How much are you willing to pay for Universal Healthcare?

[Espy]

So lots of people are touting Universal Healthcare as the savior of the US healthcare-system and of sick people nation wide. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't thats for other threads to decide.
Let's talk cost.

How much are you willing to have taken out of your paycheck (for sake of discussion we will say per month) to pay for everyone else's healthcare? This isn't a scientific poll, it's not meant to relay the ACTUAL cost of healthcare under a universal plan, it's just a "how much would you actually be willing to pay" poll.
So... how much? If you want say how it would impact your lifestyle if you had as much as you voted for taken out of your paycheck to pay for a universal healthcare system in here.

 

[Covar]

No 0?

 

[Espy]

There is now!

 

[Eriol]

As somebody who's living with it (and yes living, though horrible wait times), here's a site that has the budget breakdown for expenses, and look at health & wellness: http://budget2009.alberta.ca/

35.6% is the number given there for spending on health care in Alberta. And that includes the money for transfers from the federal government.

And since the Tax Freedom Day in Canada is the 6th of June, corresponding to a tax rate of 42.6% (a bit earlier in Alberta IIRC, but I'm not digging that much further, as it's not THAT different), simple math says: about 15% of my income goes toward health care. Or more really, since that's only personal, I also pay for it to any businesses I frequent (since they pass on costs to consumers). So figure on 15% OR MORE (20%? More? Hard to guess) of your income for health.

So is it better if you make $50k a year to pay into a health plan for $10,000 (20%) a year ($833 a month), or get the government to do it? I have no clue what private insurance per month costs in the USA. Which way is better? And remember to factor in 10+ hour ER wait times too, even if you're in serious pain. Oh and that's to get IN to the ER, not the entire time to get treated.

 

[Bowielee]

I don't have the energy to do it right now, so imagine I posted the Akbar "It's a Trap" pic.

 

[sixpackshaker]

I pay at least $100 directly, then my employer more than matches that. So if we had a single payer system I could see me easily paying $200+ a month for it.

 

[Charlie Don't Surf]

This thread is kind of stupid.

 

[Espy]

I don't have the energy to do it right now, so imagine I posted the Akbar "It's a Trap" pic.

It's not, I'm really curious how much people are willing to pay. We have talked about it and so why not just throw it out there? I support a form of universal healthcare, and I would be willing to pay for it so I'm not trying to trick anyone into anything.

And Charlie, thanks for bringing your regular enlightening commentary. I have no idea how we got along without you for so long.

 

[Dave]

I voted $100. Seriously, over the course of 10 years that's $24,000. Hell, even a minor surgery could eat that up today.

 

[Espy]

I voted $100. Seriously, over the course of 10 years that's $24,000. Hell, even a minor surgery could eat that up today.

Yeah, we already pay several hundred for ours so if it was comparable I supposed I could pay the same without it changing our monthly budget. The fact is, we couldn't really do any more than that. Our budget is... very tight.

 

[drawn_inward]

This thread is kind of stupid.

And your threads are made of intelligence and wit. :der:

 

[Charlie Don't Surf]

No, I mean. Of course what you want to pay is $0. For someone that's mostly poor and already in debt, they'd just want to/be willing to pay the least amount possible. And no one can really predict what the real cost is gonna be if all this gets implemented.

 

[Espy]

No, I mean. Of course what you want to pay is $0. For someone that's mostly poor and already in debt, they'd just want to/be willing to pay the least amount possible. And no one can really predict what the real cost is gonna be if all this gets implemented.

Like I said in my post, I'm asking what would people be WILLING to pay for universal healthcare. Not trying to predict what it would be.

 

[Krisken]

Some people get paid weekly. Some bi-weekly. Some even monthly. I'm assuming this is meant as in a weekly basis?

 

[strawman]

Some people get paid weekly. Some bi-weekly. Some even monthly. I'm assuming this is meant as in a weekly basis?

A flea and a fly in a thread
were imprisoned so what could they do?

Said the flea, "Let us fly!"
Said the fly, "Let us flee!"

So they flew off through a flaw in the OP.

-Adam

 

[drawn_inward]

No, I mean. Of course what you want to pay is $0. For someone that's mostly poor and already in debt, they'd just want to/be willing to pay the least amount possible. And no one can really predict what the real cost is gonna be if all this gets implemented.

