Universal Healthcare

I have talked to many people about universal healthcare, most think of it a what is needed. Most think that healthcare should be free and the government should pay for it! Others think that taxing the rich more to pay for it is alright too. Very few people see the problem with it. Let me tell you some of the issues I see.· Waiting for care.Whenever I go to the V.A, for care I have to call to make an appointment, wait to see the doctor which has taken on average at least three weeks.· Waiting to see specialist.I have been denied the ability to see a specialist for my service connected disability because there was only one in our region, I was informed by the doctor (once he found out I had Tricare) that I should use my private doctor. I was then able to get the X-rays I needed, that can not be used to by the V.A. (will the Government change that policy).· Waiting to get approval for elective surgery.To get additional healthcare that is not life threatening will we have to get government approval? Will we have to wait for some administrator who is completely detached from the situation?· Mediocre healthcare providersAlthough there are many government workers who put there heart and soul into providing the healthcare needed to take care of the patient. The problem is there is no incentive to have the mediocre providers do better; the Government does not foster a reason for people who don't want to do well to improve. The private sector makes you have to do better, otherwise you get fired or no one comes to get care and you loose business.· Substandard equipment.Government equipment is often out of date because no one wants to ok the expenditure of more tax dollars for new equipment. Not to mention that since there is no ownership of the equipment there is no incentive to provide for the maintenance.· Rotational doctors· Having gone to the V.A. since I have been retired I have seen several doctors,· They move around in the V.A. system because they are not happy with the location, the administrator or the work load.· Lack of familiarity with your individual situation.You are seen rarely by the same doctor and spend a great deal of your time trying to go back over your medical history, trying to get what ever medical professional to understand why your in the condition you are. Then they will have to go and re-diagnose your situation.· Government over regulation.The Government will have regulations for everything; think if you’re sick of government red tape what it will be like when they are responsible for every pill, prod or poke that you get.· Over viewOverall my view is this, if the government has failed to run a healthcare system for the veterans for so many years why do you think they will all of a sudden be ready to get it right. In the recent past people have failed to get adequate treatment through the V.A., have been given the wrong medicine, have been administratively lost in the system, have been abused and many other things that have been in the news papers over the years. All you have to do is read about Walter read medical center, the V.A. in Tampa and do basic Google searches. It is unconceivable to think that our government that is often shown to be overwhelmed with fraud, waste and abuse is the one to turn to for medical attention.