How GOOD Health Care works!
I have experienced very good health care that could be used as a model for our national system.
1) As the child of an active-duty military man, ALL of my health care all over the country & in Europe (incl. dental & eye care) was supplied by Government employees (socialized) until I was 21 years old and out of college. It worked well and there were few delays, even though active duty personnel had priority.
2) When I was visiting friends in Stuttgart (single-payer) as an adult, I got really sick. I got in to see an English-speaking physician the same day & was prescribed flu medication. The doctor had no way of charging me, even though I had insurance from my company. I was given the choice of allopathic or homeopathic medicine and my prescriptions cost less than $20.
3) While working for a multi-national corporation in Amsterdam (single-payer), I twisted my ankle. I was able to see a doctor the day after I called and neither my office visit nor my presciption cost me anything.
4) Still in Amsterdam, I got a horrid cold. Again, I got in right away, was given a choice of allopathic or naturopathic medications and my total cost was less than $20 (no health care card for the pharmacy).
These are working models of well-run (sometimes government-run) health care. I didn't have to worry about getting care while working or traveling in Europe. This is why we need single-payer health care in this country. These countries have a standard of living equivalent to ours (better, in the case of low-wage-earners, because of access to health care),and their medical standards are high.
At the VERY LEAST, we need a comprehensive public option that covers all who wish to sign up, regardless of income, employment, or prior conditions; that provides both preventive and responsive health care & medication (including vitamins & proven "natural" methods like chiropractic, massage, & acupuncture); that includes dental, eye care (precription glasses), & home health care; that has the DUTY to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies & medical supply houses for reasonable prices; that incents health care providers to provide quality patient care rather than optimize the number of procedures or drugs they recommend.
Access to reliable, quality health care is a RIGHT of all civilized societies.