Oh, I see.

I just can't think of a single government program that runs well and isn't full of bureaucratic congestion. Public schools? USPS? Medicare? Social Security? They're all a mess. Why would we want another giant program?

How many poor people in the US have cars and tvs? How many have an internet connection and a pc? If they're paying for all that stuff, why can't they pay for health care? I'm poor cause I'm a student. I am working towards getting a job, so money hopefully won't be an issue.

I think I am going off topic too much. I'm not willing to pay much to benefit everybody else.

 

[Covar]

No, I mean. Of course what you want to pay is $0. For someone that's mostly poor and already in debt, they'd just want to/be willing to pay the least amount possible. And no one can really predict what the real cost is gonna be if all this gets implemented.

Oh, I see.

I just can't think of a single government program that runs well and isn't full of bureaucratic congestion. Public schools? USPS? Medicare? Social Security? They're all a mess. Why would we want another giant program?

How many poor people in the US have cars and tvs? How many have an internet connection and a pc? If they're paying for all that stuff, why can't they pay for health care? I'm poor cause I'm a student. I am working towards getting a job, so money hopefully won't be an issue.

I think I am going off topic too much. I'm not willing to pay much to benefit everybody else.[/QUOTE]
you missed the discussion yesterday. You're not poor unless you're unable to feed your children, and have to fight rats for shelter.


I put 0, because as I'm sure people here are aware I don't support the idea of a Universal Healthcare in this country.

 

[Krisken]

Some people get paid weekly. Some bi-weekly. Some even monthly. I'm assuming this is meant as in a weekly basis?

A flea and a fly in a thread
were imprisoned so what could they do?

Said the flea, "Let us fly!"
Said the fly, "Let us flee!"

So they flew off through a flaw in the OP.

-Adam[/QUOTE]
Maybe it seemed like I was being snarky here, but that wasn't my intention. I was genuinely curious if I had answered poorly in the poll.

---------- Post added at 03:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:34 PM ----------

No, I mean. Of course what you want to pay is $0. For someone that's mostly poor and already in debt, they'd just want to/be willing to pay the least amount possible. And no one can really predict what the real cost is gonna be if all this gets implemented.

Oh, I see.

I just can't think of a single government program that runs well and isn't full of bureaucratic congestion. Public schools? USPS? Medicare? Social Security? They're all a mess. Why would we want another giant program?

How many poor people in the US have cars and tvs? How many have an internet connection and a pc? If they're paying for all that stuff, why can't they pay for health care? I'm poor cause I'm a student. I am working towards getting a job, so money hopefully won't be an issue.

I think I am going off topic too much. I'm not willing to pay much to benefit everybody else.[/quote]
you missed the discussion yesterday. You're not poor unless you're unable to feed your children, and have to fight rats for shelter.


I put 0, because as I'm sure people here are aware I don't support the idea of a Universal Healthcare in this country.[/QUOTE]
What would you pay for regular, privatized health care if offered as a benefit through your job.

Now how much would you pay on your own, no help from your employer?

Does that make the question easier to answer?

 

[Espy]

Sorry Krisken, I should have been clearer, I really meant in 1 pay period. So whatever that is for you.

 

[Tinwhistler]

I voted $200.

I just changed jobs 2 months ago, and I just got the insurance paperwork last week.

For "Employee + family" they want $450 a month for shitty ass HMO healthcare that has a lifetime maximum and only covers part of the bill.

I'd pay at least that for some kind of socialist "everyone gets free healthcare" system.

 

[drawn_inward]

you missed the discussion yesterday. You're not poor unless you're unable to feed your children, and have to fight rats for shelter.

I know what poor means outside the US, but in the US, poor usually means they have a car, tv, and a cellphone. Folks in the US really aren't poor when compared globally.


***
I'm willing to pay for health care for me and my family. I'll pay whatever it takes to care for them.

 

[strawman]

Some people get paid weekly. Some bi-weekly. Some even monthly. I'm assuming this is meant as in a weekly basis?

A flea and a fly in a thread
were imprisoned so what could they do?

Said the flea, "Let us fly!"
Said the fly, "Let us flee!"

So they flew off through a flaw in the OP.

