Health-care

[Jewrean]

I just got through watching Michael Moore's documentary 'Sicko'. Whilst I realize some of you may have adverse opinions of him and may not consider him a Patriot, it is clear that Americas health care system is quite flawed. My question is; since Obama has been elected have there been any changes in the health care system towards Universal health care? Or is the system still controlled by rich old white men who care more about profits then helping people?

For those of you in America; have there been times when the current system has let you down or even been there for you in your time of need?

For those of you NOT in America; what is the health care like in your country and have you had similar issues worrying about how you will pay for your health?

I realize that the majority of the Escapist crowd are younger on average and probably healthy but surely your family members may have gone through similar things.

I myself am from Australia. We have a similar system to America although not as exaggerated. Pharmaceuticals can still be expensive and health care isn't universal as far as I know. However, I cannot recall any time I have had to worry about medical expenses. My Mother (and other relatives) have gone through Cancer and I don't recall them worrying about the cost.

 

[flim.geek.chic]

He's been giving a hell of an effort to create a systom for people like me who can't afford health care. The Irony is both my parents work in a hospital and my sister and I can't go to a doctor.

 

[BonsaiK]

The Australian system is nothing like America's. It's way better here (in Australia). I've had to pull people out of US tours and insist they come back to Australia to get medical treatment when they become sick over in the US. The US is no place to get sick, unless you're rich. The difference between the two systems in terms of financial outlay is absolutely phenomenal.

I'm not sure why Americans are so up-in-arms about the changes to healthcare, I guess maybe they don't like being healthy. It's the country of fast food so I guess that makes sense, it's certainly the only explanation I can think of. I've known about the American system needing a drastic overhaul long before "Sicko" came out (which I haven't seen, but I get the general idea of it).

 

[thylasos]

I'm enormously proud of an thankful for the NHS, having had a small sample of private medical practice whilst in Russia, for a split lip and some bruised ribs... thank god I had travel insurance, or I would have been set back 2100 euro.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Healthcare in Canada rocks!

*picks up Saskatchewan healthcard*

I'm a socialist and I love it

I've never had to worry about paying doctors fees. Drugs still cost money but seeing the doctor and getting a flu shot is free.

[sub]Get sick? Go get better at a free clinic! XD[/sub]

 

[skizoman333]

I shattered my elbow while skiing in Andora (apeerently its one of few European countries without healthcare) the doctor kept insisting i stay in hospital, and that i needed a pin to fix my arm. Fortunatly, My friends mum, who we were travelling with, was a nurse and told the doctor the surgery would happen in England. She then asked why an 18 yr old male who came with xrays from the ski slope medical centre clearly showing a shattered elbow had been given a full spectrum blood test, ECG, and had had a venfluon (for delivering fluids straight in blood, think IV) inserted. Upon being given the bill, it was made ubundantly clear why I had been given all that stuff.

Back in England, turns out i needed a pin, a plate and about 12 screws to sort my elbow out. For free. How much would that cost in the states?

 

[illas]

I live in the UK; I have free access to world-class universal healthcare 24/7, regardless of... well... anything. Recently, a guy who over-ate until he was 27 stone was given (free, ofc) surgery to improve his quality of life, and that only raised *a little* debate.

Yes I pay slightly higher taxes to fund it, but one trip to hospital and you realize just how glorious the system is. The right to live and be healthy shouldn't, IMO, be defined by your income, but by your society - and in that regard (at the risk of sounding foolish) Britain is pretty fucking amazing. Now if only we could sort our damn railway system.

 

[Cpt Corallis]

As far as I am aware, the whole problem with healthcare in the states is due to the mentality of government and the people over there. A large amount of people dislike federal government interfering with their lives in any way, e.g. taxes and so State funded healthcare is not popular. In addition, there is a culture in america of "Making it by yourself and looking after yourself" in that people who have done well for themselves are able to look after themselves and don't see any reason to fund a system where their taxes will lead to them funding the care of someone who has not worked as "hard" as they have in improving their lives.

