"Medicare for all" might be as good as Japan's health care

Natasha had a skiing accident in Japan and needed complicated treatment and physical therapy. Disappointed and incensed that the US health care system was too focused on corporate profit to provide the care she needed, she decided to get it taken care of in Japan. She describes her experience.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• health care
• Sen. Wyden
• corruption
• sports injury
• Japanese health care
• skiing accident
• HB 676
• Medicare for all

[leonheart00]

Hmm.... all I can say is the real enemies are the pharmaceutical companies and to some extent the corruption of the FDA. If we could lower the costs of all treatments across the board then we could have a good working nationalized healthcare system. I am afraid if we do it here however, it will be like all other forms of socialism in America. Minority preference, trashy facilities with angry governent beurocrats running it and telling you to queue up.

[davejwj]

So what forms of socialism in America would you be referring to? Roads, fire departments, police, military, Post Office?

Or maybe you are thinking of services to poor people like food stamps or jails? I'd say these trashy "services' are deliberately nasty in order to keep it cheap and to discourage people from using them

[hikrose]

I was in Japan as a grad student (at age 46). I had national health care coverage there during that time. I only used it a couple of times, but found it to be good treatment, prompt, no appointment needed and not a long wait, and at a great price.

[todddoom]

I don't believe you. If you are telling the truth why are there so many videos on youtube talking about how many problems there are in Japan's health care? Are we supposed to believe you because you say so? You have no verifiable facts.

[samOFblorx]

About schools:

When I was in jr. high, my school took out a govt. loan to upgrade the gym.  As a result of the debt, by my sophomore year of high school, my English class was unable to take the yearly trip to see Hamlet the play. I think school officials have their priorities screwed up. The building is pretty, but the quality of education leaves something to be desired.

[samOFblorx]

Yes, exactly. Even if the govt. just helped people pay for private insurance and closely regulated the companies, you'd have to be very careful not to stifle the free market with TOO many regulations.

Ultimately, all companies answer to the govt. anyway. It's just a matter of moderation.

[samOFblorx]

Oh thank you. ;) About competition, I'm not naive enough to think that a public option wouldn't become THE option. Think about it: insurance paid for by you, or insurance paid for by someone else? Pretty obvious, eh? I think under Obama's plan, you're required to either pay for a private plan or sign up for the govt. one. What would you do?

[leonheart00]

I used the walmart example to parallel the survival of the fittest nature of capitalism. It makes people HAVE to be inventive to survive and eventually benefits mankind. However we cannot let monopolies run so rampant that absolutely noone can compete, but how do we do this without turning walmart into a government run store? Isn't that still going to be a monopoly of government? The US government keeps up with school buildings at least, but it seems our education system lacks. Any thoughts?

[leonheart00]

Sam, I like the way you think. First of all I commend your open mind to alternative ideas. Our real problem seems to be competition, I think what happens in time with competition is that eventually a monopolizing solution provider comes into power such as Walmart did with retail. This is terrible because mom and pops die, however out of necessity for the capitalist to survive they must tend to another need that Walmart cannot for exqmple. Thus organic food markets and gourmet markets are rising.

[leonheart00]

No, I just meant I have heard alternative ideas brewing even from conservative politicians on television. However, not this one, I heard that when I was debating someone a long time ago on this topic. Back then I was in favor of a single payer system, of course I put a lot more thought into the consequences in the US. I think we rarely take our socioeconomic related issues when we consider comparing ourselves to other countries. I just wonder, has this idea actually been brought up in the house?

[samOFblorx]

I get you. I wouldn't want that to happen either, but from what I've heard, it's really not as bad as we've been made to believe, and I don't think we'd ever let it get as bad as Ethiopia. I'm mostly concerned with the cost. Everyone might be getting care anyway, but that doesn't make the deficit go away.