Health Care

[Sparkle_Cherry]

What do you think of health care in your area, or just in general? I know that a lot of the posters here on the TB are from the United States, and, correct me if I'm wrong, but you guys don't have Universal Health Care? Like, it's not free?

So yeah, what are your thoughts on Health Care?

 

[Ampris]

Hmm. Even though health care is a topic that's very close to me heart, it's sort of hard for me to form a valid opinion without having all the facts straight (stupidly, I've never done any real research on the subject, though I plan to change that very soon). Try not to take me too seriously.

No, we don't have universal health care in the U.S. and it can get ridiculously expensive at times. The thought of living without insurance (which is pricey enough as it is) is terrifying, because hospital visits, doctor appointments, medicine, physical therapy aren't cheap and can add up FAST. I know several elderly people who are in and out of the hospital all the time, having operations and getting therapy for just the normal conditions that come with aging- they can't be helped. They're all covered, I think, but to think that everybody their age can afford insurance is crazy. And it makes me extremely sad. (Oh, and dental work is also expensive. I'm not sure if that's covered by your Universal Health Care, but it can get sky high over here.)

And then the state of the medical facilities themselves really depresses me. Doctors are expensive, but people can't live without them. I know the overhead that comes with the practice must be high, but it's hard to imagine that they'd need that much money to do the more simple procedures. Every little thing just seems so darn expensive- heck, the rates per night to stay in a hospital alone are through the roof. I heard that it can cost THOUSANDS of dollars per night to stay in one. Not to mention that nurses, especially for nursing homes, are desperately needed and there aren't nearly enough to go around. The ones that are in the field are often inexperienced and/or just planning on staying in the job for a short while. But really, I'm sure that all healthcare workers are overworked. Having so many patients to take care of and all that paperwork to sort out are enough to drive anyone insane, and they do the best they can, but it's gotta be hard.

So, even though that's hardly a thorough breakdown of our health care system (it didn't even scratch the surface by a long shot), I'm pretty unhappy with the way our health care works. If you can afford to pay through the nose for either it or some insurance, it's more or less decent (provided the hospital or doctor's office you have doesn't completely suck). But if not, then you're good and screwed.

You should probably ask someone who's better informed than I am.

 

[BabyPiglet]

My insurance is wonderful, no premiums and most needed things are covered with just a small co-pay. However, my mom sees people everyday that can't afford any kind of healthcare coverage. A huge amount of people in my county have to be covered by financial aid (ex: medicaid, medicare), but also a significant amount go completely un-insured because their income is borderline. It's awful, and I could talk ages about it.

As far as our medical facilities go, they're not outstanding. We have only 2 hospitals for a city of 80,000 and they're both usually over-crowded. A couple weeks ago my grandmother had surgery and health problems so I was up at the hospital 24/7. I noticed just how few nurses there are, and just how much each of them had to do. I talked to some and they say most days they don't even have time for a 15 minute lunch break because they're load is too big. There's just not enough nurses to cover all the patients. But then again, hospitals can't really afford to hire more nurses.

We have 1 completely free clinic (but you must be eligable to go there, again ties in with the government aid) that's so-so. They can barely keep the place staffed but they try their hardest to provide decent healthcare. Plus one VA clinic.

So yeah, my city isn't so bad compared to some places, but there's ginormous room for improvement.

 

[Babyjustrun]

I can't say much about the economical side of it (because I really know nothing other than it's free in Canada).
Anyhoo.
But sometimes, as far as actually getting a surgery done, it's awful. My grandmother, has been waiting for like 4 years to get her knee fixed. I think she's been kicked off the list a few times, for no reason whatsoever. She can hardly walk now, but thank god she's finally getting the surgery.

And some idiots who look after health care for the province decided that they'd get rid of the hospital in where my grandfather lives because it was too small and build a new one further away, not even in the town. They could have just built onto the old one, they had a huge lawn that was serving no purpose. It pisses me off, because if my grandfather has something happen to him when he's home, he might not make it in time to the hospital.

 

[Pirate Me]

I think everybody should have free health care...Here I don't think we do though.

It isn't fair that you should pay for what may be keeping you alive. Especially for people that aren't as wealthy. (But I assume they already help them in a way?) Even for an ambulance. Ambulances charge a lot for transporting you to a hospital. We paid $500 for a hospital in town 3 minutes away. This doesn't really have *too* much to do with the topic, but I had to add it in..

 

[wishspirit]

We have free healthcare here in the UK with the National Health Service (NHS). Its not the best medical care in the world, but at least its free. Everyone has a go at them, and complains about high taxes, but at least its means its free for everyone.

You can go private, which costs you, but if you have health insurance (only for people who can afford) then its ok.

There are lots of scare tactics around atm, with MRSA and superbugs infecting people in hospitals, which is horrid! We are also incredbly understaffed, esspcially dentists. You get free care untill you are 18, then its subsidised, but not by much!

