US Health Care Reform

[Alcar]

This is a contentious issue at the moment if the social media sites are to be believed, and has been quite an eye opener. Not only because I've discovered how utterly horrible and inhumane the US health care system is, but also the audacious vitriol spilling from the religious right.

What do you 'Merkin forumites think about the state of your health care insurance?

Non 'Merkins, what's the state of your health care?

Alcar...

[used:)]

I'm moving to Canada. The bill is so watered-down at this point that no one wants it. Even though the congressman are trying to inform their people about this legislation, the repubots shit all over anything that this administration does.

[Alcar]

I find it difficult to stomach that you need to seek the insurer's approval before you can receive treatment. Even in emergency situations.

Also, how on Earth does a broken wrist cost ~US$6,000 to remedy?

I never particularly paid attention to my health care system, besides it's run in the press every now and then, admonishing the system. But I'm forever thankful Australia followed the British model.

Alcar...

[Anonyman!]

So I take it it's not as bad as they say it is over there?

I.E. waiting months to get a check up, dying because you had to wait so long or whatever bullshit I've been spoon fed.

[used:)]

As I said in one of Nate's blog entries, for those of you who have seen Moore's documentary Sicko, how much validity is there to it that pertains to foreign health care systems?

[Pilot]

A broken wrist costs six grand to fix because the costs are unimportant when an insurance company can be bilked for it.

I am uninsured. I work for myself and sure as hell cannot afford health insurance for myself if I wanted. I've been very fortunate really; never been hospitalized for anything major except for an incident I had which required eye surgery to correct (rusty metal sliced my cornea, but beside the point)

Around here hospitalization costs IMO are so exorbitant that one is coerced into "needing" insurance in order to be able to play the health care game. The medical industry is a business. A private business. Private businesses by nature are designed to make a profit.

For someone like myself, god forbid I need hospitalization because I simply would not be able to pay. I'd be treated, of course, and depending on what treatment was given, I may be left to file bankruptcy as many uninsured americans do who incur unexpected medical bills; most of which whom also have little to no savings.

I also look at things in terms of our social lifestyles. So many sicknesses and diseases that are putting us in hospitals could easily be prevented by changes in lifestyle. The issue here, also, is that in America the general accepted 'social' lifestyle is also the least healthy one... constant stress, unhealthy food, lethargy..... and of course the body reacts.

I risk sounding pessimist in what I'm about to say but this is not the case; I'm optimist: America is out of control. Our whole social system is out of control and I expect the only way to correct it is to let it crash. Medical industry and all.

[Alcar]

In Australia, a check up is mostly taken care of by General Practitioners (GPs). It's as simple as making an appointment, or just showing up at the residence. Obviously, without a booking you'll have to wait longer, but I've never been made to wait for more than an hour. If a doctor 'bulk bills', you usually pay nothing. If the doctor doesn't bulk bill, your average charge is around $50-100 (of which you can then go and get a refund of roughly half from our government).

As for dying due to long waiting periods, I rarely hear about this. What might be used to shine a negative light on our system is the lack of viable organs available. We do have rather long waiting lists for organs - but that is due to a large majority of selfish, despicable people not opting to be organ donors (I don't give a shit if your religion forbids it - you don't fucking need them).

As for affordability of drugs - once again they are heavily subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and are very affordable.

There are plenty of issues with our health system - but there are plenty of positives, now that I've been able to compare it with other countries.

Our health care system is funded from a 1.5% slice of the taxes from persons without dependents who earn upwards of ~AU$18,000. Persons without dependents earning upwards of ~AU$70,000 pay an additional 1% if they do not have private health insurance.

Alcar...

[Anonyman!]

man...

god... damnit.

[Pilot]

Pete, compared to the US health care system, I'm impressed with Australia's. Nate and I spoke about it one night on MSN and he kinda filled me in on how it works "down there."

[Alcar]

I should probably point out that our private health insurance is rather affordable too. If I were to take out just hospital cover (not extras) I'd pay ~AU$47/month. With extras I'd be looking at ~AU$170/month.

The government provides you with a 30% rebate as well.

Alcar...

[used:)]

What's the current rate of exchange for the AU to the US?

[Alcar]

US$1 = AU$1.2145

Alcar...

[Pilot]

Cheap insurance can be had here for under $100 a month, the only problem is making sure a hospital/doctor will deal with the particular company.

Seriously, I used to get two or MORE spam faxes PER DAY pushing cheap health insurance by some fly-by-night company no one's ever heard of before. Good business, it seems.

[Mac Sirloin]

I'm moving to Canada.

Yay! We can steal things together.

[Alcar]

Here's a real life story for you. I just got back from the hospital a few minutes ago, took me an hour in total to receive my previous test results, have two more tests performed, and register with the hospital (I was previously just a regular walk-in).

More importantly, I was able to pick up a prescription for the most important drugs I have ever received in my life (so far...). It cost me a grand total of AU$26.

The same drugs in the US would have cost me between US$1,300-$1,800 (unless your insurance picks it up? Not quite sure). Something I can not afford at a moments notice, like this has been.

Alcar...

