guys are weirdly divided on this subject, so I know that doesn't mean squat... haha
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover

OlNate said:
I'm Canadian, of course I say yes.

But you guys are weirdly divided on this subject, so I know that doesn't mean squat... haha
Click to expand...

How funny, the article I was reading was also by a Canadian.

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/op...5777320/?ref=https://www.theglobeandmail.com&

The author is pretty critical that we don't agree on this point, like the answer should obviously be yes. He described the Canadian health care system as "one size fits all". Would you agree with that characterization? Seriously not playing any kind of game of gotcha. Just curious what your perspective is on your healthcare system.
 
Last edited:
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover

Personally, I feel the answer is yes. I understand there are some different opinions, some more logical than others.

I feel it's relevant to bring EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment And Labor Act) into the discussion, the Reagan era Act that forces emergency service providing medical facilities to treat patients who are unable to pay for services.

Can the government force hospitals and ERs to treat patients for free, but not "make sure" everyone has health coverage? One is simply an extension of the other. By passing EMTALA, the government is trying to make sure medical care is available to everyone in a round about sort of way, even allowing those medical facilities to write off those expenses and essentially reimburse them at tax season. And it's really hard to argue against EMTALA. The hyperbolic (yet mostly true) response to said arguments is something along the lines of patients being locked out of a hospital to die on it's doorstep because they couldn't afford the care they needed.

It seems to me most, if asked, support EMTALA. I don't see how anyone can support EMTALA and answer no to the poll and remain logically consistent. If you see EMTALA as a moral imperative, then how can one draw the line there and say they shouldn't be making sure everyone has coverage? Is EMTALA really a form of coverage in and of itself?
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover

I think the use of terms like “federal” and “coverage” makes the question too specific. The answer to that isn’t necessarily yes but I do think government has a general responsibility to promote the health and welfare of their residents (and to an extent, visitors). The specific methods could vary significantly.
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover


Ya, no gotcha's, please, I'm already working off some bad boy points...hehe...

The Canadian health care system is not without it's frustrations. We do experience wait times for non essential tests and procedures, and it covers your doctor's bills, not your dentist or your glasses or your medications...though there are income based supports for people who can't afford that stuff available. I also know there are people that seek medical attention outside of Canada for various reasons, though that is rare compared to the number of people that use our hospitals and walk in clinics.

That all said, I think that if you asked most Canadians we would rather have it than not. It's been around long enough that if everyone hasn't used it, they know many people who have. I would say by now it is a cultural expectation of ours - the ability to think "I'm sick" without "How much is this gonna cost me". Pre existing conditions do not impact anything, there is no chance that you will walk out of a hospital with a bill (though you can pay to upgrade your room to semi-private or private in certain circumstances). It's a totally different mindset, from what I understand - we can't understand your mindset on healthcare in the same way we can't understand your mindset on walking around armed...it's just that different up here. And that's not necessarily a judgement thing...think of it more like not being able to understand how a fish breathes water...hehe...

So...is it perfect? Nope, nothing is. Do I wish we had your system instead...not a chance. Do I begrudge the fact that I have to pay higher taxes to support it...not at all. I have American friends who will debate on whether or not to get medical attention because they are worried about the cost. That never crosses my mind. That's worth a lot, I think. So, ya...I would say it's one size fits all...I've never been disappointed by it, only marginally annoyed or inconvenienced.

How's that?
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover


I'm perfectly fine with the feds doing things to keep the root causes of healthcare costs down but not using the top down approach they use now. Top down does not address the root causes. I'm also ok with the feds having catastrophic coverage for all Americans that is not really health insurance. It would be catastrophic coverage only and could only be used by say less than 10% of Americans, only the ones who deal with catastrophic situations. I am against the feds providing healthcare for everyone.
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover


What would you say the root causes of high health care costs are? I support single payer because I think the bigger the pool the better. I also have a problem with running health care like a for profit business.
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover


It's the responsibility of the government if we say it's the responsibility of the government. Kinda how that whole democracy thing works...
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover

Absolutely not. It is not the job of the government to take care of the people. It is the job of the people to take care of themselves. The government should only exist t keep the playing field relatively even.
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover

OlNate said:
I'm Canadian, of course I say yes.

But you guys are weirdly divided on this subject, so I know that doesn't mean squat... haha
Click to expand...

I'm not sure Americans are ready to have the "VA experience".
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover

MrPeanut said:
What would you say the root causes of high health care costs are? I support single payer because I think the bigger the pool the better. I also have a problem with running health care like a for profit business.
Click to expand...

First of all, single payer in the US is nothing but a fantasy. It just can't realistically happen. And, the same root causes of healthcare are still very much there under single payer. It is too simplistic to think that if you eliminate insurance companies (the unrealistic fantasy) that healthcare will be cheaper because is isn't the health insurance companies that are the reason for the high root causes of healthcare.

1. Why does a doctor's (especially specialists) education cost so much?

2. Why does that MRI machine cost so much?

3. Why does that facility cost so much to build?

We need to work with providers (including Big Pharma) to come up with solutions to decrease THEIR costs instead of treating them like evil villains.
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover


Point to where I stated that eliminating insurance companies is the reason costs will go down. I only care about the most effective way to solve the problem. It might not be politically viable, for another couple of decades, but it is the eventual answer to the problems we face. We will screw around for years until we decide to bite the bullet and go with the best option.
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover

I voted yes, but I don't think it necessarily has to be the federal government. If state or local governments can pull it off then that is great.

I believe universal healthcare/single payer is in the best interest of our nation.
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover


Yes. Every single american
 
Re: Should it be the job of the fed gov to make sure all citizens have med care cover

chuckiechan said:
I'm not sure Americans are ready to have the "VA experience".
Click to expand...

What's the VA experience?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…