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My husband is English but since he is not paying taxes in England he is not entitled to get medicine there. In the states his copays for his medicines are $167.00 a month, in England it would be about $200.00 for the entire year. If he had to purchase his most expensive medicine Out of pocket it would be $180.00 cheaper a month in Canada.
My husband is English but since he is not paying taxes in England he is not entitled to get medicine there. In the states his copays for his medicines are $167.00 a month, in England it would be about $200.00 for the entire year. If he had to purchase his most expensive medicine Out of pocket it would be $180.00 cheaper a month in Canada.
The difference is that here he would be given a prescription from the 21st centurey.
Most of the horror stories you hear regarding health care are from people who actually have health insurance. That's the scary thing.
If you have insurance, you are pretty much 1 serious health emergency from bancruptcy. If you don't have insurance, you will probably be better off dying that burdening your family with the bill.
It's so frustrating to hear people still trying to fight this.
Actually, until this thread, I have not heard people complain about our system of health insurance?
Emergency is defined as a layman's reasonable expectation of a life threatening situation. Problem is, many people who have no intention of paying go to the ER for non-emergent care (ear infections, sore throat, etc.) and drive the cost of care through the roof. For example, an urgent care visit co-pay for an ear infection might be $60. The co-pay for the same diagnosis at the ER is at least $500. Personally, unless it's a life threatening situation, I would turn away people from the ER if they could not provide some ability to pay even a portion of the bill. ER should be for what it's meant to be...life threatening conditions. Sadly, it has been abused, and hospitals are afraid to turn away people because of potential suits.
Yes I have had the opportunity of being in an NHS hospital in the UK. I had both my children in hospital there and although had a private medical plan (through my job) chose the NHS because I knew the care was better. I also worked for them for many years and each doctor I worked for also had a private medical practice. Sometimes they would see their private patients and refer them to the NHS because the treatment was better. One of the surgeons I worked for was the emergency surgeon to the Queen so we are not talkng about a mickey mouse doctor. The deal about the US military ambulance - in my opinion - it was a litigation case. I am not saying what the Brits did was any better but in this country everything is done because of fear of litigation. Btw - I am Irish and in Ireland they have a health care system that is private but if you are below a certain income you get what is called a medical card. So my sister's family - 2 teenagers, my sister and husband and they include my mother too - costs 600 euro each per year. They use that in case they need hospitalisation. When they go to their doctor -its 50 euro and if they need a prescription then they pay at the chemist -usually around 7 euro for a weeks supply of antibiotics. None of this comes out of their private medical insurance - that's purely for hospitals and visiting a specialist say for heart, skin etc. It doesn't have to be wildly expensive here - it's just that everyone accepts it. As I said the drug companies run this country.
First, many people have good things to say about NHS. I have a few myself, but the bad outweigh the good. All of the good doctors have gone to the U.S., Australia, or Harley Street. The others are from India, Pakistan, Africa, and other third world countries where the best paying jobs around are in the U.K. Bless their hearts.
Ireland is a very small country with a population about the same as North Carolina. It is a country of people that look the same and have the same values. Comparing the health system in Ireland with that of the U.K. or the U.S. is like comparing apples and oranges. It shoud work out well.
I rest my case. I have many relatives and friends in the U.K. Many are old and many are young. I lived in the U.K. with my kids for many years.I love the place, but I hope that the U.S. isn' t stupid enought to adopt their pathetic national health system. And, it scares me that there are idiots in this country that want to be European without every living there. Again, I love Europe but not for their modern medical system.
Again, disagree. Have friends that are treated very well there with top-of-the line meds that are all FREE since he is permanently disabled.
Good for them. I never said that everyone has had bad experiences. I am just making a general comparison. I have had two friends that had transplants in England and are doing very well. Again, one of the aforementioned transplantees had a cosmetic NHS nose where she was made to look like Frankenstein. She had to spend thousands in South Africa to make her look normal again. It is always a good idea to get a prescription in the U.S. and obtain the drugs in Britain if possible. I hope that your friends medication isn't cut off when the NHS budget runs out of funds. That is a regular occurance that I am sure you are not aware of.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cagman Most of the horror stories you hear regarding health care are from people who actually have health insurance. That's the scary thing.
If you have insurance, you are pretty much 1 serious health emergency from bancruptcy. If you don't have insurance, you will probably be better off dying that burdening your family with the bill.
It's so frustrating to hear people still trying to fight this.
Vindaloo: Actually, until this thread, I have not heard people complain about our system of health insurance?
Vindaloo, is this an attempt at sarcasm or are you being serious? My wife recently stayed in the hospital for 5 days with severe pneumonia an then was put on disability for a couple of weeks and she still has not recovered. Our hospital bill is approximately $25,000. Our system is so out of control on health care cost issues, we must have substantial reform. No one is asking for socialist healthcare, that's simply fear talk and propaganda being spewed to instill fear into public's minds.
BTW READERS: THERE WILL BE A WHITEHOUSE HEALTHCARE REFORM PRESENTATION
What: "Health Insurance Reform Now" Bus Tour Stop
Where: Teamsters Hall, Local 71
5000 N Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28213
Mull, two years ago while traveling around England and Scotland, I contracted a prostrate infection. It was horrible and I hope you never go through such a thing. The pain was so bad that i stopped in Milton Keynes on my way back to London. I went into the emergency of the new, modern hospital. My wife suggested that it was probably a prostrate infection and the doctor laughed and suggested that it was bladder infection. I was given medication and we made our way back toward London to my friend's house. I couldn't stand the pain any more so we stopped at a Bed and Breakfast in St. Albans. It was horrible. The weather was very hot and our room was at the top of the place. I struggled through the night.
The next day, we were in my friends flat in London (Hampstead) on of the best areas in London and the refered their physician. I went to see her at the first opportunity and she told me that ehe perscrption was good and the doctor was correct in Milton Keyes with the diagnosis. I took the medicine that I was perscribed and nothing helped.
Two days later, after unbelievable suffering, I- flew back to the U. S. and went into my usual walk-in clinic. I told the doctor of my situation and he grinned and told me that I had a prostrate infection. He asked me what I had been taking and I showed him. He looked extremely surprised and asked me where I got the medicine. I told him and he shook his head and explained that the medicine I was taking hadn't been used in the U.S since 1970 and what I was perscribed was no good unless taken with other medications that I wasn't given. He shook his head and said, "National Health". He gave me a cheap prescription and I was well two days later.
I am not saying that people don't have good experiences, but you really are dealing with doctors that are not as well trained and equipment that was used by Florence Nightengale. I still have more experiences that I can share. The cost of my aforementioned medical assistance was zero. But, it was also worth zero.
Of course, you may have already been on the road to recovery and switching meds had little to do with it. I hope your prosTATE is better....
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The cost of my aforementioned medical assistance was zero. But, it was also worth zero.