[mr.odd]

Not surprising at all. coincidentally my neighbors were having a chat about the health care system here. i walked in on it late so i didn't get much info, but i hear the government trying to make it so you can't even pick your own doctor. they're just going to decide for us by giving a list of people we can pick from with almost no knowledge of who they are. not saying it's true, just saying that's what i heard. i really don't know much about the health system, just little bits.

I also heard one of my neighbors went to the doctor to get a physical and got prescribed medicine for congestion. his response.
"why do i need this?" doctors response "Just in case you might need them..."

[Havoc]

I don't know much of the US healthcare system but the things I do know sound retarded. For one money shouldn't be playing a role when peoples lives are at stake. I can not imagine someone being turned down at a hospital because he can't pay the bill or having to file for bankruptcy because he broke both his legs and now can't pay the 12,000 dollars he owes the hospital.

I don't know how much decent health insurance costs over there but I pay about 100 euros a month for mine which is a normal figure I'd say. It's also mandatory to have insurance over here. Hospitals over here simply won't take money from individuals, they deal exclusively with the insurance companies.

It doesn't make sense to me why someone wouldn't have health insurance if you know that certain procedures can cost up to 50.000 bucks or more. You insure your house, your car, stuff like that, but your own health is not worth the extra 100 dollars a month? Weird Americans.

[Alcar]

Americans do pay insurance. The problem is it's not universal and it's expensive.

Alcar...

[shaman]

I am not happy with the current state of affairs in the UK. Our government is allowing the NHS to crumble, which means it takes more of the taxpayers money to put it right (or attempt to). We have been promised a reformed NHS for quite some time, i know the recesion has got in the way, but people are taking ill and having to be sent to unequipped hospitals. Which is more of an issue than the reccsion.

This is one of the many valid reasons that i am a government mal - content.

Shaman

[Psychocath]

UK health system isn't exactly the best either, but as far as I know, most treatment on the NHS is free. Lack of hospital beds always seems to have been a problem here, and in some cases, understaffed hospitals. Hasn't been too bad here in Wales, I'm not sure about other parts of the country though.

I don't really visit much nor pay as much attention to news regarding the health care system as I probably should, but I do know that when I broke my collarbone in a fight, it was X-rayed and taken care of for free. It's the small clinics that annoy me. I recently went down because of a stomach upset that has been plaguing me for about a month; the GP simply prodded my guts, asked me silly questions and finally concluded that she didn't know what was wrong with me (Dammit woman, I explained the symptoms to you and the trouble I had eating certain foods which I usually never have problems eating).
I was sent away with a month's supply Lansoprazole pills, which will do nothing by themselves. Because I've discovered that it's actually chronic gastritis, and a little bit more than Lansoprazole is needed to treat that properly.

And as for the UK government... Yeah, they'd rather waste taxpayer's money on a useless biometric ID card scheme than help the NHS, which is a bit sad. And all this business with MPs claiming expenses for ridiculous things- Urgh. It's all 'Take the money and run', these days.

EDIT: Illegal immigrants entering the country to fleece the benefit system don't really help either.

[Bullet Magnet]

I particularly enjoyed this piece on the current circus unfolding in the States over healthcare.

[Alcar]

As I stated initially, there are very concerning issues that affect the public health system. Shortage of hospital beds, availability of specialised care, etc. These issues plague the Australian system as well.

No system is perfect, and a democratic society ensures that eventually these issues are fixed. But for the majority, I cannot complain.

To be honest, I am slighty scared to travel to the US now - knowing that should the unfortunate occur, I might still be liable for thousands regardless of travel insurance.

Alcar...

[Bullet Magnet]

I hate those beds. I've wanted to get out and into chairs before, but the tubes wouldn't reach. There was a shortage of hatstands for fluid bags.

[OANST]

So I take it it's not as bad as they say it is over there?

I.E. waiting months to get a check up, dying because you had to wait so long or whatever bullshit I've been spoon fed.

I had an argument with a coworker about this bill, just yesterday. During the course of the conversation he spouted this same line of bullshit. This is absolutely political propaganda. And even if it were partly true, even if there was more of a waiting period to see a doctor, the reasons for that would be because people are actually getting the medical help they need. The fact that there are people who want others to go without the benefits of doctors because the waiting room would be more packed, well...it makes me fucking sick.

[Alcar]

Speaking from my point of view, which should be apparent by now - I am incredibly saddened that a society as advanced as the United States does not provide universal health care.

I have always viewed it as a right. For the state to do as much as possible to care for its constituents - I am earnestly empathetic. No one should be without access to a system that values our well being.

Alcar...

[OANST]

My credit is forever destroyed because of a medical problem that I had about six years ago. I will never be able to pay that money back.

I swear to god, I came close to punching that coworker in the face, yesterday.

[Bullet Magnet]

The US is the only developed country that does not provide healthcare to its citizens. It's fucking backwards, and yet people are still misinformed enough to believe all this arse-swill.

[shaman]

I don't see why medical care should just be for people who have money.. everybody has a right to good health.

-Shaman

[Bullet Magnet]

Barney Frank leads by example:

[OANST]

Good old Barney. He's such a dick. But he's usually right.