What Universal Healthcare Means To Me
Last week, I had a debate with a gay man over universal healthcare. He has decided that he is going to vote for John McCain because he is against universal healthcare.
Because this is America, we have a system that gives us a choice. Since this person I was talking to feels this way, he has the right to vote for McCain and to oppose universal healthcare. But the sad part is this man is very misinformed about what universal healthcare is. He thinks it’s a big ploy to make Americans with jobs pay for “lazy people” who don’t work so they can leech off him and get coverage too. Ultimately, this man thinks that universal healthcare is going to steal from his paycheck in order to help others.
This is simply untrue. Please allow me to tell you why…
The Bush administration gives tax cuts to people who make more than $250,000 per year. Sadly, that’s the Republican way. Didn’t Robin Hood steal from the rich to give to the poor? Why are we stealing from the poor to give to the rich?
Barack Obama wants to stop giving tax cuts to the wealthy. By ending these tax cuts, we will be able to take that money and invest it towards coverage for people who need it.
So I guess this man had the idea partially right. He was afraid universal healthcare would affect him. Well if he makes more than $250,000, then yes it does. But the bigger issue is that he shouldn’t be getting a tax cut to begin with!
I am very happy for anyone who is wealthy, and they deserve their money as much as the next guy. But I don’t believe that the wealthier people in this country deserve a break. On the contrary, I think the people who can’t even afford to go to the doctor are the ones who deserve a break.
I support universal healthcare. I always have. Now as far as people being “lazy”…
It is not up to us to decide the definition of laziness. In other countries, citizens have affordable healthcare regardless of how “lazy” they may be. Laziness is a very loose term and it’s all dependent on a person’s definition. So we can’t exactly work it into a policy, now can we?
With that being said, it just makes sense to help people get coverage if they need it.
I am a prime example. I am self employed, and I pay $145 per month for health insurance. And that is minimal coverage. If I got severely sick, I would still have some very high hospital bills. Did you know that millions of Americans lose their home each year because of their medical bills? How can anyone believe people should lose their homes because they are sick? That just doesn’t sound like the American dream to me.
I called to see about getting a lower rate on my policy. The woman on the phone had to hold back her laughter as she said “I’m sorry, you’re on a budget plan. The rate you pay is actually considered to be low.”
What? I am 26-years-old. I have normal cholesterol, normal blood pressure, no history of medical problems, and $145 per month is considered a “budget” health plan? I shudder to think how much it would cost if I were 50 and had health problems.
That is why our current system is flawed. We should not discriminate against people and charge them according to their age. We all get older, we all need medical care with age. That’s a fact of life.
If you have concerns about universal healthcare, I encourage you to download this PDF from Barack Obama’s website, which covers the frequently asked questions about it.
You will find that nobody will be forced to use universal healthcare if they don’t want it. If you are happy with your current coverage, it will stay the same, and might even be lower.
Sometimes change makes people nervous, and I respect that. But we just can’t afford 4 more years of the same old stuff from Washington… the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer.
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ABOUT MCCAIN, IGNORANCE CERTAINLY IS BLISS…
Two thoughts:
1. The costs for healthcare must be paid for somehow, someway…no matter whose in office or who is offering the care. The guy IS ALREADY PAYING for it whether he realizes it or not. Silly boy.
2. He obviously hasn’t had to deal with it personally yet…buying health insurance for himself on the street ($400-$500 a month??) or for his family ($700-$1000 a month??). I always say that until it happens in your backyard or to your pocketbook, you/we have no idea.
^ Indeed… and another thing people don’t realize is that we are paying for the Iraq war… one way or another. What are up to now? Billions, trillions? That money comes from somewhere, I can assure you.
And we haven’t even covered all the money being given to big oil companies through millions of dollars in tax breaks.
The money to insure those who need it IS AVAILABLE… it’s just a matter of re-structuring our country’s spending in a way that benefits us.
A picture is worth a thousand words…
http://www.gadling.com/media/2007/07/healthcareworldbig.jpg
I’m totally with you on this!
as someone who is 55 with minimal health problems (I am a little overweight) my premiums are $229 per month, but my school district pays another $300. Do the math, my coverage, which is, admittedly, excellent coverage, costs $529 a month as a “group” plan. If I were to lose this job, I would be SOL!