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How do you think America's health care system should be changed?

I have just finished watching a film called "Sicko" and almost cried aftrer being reminded of how insane Americ'a health care system is. Anyone who is saying America should keep the current system should watch this film and realize how much it is devastating millions of working class Americans. I am not a big fan of universal health care either, but it certainly works better for all the people who can't afford high medical bills. One thing that totally surprised me was, there have been a lot of lies and myths about universal health care. It doesn't really require long wait times and it doesn't take that long to get treated. The film producer interviewed people in the waiting room in a major city in Canada, and it points out Americans have been fooled by all the wealthy and heartless republicans and insurance company CEOs. But I still stand my ground on my belief that UHC is not a perfect system, although it is much better than America's system. What are the pros and cons of universal health care system? How should America change its most expensive health care system in the world? It already seems if Barack Obama is backing away from his promise to provide affordable health care to everyone due to other issues (What is more important than life-threatening issues?) If you were the president of America, how would you improve the health care system? I will look foward to hearing your answers with great policy suggestions.

Public Comments

1. I only have an example here...I need a surgery. The doctor who was to do it called me and said she was unable to renew her malpractice insurance because it was $106,000.00 PER YEAR!!! I was shocked! So now I am going through another surgeon and I asked the new Dr about it and he said it was because malpractice suits are off the hook and need to have a cap. Soooo my suggestion is to put a cap on malpractice suits - that's just the beginning though, I don't actually know what will FIX it.
2. Stacey you have to understand change is NOT going to come easily for President Obama. He's got a big mess to clean up, multiple wars to deal with (the one in the middle east, health care, the economy).... we need to give this president a fair chance. Change could take years. He addressed that in his speech. It may take even more than one term. He's got a lot of work to do.
3. Had a nice $1,500,000 heart transplant gratis medi-caid They realy should re-establish the priorities
4. The propaganda you the US citizens are fed is crazy. I saw SICKO and was dumbfounded about the poor system thrust upon you. In Australia we still have a surplus and provide free universal health care to every man, woman and child. Those of us who earn more take out private cover and pay taxes for Medicare but we are happy to do us to retain an egalatarian society. Free health care and free education is a right for every citizen and if you don't have those rights you don't have a free society.
5. Universal healthcare does not really equate to affordable health care. Even Obama's plan would not have changed this for people who already have group coverage from an employer. Canada's healthcare costs are contained not by the "universal" aspect of healthcare, but by the "socialized". In essence the socialized, or government run component of Canada's system allows costs to be kept down. So while you might get billed $8 for a single Advil here in the US, that won't happen in Canada. I think universal healthcare should be available, but not mandated. So if you want or need it it's there and you can't be denied coverage. But if you are healthy or lucky and don't want it, that's your choice. If you do want it you would still have to pay premiums monthly as we do now. Also there should be a two tier system, a socialized component to keep costs down for those who can afford that, and a private system for those that can afford better coverage. This is not so different than what we have now with medicare/medicaid and private insurance. What I do like about Canada is that everyone pays premiums, so it's not "free healthcare" as many think it is, but there are aslo subsidies based on earnings (or lack of). I also like that Canada basically has a "user tax", in that things like cigarettes and alcohol are heavily taxed and some of that also goes towards paying for health care. Having worked in healthcare in both Canada and the US for many years, I don't think the logistics of doing this are all that hard. Since we do have a government run healthcare system in place with medicare, that part can be extended to provide a universal "blanket", and legislation to mandate that coverage be available for everyone should not be too hard with a Democrat controlled congress. And as far as paying premiums for government health care, hey they know how to get our money already too. I always thought it strange that they have passed laws that everyone must have auto insurance; you can't be denied even for being a poor driver, but they won't do it with health insurance, so that the minute you have a health problem you can be denied (under most non-group coverage plans). The obstacle to changing health care in the US is unfortunately the numerous lobby groups and associations who are doing well under the current system, and unfortunately this has included both the American Medical Association and the health insurance industry, as both those groups are driven by the significant loss of earnings they would see under a universal and socialized system.
6. Health-care reform is needed because companies and workers in America about 16% wages towards health-care. Also, we cannot afford medicare thusami coming around without cut in benefits or raise in taxes. The problem is complex because technology and innovation are driving health-care costs higher beyond people ability to pay for it. Health-care reform gonna require higher taxes period because have haphazard system in place now drives up costs by forcing people to ER who have no health coverage. Universal coverage is the way to go but I want employer based healthcare system dismanted, and Obama plan does not go far engouh to delinking workbased coverage like McCain. Dont think Obama plan will pass the house and Senate will be fillbusted or another plan will take it place that have better odds of passing both chambers.
7. No socialized health care! Read this article: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1185006/is_socialized_health_care_fair.html?cat=75