SgtHeihn wrote:
The big business wont let their money trough go. I went to the hospital because I was sick as a dog and could barley breathe, I didn't have my VA health card yet so the hospital charged me and I sent the bill to them(VA) The total was well over $17k. Most hospitals here in the US are privately owned, the owners wont want to give up that kind of money for a Federal set rate.
Well the idea of universal health care falls down before it begins then. If your running that many private hospitals, to the point they are a majority, the tax money isn't going to go back into the system. It will, as you alluded too, end up in the pockets of the big business owners.
It's not a good idea to have competing health care providers. Lowering costs to attract customers inevitably ends up lowering standards.
The main point of a universal health care system is that the prices are fairly even (and in most cases
better than private insurance) and the bulk of the cost is paid for by the tax payer.
The system in Australia allows for totally free doctor visits, and consultations for example. Paid for by the ordinary tax payer, but it's the sick and needy who now don't have to worry about paying a doctor just to look at them.
If you want to see an expert private health insurance doctor, they will charge you in addition to the annual fee your paying them anyway.
Ironically, if it's just for a visit, most private health insurance owners will visit a general GP because it is free.
Because it's tax money going towards the doctors and hospitals, it can be regulated, balanced and adjusted where necessary by the state and federal Governments.
When a hospital has a drop in standards, there's usually the blame game played by either state or federal, but sufficient tax payer money is usually injected soon after.
There's pros and cons and it's unfortunate Americans haven't been able to enjoy such benefits.