Just to point out, this isn't in any way a negative comment on americans, these are just observations based on studying america at A-level for two years.

in Britain, the NHS has been around for much longer and despite it being criticised left, right and centre, it provides a valuable resource for everyone in Britain, knowing that if you ever do have the misfortune of falling ill, you are guaranteed at least some form of medical care.

 

[iseko]

I live in belgium and my english writing is not really excellent. Since our system is complicated and i find it difficult enough to explain it in dutch i'm not even gonna bother explaining it in full in english.

Basicly we work and we give up half of our paycheck to taxes (if you earn bruto 3000$ you have netto (after taxes to the state) a little over 1500). This is not entirely true because we are taxed on income and the more you earn the more % you have to pay but this is an average wage here so it will serve for this example.

In paying these taxes you automaticly gain acces to all medicine and medical procedures you require. If your condition is life threatening the medication and procedures are free. If it's not life threatening as in say: you have a severe migraine. The doctor will prescribe a medicine which can be paid back 20-30-50-80 or still 100%. The amount of money which will be paid back is catalogued by a government institute called the 'RIZIV'.

To cut back a little on the costs we promote generic medicinis which are cheaper because hey are knock offs but they work eqaully well. The are just produced by another pharmaceutical company. A company who produces a generic medicine is forced by law to cost at least 30% less then the original.

So basicly people don't die here because they don't have the money to pay for medicine or medical procedures as long as they have the belgium nationality. If you are currently unemployed the state pays you a monthly minimum wage and may even provide you with a social home and the necessary's for a normal live (i.e. electricity, water and heating). If you become ill the state will also pay for your medical needs.

The current requirements to become of the belgium nationality are:
1) you have to be born in belgium. Even if your parents are not of our nationality. This includes being born whilst flying in our airspace.
2) You have to fill in an aplication and A) never have committed a felony in our country B) Try to learn either french or dutch. You don't have to actually speak any of those languages. Following one lecture and saying you are trying is enough. These courses are free and sponsored by the government.

 

[Jedoro]

He's been giving a hell of an effort to create a systom for people like me who can't afford health care. The Irony is both my parents work in a hospital and my sister and I can't go to a doctor.

That's some bullshit there. I mean, you'd think they'd have an employee discount for the ER or something.

OT: My job actually takes care of me with its health insurance plan, which I qualify for since I'm full-time. I rarely need to go, since I'm in damn good shape and don't really have any genetic problems, but it's there for when I need it.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Yeah, you can criticize the NHS all you like but they're a godsend. We pay a little extra in tax but I know I'm safe and sound should I ever need an operation or any other medical care. Hell, if you don't like the NHS there are even great private clinics about too.

Sucks for the US though. My girlfriend lives in the US and I dread her needing any kind of medical care :/

 

[MissDK]

I am from Denmark, and we have free healthcare... that being said, we also have one of the highest taxes in the world... I resently moved to America and I was actually quite scared when peole started taking about how their family couldn't afford healthcare and stuff.. it seems to me that it should be a human right to be able to get the right help when you are sick.. But that is just my inner socialist talking..

 

[lapsed_pacifist]

I'm in England. It's free and of a high quality. Mostly.

But we pay very high taxes on everything. Some of the highest in the world as I understand.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

I think a big problem is that free healthcare has been stigmatised in America by calling it 'socalised', and America has a massive political spin industry based on buzz words;- Glenn 'Nazi tourettes' Beck, for example. The Cold War demonised all things left-wing as anti-freedom and anti-american, and its all too easy for people to say that free healthcare is a step towards communism, because in a sense they are right, but it is not neccessarily a bad step to take.

I'm from the U.K., and I have to say that the NHS is one of the few things that agree with whole heartedly. Even though I will probably get health insurance when I am more self dependent to cover me incase I catch some serious illness the NHS does not fund, I am 100% ok with funding the dentist costs, medical emergencies etc. of those who otherwise would not be able to afford it, I think it is a simple matter of empathy, but I can see that the 'American Dream' does kind of contradict this philosophy.

