I had a great experience with the military universal health care system last week, and it only strengthened my beliefs that all people need to be covered.
While in FL for a conference, I came down with an ear infection. I was able to go to the local Naval Medical clinic with only my ID and be seen and receive medication. I don't think people often think of traveling when they think of reasons for UHC, but some people are only covered by regional plans. We need to be able to care for all Americans, no matter where they are. We need to have a system that stores the information so that people don't have to travel with medical records.
I also learned that sinus and ear infections can become meningitis if left untreated. Flying would only exacerbate those conditions. If I didn't have the military health coverage, I would probably still be waiting to see a doctor and could have ended up with permanent damage.
Earlier today I read an article in which McCain said that "I'm not going to do like the Europeans have and have expensive health care systems that are neither efficient or, frankly, the quality we have here in America." Uh, WAKE THE FUCK UP JOHN! Maybe you missed the WHO Study that ranked the US 37th in Health Care, even though we spend a greater portion of our GDP than any other nation? Maybe you missed the analysis that determined 100,000+ deaths could be prevented each year if America had a Health Care System like Europe. Maybe you missed the study that ranked Danes as the happiest people on earth? Well, whether you missed or forgot, you don't get it. People don't want tax credits or the HMOs continuing to take advantage of them. They want what you've had your WHOLE LIFE. They want the security of knowing that their health is secure no matter what happens. Or, is your $5,000 tax cut going to magically make a $100,000 chemo bill disappear?
And, PS, you do know that even you aren't covered in your own plan, right? Well, you wouldn't be if it weren't for that military health care. Nice, huh?