Costa Rica health care (illegal, health care system, death, Canada)

[pvande55]

I am wading into a minefield here, I realize. One big question I hear is "Can the USA ever fix it's broken, wildly expensive, health care?" it's well known that just about all other civilized countries have lower cost care that covers all their citizens. But I say, look not to Canada, Europe... But to Costa Rica. One tenth the cost, universal care.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heal..._in_Costa_Rica Granted, that nation has advantages that could not be duplicated in the USA, such as fewer motor vehicles and lower stress. But surely we could adopt some of their practices, even if it results in people we don't like getting benefits.

[PCALMike]

The ruling donor class that control the health insurance corporations and the pharma industry will push relentlessly against common sense health care policy that provide cheaper, more effective health care for every American. Its a nightmare for these vested interests. The system isnt broken for these people on the top of the food chain. The system is specifically designed to be a massive drag on our finances and a huge source of wealth for a select few.

[skeddy]

Anybody heading to Costa Rica for vascular or cancer operations, I'll be happy to give you a ride to the airport.

[Mason3000]

Originally Posted by pvande55

I am wading into a minefield here, I realize. One big question I hear is "Can the USA ever fix it's broken, wildly expensive, health care?" it's well known that just about all other civilized countries have lower cost care that covers all their citizens. But I say, look not to Canada, Europe... But to Costa Rica. One tenth the cost, universal care.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heal..._in_Costa_Rica Granted, that nation has advantages that could not be duplicated in the USA, such as fewer motor vehicles and lower stress. But surely we could adopt some of their practices, even if it results in people we don't like getting benefits.

I lived in CR for 10 years, still own a home there and hold residency. I can speak to this subject. There is universal health care. The care is very good. The challenge is the waiting time. If you walk into the ER with a broken arm, 12-16 hours is a normal wait time. 24 hours is not uncommon. Wait times for surgery are normally in the years, not months or weeks. Their system waterlogged with illegal immigrants. By some estimates 1/3 of all the people in CR are illegals. Ask a Costa Rican what they think of Nicaraguans & you'll think Trump is a moderate . The net result is that no one you know would use the public system. Everyone middle class and above has private health insurance and goes to private hospitals. It's created a caste system of sorts. The exact same thing happened there with education. No one middle class or above attends public schools. They all pay for private schools. Again, it's created a caste system of the upper class and lower class. That divide continues to get bigger, not smaller.

[geekigurl]

Originally Posted by skeddy

Anybody heading to Costa Rica for vascular or cancer operations, I'll be happy to give you a ride to the airport.

I'll take you up on that! I don't have cancer or vascular problems, I just want to go someplace warm.

[PCALMike]

Originally Posted by Mason3000

I lived in CR for 10 years, still own a home there and hold residency. I can speak to this subject. There is universal health care. The care is very good. The challenge is the waiting time. If you walk into the ER with a broken arm, 12-16 hours is a normal wait time. 24 hours is not uncommon. Wait times for surgery are normally in the years, not months or weeks. Their system waterlogged with illegal immigrants. By some estimates 1/3 of all the people in CR are illegals. Ask a Costa Rican what they think of Nicaraguans & you'll think Trump is a moderate . The net result is that no one you know would use the public system. Everyone middle class and above has private health insurance and goes to private hospitals. It's created a caste system of sorts. The exact same thing happened there with education. No one middle class or above attends public schools. They all pay for private schools. Again, it's created a caste system of the upper class and lower class. That divide continues to get bigger, not smaller.

Yet, life expectancy has skyrocketed in CR and infant mortality has plummeted in the past decades. They must be doing a lot of things right. A poor third world country with more than twice the murder rate of America and obesity rates rapidly approaching America's level has higher life expectancy than America...Wait times? If you earn more than $200 a month, even as parent of small children, you dont qualify for Medicaid in Alabama. You simply beg your friends for that $150 000 chemo therapy and if you cant get it, wait for your death. How is this acceptable in the richest country in the world, far, far richer than Costa Rica?

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

We have friends who have lived in Costa Rica for several years. They speak highly of the health care system.

They could well afford private insurance, but instead use the public system.

Once a year, they meet with a health care provider who talks with them about healthy choices and how they are managing their health. They've gone in for various ailments over the years and are satisfied with the care they've received.

BTW, everyone has health insurance. If you hire a part-time gardener or part-time housekeeper, you pay that portion of their health insurance.

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Originally Posted by geekigurl

I'll take you up on that! I don't have cancer or vascular problems, I just want to go someplace warm.

Skeddy offers to drive more people to the airport than Uber.

[phma]

Originally Posted by pvande55

I am wading into a minefield here, I realize. One big question I hear is "Can the USA ever fix it's broken, wildly expensive, health care?" it's well known that just about all other civilized countries have lower cost care that covers all their citizens. But I say, look not to Canada, Europe... But to Costa Rica. One tenth the cost, universal care.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heal..._in_Costa_Rica Granted, that nation has advantages that could not be duplicated in the USA, such as fewer motor vehicles and lower stress. But surely we could adopt some of their practices, even if it results in people we don't like getting benefits.

Who are the people we don't like ?

[skeddy]

Originally Posted by GotHereQuickAsICould

Skeddy offers to drive more people to the airport than Uber.

I'll even arrange for someone to pick you up in Costa Rica.