Should the United States adopt a nationalized health insurance plan in which doctors, hospitals and the health care delivery system would be under the control of the federal government?
Background
Health insurance remains an unobtainable luxury to over 43 million U.S. citizens. Millions more live on the edge with only minimal, limited coverage. As health care costs continue to soar, and the overall health of Americans remains relatively poor compared to similar industrialized nations, the masses of the uninsured will continue to grow.
Health care spending increased 7.7 percent in just one year during 2003 -- four times the inflation rate.
Seeing their health insurance premium costs grow by about 11 percent yearly, many U.S. employers are dropping their employee health care plans. Health coverage for an employee with three dependants will cost an employer about $10,000 per year. Premiums for single employees averages $3,695 a year.
Many suggest that America's health care solution is a nationalized health plan, under which medical care for all citizens would be paid for by the federal government and provided by doctors and hospitals regulated by the government. What are the good and not-so-good points of nationalized health care? [Read more...]
