US Health Care System

[15 Storeys High]

I'm constantly reading on here topics from people in the USA asking medical questions because they don't feel they can afford simple healthcare and it makes me angry that their health is suffering.

 

So, people of the USA, tell me what is actually good about your healthcare system, because I can't see anything good about it that makes it better than elsewhere in the devloped world.

[Kiwi_Sweet]

I agree. Did you know that Canada has free health care for everyone of every economic-status?

[Sweet Buttabean Jellayroll]

I'm constantly reading on here topics from people in the USA asking medical questions because they don't feel they can't afford simple healthcare and it makes me angry that their health is suffering.

 

So, people of the USA, tell me what is actually good about your healthcare system, because I can't see anything good about it that makes it better than elsewhere in the devloped world.

 

whats good about our healthcare? people can treat anything. if you got cancer it can be removed efficently. if you got something else it can be removed, our healthcare is extreamely great

 

but its not affordable, and they will let you die if you cannot pay.

 

just like the man my mother worked with, he wasent rich couldnt pay the fees, and his condition was severe constipation in which surgery was needed to remove the excriment, but he dindt have the money, so they basically let the feces smother his lungs and his heart and he died. instead they gave him syrum and some cold medicine to subdue the pain.

 

you have to have money in the US for people to get off their ass

[pianoguy]

Haha... there is nothing good about the U.S. healthcare system.

 

As far as I understand it, the rationale for having such a crappy healthcare system is that we can have lower taxes. This benefits mainly the rich however..

 

I salute our friends in Canada and Europe who actually take care of their citizens when they're sick. Please don't rub it in our faces too much however... we're all well aware of how much better you have it.

[Miss Firecracker]

So far our family has never been without health care. We have had insurance from day one up until now. I have one son who is 25, and he now has his own insurance through his place of employment. My younger son, age 19, has autism. I went to a good doctor and got advice, went to Social Security and got him insurance through the state of Tennessee. He now has two insurances, one through my husband's company which kept him on when he was declared disabled.

 

I guess you could say I have no complaints. But I'm sure you will hear other stories from people who do.

[Pocket Rocket]

So does the UK and certain parts of Europe, but it doesn't mean it works well either, especially considering the waiting times. The father of a good friend of mine had a mass detected in his brain and they suspected it may be cancer or a cyst - they put him down for an MRI scan two months after they dected it and took a further two weeks to actually open and look at the results. And this is pretty common here believe me - does that sound good to you too? Another friends of mine broke his toe three years ago, to this day he is still on the waiting list for an operation.

[Vanishing Girl]

I got all worked up over this issue myself after watching "Sicko"..... I've tried to find out about the healthcare systems in other places to really compare it to the U.S. but unfortunately all i can do is ask people that i know. I asked a few people at work, and was told that in other countries the health care may be free, but the "good" doctors still charge and the freebie doctors are new and inexperienced. Is this true?

 

Seriously though, we considered moving to another country based on the poor health care here, and the lack of support to families (France has free childcare too)...oh and free college. Go figure!

[HealingHandsWarmHeart]

the government does not control our health.

 

thats whats good.

[Pocket Rocket]

I asked a few people at work, and was told that in other countries the health care may be free, but the "good" doctors still charge and the freebie doctors are new and inexperienced. Is this true?

 

Absolutely, a good doctor isn't easy to find here if you're just lumped in with the system. Doctors in private hospitals and clinics receive better pay.

[Vanishing Girl]

That's the other thing (good point Healing) is that our government is so corrupt if they were to do something like that it would be hell on earth.

[15 Storeys High]

So does the UK and certain parts of Europe, but it doesn't mean it works well either, especially considering the waiting times. The father of a good friend of mine had a mass detected in his brain and they suspected it may be cancer or a cyst - they put him down for an MRI scan two months after they dected it and took a further two weeks to actually open and look at the results. And this is pretty common here believe me - does that sound good to you too? Another friends of mine broke his toe three years ago, to this day he is still on the waiting list for an operation.

 

But they did get treated didn't they? Imagine if they hadn't been because they couldn't afford it. Yes, things sometimes take a while but that is down to the population increasing but not the amount of actual taxpayers, thus there is the same (or less) money to use for more people and there are more emergency cases nowadays what with the declining health and lifestyle choices people make nowadays. It's not an easy thing to sustain and management make a hash of it for the most part but the concept is amazing and should be received gratefully.

[ghost69]

so many people worry about being billed some crazy amount for getting a check-up. even people that pay a monthly amount for health service, they don't want to go because there is still a co-pay. i know, another out of pocket expense to get a fricken check-up.

[melrich]

the government does not control our health.

 

No, the insurance companies do, bless their sweet little hearts.

[15 Storeys High]

Absolutely, a good doctor isn't easy to find here if you're just lumped in with the system.

 

That is a rediculous statement. There are good doctors everywhere.

