Comparing U.S. and other medical systems

**phesina** · 01-14-2010, 07:52 PM

To our Canadian members and you folks in other countries with some form of national health care system:

Are there many people in your country who want to do away with the medical system you have there and adopt one like ours?

Here in the U.S. I hear all the pro and con arguments about other countries' public systems, but I would like to know what people in those countries think about their own health care systems and about what YOU hear of the American system.

This topic has come up in the "sarah palin" thread here in the Dog House, and I think it warrants its own discussion.

I look over the Dog House discussions/arguments/rants but rarely comment in any, because, do I need this headache?

Now I'm starting a thread in it?

Am I nuts?

Do I need THIS headache?

But since this is a huge matter of concern in this country right now, I would like to get information and opinions from people who know first-hand the pros and cons of the various possibilities we're looking at here.

Thank you for your thoughtful responses.

Pat

**Puckstop31** · 01-14-2010, 11:14 PM

10...9....8.... Waiting for my Canadian wife to comment on the Canadian health "care" system.

**phesina** · 01-14-2010, 11:17 PM

Good, I want very much to hear what Sparks has to say!

**Nomilynn** · 01-15-2010, 08:46 AM

If it weren't for the Canadian health care system, I would likely be be declaring bankruptcy and homeless, after being unemployed last year. I am a diabetic and I have several items that I have to buy on a monthly basis. However, they aren't expensive when compared to how much they cost in the USA (I have bought my medications in the states before when I went on a trip and I forgot something.. suprisingly a lot of insulins don't require a medical prescriptions). Also, I need to have blood work and see my doctor every three months, and I do not have to pay for any of it out of pocket. It's covered by my monthly premium of $54.

A couple of years ago I had to have surgery, and did not have to wait that long. From the time I was referred to surgery to the date of the procedure it was around 2 months. It was not an emergency. However, my friend went into the emergency room and had to have hernia surgery that evening, no wait, and not one penny out of pocket except for his prescription for pain after he left the hospital.

So if I had a choice, I would keep what I have.

**Randi** · 01-15-2010, 09:06 AM

It sounds like we have a Health Security system in Denmark much like Nomilyn describes, and I would definately want it to stay that way - or only rich people could afford to stay healthy.

Going to hospital and doctors doesn't cost anything, but buying the medicine does. However, if it's prescription medicine, you pay less and less for it every time. After a year, you start over paying full price, but it will get cheaper for each purchase.

We do pay to go to the dentist. The Healthcare only pays very little of that bill.

There are private hospitals in Denmark too, and if the State hospitals can not fit you in within a certain amount of time, you go to a private, and the Health care will pay.

To have this, we all pay more taxes than most countries, but I much prefer that EVERYONE can get treated.

**phesina** · 01-15-2010, 01:48 PM

Thank you, Randi and Nomilynn. Puck, I hope your wife will join in!

**Puckstop31** · 01-16-2010, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by Randi

It sounds like we have a Health Security system in Denmark much like Nomilyn describes, and I would definately want it to stay that way - or only rich people could afford to stay healthy.

??? I am not rich. Yet I can "afford" (we provide ourselves and our staff a decent health care plan) to keep myself and my family healthy.

Going to hospital and doctors doesn't cost anything,

THIS is exactly why, though nobody in them here might admit it, why most "socialized" health plans fail and/or suck.

It DOES cost money. A lot of money actually. Just not YOUR money. The infamous "THEY" pays for you.

Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

**Killearn Kitties** · 01-20-2010, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by phesina

Are there many people in your country who want to do away with the medical system you have there and adopt one like ours?

Phesina, there must be people in Britain who would like to abolish the NHS and set up a US-style system, but I can honestly say I have never met one.

What do we hear about the American system? That it is possible your medical condition will go untreated if you do not have the money/insurance to pay for it. Frankly, this freaks us out. As a nation we tend not to believe that your right to healthcare should be dependant on your income.

