Helping one another that are sick should be free if someone can't afford it - Yes I do

I want to see our country get the same system as Britain, the Netherlands, and Canada. They may pay higher taxes, but they have a better standard of living then we do. And they live longer, heathier lives. And in the end we all pay for everyone's health care. If you don't have a national system you pay higher premiums and medical costs because hospitals must take and care for everyone to the same standards. At least with a national system the taxes may be higher, but it's cheaper in the long run. and you don't have shareholders needs coming before that of the patients.

If it's free and universal it would be available to all?

Honestly, my answer is a little swayed atm because I have a good friend who was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 30 and he makes about as much money as someone working part time for minimum wage. He can't afford to pay for his treatments, and thankfully there was some money available from donations so he can get treatments. If we had a healthcare system like Canada or Britain like pasobrio said, it would have never been an issue. Yes, the taxes would be higher, but it would be worth it in the end for those of us who can't afford healthcare otherwise.

Of course it should!

I am trying to imagine someone who can't afford free?

There should be a balance between the two. In Australia we have private health insurance companies who compete in an open market and I think you can get a rebate on your tax (not sure!). If you have private insurance then you can pick your hospital, pick your doctor/specialist, get rebates for dental, optical, alternative etc. Or you can opt for the public health care system. You can still see your own doctor and claim a rebate back or be bulk billed (means you don't pay a thing). Same at public hospitals, however, there are long waiting lists in public hospitals, you get whatever doctor happens to be on, but by the same token you get the same standard of care as if you were a private patient, just you share a ward of 2, 4 or 6 people, rather than a private room. So people can choose what they want to have. We all pay a percentage on our tax to fund the public health system. The federal government funds the perscription system to reduce the costs of medications and if you are in receipt of unemployment, disability, or some other pension then that cost is greatly reduced too. Looking at your question again in Australia universal healthcare is available to all and if any want to they can pay for futher private benefits..

Basic health care should be available to all. The standard health care system should be extended to everyone, just like how public school for kindergarten through 12th grade is free. However, employers could still offer enhanced coverage, and people could pay for premium service.

Free healthcare for an entire nation is nice in theory but can be a serious drain on the finances on the country's economy and then most of the service like pre and anti-natal as well as important medications are cut because the NHS has become bankrupt. I know it may sound nasty but we should first make sure that more and more the the population gain benifical employment with a good wage and then think about healthcare that people pay for. Over time if not monitored and controlled the NHS could become to big to manage.

Who couldn't afford free universal healthcare? I mean, it's free! But seriously, I love my OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan). I think it should be available to people who can afford to be healthy. I think non-smokers, and people who treat themselves right should get better coverage.

Catistrophic health care should be available to all. But in order to keep the system flexible and not put thousands of people out of the job, then I think we should maintain the rest of the healthcare system the way it is. And given that I have no health insurance whatso-ever I think I have room to speak to this.

I think it should be a sliding scale withing a hybrid model because there are people out there who could afford to pay for private insurance (ie they're not covered under an employeer's policy) that the insurance companies just WON'T cover. I know I high-end designer who owns a very chic boutique on Palm Beaches'Worth Avenue who recently had to get a second job to obtain health insurance. Its a whacky, whacky world!

its not universal unless its available to everyone and what's the point of it being free if its only for people who can afford it? i think that free healthcare should be available to everyone that needs it to be free.

I don't know if healthcare should be free, but it should be available to everyone. At this time if someone has insurance, they end up paying for those who don't by their jacked up costs. People take advantage of the welfare system so the people who really can't pay their way can't get the help they need. Doctors sometimes don't think in cost effective ways & maybe they shouldn't. But yet insurance companys over ride even some of the most reasonable treatment plans. In so many ways the current health care plan is all for people who can pay for their medical care. And the worst part is the system is made for the healthy. Heck look at insurance companies, sometimes they won't even cover people with a pre-existiing illness. That's as if they planned to have that particular illness or accident happen. I could go on and on.

Universal care for all would be cheaper and more efficient in the long run. People who cannot afford basic check-ups, run the risk of major illness, infections or disease, which can spread quickly because of modern transportation, causing many to put a burden on the healthcare system. many people without care will eventually have an expensive ans serious illness, that will be dealt with by the health care system. Therfore passing on the expense. Universal health will allow preventative for all, which will stop potential outbreaks. Diseases most harmful to any populous, usually originate in areas, where there is no heathcare and individuals will work and freely move amoungst masses of people, while ill with this conditions that they know nothing of. look at the man who borded a plane for europe with a contageous disease. The cost of cleaning up or controlling a major outbreak of a disease far out ways the cost of prevention for everybody.

30,000 people dying of poverty each day in the world. Something should be done against it. But there are also poor people in rich countries. A reasonable, minimal health care should be available for these people who cannot or can hardly afford health care. For more, you have to pay.

I think it would a very different planet if all governments supplied basic health care for all and much less on 'protecting' their people from their neighbors or invading other countries.

I think every one should have the right to have healthcare that wont cost your arm and your leg in the process and they should also have dental coverage as well. Hardworking americans that make penuts for what they earn should have insurance coverage and there familys there children etc.

People have got to be healthy, the king says we need socialized medicine

Free, surely means everyone would be able to afford the healthcare on offer.