[sharder8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTAtech

There is no doubt that the VA system is having difficulty dealing with so many older vets plus all the wounded from the recent wars. I don't think that's analogous to a civilian system.

Isn't it???

It is a direct comparrison of how a currently operated federal health system works in the U.S. and the private sector. You easily see the same comments made about the health care system in Canada, U.K., and France.

Question for ya' MTA . . . What do you wanna bet that if a national health care system is implemented in the U.S., that it would be modeled after the current VA system? You've already admitted and pointed out the "so many older vets plus all the wounded from the recent wars" issue . . . now multiply it accordingly. You also need to take into account that the VA's problems deal with a very small portion of the population . . . You have to have earned the right to use it and you have to prove you have that right. In the proposed national health care system, you're going to be adding in, not only citizens, but also illegals.

As Toadman's article points out, the VA is looking for ways to cut costs in any way it can. The U.K. admits that their national health care has become a money drain, as has many of the countries that have a national health care program. What will happen if the U.S. institutes a national health care program and 5 or 10 years later, the cost has become prohibitive? (That potential is clearly there.)

Yes, we need something . . . but signing into a system/program that is outlandishly cost prohibative isn't necessarily the best answer. The Oregon VA Hospital and Oregon Health & Science University sit side-by-side and share resources, to help keep costs down, in a win-win situation. You'll have a hard time finding that in many to most of the other states.

So I guess you're right . . . the VA system, while small and selective, as compared to a national health system, isn't analogous . . . it does provide an indication of the cost and patient care problems of the proposed national health care.


Harder