Quote:
Originally Posted by momonkey
So if you're British and have already paid for your medical care with your taxes, you have to wait more than six months for treatment, but an American paying cash goes to the front of the line?
Yeah, I see how they "compete".
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No you don't. You are talking about things that you have absolutely no knowledge . Like many in this Country who give opinions on UHC's in other Countries...... they haven't the first clue of how a UHC is run. How a UHC works. What role the Govt has in running a UHC or even the views of the people using a UHC...... All the uninformed on here do is repeat news reports or right wing lies and sound bites... These are out there for a good reason.... to stop quality health care getting to the everyday American. Their 'chums" the Insurance giants make sure that the politicians in their pockets get incredible incentives and health care to stop a UHC being created.
I love the 'puppet talk" on here gleaned from unreliable sources, you know the stuff............
The "Death Panels"....absolute nonsense. The only "death panels" are in the USA in the Insurance companies who scrutinize a claim looking for ways not to give treatment...happens every single day here.
"Rationing"........ No one in the UK is refused treatment. The UK has a independent board called NICE that will look at expensive treatments to see if there is a cheaper treatment that can be used with the same result. If they can't then the more expensive treatment is used. 99% of the time they do not get involved with every day treatments...the Doctor decides on your treatment and medicines...end of story. In the USA.... Every case that is put forward to a Insurance company is scrutinized with many being rejected and cover canceled because of numerous reasons...because you may end up costing them money.
Prescriptions....... a charge is made for prescriptions in the UK...it's roughly $11.00 for each prescription regardless of how expensive the drug is and you can have about 3 different drugs on each prescription .... still just $11.00. In the USA you pay for each drug and they can be extremely expensive. I had a rash on my body here, a small tube of creme came to over $100.00...it wasn't even the drug of choice for my rash and i had to go to a different Doctor to get the proper creme and that cost $35.00.
In the U.K. if you suffer with a chronic illness eg. Diabetes or Asthma etc etc etc, ALL your drugs are free. Your Insulin, Testing Equipment, inhalers or any drugs are free.
Waiting times...... Depending on your illness and how many patients are ahead of you on the Doctors list will dictate waiting times. There is a fast track system for serious illnesses such as Cancer. If Cancer is suspected you are tested straight away and if diagnosed you are treated immediately...eg, my Mother had severe tummy pains and her tummy swelled up..... on a Sunday i took her to my local Hospital to see the G.P. sitting in the outpatient dept. He examined my Mother and admitted her to the Hospital immediately. She was tested straight away and later that day we were given the awful news that she had late stage Ovarian Cancer. We wanted a second opinion and she was transfered by Ambulance to a London Teaching Hospital. They agreed on the diagnosis. We then had Mum transfered to the Top cancer Hospital in the UK, Which is in London (The Royal Marsden) and they started treatment. After a long hard battle, my Mother succumbed to the Cancer and passed away. No cost was spared in her treatment but unfortunately her Cancer was too far advanced when she entered the Hospital. She was 71 but they fought hard for her.
If a patient presents with a non urgent condition then they go on a waiting list which can be from a few days to a few months before being admitted. If a cancellation comes up then the patient is phoned and offered a closer date for admission. If a Patient presents with the onset of something like diabetes, they are admitted immediately for stabilisation.
G.P. Visits...... everyone in the UK is registered with a local G.P. in their area. You pick which G.P. you want to see. Most G.P.'s now do tests at their sugery's. Blood Tests, Lung Function tests etc etc etc. If you want a Appt. you phone in the Morning and are seen that day. If you are too ill to attend the Surgert the Doctor will make a house call that day. If you are too ill to wait for the house call, you phone 999 and a ambulance will get to you straight away and get you to the ER where you are seen immediately. If the G.P.'s practice is full that day you will be seen the next day but if you feel it is important to see the Doctor that day you can go at the end of the surgery and see the Doctor or call a ambulance.
The Cost..... Everyone who works pays a small tax for welfare. This not only covers Health but also Unemployment benefit, Housing benefit for the sick, low paid and unemployed. Retirement pension, clinics, free contraception, pre- natal classes, AIDS clinics, preventitive health clinics, psychologist clinics, etc etc etc etc. The tax is small and if you ask most people in the UK how much they pay in NHS tax...they couldn't tell you because it is a small tax. People on benefits have their welfare tax paid by the Govt. out of their benefits so even they contribute.
If you're employed
If you're employed you pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions. The rates are:
- if you earn more than £139 a week and up to £817 a week, you pay 12 per cent of the amount you earn between £139 and £817
- if you earn more than £817 a week, you also pay 2 per cent of all your earnings over £817
You pay a lower rate if you're a member of your employer's contracted-out pension scheme.
Your contributions are deducted from your wages by your employer.
If you're self-employed
If you're self-employed you pay Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions. The rates are:
- Class 2 National Insurance contributions are paid at a flat rate of £2.50 a week
- Class 4 National Insurance contributions are paid as a percentage of your annual taxable profits - 9 per cent on profits between £7,225 and £42,475, and a further 2 per cent on profits over that amount
If your profits are expected to be less than £5,315 you may not have to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions.
If you want to learn more about the NHS contributions etc etc here is a link.
Introduction to National Insurance : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits
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