What Countries Have Universal Health Care?

[Savwafair2012 Profile]

A few nights ago, I watched Michael Moore's old documentary, SiCKO, which focuses its crosshair on the health care industry in the United States. At one point in the movie, Mr. Moore claims that the United States is the only "westernized" country without universal health care. Is that true?
First, what does he mean by "westernized"? Defining the "western world" can be subjective, and definitions will vary depending on what criteria is used. Are you defining it from a cultural standpoint? Political? Economical? Perhaps this is why Mr. Moore felt comfortable making such a broad generalization. Is it even possible to truly define what the "western world" really is?
Okay, forget the western world. (I think I know what he meant anyway.) What countries on our good green Earth provide some sort of universal health care for their citizens? Here they are:

Countries in blue have some type of universal health care. Countries in green are currently attempting to implement some type of universal health care. Orange countries have universal health coverage provided by United States war funding. Source. Click to enlarge.


Afghanistan*, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq*, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom

*Universal health coverage provided by United States war funding

There you go. Keep in mind: this is a simple list of countries that have some sort of publicly sponsored health care system. For instance, Sri Lanka may be far from having a true, working universal health care system like France, but prescription drugs are provided by a government-owned drug manufacturer. This qualifies as "some sort of publicly sponsored, universal health care system."

FYI

[Lowsix Profile]

Even the United States has Universal Health Care.

BY LAW, if someone shows up at an emergency room,
even without insurance, they must be seen. Period.

Even if they cant pay.
Citizen or not.

Thats Universal Health Care.
The govt. and the insured pay for it.
Indisputable facts.

[sawltydawg Profile]

since when has this site turned into a special interest group?
low six i can understant your interest in this subject because you are directly affected....but i fail to see everyone elses facination with the subject.

[Hansom Profile]

Even the United States has Universal Health Care.

BY LAW, if someone shows up at an emergency room,
even without insurance, they must be seen. Period.

Even if they cant pay.
Citizen or not.

Thats Universal Health Care.
The govt. and the insured pay for it.
Indisputable facts.

That's good to hear.
You would think though, that this being the 21st century.
Universal health care would really be universal.
Are we not evolved sentient beings, is empathy a myth ?
Is it not our duty to help those in need, not just for our own spiritual growth but because it's just the right thing to do.

[dusty1969]

Even the United States has Universal Health Care.

BY LAW, if someone shows up at an emergency room,
even without insurance, they must be seen. Period.

Even if they cant pay.
Citizen or not.

Thats Universal Health Care.
The govt. and the insured pay for it.
Indisputable facts.

Hmm....
Lets look at that statement.

As an American I cannot be refuse EMERGENCY health service at any hospital. That does not mean I can roll into an emergency room and get a checkup, or have someone look at that mole that has appeared on my leg, or any other normal health care.

If I don't have health insurance, I have to have an EMERGENCY to get health care in the U.S.. I have to wait until whatever I have has reached critical stage before I can get any treatment. That is fucked up!

What if I have a cavity, or I bust a tooth? I am screwed, that is what. I have to have a dangerously impacted or abscessed tooth before I can get any treatment. Then all they will do is pull it. If you don't have money you end up looking like crack head with 3 teeth.

I may be wrong, but I don't think that really meets the definition of Universal Health Care.

[dusty1969]

since when has this site turned into a special interest group?
low six i can understant your interest in this subject because you are directly affected....but i fail to see everyone elses facination with the subject.

It is an important topic. It is something that affects us all having a direct impact on every man, woman and child.

..also

Because of our inflammatory media, health care reform has been transformed into a political issue. Health care is now being used as a metric to measure between right and left, good and bad, capitalist and socialist. They have taken a human issue and drug it down into the dirty muck of American politics.

I want to see those who need health care get it. I care about people, regardless of their social, economic, or ethnic background. We need to take care of our own. Only savages don't care about their people. I don't want to be a savage. I want to be a progressive, civilized, human being.

No American left behind, that is my motto!

[dusty1969]

*Universal health coverage provided by United States war funding

Makes me want to pull my fucking hair out.


Great post btw, thank you for the information!!!

[Lowsix Profile]

For the record, since im not sure ive ever really stated it outright..

I am 1000000% in favor of radical,
hardcoreheavyduty Health Care reform.

This Bill aint it.

And good points dusty really.

[Muzikdiva Profile]

We better provide universal care to those countries, after one of our bombs rips through their neighborhood killing 150 civilians, roasting bodies and charred remains left behind as the injured villagers seek medical help.

Makes me wanted to vomit the way American leaders and corporate owners treat other human beings. In eight years the Republicans reduced government and married the military, corporate and banking interests combining the three into a fascist regime where war crimes including the use of torture and nuclear weapons with the use of depleted uranium are acceptable there's an obvious need for medical care for the wounded and contaminated civilians. Where is our humanity as Obama carry's on Bush's immorality?

America looks like a third world country on that map without universal health care, it sickens me that so many uninformed people would vote against their own best interests to side with the best interests of the insurance companies. That's a good brainwashing campaign at work...the international community must think we're smoking crack!

The US was once a place that was emulated and revered, we stood for what was good, right and moral. Now even our Congress can't be trusted, they are all bought and sold by big pharma. They live in mansions, we pay for their premium health care plans and we are left with a mandate, forced to buy insurance whether we can afford it or not. The mandate is only a handout to the insurance companies who are going to make millions off this deal. And we'll be suckered into plans that still aren't adequate if we really get sick.

Anything less than universal and we're getting hosed.

[dusty1969]

For the record, since im not sure ive ever really stated it outright..

I am 1000000% in favor of radical,
hardcoreheavyduty Health Care reform.

This Bill aint it.

And good points dusty really.

Ty sir.

Ya, something has got to give in health care. I would definitely like to see some more concrete plans for the payment of this system while still maintaining medicare, and social security.

Obama says he has it under control, and man, I want to believe that. But it we have some serious programs (the above mentioned) that are always on the brink of bankruptcy. It is a fine line we are walking. One slip, and it is a big pile of crap that we fall in.