It can take ages to get up the waiting lists, and people can wait for hours in A&E (ER). But at least you know you dont have to worry about being able to afford the hospital treatment.

 

[Sparkle_Cherry]

... But sometimes, as far as actually getting a surgery done, it's awful. My grandmother, has been waiting for like 4 years to get her knee fixed. I think she's been kicked off the list a few times, for no reason whatsoever. She can hardly walk now, but thank god she's finally getting the surgery...

Yeah, I know that the waits can be pretty long, but I think that as long as it's free, it's worth it.

My grandpa had leukemia and he never had to wait for any of his surgeries or chemo therapies, so maybe it just depends on where you are and what you need

I have asthma and one of my inhalers costs $130, but we get 80% of the money for prescriptions reimbursed, so it's not such a burden.

 

[Babyjustrun]

Yeah, I know that the waits can be pretty long, but I think that as long as it's free, it's worth it.

My grandpa had leukemia and he never had to wait for any of his surgeries or chemo therapies, so maybe it just depends on where you are and what you need

I have asthma and one of my inhalers costs $130, but we get 80% of the money for prescriptions reimbursed, so it's not such a burden.

Yeah, it's more on what you're waiting for. I mean, chemotherapy and cancer related surgeries are top priority stuff.
My grandmothers knee didn't seem important to these people. We'd figure it'd be about time for her to be at the top of the list, and then we'd find out she wasn't even on it. The people who were looking after it didn't even care, they just kind of dismissed it until my grandmother could hardly walk and my mother had to growl them out.

 

[laura_<3]

In our family, the health care here in the UK hasn't been good to us and therefore I don't really have a good opinion of it. It's not so much the treatment, just the after care, attitude of doctors and nurses, stuff like that.

 

[wishspirit]

In our family, the health care here in the UK hasn't been good to us and therefore I don't really have a good opinion of it. It's not so much the treatment, just the after care, attitude of doctors and nurses, stuff like that.

Oh i do agree, the NHS can be so bad sometimes, they left my sister in agony for 3 hours in A&E, and wouldnt give her strong enough medication.

Some are good though, my GP is lovely and i only have to pay £5 for any of my perscriptions, and some of them are free

Although NHS are bad, its better than a lot of people in the world who don't even have clean water or food to eat. Count your blessings.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

My state passed a law this past year requiring health care for all residents and the deadline is coming up where everyone must have it or they start issuing fines. It is total hypocrisy because they are issuing the law for those people who can't afford healthcare and then they are going to fine them for not having healthcare. We shall see how this works out.

I am under the age of 25 and a full time student (graduate school) so I still count as a dependent on my dad's health insurance. We decided to do this instead of me becoming an independent because I am a pretty sick 22 year old who requires 5 medications a day that are pretty expensive. The likelihood is that given my age and my health finding decent health insurance would be near impossible and because of my illness I can't be without a regular doctor or my medications.

 

[wishspirit]

wow daughter_of_amid_chaos, that must be really hard! I take tablets without even thinking how much they cost, cause its only £5 ($10) and if i need them, i need them. But that must be really worrying.

It is silly to expect people to pay for healthcare if they can't afford it, plus fine them if they can't! Its just awful! It obviously won't work.

All my best!

 

[Sparx]

i want socialized medicine in america.

 

[crazytp93]

Mine is good. We have Empire Blue Shield Government, which is like for government employees, my dad was a cop and now hes a crime scene detective for the police.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

wow daughter_of_amid_chaos, that must be really hard! I take tablets without even thinking how much they cost, cause its only £5 ($10) and if i need them, i need them. But that must be really worrying.

It is silly to expect people to pay for healthcare if they can't afford it, plus fine them if they can't! Its just awful! It obviously won't work.

All my best!

Let's see one of my pills was $150 for 3 months and 3 others were $50 per month. Now i have switched to mail order for those 4 meds so I pay $50 per medicine for 3 months or $200 total. Then I have a medicine that cost $15 for 2 months. I can't take any generic medicine except the one that is $15 so that is why my meds are so expensive.

 

[STOPxmickeytime]

We have really good insurance, and great doctors and a great hospital.

If we didn't though, considering my dad's heart condition and the meds and surgery he needs for it, my allergies and acid reflux disease, my brother's inner ear problems and breaking his bones almost thirty times already, my mom's wrist and knee problems, and all of the little kid sicknesses my little sisters get, we'd be in serious debt right now.
And it really upsets me that people end up homeless just getting better.

I don't know if I think America should get standardized health care, because of all the flaws, but good insurance should be easier to get for people that can't afford it.

 

[Sparkle_Cherry]

i want socialized medicine in america.

Amen. It's about time.

 

[AngelInDisguise]

We don't have health insurance.

 

[Rockstar mentality]

Me and my family are lucky enought to have health care. It covers basicly everything but theres a small co-pay. In New York where i live the health facilitys are really good. There not worn down and hae excelent doctors. My brother was out of the hospital in 3 days for burns that in any other place that wasnt as experienced would have kept him there for a couple of weeks.