Should Health Insurance Belong to Taxation?
Mark Bonicillo comes up with a solution for America’s health insurance problem in his essay “A proposal for Universal Health Insurance in the United States”. He has three suggestions to this problem. First he suggests that “the federal government should break the linkage between health insurance and employment” and “the government should mandate that all adult citizens would purchase individual or family health insurance”. I truly agree with Bonicillo. His suggestion is actually very similar to ours in Finland. Public healthcare is available to all residents in Finland, regardless of their financial situation. In Finland we pay our health insurance in form of taxes. That is why everybody in Finland has their own health insurance. Health centers are also run by municipal councils. Public healthcare services consist of primary healthcare, provided by municipal health centers, and specialized hospital care.
In Finland we pay a lot in taxes. Our taxation of an individual’s income is progressive, which means that the higher your income is, the higher the rate of tax you have to pay is.
In 2006 the income tax rate (national tax) for an individual was between 9%-32.5. In addition to direct taxation there is also municipal tax in Finland. This tax is payable by an individual on his or her income and it fluctuates between 16% - 21% depending on the municipal authority. Church tax is also payable. The combined top marginal tax rate in Finland is about 60%.
I think our system is very good, because everybody has to pay some taxes. But on the other hand, it is almost outrageous how much one has to pay in taxes in Finland.
Do you think our taxation model in Finland would work in America too? Would you consider paying more taxes instead of buying a health insurance?
9 comments:
I don't think that the ta system used in Finlad woul work in the United States. The reason for this is that many are in oppositon to this kind of system from being imposed here. In the long run it would be more beneficial but because it does take large sums of money from the upper class they would be unwilling to vote people in to offcie that would favor a bill that would cost them thousands of dollars annually.
I agree with Amanda in that the upper class would not be in favor of the kind of system they use in Finland.
I think it would be a good idea for our taxes to pay for health insurance. That way everyone is able to afford medical care which would improve the standard of living for many.
I agree with both of the comments left here. Like Rachel said, it is a good idea for our taxes that we pay to go to health insurance. That would certainly keep the hospitals and the government having to pay for people who could not afford to pay for a doctors visit.
I believe that healthcare should be supported more than it is. Some doctors might would be a little more open to change if lower class, healthcare supported patients didn't sue for anything and everything that hurts.
There are some systems that seem to be efficient and some that are not. I think that Finlands tax system is a little high. Its a good concept though just high. I think that there should be a certain percentage that is taken out of each paycheck that is put towards that individuals health insurance or the individuals family. It would be like the persons health bank were they store the money. For the underclass I think that the government should help fund like a loan. I think that no one should be denied of any health benefits.
I do think that the system needs to change and there are many other posibilities that could be efficient.
I believe that taxes should go to health insurance but also have some type of program for people who can't afford them. Everyone should have some type of health insurance incase of emergencies. I agree that the government should help the underclass with a loan of some sort.
I agree with you, Rachel and Amanda. Upper class probably wouldn't vote that in, but who says we can't try. Sometimes I feel like those of us that are under the upper class are afraid of the upper class. We've let them run things long enough. If we want things to go our way. WE have to REGISTER to VOTE! Some of us really act like that is a problem. How else will we win?
Politicians have been debating for many years whether the 'American' health care system or the 'European' health care system is more efficient. Of course both systems have their pros and cons and much of the answer depends on the context of the question. I believe that the European system has some serious positive aspects Americans need to learn from such as: the availability of coverage to all. However, that said most European countries have long lines of patients waiting to be seen by government doctors. In America, the health care system is run not by taxation but by individuals. As long as this is true patients will be dollar signs. Businesses are run by individuals who base their living on the bottom line. How much money can we make? How little work can we get by with? These are serious issues which need to be dealt with; perhaps, European health care is not right for America- maybe it is. Either way something must be done to improve the current system- that is the bottom line.
Well, as with most issues, there is a middle ground. The problem would be finding it and trying to convince people that it would be better.
By combining what works best, you can get the best of both worlds.
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