As usual when I pontificate about health care, something that I know very little about, my liberal sister, who happens to have an advanced degree and work in the field likes to set me straight. Here is her response to one line of my universal health care posting.

[R]egarding your health care topic...I beg to differ with your statement that "While it is expensive, our health care system works. People have access to care in a timely manner."

"A decade’s worth of research since the last health reform debate underscores the value of health coverage. Numerous studies have documented that being uninsured is associated with delayed prevention, low adherence to recommended care, and worse outcomes. For example, about 25 percent of uninsured adults report delaying or forgoing needed health care due to cost, five times higher than the rate among insured people. Uninsured people who were injured or developed a chronic illness were less likely to receive initial and follow-up care, impeding recovery and accelerating the worsening of the condition. One study found that the risk of death is typically 25 percent higher for uninsured versus insured patients. Roughly, 22,000 people die each year due to lack of coverage. This is higher than number of people who died of homicide in 2006 (17,034)." http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/03/lambrew_testimony.html

I also suggest you read the KFF brief: http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/1420-10.pdf

Not having insurance has financial and health consequences. The UC system mandated insurance for its students when they learned that 25% of students who were dropping out did so for medical reasons. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/students/healthinsurance.html

I don't believe that a system in which people are dying prematurely and/or not getting care they need "works." While the Canadian system may not be perfect either, I don't think you can say that our system is significantly better for all Americans.

Love Your Liberal Sister Who Happens to Work in the Health Field,
Mish