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Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 15:54 GMT 16:54 UK

I read a few comments from Americans bashing universal healthcare systems. I have to say that I am very happy with Canadian health care. Of course, there are a few problems, but what system is perfect? A few years ago I needed surgery. Including my hospital stay (13 days), medication and surgery, the cost to me was $25. And that was for the phonebill.

I feel that the negative propaganda spread about universal health care is simply there to make Americans feel better about their system.

Nina S., Toronto

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 15:50 GMT 16:50 UK

Americas health system has left many in want of care and operations fo manyr decades. I don't think that will change, many cannot afford the insurance and that includes many of those who work.

Bill Derbyshire, London

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 15:41 GMT 16:41 UK

Those who claim health care is a basic human right overlook the obvious implications of that belief. Is the government also obligated to feed us, clothe us and house us? If so, are we still free men or we mere chattel of the state?

Government has a duty to help those who can't help themselves, not to do everything for everyone. That is why so many Americans oppose Obama Care.

Scott W, Port Orchard, USA

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 14:38 GMT 15:38 UK

I hope that Obama's plans do work. But I think he is a little ambitious in believing that he can reduce costs as well as increase choice and coverage. The arithmetic just doesn't work out. If the State take responsibility for healthcare, there has to be an acceptance that it will cost more than it now does. Not sure America is ready for that as yet.

Eddie D, Burnham on Crouch

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 11:09 GMT 12:09 UK

With 2 million job lost, mostly to China do you really think Obama will make a difference on health care. He is all talk, no action.

It took the UK less than a generation to loose its Empire. We are witnessing the fall of the mighty USA and watching the rise of China. And the way China treats its own people, God help us now.

John, UK

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 10:49 GMT 11:49 UK

It will work, but America has to realise that it also has to pay tax to afford this! Many Americans I know are quite happy paying their basic tax that their accountants "manage" for them and not paying it on their salaries as we do here!
American has realised that it needs to grow up and offer the services like the rest of the western world. This me me me attitude is the hard thing for Americans to stop!
Starting to think us us us is a great way to start!

AJ Wilson Briggs, Amsterdam (ExUK), Netherlands

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 10:13 GMT 11:13 UK

I was a student in Michigan back in 1971. Nixon was the president and looked certain to be ousted (as we all know, he wasn't) and there was talk of "socialised medicine" (though with the Watergate architect in power that was never a likely scenario).

Arithmetic and my own experience tells me that the Americans have been mumbling about "socialised medicine" for more than 39 years. In the land of the "free", it seems, nothing really gets done quickly (except extraditing a chap with Asberger's).

Ned, Midlands

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 10:07 GMT 11:07 UK

What does this debate have to do with Britain? Everything!

Go to America, or Spain and see how you liked shelling out 500 pounds for an injection or 200 hundred pounds for a nurse to stitch up a cut!!

THEN you will realise that you would much rather be in Britain complaining about taxes than hurling cheque after cheque after cheque at people who would profit off your misery when you are ill.

When you have seen what it is like to not have treatment as available as the NHS, you will see.

[AGnomeCalledJimmy]

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 09:26 GMT 10:26 UK

One of the obvious points to come out of this HYS is that the majority of UK posters seem to have know idea what health care is like in the rest of the world but are willing to trash their own system none the less. I honestly do not like socialism, but in practise its beats the hell out of capatalist medicne every time. In most other respects it fails, if your draw your lines on the left or right you miss the point that different systems have different strengths and weaknesses.

Goose, Fresno

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 08:45 GMT 09:45 UK

About time the US was an inclusive society and not just one for the well-off. So much for the old addage the land of the free. If you ever drive off the beaten path in the US you will find poverty of third world proportions.

The only problem I see facing Obama is that the money men behind private health care will try and rail road his proposals.

michael williams, newbury, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 02:24 GMT 03:24 UK

Whilst I understand the fundamental scepticism of Americans toward taxation and Government interference in their lives, I still find it shocking that - according the the NY Times - 47 million Americans are currently without health insurance. Whilst the NHS is a far from perfect system, it does irritate me when American right-wing politicians and commentators describe our healthcare system as being "socialist" in nature. Healthcare should be a right rather than a privilege.

Richard Holman, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 01:04 GMT 02:04 UK

No job, no home, no medical coverage! This is the summary of the social economy of the USA. The USA ranks second to the last among the civilized countries in the West in Infant mortality rate - a scale of how poorly it has provided health. USA spends more money on the planet earth than any other nation for health. The money disappears into the pocket of the fraudlent medical insurance companies. The majority of the 47 million uninsured are African- Americans and Hispanics. America, wake up!

jon papa, Coppell, Texas, United States

Added: Monday, 27 July, 2009, 24:43 GMT 01:43 UK

Depends what you mean by 'work'.If you want the USA to slide down the slippery slope to socialisation and believe in government control over the important decisions in people's lives, if you want more bureaucracy and inefficiency then yes it will work. But given that the US private sector based health system is almost the only inventive one where new drugs and procedures are developed that are then used to improve health in the rest of the world, then you will dislike this plan & hope it fails.

Mark Solomon, Alicante, Spain

Added: Sunday, 26 July, 2009, 23:46 GMT 00:46 UK

Many things are a problem, namely everyone will be forced to buy healthcare. Next certain groups will get preference as it is now written in the bill. Seniors will suffer under this plan, counselors will be used in this determination. People who don't buy healthcare 24 year olds etc, paying for college loans and life will have this burden added. Illegal aliens some 11 + million plus their families will be paid for by legal citizens. Government is ramming it down the taxpayers throat a bad pill.

American Grizzly, United States

Added: Sunday, 26 July, 2009, 23:44 GMT 00:44 UK

If being a socialist means that everyone,rich and poor get the same level of health care,then whats wrong with that?If everyone has to pay something towards a health service that takes care of everyone when they need it,surely makes good sense.Or is the USA a society of, I am alright Jack and stuff you.I thought the USA was run on Christian principles,and I am being disillusioned by the minute.Whats all this God Bless America that we keep hearing being spouted,where is the Christian ethos now?

Tom mac