Health care systems and delivery models

Health Care Treated Differently

Health care is treated differently in this country, and the main reason seems to be the power of the health care companies and lobbies. Most of the Democratic candidates for president have some kind of health care reform bill they are pushing, and Dennis Kucinich compares nationalized health care to the kind of service we expect from police and fire departments. He notes, "Kucinich discussed social security - 'a government retirement system' -- Medicare - 'that's government financed' -- and taxes that lead to local government services such as police, fire, street repair, and street cleaning" (Montanaro). As Americans, we simply expect those services, and expect to be taxed for them, so why don't we demand quality health care, as well? I believe it is because the health care and pharmaceutical companies have a stranglehold on the health care business, and have convinced many Americans that "socialized" health care would result in poorer health care, when many foreign countries show just the opposite is true. Americans are afraid of more bureaucracy in a government-funded or run health care system, but what could be more bureaucratic than our current health care system, that can turn away patients due to their lack of ability to pay, no matter their condition?