Online Medical Classes

How does Universal Healthcare work?

I live in the USA and I'm doing a research paper about Universal Healthcare. What exactly is it and what are the benefits? The Topic we were given was this: Suppose medical care were made universally available in the United States for all children, as it is in certain European nations. What effect would this policy have on children's early development? This is for my Human Life and Development course in college. I 'd really appreciate any help, I'm needing something to work off of.. Thanks so much!

Public Comments

1. Do you think that just because it's available people will take advantage of it?
2. We have universal health care in Canada for everyone. It means that preventive medicine is possible, and no child dies because of an infected tooth, for example. All children can get the medical care they need in countries with universal health care, with no need of insurance or parents with money. From personal experience in a country with universal health care, yes, people certainly do use it, and very much appreciate it.
3. that subject came up w some of my friends and it was mentioned how it takes soooo long to get an apt for needed care in Canada that if the people had the $$$they came to the states and pd for it because the system was just too over loaded to provide the simplest test in a timely mannner(i think they were referring to adults tho) sounds like the state hospital/charity hospitals and family planning at the health units here.......it takes 9 months just to get an apt for a pap smear or to get birth control pills...gotta have a pap first. sounds pretty good for children but what bout when that child turns 18 and is an adult?????? i really don't know but could be an interesting question if it is backlogged like some people say
4. Universal health care exists much closer than in certain European nations - it is also Canada's health plan. The way it works is exactly the same as private health plans, except everyone is enrolled and the cost is paid from tax revenues. With 100% of the population participating, the 'premium' for each member is much lower than in most private plans, which have smaller enrolments. How it works is it you get sick, you go to see your doctor, he looks you over and figures out what's wrong, prescribes a pill if necessary, or sends you on to a specialist if it's not something that can be handled through general medicine. Specialists and surgeons are also covered, as are hospital bills. If you have 'extras' in your room - TV, telephone, private room, you pay extra for that. But otherwise your hospital visit is free. I recently had an emergency appendectomy. The total bill was $2.19 because I had a telephone in my room. Responding to the previous answer - yes, at times things back up, but that is not the case with routine care. That is for special things like heart surgery that require very high levels of surgical skills and post op care. There was a recent case in Alberta where an expectant mom was sent across the line into a US hospital because there was a 'baby boom' in the town where she lived and there were no free critical care beds for neonatal cases - which was what hers would be. She was sent south because it was closer, in terms of distance, than sending her either east or west. And - the US medical costs were paid by the Canadian government, so it didn't cost her anything.
5. Here in the UK, we have had such a scheme for over 50 years. There are some exceptions, like dental care which most of the population have to pay for, but otherwise, care is free. You pay a fixed per item fee for prescribed medication. The system is somewhat overwhelmed at times and there are waiting lists for many types of treatment. You can usually get an appointment with your local General Practitioner (doctor) within 2 days (the government target). Referrals to see a specialist can take months. We now have 'drop in' centres, where basic heath-care is available 24/7 on a walk in basis. Expect to wait if you arrive at busy times, I have been before 8 am a couple of times and haven't had to wait at all. Here patients are seen on a priority basis, so chest pains (possible heart attack) etc. get to the front of the queue. Most staff in the National Health service are there because it is their vocation, they do it to help people, so generally they are great, but sometimes over worked. Many people in the UK also have medical insurance, this helps cut the waiting time to see a specialist and to get treatment for those that can afford it.
6. Many people would take advantage of Universal Healthcare. Though I do think there are some major problems with health insurance companies, they do withhold many from going to the doctor when they simply get a scrape on their arm or need cold medicine. If it is so good in other countries, then why is there a wait? Think about what would happen if other services and goods were free. How about free universal auto mechanic service? What do you think would happen if food at the supermarket was free for everyone? People would not take pork or hamburger meat when they can reach for nice juicy steaks and prime rib. All of the quality name brand products would be gone; people would take more than they need. This sounds rediculuous because it would never work. If healthcare worked this way many people would die. However, because Universal Healthcare is OPERATED and REGULATED by government, most people do not die, but the quality of healthcare decreases. People do not have the choice to recieve the best treatments and medications that are available. It is pretty much a reality of, "take what you can get whenever you can get it because it is all that is available." I have seen communities in other countries that have all the ill members put their name in a hat, and when a service is available, the "lucky" person who gets their name drawn is finally able to seek treatment. Just getting rid of health insurance companies in America is not going to solve the healthcare problem because the whole system is driven by profit. If pharmaceutical companies are faced with price regulations, they will decrease their reasearch, development, and testing of new drugs. If hospitals are not allowed to make as much money they will let go of doctors and nurses, cut spending on new technology, and limit other services like sanitiation to make up what they have lost. We all know that this would not work in America, so naturally taxes would have to be increased.
7. hi