-Adam[/quote]
Maybe it seemed like I was being snarky here, but that wasn't my intention. I was genuinely curious if I had answered poorly in the poll.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, I was agreeing with you there. You pointed out a flaw in the OP.

Sorry Krisken, I should have been clearer, I really meant in 1 pay period. So whatever that is for you.

Huh. That's odd. That means we can't compare - if my pay period is weekly, and someone else's is biweekly, and I pay 1 and he pays 2, then we'll check different boxes even though we're really contributing the same amount.

-Adam

 

[Krisken]

Some people get paid weekly. Some bi-weekly. Some even monthly. I'm assuming this is meant as in a weekly basis?

A flea and a fly in a thread
were imprisoned so what could they do?

Said the flea, "Let us fly!"
Said the fly, "Let us flee!"

So they flew off through a flaw in the OP.

-Adam[/quote]
Maybe it seemed like I was being snarky here, but that wasn't my intention. I was genuinely curious if I had answered poorly in the poll.[/quote]

Sorry, I was agreeing with you there. You pointed out a flaw in the OP.

Sorry Krisken, I should have been clearer, I really meant in 1 pay period. So whatever that is for you.

Huh. That's odd. That means we can't compare - if my pay period is weekly, and someone else's is biweekly, and I pay 1 and he pays 2, then we'll check different boxes even though we're really contributing the same amount.

-Adam[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that's where I was going with it.

 

[Espy]

That's why you should be the one making the polls Stein
Let's just say per month then? I'll change the OP.

 

[makare]

I think it should be calculated by percent.

how can you tell how much someone is willing AND able to pay. I mean if I made ten thousand dollars a month 400 would seem like nothing. But when I made 800 a month 200 would seem like a lot.

But at 800 a month I would have been willing to pay 80. So ten percent. I am not very good at math.

 

[strawman]

That's why you should be the one making the polls Stein
Let's just say per month then? I'll change the OP.

Oh I always get them wrong - there's are several valid complaints about almost every poll I post. I've taken to severely restricting poll options and the problem space so people can't split hairs as much, but no one thinks of everything when writing a poll.

Another nit to pick - is this cost ABOVE the current amount we are already paying for our own insurance, or the TOTAL amount we'd be paying for our and everyone else's insurance?

-Adam

 

[Espy]

Like I said in the OP Makare, it's really about what you are willing to have taken out of your personal paycheck in taxes for it. It's not about what you able to afford because the government won't be looking at that. It will just say "THIS AMOUNT". So it's a basic question saying, what would you be willing to fork over for UHC? Like I said up there, it's just meant to be a quick dirty look at what people are willing to pay for UHC.

Stien: Since I only reference UHC, it's safe to assume the poll is ONLY for UHC, nothing else.

 

[strawman]

I think it should be calculated by percent.

how can you tell how much someone is willing AND able to pay. I mean if I made ten thousand dollars a month 400 would seem like nothing. But when I made 800 a month 200 would seem like a lot.

But at 800 a month I would have been willing to pay 80. So ten percent. I am not very good at math.

You'll find a lot of people disagree with a percentage of pay equation. They might say, "Why should my portion be bigger than anyone else's, when as far as I'm concerned I'm making more because of the choices I've made in life." It also hearkens to communism and anti-capitalism.

It also places a burden on employers who offer to pay for an employee's health insurance - the cost differs based on their pay rate, so high tech companies would be paying for more healthcare than janitorial service companies.

-Adam

 

[makare]

I just thought it made more sense to calculate the actual feeling of the people in this thread as to the sacrifice they would be willing to make. for some people 50 dollars is like nothing for others it is a significant amount.

 

[strawman]

I just thought it made more sense to calculate the actual feeling of the people in this thread as to the sacrifice they would be willing to make. for some people 50 dollars is like nothing for others it is a significant amount.

That's true. Very good point.

Maybe a "How much of your income should be taxed to pay for universal health care"

-Adam

 

[Kitty Sinatra]

I'm gonna post kinda like Eriol, here . . . if 50% of my taxes went to health care, I'd be paying roughly $300 a month for it. I'm smack dab in the middle of Canada's average income. Or was that smack dab on the median? I can't remember.

