Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Universal Healthcare
I haven't heard much good news from Arizonans concerning universal health care. It seems quite a few here are opposed to it. But, when looking deeper, it seems that this is out of ignorance more than anything else. The fact is, we pay for AHCCCS with public funds, to pay for healthcare for the poor. We pay taxes for Medicare and Medicaid so that takes care of the older folks. We fund the VA, and the military hospitals, and AHCCCS doesn't just serve the poor. Most of the people funded by AHCCCS are illegal immigrants, and their children. So we provide healthcare for the poor, the illegal immigrants, the military, and elderly, but for some reason we can't provide healthcare for ourselves.
Right now, I'm paying close to 8% of my salary to cover medical insurance. And I work for a very large international company who is a major player in healthcare! Now, if the government provided healthcare, of course they would have to raise taxes. However, at least according to Canada's numbers - 8% is near the top of the scale. The healthcare taxes are a progressive tax, so the more you make, the more you pay. At my current pay rate, I'd end up paying about 5% of my salary, if USA were to copy Canada's system.
So, I say 'tax me' - give me my universal healthcare. My dad needs it, my mom needs it, my brother needs it, and you know what, if you don't want to tax me, I'm sure we can reduce military spending.
¶ 12:38 AM
