# A worldwide health care poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 19, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593 "2010-04-19T02:24:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kyrio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@kyrio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kyrio)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/21 "2010-04-20T06:05:32Z")
Pretty simple to answer. I’m pretty sure if politicians in Canada tried to destroy UHC, and were actually getting close to doing it, they would get assassinated. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/22 "2010-04-20T06:17:14Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > It would have been interesting to have poll options solely for those people who have experience of both UHC and US-style: > > - I have experience of US and UHC and prefer US. > - I have experience of US and UHC and prefer UHC. > > I am in the latter category. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/eada6e/32.png) [@\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Undecided_Adrian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/23 "2010-04-20T06:33:51Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > I voted the bottom option, but would note that we can top-up our UHC cover with private insurance if we wish which means we don’t fully rely on UHC. > > (This is in the UK) I think buying _additional_ private insurance for things like dental care, glasses or preferential treatment in hospitals (single room, examinations by the chief attending) is possible in most countries. In Germany, you can also opt out of the public insurance and buy private, which gets you the above benefits. It’s not easy to switch back, though. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/24 "2010-04-20T06:34:58Z")
#7. I am American, but left the US to live in a country with UHC that I can’t get access to (as I am not a permanent resident). However, living here does allow me to buy private insurance that is not available to me in America, and because of UHC any costs are low. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/25 "2010-04-20T06:52:04Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > It would have been interesting to have poll options solely for those people who have experience of both UHC and US-style: > > - I have experience of US and UHC and prefer US. > - I have experience of US and UHC and prefer UHC. > > I am in the latter category. Add me to the list of me too’s. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/26 "2010-04-20T07:08:27Z")
“I live in the USA and I would prefer a UHC style health care system” for me. All the studies I’ve heard of and all the anecdotal reports I’ve heard from people who’ve live with UHC say it is simply better. Our present system is irrational; an artifact of our obsession with the supposed innate superiority of the free market & private sector at everything. We just know that UHC is bad. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/27 "2010-04-20T16:54:51Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > All kidding aside, I think it would be a great change for the US, but I do fear the way it could be mucked up by our government. Ha ha – unlike the thoughtful and fair way that for-profit insurers run things, right? –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/28 "2010-04-20T21:27:54Z")
I’ll admit that this poll wasn’t designed to wrap around every possible scenario and I specifically didn’t want an “other” choice in there. For those that have lived in both places, just pick the country where you currently reside. I’m intrigued at the single vote for Congress’s new system by someone in a country with UHC. I also specifically made a decision that this poll be anonymous but…anyone want to fess up? This could be the break Starving Artist’s been waiting for! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/29 "2010-04-21T02:02:20Z")
Or it could be Starving Artist. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/30 "2010-04-21T03:58:37Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > \ Our present system is irrational; an artifact of our obsession with the supposed innate superiority of the free market & private sector at everything. \ I read recently that one of the functions of government is to protect its citizens, and what seems to have happened in the US is that your citizens need protection from the healthcare insurance system. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/31 "2010-04-21T06:44:56Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > It would have been interesting to have poll options solely for those people who have experience of both UHC and US-style: > > - I have experience of US and UHC and prefer US. > - I have experience of US and UHC and prefer UHC. > > I am in the latter category. I reckon we’re up to “me seven”. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/32 "2010-04-21T06:47:24Z")
Hard for me to answer. I know there are a lot of flaws in our overall system, but I prefer what I have now although it’s not really representative for a lot of the country. US resident. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/33 "2010-04-21T07:13:58Z")
This is a poll that will prove nothing. Most people who live in UHC countries have no idea what health care is like for the 85% of Americans who are happy with the coverage they have now, and they are unaware of just how few of the remaining 15% are in urgent need of health care that they can’t get otherwise. Plus it’s a poll that largely speaks to the choir and appears then to think that the voice of the choir should be decisive. I would imagine that this same poll could be posted on a site with predominantly conservative posters from both here in the U.S. and abroad and achieve a result that is directly opposite to the results that this poll will pull. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/34 "2010-04-21T12:04:42Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > This is a poll that will prove nothing. Well duh. This poll was never meant to “prove” anything other than to answer the question “what do the members of the SDMB think about this particular poll question?” I’ve made no claims to its randomness, its scientific validity, or its authority in quantifying mass opinion. > [@](#): > > Plus it’s a poll that largely speaks to the choir You will note, however, that this poll was created to be as unbiased as possible. So if it “speaks to the choir” the only thing I can really assume is that a great many people on this board care about the health care of their country. But thanks for participating in the poll! I’m glad we could have your opinion on this important subject matter. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/35 "2010-04-21T13:06:25Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > This is a poll that will prove nothing. Most people who live in UHC countries have no idea what health care is like for the 85% of Americans who are happy with the coverage they have now, and they are unaware of just how few of the remaining 15% are in urgent need of health care that they can’t get otherwise. Apart from those of us above who have lived under both systems and are (currently) unanimous in preferring UHC. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/36 "2010-04-21T13:35:48Z")
But hey, what do we know? We never even wore onions on our belts. ---
**Author:** ![Dunkelheit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkelheit/32/248_2.png) [@Dunkelheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunkelheit)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/37 "2010-07-09T18:43:42Z")
I came from the USA (28 years) and have lived in two countries with UHC (11.5 years thus far), and I prefer UHC to no UHC. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/38 "2010-07-09T21:29:50Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I would imagine that this same poll could be posted on a site with predominantly conservative posters from both here in the U.S. and abroad and achieve a result that is directly opposite to the results that this poll will pull. I can pretty much guarantee you that you in the UK at least, that would not be the case. Neither left nor right leaning voters would want to get rid of the NHS. I’m sure that if you ran a poll to that effect you’d find you are wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/39 "2010-07-10T00:04:22Z")
I live in the US and prefer a UHC system. I don’t know who prefers our current system. The only people I can think of are the ideological purists, those who make money on the current system and those who never see the bad side (denials based on technicalities, spending 2x more than any other country, etc). People who are open to less ideological debate, who aren’t gaining from the current system (where large industries push the most expensive treatments possible) and who understand the bad side aren’t going to like our system. But as far as a UHC system, that in and of itself has options. Do people want the current system but a different funding mechanism, or do they want a total restructuring? I want a total restructuring. Let medical professionals decide which procedures offer the most health benefit for the lowest cost/side effect profile, and let everyone into a public plan that covers those treatments. Then anything outside that plan has to be done privately. Pay for it via single payer and a progressive tax structure. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593/40 "2010-07-10T00:08:02Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > This is a poll that will prove nothing. Most people who live in UHC countries have no idea what health care is like for the 85% of Americans who are happy with the coverage they have now, and they are unaware of just how few of the remaining 15% are in urgent need of health care that they can’t get otherwise. > > Plus it’s a poll that largely speaks to the choir and appears then to think that the voice of the choir should be decisive. > > I would imagine that this same poll could be posted on a site with predominantly conservative posters from both here in the U.S. and abroad and achieve a result that is directly opposite to the results that this poll will pull. SD is a moderate left wing board. But even if you poll the elderly in the US and ask them about replacing or removing medicare, you will get the same responses. Conservative, liberal and moderate all want to keep medicare. That is a major reason powerful conservatives hate and fear universal health care. They realize once it passes people will like it, and they will never give it up. It is going to be hard to take away universal health care once people get a taste of it. In the recent health care debates the GOP started pandering to the elderly by saying they were the guardians of medicare. They aren’t, but even they know our single payer, government funded universal system for those 65+ is far too popular to talk about scrapping in place of blue cross. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-worldwide-health-care-poll/536593.md?page=3)