Edit: And think about this weird twist: My coworker with two kids and a wife gets tax breaks for those dependents, so he pays less for health care than I do, and he gets it for 4 people instead of 1. Does your health insurance work that way? Canada's fucking family-friendly.

 

[tegid]

I think it should be calculated by percent.

how can you tell how much someone is willing AND able to pay. I mean if I made ten thousand dollars a month 400 would seem like nothing. But when I made 800 a month 200 would seem like a lot.

But at 800 a month I would have been willing to pay 80. So ten percent. I am not very good at math.

You'll find a lot of people disagree with a percentage of pay equation. They might say, "Why should my portion be bigger than anyone else's, when as far as I'm concerned I'm making more because of the choices I've made in life." It also hearkens to communism and anti-capitalism.

It also places a burden on employers who offer to pay for an employee's health insurance - the cost differs based on their pay rate, so high tech companies would be paying for more healthcare than janitorial service companies.

-Adam[/QUOTE]

But that's only natural... What I'm in favor of, and I guess you'd find even worse is paying different percentages depending on how much you get paid. I.e. If you earn more, you pay more, not only in absolute amounts but also in ratio, up to a maximum percentage.

 

[Adam]

I think it should be calculated by percent.

how can you tell how much someone is willing AND able to pay. I mean if I made ten thousand dollars a month 400 would seem like nothing. But when I made 800 a month 200 would seem like a lot.

But at 800 a month I would have been willing to pay 80. So ten percent. I am not very good at math.

You'll find a lot of people disagree with a percentage of pay equation. They might say, "Why should my portion be bigger than anyone else's, when as far as I'm concerned I'm making more because of the choices I've made in life." It also hearkens to communism and anti-capitalism.

It also places a burden on employers who offer to pay for an employee's health insurance - the cost differs based on their pay rate, so high tech companies would be paying for more healthcare than janitorial service companies.

-Adam[/QUOTE]

But that's only natural... What I'm in favor of, and I guess you'd find even worse is paying different percentages depending on how much you get paid. I.e. If you earn more, you pay more, not only in absolute amounts but also in ratio, up to a maximum percentage.[/QUOTE]

You're referring to a progressive tax.

 

[Bowielee]

I think it should be calculated by percent.

how can you tell how much someone is willing AND able to pay. I mean if I made ten thousand dollars a month 400 would seem like nothing. But when I made 800 a month 200 would seem like a lot.

But at 800 a month I would have been willing to pay 80. So ten percent. I am not very good at math.

You'll find a lot of people disagree with a percentage of pay equation. They might say, "Why should my portion be bigger than anyone else's, when as far as I'm concerned I'm making more because of the choices I've made in life." It also hearkens to communism and anti-capitalism.

It also places a burden on employers who offer to pay for an employee's health insurance - the cost differs based on their pay rate, so high tech companies would be paying for more healthcare than janitorial service companies.

-Adam[/quote]

But that's only natural... What I'm in favor of, and I guess you'd find even worse is paying different percentages depending on how much you get paid. I.e. If you earn more, you pay more, not only in absolute amounts but also in ratio, up to a maximum percentage.[/quote]

You're referring to a progressive tax.[/QUOTE]

Which actually used to be the norm in this country.

 

[Armadillo]

I think it should be calculated by percent.

how can you tell how much someone is willing AND able to pay. I mean if I made ten thousand dollars a month 400 would seem like nothing. But when I made 800 a month 200 would seem like a lot.

But at 800 a month I would have been willing to pay 80. So ten percent. I am not very good at math.

You'll find a lot of people disagree with a percentage of pay equation. They might say, "Why should my portion be bigger than anyone else's, when as far as I'm concerned I'm making more because of the choices I've made in life." It also hearkens to communism and anti-capitalism.

It also places a burden on employers who offer to pay for an employee's health insurance - the cost differs based on their pay rate, so high tech companies would be paying for more healthcare than janitorial service companies.

-Adam[/quote]

But that's only natural... What I'm in favor of, and I guess you'd find even worse is paying different percentages depending on how much you get paid. I.e. If you earn more, you pay more, not only in absolute amounts but also in ratio, up to a maximum percentage.[/quote]

You're referring to a progressive tax.[/QUOTE]

Which actually used to be the norm in this country.[/QUOTE]

"Used to be?"