Posted by BreathingEZ on January 31, 2008 at 16:50:17:

In Reply to: Re: Universal Health Coverage needed posted by Captin Cannuck on January 30, 2008 at 18:59:44:

I don't know about others, but I read this forum for information regarding sleep apnea, not for extended arguments for universal health care.

I would also question the wisdom of accepting Michael Moore's vision of anything as "reality."

Universal health care coverage is one of those ideas that sounds good, but which may be another thing entirely in practice. Speaking as someone who's reaching their "golden years," it worries me that any government managed program is apt to establish criteria that will put certain procedures off limits for people of a certain age. Why spend thousands of tax dollars providing extraordinary medical care for someone who the actuarial tables say will likely die in a few years anyway? Want a new liver? Sorry, we only do liver transplants for people under the age of 50. Want the latest cancer treatment? Too expensive for someone in your age group--counterproductive, really.

I know people who live in much nicer houses than my wife and I because they choose to go without medical insurance and use their money on frivolous luxuries. When they need medical care, they expect the government to come to their rescue. Hey, folks, read American history. The socialistic world we're creating is much different than that created by our American forefathers who made this country great. Everyone deserves basic health care, but beyond that I see it as a privilege, not a right. Does anyone really think that the government can inject itself into anything and make it better? It can add level after level of bureaucracy, and rules enough to confuse everyone, but I still believe that the free enterprise system, even in medicine, is the American way, and the best way.

If you think that universal health care will somehow allow the poor to get the same wonderful health care that's available to the rich, I think you're fooling yourself. The rich will purchase supplemental private coverage, or pay cash, to ensure they still get the care they need when they need it.

I really don't want to get caught up in an argument, though. You can feel anyway you want to about universal health care, but I for one would like to see this forum remain focused on apnea and its treatment and not drift off into political arguments, and especially not arguments centered on a liberal muckraker like Michael Moore.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Universal Health Coverage needed Barb (Seattle) 12:00 2/01/08 (0)
• Re: Universal Health Coverage needed Bird Watcher 07:43 2/01/08 (1)
  • Re: Universal Health Coverage needed Barb (Seattle) 12:04 2/01/08 (0)

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