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you get fired or no one comes to get care and you loose business.· Substandard equipment.Government equipment is often out of date because no one wants to ok the expenditure of more tax dollars for new equipment.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.

Who should pay?

Why is it there are people saying that we need Universal Healthcare for everyone even Illegal alians when the second biggest contributor to the Mexican economy is the money sent home by Illegals? If they can send billions home they can pay for their own healthcare.

The first failure.

As a retired veteran, I use the VA. I have to tell you if you think that you should have universal health care then you need to be a veteran and see how that works for you. Different doctor each time, being told all is well when your in pain. The secretaries are great and the nurses are top notch, but the doctors on average have their hands tied and the administrators are the ones who make it hard for good care. Yeah the VA, it's the first failure of Universal health care.

Universal healthcare

As a veteran with service connected disability I have been both privileged and pained to have to use the V.A. system.
In the past year I have went to see the doctor about my disabilities, It took a week just to get to see the doctor. My complaint that time was that I think I have not been properly diagnosed as having arthritis. The doctor waffled about how long it would take to see a specialist because there is only one for our area. After some discussion I stated “I don’t care if I have to use my own doctor, I just wanted to have it properly diagnosed”.
The doctors entire demeanor changed”yes” he said. “Go to your own doctor”. So I had to go to my own doctor, pay a co-pay out of my own pocked. Spending my own money to get a referral, then I had to pay a even larger co-pay to get my x-rays and have a doctor confirm my suspensions. All because a government ran healthcare system couldn’t take care of me. The answer was going to a private doctor.
Some one please explains how universal healthcare will make the doctors better or get more specialist into the system?
Next my daughter had to go to the E.R.; she spent 10+ hrs there before being scene. Someone explain to me how pumping millions of people into the system will make it easier to be scene in a timely manner?
Universal healthcare is a pipe dream that is pumped into the heads of those who either, can’t afford healthcare or those who empathize for those needy, and those who want to use the government to have more control over your everyday life.
Tort reform, insurance reform and tax breaks (both property and payroll) to help doctors started.

Calling the VA

I called the V.A. today to see about getting a doctor to talk to me about my MRI, I was told that the doctor reviewed them and that everything is normal. Why is it I have sharp back pain when I do heavy lifting? or when I lift and turn? or when I sleep on a soft surface?

Universal health care will be just like the VA, not able to help when your in pain!