That is correct.

Seriously though... I see people suggesting healthcare should be socialized because it's peoples lives.

Why isn't food then? Or Water... or numerous other things more important to living?

I mean based on one poster's expierence the average poor person in the UK lives like a homeless man with free health insurance.

I'd definitly much rather be poor in the US then UK.

36 Costa Rica 37 United States of America What idiotic made up bullshit list is this? I think I'd take the US health care system over Costa Rica's or any other country on that list.

good list, good thread, NHS FTW!

check out the logo in my sig!

We have public schools in the US, but they have only been paid for with federal tax dollars since 1953.

The schools in 1952, were far better then they are today. Socializing them has been a great injustice to every child in the US.

Please don't use how our education system has worked, as an example of how you would like our healthcare system to work.

If healthcare were more like a business, then it would certainly save a TON more lives than it does in its current state.

Hehe.  The idiots who made up this list were the World Health Organisation, who might perhaps know a little more and be slightly more objective than you when it comes to accessing standard of health care.

This scale is actually only based on the performance of the health system, the US actually fairs significantly worse on the level of health, ranking in at 72.  The only area where the US is close to the top of the list is health expenditure per capita.

The facts tell us that there are many countries in the world where the health systems are better and the people enjoy a better standard of health than the US.  You have a right to personal preference and your opinion, but you also have the right to be wrong.  If your choice of the US health system is based on the assumption that it is better by any objective assessment, then your choice is ill informed.

Here is an article addressing this issue, if you care to read it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/opinion/12sun1.html

we simply need a triage mentality from a public health perspective. If someone has TB we need that shit treated. We don't want the XRD (or whatever its called) TB spreading in the United States - Then a great number (hard working or not) will lose all segments of their life.

 I agree. It reminds me of Kaiser - How do you keep customers with joint problems coming back? Pain Killers! Surgery is pretty much off the table.

On a serious note: HMOS actually do some really good stuff. They are really into preventive health because they don't want some sick fool cutting out of their profit, understandably. This sort of model is encouraging but it also leaves a lot to be desired once someone's sick-not to mention emergencies where a Kaiser isn't available. Nonetheless I like the preventative model.

The key factor is the nature of healthcare compared to food.  Healthcare is an "emergency" service like police protection, fire protection, natural disaster protection, national defense protection, etc.  You shouldn't have to be making decisions about how much something costs when your life is in danger.  Food doesn't really fit into that category.  Sure, it is necessary, but its not something that the government is even in a good position to provide or that presents a compelling reason why the government should provide it compared to the private sector.

Now the flip-side of that obviously is that the government at some point will decide when something is unnecessary and that they aren't willing to pay for it.  This isn't exactly a new phenomenon as insurance companies do this on a daily basis, and it can be particularly harsh if your insurance coverage is low, it is below your deductible, etc.

So the real question is, do you trust insurance companies more or the government.  Fuck insurance companies, I'll take my chances with the government.  They've already demonstrated that they have no concern whatsoever for their policy holders.

Not to mention you won't see private care disappear altogether (kind of like private schools).  If you don't like what the government provides, you won't have to use it.