Quote Originally Posted by bu villain View Post
For me it's not about who is covered but what care is covered. I advocated giving basic healthcare defined as routine checkups and selected preventative medicine (e.g, vaccines). The full list of what is "basic" would have to be hashed out by doctors and policy makers based on the anticipated quality of life benefits and costs. I believe if people can walk into a doctors office for these sorts of minor things without worrying about the bill, they will be much more likely to become informed and involved with their health.

It could be paid for through the same method our highways, schools, and police departments are. (i.e., taxes). As far as fairness goes, you could make the same argument about any publicly funded goods/services. Is it fair for someone to pay for national highways if they never leave their homes, or to pay for the war in Iraq if they disagree with it?

Basic healthcare services are already cheap enough not to be a problem. CVS Minute Clinics offer basic quick services pretty cheaply, even if you don't have insurance. I don't see where these costs would prevent someone from going to the doctor. If you can't afford $70 for a basic office visit, then you can't afford to have a car, a cellphone, or TV service.
http://minuteclinic.com/services/

According to Blue Cross Blue Shield, the average doctor's office visit is $60. Again, if you can afford to have cable or satellite TV, or a cell phone, or A/C and heat even, then you can afford basic healthcare.

With Walmart offering generic prescriptions for $4 per month, you cannot make a case to provide medications at taxpayers expense either.
http://www.walmart.com/cp/4-dollar-p...com/cp/1078664

Bottom line - Basic healthcare is like changing your oil on your car - insurance isn't meant to pay for everyday costs, or minor repairs - it's there to cover the large costs from major issues. You don't use your house insurance to pay for a new mailbox, or for a broken refrigerator. You pay for those items out of pocket. It seems to me that you really don't understand what insurance is for, and you think that it is a wallet that you can pull from. Let me enlighten you - its not a bank account, so that you can pull out off anytime to pay for minor costs. It's a cost that you pay to have protection IF you need it for a major expense.