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I repeat... people exaggerate the problems with the American health care system.
If you're middle-class and above and employed then yes. The US health system is the best in the world, there's no doubt, but as long as 50 million people, 1/6 of the population, don't have access to healthcare I don't think it's an exaggeration to point out the problems with the system.
And before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, I'm not suggesting Australia's doesn't have problems, of course it does. There are treatments that in Australia you simply can't get that are available in the US.
see i keep telling people that you can't say anything good about the United States on this website.
you got it wrong, miss nancy is an expert on everything american.. from what we all eat for thanksgiving, etc. etc. its stereotypical knowledge is um.. different.
That's why we have Medical Insurance- besides, if it did occur that both my husband and I were jobless and sick, Medicare/Medicaid would cover our medical bills (if your income is below a certain amount, or in the case of unemployment, you are covered by Medicare/Medicaid). The health care situation in the U.S. isn't nearly as grim as people make out. Obviously we won't be eligible for Medicare until we're 65+ (at which point it's automatic eligibility) but if we ever get into dire straits financially, Medicaid is in place.
If your medical insurance is tied to your job, you lose it when you lose your job, and for many people a serious illness makes it impossible to keep working.
But don't take my word for it,
Quote:
“Unless you’re a Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, you’re one illness away from financial ruin in this country,” says lead author Steffie Woolhandler, MD, of the Harvard Medical School, in Cambridge, Mass. “If an illness is long enough and expensive enough, private insurance offers very little protection against medical bankruptcy, and that’s the major finding in our study.”
If you're middle-class and above and employed then yes. The US health system is the best in the world, there's no doubt, but as long as 50 million people, 1/6 of the population, don't have access to healthcare I don't think it's an exaggeration to point out the problems with the system.
And before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, I'm not suggesting Australia's doesn't have problems, of course it does. There are treatments that in Australia you simply can't get that are available in the US.
50 million people do have access to healthcare, that's the myth that has been passed around by the world's media and it's total nonsense. Either through medicare, medicaid, county hospitals, state medical systems, private health systems that set aside money and care for those without, private charities, etc, you will get care somewhere.
Now with obamacare, it's mandatory to buy insurance, otherwise you have to pay a penalty on your tax return. The "poor" get dumped on the medicaid rolls.
Our health care system has tons of problems and the main one is government. The more government gets involved and the bureaucratic class gets entrenched, the worse it gets. In the USA already this year, everyone has seen costs skyrocket and lines are getting longer.
If your medical insurance is tied to your job, you lose it when you lose your job, and for many people a serious illness makes it impossible to keep working.
But then what is the solution? How can government insulate everyone from life's vicissitudes? The more it gets involved, the more of a dependency class we are creating and with $17,000 Billion in debt how do people expect to pay for it much longer.
The reality is that we really are not on the earth for long and we all get sick and die someday. What do you want government to do about that?
I think rather people need to think about the fact that decisions you make in life have consequences and also factoring in that you will someday get sick and die at some point, you need to either purchase insurance that will help you in a disability situation or save and invest.
As a New Zealander who has lived and worked as an RN in NZ, Australia and the US (where I currently reside), I have conflicting opinions about the Healthcare systems. I have very comprehensive insurance through my employer which costs me $200/month for myself and my husband. Copay at the Dr is $10, Specialist care is $25, meds are $10. If I was diagnosed with cancer my job would pay for the treatment along with 60% of my pay, essentially the same as in NZ and Australia. I can see a Specialist in a much more timely manner than in either NZ or Australia.
I see the waste of resources more here than in NZ and Australia. CTs, MRIs, xrays, all costly procedures, are done here far more. The cover your ass mentality isn't something I particularly care for. And people in the US are on far more drugs than necessary.
As an RN I am paid more here in the US and the general cost of living is cheaper.
It isn't a perfect country by any means but there is no Utopia. All in all though the lifestyle here is pleasant, people are generally friendly considering it's the Northeast, houses are far more affordable and because I earn more disposable income, I am happier.
Being poor isn't nice but really, being poor in any country sucks, not just here in the US.
Like I said, Medicaid is in place for those who lose their jobs, get demoted, or have income levels at or below the poverty line. In the state of Missouri alone, 79 % of uninsured people, are actually eligible for Medicaid. They just haven't signed up for it for whatever crazy reason.
So, losing our jobs and the insurance that goes along with it is a non issue, because there ARE back ups in place.
Like I said, Medicaid is in place for those who lose their jobs, get demoted, or have income levels at or below the poverty line. In the state of Missouri alone, 79 % of uninsured people, are actually eligible for Medicaid. They just haven't signed up for it for whatever crazy reason.
So, losing our jobs and the insurance that goes along with it is a non issue, because there ARE back ups in place.
And even if people aren't signed up for Medicaid they can always come to the ED. We see many patient's here who for whatever reason have no insurance whatsoever but they still receive care in our ED. In fact many time the ED is used as a Primary Care Provider. We generally try to get a Social worker down to help them sort out their insurance. Vermont has a very comprehensive safety net for healthcare.
As a New Zealander who has lived and worked as an RN in NZ, Australia and the US (where I currently reside), I have conflicting opinions about the Healthcare systems. I have very comprehensive insurance through my employer which costs me $200/month for myself and my husband. Copay at the Dr is $10, Specialist care is $25, meds are $10. If I was diagnosed with cancer my job would pay for the treatment along with 60% of my pay, essentially the same as in NZ and Australia. I can see a Specialist in a much more timely manner than in either NZ or Australia.
I see the waste of resources more here than in NZ and Australia. CTs, MRIs, xrays, all costly procedures, are done here far more. The cover your ass mentality isn't something I particularly care for. And people in the US are on far more drugs than necessary.
As an RN I am paid more here in the US and the general cost of living is cheaper.
It isn't a perfect country by any means but there is no Utopia. All in all though the lifestyle here is pleasant, people are generally friendly considering it's the Northeast, houses are far more affordable and because I earn more disposable income, I am happier.
Being poor isn't nice but really, being poor in any country sucks, not just here in the US.
I remember seeing a thread once were someone blamed the high cost on health care on RN salaries. If they are earning what must be very close to 6 figure sums its not surprising.
Last edited by danielsa1775; 11-28-2012 at 03:30 PM..
And even if people aren't signed up for Medicaid they can always come to the ED. We see many patient's here who for whatever reason have no insurance whatsoever but they still receive care in our ED. In fact many time the ED is used as a Primary Care Provider. We generally try to get a Social worker down to help them sort out their insurance. Vermont has a very comprehensive safety net for healthcare.
what does ED mean? Do you mean emergency room (ER)? I have friends who are ER doctors and they tell me hospitals that take any public funds are required by law to treat anyone that comes into the ER, regardless of ability to pay. He knows people who are paying 50 bucks a month and will never pay off a 40,000 bill because thats all they can afford (I could have misquoted him on that one). He has seen people come in from Central American, get service at ER then leave without paying their bill. I've never 100% beleived him... but he isn't the type to tell half truths. I did find an article that confirmed hjospitals have to treat anyone and that the federal government does some reimbursement (isn't that a form of public cover?) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/ny...pagewanted=all
all I know personally was when I went into ER the plastic surgeon was happy I had insurance and told me about seeing folks who come in, get treated and never pay (both legal and illegal) which explained why hospitals charge so much, to cover for shortages not reimbursed by the federal government.
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