Should the U.S. have universal healthcare for children?

[Laughing Sam's Dice]

Do children have the right to healthcare?  Does it make good sense to ensure that all children have access to healthcare regardless of their parents' economic status, political affiliation, or citizenship?  If not, do you believe that the children should suffer if their parents can't afford healthcare?

[ToxicAvenger]

do you believe that the children should suffer if their parents can't afford healthcare?

yes they should..

lemme flip this..

what kinda parent would let their child suffer?


ya need to travel out of sheepland and the US..

[Dos Equis]

Don't they essentially have it already?  Aren't there clinics in most every community that will treat anyone who cannot afford to pay?  There are county and state hospitals, funded by taxpayers, that treat low (or no) income people.  There is also Medical and its state equivalents.  We also have anti-patient dumping laws that require all hospitals to treat anyone who shows up at the ER (though they can bill for their services).    

The quality of care might be an issue, but I think pretty much any poor kid can get medical treatment.  

[Camel Jockey]

What Beach said..

[Decker]

Don't they essentially have it already?  Aren't there clinics in most every community that will treat anyone who cannot afford to pay?  There are county and state hospitals, funded by taxpayers, that treat low (or no) income people.  There is also Medical and its state equivalents.  We also have anti-patient dumping laws that require all hospitals to treat anyone who shows up at the ER (though they can bill for their services).    

The quality of care might be an issue, but I think pretty much any poor kid can get medical treatment.  

You are referring to emergency care which is extremely more expensive than preventive medicine.  Universal Healthcare opens the door to preventive healthcare which should lower overall health costs. 

Why wait until that lump on the neck turns into terminal cancer?

[Dos Equis]

You are referring to emergency care which is extremely more expensive than preventive medicine.  Universal Healthcare opens the door to preventive healthcare which should lower overall health costs. 

Why wait until that lump on the neck turns into terminal cancer?

Only part of what I said refers to emergency care.  MediCal and its state law equivalents (called QUEST in Hawaii) and the numerous community clinics do permit preventive healthcare.  We already have a safety net.  Universal Healthcare might lower some costs, but will significantly increase others. 

But we'll find out just how much the government will sock it to all of us if President Hillary takes over.   

[ieffinhatecardio]

Yes, but how we do it in a cost effective way is a real challenge. As someone else pointed out Emergency Room costs are exhorbitant and they're not a particularly effective means of patient care.

In a perfect world universal healthcare for children would be a wonderful concept, in our world it's not.

[240 is Back]

no the tweeners suffer.  My sister in law makes 35k and is a single mom.  she can't afford the insurance her managerial position offers and pay the bills.  so she's doing piecemeal healthcare and its inadequate.

If she had no job, she'd be getting taken care of well.  Middle class is taking the hit.

[Decker]

Only part of what I said refers to emergency care.  MediCal and its state law equivalents (called QUEST in Hawaii) and the numerous community clinics do permit preventive healthcare.  We already have a safety net.  Universal Healthcare might lower some costs, but will significantly increase others. 

But we'll find out just how much the government will sock it to all of us if President Hillary takes over.   

The only federally mandated healthcare I am aware of is emergency healthcare. 

I looked up Med-Quest for hawaii but I can't find the particulars. 

States can set up whatever system they like but there is no federal safety net. 

What other costs will increase with UHC?

Right now employer provided HC is disappearing.  Profit motive of insurance companies greatly contribute to that.  Government is infinitely more economical in replacing insurance companies in some aspects--look at SS compared to private insurers re coverage and administrative costs.

When you don't have to fund to pay for corporate jets, golden parachutes, executive comp, the savings add up.

[egj13]

no, because quality will suffer in the long run (see military healt system). so instead of 75% getting great care, 100% will get a bandaid station.

[Decker]

no, because quality will suffer in the long run (see military healt system). so instead of 75% getting great care, 100% will get a bandaid station.

In other countries with UHC, private doctors can remain private and tend to all the sick elites they want.

I have more faith in Americans.  I think the US medical community will rise to the occasion.

[Laughing Sam's Dice]

no, because quality will suffer in the long run (see military healt system). so instead of 75% getting great care, 100% will get a bandaid station.

The quality of healthcare (or any other government provided service) suffers when it is under-funded.  The neocons desire to privatize everything has resulted in under-funded services like the VA.   This allows them to claim that the government can't provide good services, and that privatization is the way to go.  What everyone should recognize is that privatization often means cutting services as much as possible in order to increase profit.  Been to an HMO lately?

[Laughing Sam's Dice]

In other countries with UHC, private doctors can remain private and tend to all the sick elites they want.

Exactly, people (or companies) can still pay for whatever private services they want.  UHC just means that everyone has at least a minimal level of coverage for services and medications.