**pomtzu** · 01-20-2010, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Killearn Kitties

What do we hear about the American system? That it is possible your medical condition will go untreated if you do not have the money/insurance to pay for it. Frankly, this freaks us out. As a nation we tend not to believe that your right to healthcare should be dependant on your income.

And I think that this is the biggest flaw in the U.S. system.

However, I don't believe that there is a hospital ER that would ever refuse to treat a patient, just because he had no insurance. I may be wrong, but I believe it's law that someone be treated, regardless of insurance coverage, race, ability to speak English, and some others that I can't put my finger on right now. I know that all satellite offices and clinics of the local medical center have signs posted stating this.

**carole** · 01-20-2010, 01:28 PM

I have to agree with Killearns Kitties, that is exactly what we hear over here as well, we have a pretty similar system to the British i think, and i want it to stay that way.

**phesina** · 01-20-2010, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by pomtzu

And I think that this is the biggest flaw in the U.S. system.

However, I don't believe that there is a hospital ER that would ever refuse to treat a patient, just because he had no insurance. I may be wrong, but I believe it's law that someone be treated, regardless of insurance coverage, race, ability to speak English, and some others that I can't put my finger on right now. I know that all satellite offices and clinics of the local medical center have signs posted stating this.

That is true that a hospital emergency room must treat everyone who comes in. However, the result is that the ER has become the family doctor for people who don't have health insurance. You have a headache? Kid has the sniffles? Off to the hospital to sit and wait for several hours for someone to see you! This is a phenomenal waste of money and health care resources.

**pomtzu** · 01-20-2010, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by phesina

That is true that a hospital emergency room must treat everyone who comes in. However, the result is that the ER has become the family doctor for people who don't have health insurance. You have a headache? Kid has the sniffles? Off to the hospital to sit and wait for several hours for someone to see you! This is a phenomenal waste of money and health care resources.

Exactly! And this is why the hospitals and doctors and clinics charge such outlandish prices - to make up for the freebies. I'm definitely not saying this is right, but it will continue to happen. And who takes the beating in the end??? - you and me - paying for it in the form of higher insurance premiums - or cost in general if we don't have insurance.

A couple of years ago I fractured my wrist and arrived at the ER around midnight. When I got checked in I asked the clerk about how long a wait I had, and she said there were patients in the waiting room that had been there for about 5 hours. I just kind of groaned with the thought of that wait, but she said they would take me right back. The ones that had been waiting were no emergencies - a headache, baby with diaper rash, and some other ridiculous "ailments". After my x-ray and my orthopedic surgeon saw me, he had to laugh and tell me that there were some people not too happy with me. It seems that the ones with nothing really wrong and were still waiting , made a complaint that I had been taken ahead of them. They have no insurance, use the ER as their primary care, have someone else footing their bill - and they complain???? What's wrong with that picture??

**sparks19** · 01-20-2010, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by phesina

That is true that a hospital emergency room must treat everyone who comes in. However, the result is that the ER has become the family doctor for people who don't have health insurance. You have a headache? Kid has the sniffles? Off to the hospital to sit and wait for several hours for someone to see you! This is a phenomenal waste of money and health care resources.

but that isn't something that will stop with a different system. that's one of those things that is going to be that way no matter what. Doctor can't see you right away? off to the ER. Can't find a family doctor that is taking patients? of to the ER. After doctors hours? of to the ER.

I've waited TWELVE hours in the ER before :O

**Killearn Kitties** · 01-20-2010, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by sparks19

but that isn't something that will stop with a different system. that's one of those things that is going to be that way no matter what. Doctor can't see you right away? off to the ER. Can't find a family doctor that is taking patients? of to the ER. After doctors hours? of to the ER.

I've waited TWELVE hours in the ER before :O

I don't understand where you are coming from here. Why would anybody wait in an enormous queue in ER when they could go to their family doctor? I can certainly say that that does not happen here.