In the year 2003 President George Bush and Congress benefited politically by the expansion of Medicare and the inclusion of prescription drug benefits
But, according to many Americans the single payer health insurance system will not work because it is unlikely that Americans will accept any system which compels them to reschedule their options according to the central government when it is a question of making basic health care choices. They, like Senator John Edwards, believe that universal health care would be preferable in that it would “require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care."
The supporters of the universal health care program believe that the extension of Medicare to include all Americans would benefit America's economy three fold.
Firstly, and very importantly, administrative expenses would be reduced. Then, expensive visits to the emergency room for people who at the moment to do not have insurance would be replaced with more reasonably priced preventive care. Finally, American manufacturers who at present shoulder far more excessive health care costs than their overseas competitors do would be more successful in the arena of global competitiveness.
However, in spite of opinions such as these there are many who support the Federal government's Medicare program.
Opponents to the universal health care plan feel that although it sounds good, it could possibly be disadvantageous for working people who already have their own insurance.
Employers with health-care costs eating away at their competitiveness under such a plan, workers who have increasing co-pays and lessening paybacks, and the health professionals who could face increased expenses with Medicare simultaneously slashing their payments would not be appreciative of it.
And then there are those who in spite of being covered by insurance are all too often denied treatment considered necessary to their health by their doctors.
Besides, although the United States allocates far more than even other developed countries do to health care, and has the most advanced medical care facilities world wide, it does not fare too well on such issues as infant mortality.
Granted, the 47 million without insurance should be able to obtain medical help, many feel, but not necessarily universal health care.
And so the debate rages……