 

[baddude1337]

I live in the UK, so I have, and work for, the Nation Health Service, or NHS. It is a good system, but I feel its quality may soon decline due to the several billion the Government needs to cut back in the health sector. In my hospital alone we need to cut back about £10m a year due to the budget decreasing, which is ridiculous.

 

[Soviet Steve]

I live in Denmark and last year around this time I fell on the ice and broke my ankle in 3 places. I was taken to a hospital, given speedy and excellent care, sent home with a cast until I was fit for surgery (Lots of internal bleeding thanks to my briliant attempt to stand up with a broken ankle) I was treated to excellent food, all at no cost, and I'm now walking quite normally again.

Overall I'm extremely satisfied with our service, which costs around half of what the American one does according to the studies I've seen. The reason for this is that preventative medicine is a staple of our system while in America the hospitals ignore non-paying people until they are obligated to help the sods when they're dying, meaning a problem that could have been fixed easily by a few people will require dilligent work by countless doctors and surgeons.

The entire tax system needs an overhaul. Health care as it stands should be offered by the govt but divided into tiers. Healthy people pay minimal or way less money, while those who are purposefully unhealthy should pay out the ass for it. In other words, make it like auto insurance. You pay more if you have bad health (whether its your fault or not), bad behaviors, or so on.

So the government should be able to pick out who they want to tax more, based on what they think their intentions on their health is? Seems like a large government like the American one would allow for a fair amount of corruption and misuse in such a system.

Someone like me doesn't make enough to afford health care, so I do without.
The 'necessity' of modern medicine is severely overrated. I'll do without it, tyvm.
In fact...my wish is to die in my sleep before I hit 40, just so that I'm never a worthless old fart who's a burden on my family and society and that makes life hell on the roads due to insisting on driving when I have no business doing so.

If you die in your 40ies then you've been a useless young fart for half your life. Besidse, if modern healthcare is not necessary then why not get rid of it all-together? In America I mean. I quite appreciate not being crippled for life, as I would have been without modern medicine.

Yes I hate old people who aren't military veterans or family of such. They can take their f-in Social Security and Medicare and shove it up their asses. I'd much MUCH rather provide full no-questions-asked free healthcare to anyone under 25, period. Let the old farts die off and stop wasting our damn money, I'd rather save the kids.

Because children are massive contributers to society while people with experience, skills and established carreers are a drain, unless they are murderers. This makes perfect sense and I have no criticism to offer this line of thinking.

 

[Woodsey]

America's health care system is behind much (if not all) of the rest of the developed world's.

The countries that seem to score highest in terms of health care, as well as education and whatever else are places like Finland (they topped a study recently I believe), whose systems are rooted in socialism BUT ARE NOT SOCIALIST in themselves.

America's obsession with having "freedom", and living in some wonderous golden age that has never existed, is absurd.

 

[Tiny116]

Well we got the NHS, which means Practitioners are always working to the best outcome for the patient.
However we now have a conservative run coalition Government and they hate the NHS.

Would an NHS style system work in America??
Something like it is certainty needed. However the NHS has been in debt ever since it was founded...And America is many times the size of the UK...

 

[Helmutye]

Back in England, turns out i needed a pin, a plate and about 12 screws to sort my elbow out. For free. How much would that cost in the states?

It would cost enough to completely bankrupt a normal person, or saddle them with bills and bad credit for a substantial portion of their life. I did some looking and surgeries similar to the one you described would cost somewhere between $27,000 and $35,000, which is more than I make in an entire year. And depending on the complications, it can easily sour into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. My girlfriend was in a car accident back in high school (we have around 40,000 car accidents every year in the US). Her femur, knee, and arm were broken, and she had to be helicoptered to the hospital. If she had lost just one more pint of blood during the trip, she would have died. Her medical bills were around $500,000. Fortunately, she had insurance, so it was covered. If she hadn't, she would've been financially ruined for the rest of her life. Or, the hospital would've had to eat that loss of money.

There are a lot of good arguments against the way Obamacare works. It's certainly not a perfect solution. But the fact that so many people in the US didn't and still don't even perceive a problem with the situation is embarrassing.