Changes

There are several different ways of paying for health care, including private insurance, government-supplied insurance, single payer [[health insurance]] or health savings accounts.

There are several different ways of paying for health care, including private insurance, government-supplied insurance, single payer [[health insurance]] or health savings accounts.

The [[United States]] has a mixture of public and private insurance programs.<ref>[http://city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html]</ref>

The [[United States]] has a mixture of public and private insurance programs.

[[Massachusetts]] under [[Mitt Romney]] enacted something close to '''universal health care''',the [[Massachusetts Plan]], and it has resulted in the predictable problem of long waiting lines for care.  In the case of one physician, she does not have an opening for a routine physical for more than a year into the future.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/us/05doctors.html?_r=1&ex=1208232000&en=edd47716a3c98fbf&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin</ref>  Residents of [[Massachusetts]] are required to purchase insurance or else be penalized for not having it, and after purchasing the insurance they are demanding care that is straining the system of physicians.

[[Massachusetts]] under [[Mitt Romney]] enacted something close to '''universal health care''',the [[Massachusetts Plan]], and it has resulted in the predictable problem of long waiting lines for care.  In the case of one physician, she does not have an opening for a routine physical for more than a year into the future.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/us/05doctors.html?_r=1&ex=1208232000&en=edd47716a3c98fbf&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin</ref>  Residents of [[Massachusetts]] are required to purchase insurance or else be penalized for not having it, and after purchasing the insurance they are demanding care that is straining the system of physicians.

:"... everyone in the U.S. can get care regardless of income. In 1986 the [[U.S. Congress]] passed the [[Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act]]. This requires [[emergency room]]s to treat any person who shows up seeking medical treatment, regardless of their ability to pay." [http://www.freemarketcure.com/singlepayermyths.php]

:"... everyone in the U.S. can get care regardless of income. In 1986 the [[U.S. Congress]] passed the [[Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act]]. This requires [[emergency room]]s to treat any person who shows up seeking medical treatment, regardless of their ability to pay." [http://www.freemarketcure.com/singlepayermyths.php]

Free Market Health Care is paradoxical. Healthy people are the highest earners.  Healthy people can afford to pay for medical treatment but do not need it.  Less healthy people need more treatment but can pay less.  The most unfortunate are those born with chronic illnesses or disabilities.  Such patients may in the worst cases never in their lives earn the money they need to pay for medical treatment.  Universal Health Care is seen as compassionate.  It looks after those who through no fault of their own cannot look after themselves.

Free Market Health Care is paradoxical. Healthy people are the youngest, least able to afford care, and no incentive to plan for unlikely need for insurance.  Less healthy people need more treatment but usually cannot afford the cost.  The most unfortunate are those born with chronic illnesses or disabilities.  Such patients may in the worst cases never in their lives earn the money they need to pay for medical treatment.  Universal Health Care is seen as compassionate.  It looks after those who through no fault of their own cannot look after themselves.

Most developed countries have instituted various types of universal health care, though most [[conservatives]] say with inadequate results (lengthy waiting times, for example). Cuba is another country with  woefully inadequate socialized health care. In Canada, it is illegal for a doctor to "bill" a patient, but one doctor found many people suffering while waiting months or years for treatment. He sued the government, appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, and won (see Dr. [[Jacques Chaoulli]]).

Most developed countries have instituted various types of universal health care, though most [[conservatives]] say with inadequate results (lengthy waiting times, for example). Cuba is another country with  woefully inadequate socialized health care. In Canada, it is illegal for a doctor to "bill" a patient, but one doctor found many people suffering while waiting months or years for treatment. He sued the government, appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, and won (see Dr. [[Jacques Chaoulli]]).

==Opponents of Universal Health Care==

==Opponents of Universal Health Care==

[[Conservatives]] and [[libertarians]] believe that, in general, the more government control over health care, the worse it gets. For example, they argue that the U.S. produces the most new drugs and techniques because the largely unhindered [[free market]] system provides incentives for innovation and efficiency. Some conservatives and most libertarians argue that there could be even fewer restrictions and regulations, thereby improving health care even further.

[[Conservatives]] and [[libertarians]] believe that, in general, the more government control over health care, the worse it gets. For example, they argue that the U.S. produces the most new drugs and techniques because the largely unhindered [[free market]] system provides incentives for innovation and efficiency. Some conservatives and most libertarians argue that there could be even fewer restrictions and regulations, thereby improving health care even further. <ref>[http://city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html]</ref>

*The '''[[The Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]''' [http://www.cato.org/healthcare/] is in favor of free market solutions to health care, and advocates health savings accounts in combination with high-deductible private insurance plans.

*The '''[[The Cato Institute|Cato Institute]]''' [http://www.cato.org/healthcare/] is in favor of free market solutions to health care, and advocates health savings accounts in combination with high-deductible private insurance plans.