[RayKay]

To the poster asking about the private v. public - we don't have a two-tiered system here. Certain things that are "elective" like plastic surgery of course or abortions (though they are free in hospitals) are paid for privately. But all other surgeries...whether it be for removing complex brain tumours or fixing a broken leg is free.

 

Is it always perfect? No...sometimes there is a wait, but in my experience unless it is elective or a non-emergency, the wait is not that bad. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer and begun chemo the next week. She could of had surgery the next week instead but she opted for chemo first.

 

My good friend and classmate has a rare tumour in his face, he was flown to Toronto within three weeks as they have a specialized team there for the cranio-facial surgery and radiation and will be there for 4 or 5 months total.

 

 

When my late boyfriend was sick, he was immediately referred to a neurosurgeon and given prompt care.

 

We have a fantastic neurosurgery centre here, and research as well.

 

There is sometimes a shortage of certain doctors as many are lured away by higher pay of US states, but there are fantastic doctors here and we don't pay extra for them as they are all part of the public system (unless as I said they perform plastic surgery for electives - reconstruction for breast cancer or face injuries would be covered while boob jobs of course would not be!)

 

Some wealthier people up here may fly down to the US (to Mayo Clinic) for more specialized stuff or they want a certain doctor or treatment not here. But that is optional, not by force.

 

I have had to wait 6 months to get a ganglion in my hand removed but it is not-life threatening or that bad...and if I was in the country and went to a smaller hospital they would of done it sooner...it's just the backlog in the city. Oh yes, and he was also a plastic surgeon so that was part of it as he did not have same access to hospitals.

 

I'd rather someone like my mum or my friend get in their for their circumstances over me with a little annoying bump in my wrist for example!

 

Certain governments here want to have a private-public tiered system...I just see a disaster as it will take a lot of the specialists over to the private with higher pay and it would end up being discriminatory against the "public" in the end (and literally unhealthy!).

 

It truly is nice not having to "worry" honestly. I know friends in the US with M.S. or cancer whom are racking up huge medical bills to be treated as they were not insured (often difficult to get if you have ANY history of in many workplaces) & that is just not fair. It is nice only needing to worry about insurance for my dental and prescriptions (which is pretty cheap and often partly paid of course through work or school), and knowing if I get sick I won't be having to make some tough choices about whether I can afford to get healthy or not...

 

Even worse from what I see of the US is how many DON'T go to the doctor as they can't afford it earlier and miss out on the crucial early diagnosis that so often can be the difference between life and death. I know that there are some hospitals that cannot refuse you and you can work out a payment plan of even $1 a year or something very very low...but regular health care is so important to be there BEFORE you feel sick too.

[Pocket Rocket]

But they did get treated didn't they? Imagine if they hadn't been because they couldn't afford it. Yes, things sometimes take a while but that is down to the population increasing but not the amount of actual taxpayers, thus there is the same (or less) money to use for more people and there are more emergency cases nowadays what with the declining health and lifestyle choices people make nowadays. It's not an easy thing to sustain and management make a hash of it for the most part but the concept is amazing and should be received gratefully.

 

Um I think waiting more than two months for a diagnosis for something that could be rapidly fatal like cancer is the equivalent of neglect, and I only used two examples of what I've seen here. Free healthcare is good if it works, and at present it isn't working very well at all. There is free healthcare in other places that works, but it is carefully managed. If the problem is of dense population that free healthcare cannot sustain then obviously the choice would be to choose a different system. There are patients who have asked the NHS to pay partly for operations in private clinics and that they could cover the rest - NHS said no, you're just going to have to wait.

[Nixee]

What is good about it? Well.. We have knowledgable doctors and technologically advanced healthcare at least. Could always be worse.

 

But honestly, that doesn't make us better. Many other countries have very advanced healthcare too, AND they provide it freely.

 

So yeah... not much good about our system. It makes good, hardworking people go bankrupt. It makes people choose what services they can *try* to afford, leaving other problems untreated. It makes people NEED to find a job with medical benefits.

 

Me personally for example: I'm an artist. I was working in an art-related profession during and right after school, but I did not have medical. I was then diagnosed with epilepsy. I NEEDED insurance, but got turned down for having a "pre-existing condition". The ONLY way I could get coverage was to leave the job field I loved and move into another - group benefits was the only way I could be treated.

 

Our system sucks, flat out. Treatment costs more, drugs cost more, insurance costs ungodly amount (and they won't even accept you if you need it), claims are denied all the time. Many people have no complaints, but those are the people who have been medically lucky so far (never had to lose coverage for any reason, no pre-existing conditions, etc.). Soon as something devastating happens, everyone changes their tune.

 

I see no excuse for our health "system" anymore, personally. This country is better than that.... or should be.

