subject: Advantages And Disadvantages Of National Health Care [print this page] What will universal health care cost America and what will be get from it? The costs of the new health care system will include increased taxes. In some ways, it won't matter who pays those taxes. If the companies pay them, they will raise the asking price of the products they sell, so the individuals will be hurt as well. If the consumer pays them, then the consumer will have less to pay for merchandise or services, so the companies will be hurt as well.
When we look at the cost of any medical care proposal, we should also look at the price of the existing health insurance and health care system to make comparisons. In the present day health care system, those of us who can pay for health care subsidize those who can't or won't. Your health insurance premiums are higher because your provider has to raise the rates for those who do pay to make up for those who don't pay.
The costs of our present health insurance and health care system include the cost of lower productivity when a worker is unable to work because of a health condition he or she can't afford to treat. The costs of our present health insurance and health care system include the price associated with more kids growing up without a mom or dad.
One of the benefits or today's system is our familiarity with it. It's like an old car that has a broken driver's door and a big gash in the passenger seat. We've gotten used to getting in the car from the passenger side and having a blanket over the gash in the seat. Another car will have problems as well. The car may be better or worse. That part is unknown. What is known is that the car will be unfamiliar and buying a car is a big commitment.
Once we make major changes to our national health care system, we will be unlikely to go back to the old health care system. Even if the new system is decidedly worse, we will be stuck with it. We may have higher asking price or worse care. We may be able to tweak the new system and fix it or we may determine that the infrastructure is so poor that it too requires an overhaul.
Socialized medicine has the potential of boosting our economy. Many people, who are currently shackled to their employers because of the fear of losing their health insurance, may be able to move on to better jobs or start companies and hire others.
Under the present day system, many people are unable to pay for preventative care. They often wind up in the hospital and get expensive surgeries that they can't afford to pay for. These surgeries may prolong their lives, but may or may not allow them to work again. An individual who gets medical care when the problem is a small one may be able to work and pay taxes much longer than the individual who only gets care when the situation is critical.
