Health Care systems...anyone want to trade?
May 18th 2008 15:46
This is meant to bring out some comments about health care around the world. I want to hear from real people who have experienced health care in countries other than America, and ask them - which system do you prefer, and why? Do you think it's better to have health care for everyone, regardless of ability to pay, or do you prefer to roll the bones and hope you stay healthy or your insurance doesn't go away or deny you?
And on issues of fairness, do you think it's right that those who can pay more can get better care? And that some can't afford care at all? Do you think it's more beneficial to have almost a third of health care costs eaten up by insurance companies, or should health care dollars go for health care?
The right wing in America loves to say that our health care system is the "best in the world." My question for those who live in other countries with universal health care....anyone want to trade?
And on issues of fairness, do you think it's right that those who can pay more can get better care? And that some can't afford care at all? Do you think it's more beneficial to have almost a third of health care costs eaten up by insurance companies, or should health care dollars go for health care?
The right wing in America loves to say that our health care system is the "best in the world." My question for those who live in other countries with universal health care....anyone want to trade?
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
we are encouraged to get private health insurance if we can afford it to take the burden off the medicare system but generally it is a choice (there may be some tax implications, im not sure) whether to be in the public or private system
like most private systems the insurance companies tend to only pay out about half of the cost of any procedure or appointment
as a child/teenager my family had private health insurance which subsidised my orthadontic work and my optical . . . when my father had a hernia operation only about half of the costs were covered by the insurance company
as an adult i have never had private health insurance and rely entirely on the public system, i mostly get all my GP visits free, i get a free optometrists exam every year (i pay for the glasses and contact lenses out of my own pocket for less than the cost of the insurance premium) and because i am on a low income my prescriptions are discounted with a government issued Health Care Card HCC so they are only $5 (if you do not have the card the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme PBS makes medications affordable for all eg $15 - $30)
i recently had elective surgery on my nose and sinuses, about 75% of standard fees for the specialist who operated and the anaethesist were covered by medicare, i paid about $300 from my own pocket for the medical services and $1400 for a bed in the private hospital for the day and the use of the operating theatre . . . this is all without any private health insurance . . . to get insurance minimum hospital cover is around $700 per year and would only cover about half of the expenses so its much of a muchness
if you needed emergency surgery it would be free (like when i had my appandix removed as a child and stayed in a public hospital for two weeks with a subsequent infection)
i really like our system and would not want to live anywhere that didnt have medicare, the PBS, HCCs for the poor, and the option of free GPs . . . i think it is the duty of every rich western nation to have such measures in place
Comment by rickb_georgia
Comment by Jeff Musall
That url will show you the results of a study done by the University of California showing that only 66 percent of health care dollars routed through insurance companies are actually spent on patient care. It is but one of many studies showing similar results. The fact that one third of the money is simply thrown away on a needless insurance system should be a crime.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Like so many other things (including education), Howard was modelling our health care system on that in the US, where the onus is on private insurance. And where you end up with a health care system for profit, where people in dire need of medical care are turned away because they don't have insurance.
It's disgraceful. Part of a government's job is to look after it's citizens. I will always believe that. I hate that private health insurance companies even exist. And I say that as someone who has private insurance.
That said, we are still far better off than citizens in the US...but only because we got rid of Howard when we did. I remember going to the doctor in the US (the trip was covered by my travel insurance) and been horrified by the stories patients were telling me in the waiting room, about sick people never going to the doctor because they just couldn't afford to. People living with pain, dental problems and other ailments because they just didn't have the money to get looked after. What kind of a government lets its citizens live like that? Health care for proift? I just don't get it.
Sorry Jeff. Even after a good night's sleep I still ramble...