[15 Storeys High]

Um I think waiting more than two months for a diagnosis for something that could be rapidly fatal like cancer is the equivalent of neglect, and I only used two examples of what I've seen here. Free healthcare is good if it works, and at present it isn't working very well at all. There is free healthcare in other places that works, but it is carefully managed. If the problem is of dense population that free healthcare cannot sustain then obviously the choice would be to choose a different system. There are patients who have asked the NHS to pay partly for operations in private clinics and that they could cover the rest - NHS said no, you're just going to have to wait.

 

And was it cancer?

 

I think it works pretty damn well. Emergency cases get priority. It's that simple. Perhaps one day when you or your family becomes an emergency (and by that, I mean your life is imminently threatened) you'll actually be thankful for the care you receive. The problem is people expect the world and they expect it immediately and when it doesn't happen like that people start to moan. They don't care if the stranger in the next bed is worse off. But the system does. People should understand that and accept that it isn't perfect and sometimes it goes wrong. Overall, it's one of the most amazing concepts in the world.

 

It does have it's problems. Of course it does. But just try taking it away. You'll all be moaning even more.

[Vanishing Girl]

No, the insurance companies do, bless their sweet little hearts.

 

I am not disagreeing with you on this, but it is our government that allows them to operate the way they do.

[cc2006]

What is good about the US Healthcare System.

 

Uhm ... it is very good at rewarding insurance companies (and their respective boards) with high salaries for callously making decisions regarding people's lives. Wait, that came out bitter.

 

Uhm ... it is very good at rewarding doctors with high paychecks for their hard work. ... but wait, they have to pay ungodly large sums for malpractice insurance because they will get sued .. no matter how good they are.

 

Uhm ... it creates a massive flux of cashflow into political campaigns, buying policy change (or lack there of) and votes. Insurance companies can own large politicians. Wait, thats not good either.

 

Uhm ... it strengthens the class divide in the US between the "haves" and "have nots" ... wait, another negative. ... but .. Magic Johnson doesn't have AIDS anymore! Hurray, maybe he'll bring back his talk show!

 

Uhm ... as Nixee said ... it forces individuals and families into making choices they'd rather not have to make ... simply because having private insurance is a necessity. I had to take a job I didn't really want to take (which lead to a decline in my grades in university) simply because I needed health insurance. If I got in an accident, or fell on ice and broke my leg, I'd be facing thousands of dollars in medical bills that you cannot just dodge with Bankruptcy law loopholes anymore ... so I had to do what I had to do.

 

Uhm ... it attracts 'the best doctors' to our country. Well this one is semi-true ... we have a few really great facilities (which are costly, for sure) and we do have our share of great providers ... but ... I hear more and more stories of wealthier Americans flying overseas for treatment. Israeli R&D is years beyond ours in many fields. Stem Cell research being one, for certain.

 

Uhm ... it rewards Pharmaceutical companies for their hard work. Wait ... if it costs $3 for medicine in Canada ... why does the same bottle cost $85 here in NY? Many of those companies aren't even headquartered within the US anymore ... so we aren't even raking in the corporate taxes off them.

 

Uhm ... it keeps our taxes low! Yeah ... countries with socialized healthcare pay more in taxes then we do. Wait .. if we factor in health insurance costs and copay amounts for a family here ... they'd actually be making out better if we instituted a 'Universal Healthcare' system like much of the rest of the world. Especially since many people put off doctor's visits to avoid healthcare costs.

 

 

 

I have to stop before I pop a blood vessel in frustration ... and that'd cost me a $30 copay to get looked at. If I think of more I'll letcha' know .. if ya wanna' know .. that is

[Clementine orange]

 

Seriously though, we considered moving to another country based on the poor health care here, and the lack of support to families (France has free childcare too)...oh and free college. Go figure!

 

France also has massive unemployement, a huge deficit/debt and is slowly going broke. If you aren't a French national in France then you are going to have problems.

[Vanishing Girl]

very well put!

[Clementine orange]

Canada's health care system - only one of the many many reasons I thank God I was born here.

Now if we only just do something about the weather!

[cc2006]

I am not disagreeing with you on this, but it is our government that allows them to operate the way they do.

 

The system is flawed ... and corrupt.

 

The insurance companies supply the politicians with money for their campaigns .. so the politicians side with the insurance companies. One hand washes the other. Neither is less guilty ... and neither will give up their benefits without a fight.

 

Some of these companies force down legislation that'd help people .. simply because it'd cut into their profits.

 

 

 

Healthcare ... people's lives ... should not be market-driven. Deciding who lives and who dies ... turning a profit off of people's suffering?

 

If the mafia says: "Pay up or I'll break your legs" it is racketeering.

If the insurance company says: "Pay up or I won't fix your broken leg" its US Capitalist Healthcare.

[Clementine orange]

America can afford a Universal Health Care system. It is the wealthiest country in the world. How much is that war in Iraq costing? Daily?

 

Vote!!