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[LuvOrlando]

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[Linus Van Pelt]

Mandatory insurance has made health care a nightmare. And if you think it is bad now, wait until the government takes over.

You're for small government, right? If so, please answer me this: Should we then completely privatize the military?

 

[Linus Van Pelt]

Everyone is so committed to being either an Republican or a Democrat that everything and everyone in the middle of the extremes is suffering .

Quite true, that.

Since when did empathizing with one's fellow human beings become a partisan issue?

 

[tonilea]

I'm still curious about what other people think about whether or not our healthcare/insurance situation is doing ok or needs a revamping.

This shouldn't devolve into personal situations, its not useful and closes discourse.

I have very mixed feelings about universal healthcare.

We are paying in excess of ten percent of our income for insurance - but we can't afford to be without insurance. Would taxes increase more than that for universal health care? Would it really level the playing field?

On the other hand, why should the government assume responsibility for our health? Why do we think the government needs to have their dirty fingers in everything? Why should we expect the government to? Where do we draw the line? They can't even balance the budget, can they adequately manage our health care dollars? Do we really want our government to make decisions about our health? Life or death? Would I have to accept state care if I am happy with my current insurance? Should I have to?

Hows that? No answers, but tons of questions. One thing I just keep coming back to is why should the government be responsible for our health care or anyone's for that matter.

 

[basas]

I haven't seen it (though I intend to at some point) but I wanted to mention that I know a LOT of canadians. In the US we hear a lot of anecdotal stories about the heath care system there, and how there is long wait times, it is impossible to find good care, etc etc...that is far from how they feel about it. They have told me over and over that there is only long waits for elective surgery, no abnormal waits to see a dr. any other time, especially not if you are sick.

The majority of Canadians I know do not like the health care system. In fact, most think its terrible and I have family members who have waited extensive amounts of time for health care, and others who have come down here to the states for treatment. Most of the Canadians I know are in favor of a two-tired health care system.

 

[tonilea]

The majority of Canadians I know do not like the health care system. In fact, most think its terrible and I have family members who have waited extensive amounts of time for health care, and others who have come down here to the states for treatment. Most of the Canadians I know are in favor of a two-tired health care system.

I only know one Canadian IRL and she thinks the Canadian health care sytems stinks and the US is much better. Obviously that isn't a decent poll. But there it is FWIW. lol

 

[Linus Van Pelt]

I'm still curious about what other people think about whether or not our healthcare/insurance situation is doing ok or needs a revamping.

I'm for universal healthcare, but then I also don't find the government to be the evil, godless bugaboo that many Americans do.

 

[Kath2003]

Just one of the many reasons I'm glad I live in the UK.

 

[Bobbles]

Just one of the many reasons I'm glad I live in the UK.

How is the health care system run in the UK? I honestly don't know.

 

[swilphil]

I'm Canadian - I can go to any doctor or hospital I please. Although, the doctor might choose not to take me if he or she's completely booked up with patients. I've dropped in at clinics all over the city. I've gone to hospitals in other cities. I've never had a problem.

Waits are completely dependent on where I am. If I've got something non-life threatening and I'm in Toronto - I can expect a looong wait if I go to the emergency room. On the other hand, if I can wait until morning, all I have to do is check clinic availability on line, and I can walk into a clinic in ten minutes. Or possibly an hour, if a whole bunch of people got there ahead of me.

I've been to an emergency room in Northern Ontario with a child who had a popcorn kernel stuck in her ear. I got to see a doctor in fifteen minutes. Of course, they didn't have the equipment needed to get the thing out, so we had to drive down to North Bay - but again, no waits, since they were expecting us.

Yeah, I sometimes have to wait a few months to see a specialist, but I've got no complaints. I honestly believe that socialized medicine saved my mother's life, and has made us all healthier. We could never have afforded insurance when I was young. My mother would have died if she'd been in the mindset that she should wait or try to treat herself.

You know - we can buy Auralgan over the counter here! It's an analgesic ear drop. When my kids have an earache they get instant pain relief. However in the US you've got to have a prescription to get the stuff. Why? One doctor friend told me it's because they're afraid that if people could take away the pain of their children's ear aches, they'd never go to see a doctor. We don't have that concern here in Canada - our big problem is that people see their doctors over *everything*, even stuff they don't need to worry about.

The system's not perfect, and things could be improved, but I think it's a darn sight better than the US's system. And I haven't even seen Sicko yet!

I have decent insurance in the US, and we still have to wait a few months, or more, to see a specialist.

The ear drop story is an interesting one. I think the US underestimates the role that the pharm companies are having on our health care and on our policies (look at the pharm lobby).

The Canadian system is much, much better than the US system. I hope we can move in that direction.

 

[swilphil]

How is the health care system run in the UK? I honestly don't know.

Similar to the Canadian system. The documentary Sicko describes it very well, though it probably doesn't truly give both sides of the story.

As far as some Canadians loving the system and others hating it, I'm sure it largely depends on your doctor and your needs, just like in the US.

 

[mark&sue]

I agree with Kath2003, as much as many in the UK complain about our health care we never have to worry that we will be denied or that we will get into debt.

We pay a percentage of our wages in a tax which pays for all health care for everyone in the UK. Our main problem recently is that we have had mass immigration but not new hospitals to cope with so many extra people.

However we all have peace of mind that where ever we are in the UK we will be treated free.


Susan

 

[Kath2003]

How is the health care system run in the UK? I honestly don't know.

It's a national system. Everyone is entitled to heathcare. The ONLY costs you have to pay are £6.50 ($13) for a prescription and if you're under 16, 16-18 in full time education, retired, on any kind of welfare, from a low-income household or it's an exempt medication (e.g. contraception) you don't even have to pay the $13.

Yes, you can choose your doctor.
Yes, you can get seen (I have never had to wait more than 24-hours).
Yes, you can get a second opinion.

It just means that basically there's no health insurance. No matter whether you need antibiotics for an ear infection or a triple heart bypass, you pay the same - nothing.

It's all paid through on taxes - 11% of everything you earn over $200/week, but this 11% also contributes towards things like your state pension.

I had a discussion with someone on here and we determined that, even including our high sales tax (17.5%), the average family here pays less tax (of course that depends on the state).

 

[LuvOrlando]

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