http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/should-the-us-adopt-a-single-payer-health-care-program Opposing Views - Should the U.S. Adopt a Single-Payer Health Care Program? http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/how-to-achieve-universal-coverage-with-market-based-reforms There’s a lot the U.S. can do to improve our health care system without a wholesale takeover by the government: Change the tax code. Individuals should have the same tax incentives as employers who offer coverage.  For example, there... PRI Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:28:24 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/how-to-achieve-universal-coverage-with-market-based-reforms http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/should-low-cost-health-care-be-our-ultimate-goal It’s true that in the United States, health care costs are higher – for example in the U.S. the cost is 16 percent of GDP while in Canada it is 9 percent. But the Canadian government sets a global budget on what the state can afford. As a... PRI Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:28:18 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/should-low-cost-health-care-be-our-ultimate-goal http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/its-a-myth-that-single-payer-systems-provide-better-care People who make this claim usually note that life expectancy is higher in countries where socialized medicine is practiced, such as Canada and Europe. But life expectancy is influenced by variables aside from the quality of a country’s health care... PRI Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:28:04 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/its-a-myth-that-single-payer-systems-provide-better-care http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-unifies-us-through-social-solidarity The citizens of all other democratic nations share our view that individual freedom and rights must be protected at all costs. They also share the view that we as a society should join together for the common good. Our governments serve us well... PNHP Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:11:40 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-unifies-us-through-social-solidarity http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-eliminates-rationing-based-on-ability-to-pay All health care systems limit care based on the availability of funds to pay for that care. Since the United States already pays far more per capita than any other nation for health care, we should have the least amount of rationing. But we... PNHP Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:11:35 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-eliminates-rationing-based-on-ability-to-pay http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-expands-freedom-of-choice Most private plans now used preferred provider lists or closed panels of physicians and restrictions on the freedom to choose hospitals, laboratories and other health care facilities and providers. Public programs for low-income individuals limit... PNHP Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:11:30 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-expands-freedom-of-choice http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-covers-everyone-for-life For various reasons, most reform proposals fall short of covering everyone. Mandating coverage that can’t be paid for, or restricting qualifications for coverage based on employment, age, income, preexisting disorders or other factors continually... PNHP Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:11:26 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-covers-everyone-for-life http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-provides-comprehensive-benefits Many suggest that we should guarantee only “basic” benefits for all of us, but then, for those who have the money and wish to pay for more comprehensive services, we should allow them to do so. But what does that mean? Would a person with... PNHP Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:11:22 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-provides-comprehensive-benefits http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-makes-health-care-affordable-for-each-individual The single payer model does away with a system in which payment for coverage is based on the value of the benefits provided by insurance plans. Private health plans no longer work because the premium that has to be charged for a reasonably... PNHP Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:11:18 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-makes-health-care-affordable-for-each-individual http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-slows-cost-escalation It has been suggested by the proponents of some of the leading models of reform that we can control costs through measures such as the adoption of electronic medical records, integrated information technology, disease management, prevention... PNHP Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:11:16 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-slows-cost-escalation http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/current-flawed-financing-system-impairs-affordable-access-to-care The Office of the Actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services projects that our national health expenditures (NHE) will be $2.4 trillion this year. This is more than enough to provide comprehensive health care services for everyone. PNHP Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:11:13 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/current-flawed-financing-system-impairs-affordable-access-to-care http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-rations-care-based-on-what-the-bureaucrats-decide When health care is “free” to the people, it’s really government deciding how much of your tax dollars it will spend to provide what’s supposedly “free.” Inevitable, this means that bureaucrats will decide who gets care and who... PRI Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:18:40 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-rations-care-based-on-what-the-bureaucrats-decide http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-limits-freedom-of-choice Single payer limits freedom of choice – just ask Canadians living under a single payer system.  Canada must limit the access to common medical technologies widely available in the U.S.   When compared to other OECD countries... PRI Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:18:14 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-limits-freedom-of-choice http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-health-care-will-lower-the-quality-of-care-in-the-us Americans need only look at Medicaid to see how poorly government delivers care. The care that’s delivered through this government program clearly falls short of the standards most Americans are used to receiving through private insurance... PRI Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:17:49 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/single-payer-health-care-will-lower-the-quality-of-care-in-the-us