[Decker]

The quality of healthcare (or any other government provided service) suffers when it is under-funded.  The neocons desire to privatize everything has resulted in under-funded services like the VA.   This allows them to claim that the government can't provide good services, and that privatization is the way to go.  What everyone should recognize is that privatization often means cutting services as much as possible in order to increase profit.  Been to an HMO lately?

That's a magnificent point.  The privatizers and defenders of the elites always have a bait and switch procedure to dupe the common man into providing his support.  With VA hospitals, they blame 'big government' for inflated prices when all along they are laughing to the bank with their privatized profits.

[egj13]

The quality of healthcare (or any other government provided service) suffers when it is under-funded.  The neocons desire to privatize everything has resulted in under-funded services like the VA.   This allows them to claim that the government can't provide good services, and that privatization is the way to go.  What everyone should recognize is that privatization often means cutting services as much as possible in order to increase profit.  Been to an HMO lately?

The medical system is screwed because of the fraud insurance raket. I went in for a procedure that cost $4,500. The insurance company only paid out $1275. Med care is so expensive because the Docs need to charge more to get what it really cost.

[Laughing Sam's Dice]

The medical system is screwed because of the fraud insurance raket.

Another reason for universal coverage (public management not private fraud).

[Tre]

I'm fine with the concept of a nationwide 'group plan' that anyone can join, with fair premiums determined by income level. 

The 'subsidy' would be in the form of a gigantic, centralized system that should require FAR less in administrative costs. 

Everyone who has the ability to should have to pay *something* for care, even if it's just a few dollars per visit. 
   

[24KT]

ABSOLUTELY!!!

It's shocking to think that such a well-developed first world nation is unable to provide this for their entire population, ...let alone their children. There are many less developed nations that have access to universal health care. This is a national embarrrasment and a national shame on the part of the USA.

[Dos Equis]

The only federally mandated healthcare I am aware of is emergency healthcare. 

I looked up Med-Quest for hawaii but I can't find the particulars. 

States can set up whatever system they like but there is no federal safety net. 

What other costs will increase with UHC?

Right now employer provided HC is disappearing.  Profit motive of insurance companies greatly contribute to that.  Government is infinitely more economical in replacing insurance companies in some aspects--look at SS compared to private insurers re coverage and administrative costs.

When you don't have to fund to pay for corporate jets, golden parachutes, executive comp, the savings add up.

Medicare and Medicaid = federal safety net. 

What other costs will increase?  How are we going to pay for some new federally mandated program?  I don't know precisely which costs will increase, but the money will come from either taxes or employers passing along the increased costs to consumers.  We, the taxpayers, will pay for it one way or the other.   

And I think there is available "preventive" care available for poor kids.  They don't need much preventive care anyway:  annual physical, teeth cleaned twice a year, and shots.  That's about it.  Pretty much everything else is treatment, which you get with the help of Medicaid, state programs, local clinics, and state and county hospitals. 

[gcb]

Medicare and Medicaid = federal safety net. 

What other costs will increase?  How are we going to pay for some new federally mandated program?  I don't know precisely which costs will increase, but the money will come from either taxes or employers passing along the increased costs to consumers.  We, the taxpayers, will pay for it one way or the other.   

And I think there is available "preventive" care available for poor kids.  They don't need much preventive care anyway:  annual physical, teeth cleaned twice a year, and shots.  That's about it.  Pretty much everything else is treatment, which you get with the help of Medicaid, state programs, local clinics, and state and county hospitals. 

You could always take money out of corporate welfare.

[Tre]

California has the Healthy Families program (formerly AIM) that's especially good for single, working mothers.  

A middle-income family pays a premium of $10-15/month for one child and then there's a small co-pay for all doctor's visits and prescriptions.  You have a choice of doctors on the plan (like an HMO) and in this area, you're almost guaranteed to get a great physician.  Dental and vision coverage is available for a small additional fee.  My daughter hasn't seen a dentist yet, but I'd like to get her in before we have to move to fully private insurance later this year (once the wife and I re-marry...long story).

[OzmO]

Why would universal health care for children be such a bad idea?

We can do it with the existing revenue and won't have to raise taxes.

Of course that would mean the brainwashed drones would have to put their soap boxes away.

[ieffinhatecardio]

Why would universal health care for children be such a bad idea?

We can do it with the existing revenue and won't have to raise taxes.

Of course that would mean the brainwashed drones would have to put their soap boxes away.

It's not but how would it be funded and run in a fiscally responsible way and who would manage such a program? I have serious reservations about our governments ability to manage such a program.

[OzmO]

It's not but how would it be funded and run in a fiscally responsible way and who would manage such a program? I have serious reservations about our governments ability to manage such a program.

totally agree.

(off the top of my head)  How about Privately run and accountable to the government?

[Dos Equis]

You could always take money out of corporate welfare.

Is there a corporate welfare fund?