Universal Healthcare

[SeeKer]

To all the US residents,

How do you feel about the universal healthcare system that OBAMA is pushing for?

 

To the rest of the world,

How do you like your universal healthcare systems in your individual country and if you don't what would you change about it?

 

I only ask because I find that I am almost the only one around my area that is against it. Apart from the fact that our healthcare systems in the US is practically run by drug companies and insurance companies, I highly like that I have the freedom to pick and choose my doc and what healthcare coverage I want. If our healthcare system sucks......why is it that many people come from all over the world to be treated here?

 

Please weigh in on this important issue.

[Naden]

For a healthcare system to be sustainable, it has to be non-profit and its focus on preventive and low-cost care. The US system is the opposite of this. No matter how you slice it, it will cover fewer and fewer people to protect investor profits.

 

Most healthcare systems will face financial trouble, especially with aging societies, in the next few decades unless there are larger societal changes to eating/exercising/en vironmental pollution. The US system is in shambles now.

 

People coming from all over the world are the select few who can afford it. A healthcare system is concerned with covering everyone at an affordable cost.

 

I've lived in 2 countries with public-funded systems and could freely choose my doctors in both.

[Buuxo]

Im not familiar with the universal healthcare obama is proposing.

 

But here in OZ, It's working well.It ensures that basic healthcare is available and easily acessible to all, If you need an Operation you can get immediately( although there's a waiting list for Elective surgeries). But our universal coverage also ensures that individuals are able to buy medications through a Public Pharmaceutical scheme,where the govt subsidizes it and ensures that individuals don't pay more than $32.90 for each script.And those who can't afford this ,are covered by a social security(health-care card) that further reduces the amount that they pay for each script to $5.

 

Our healthcare system is not fully privatized ,however private healthcare is important and accounts for 30% of services and takes the huge burden of Medicare.So Individuals are strongly encourage to take health insurance ,especially those who can afford it as they are penalised for it through increase tax.

 

 

Seeker,Wouldn't you still be able to choose you consultant or what not,even with the universal healthcare reforms?

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

I highly like that I have the freedom to pick and choose my doc and what healthcare coverage I want. If our healthcare system sucks......why is it that many people come from all over the world to be treated here?

Who can't choose a doctor? I think you are being misinformed, probably from watching Fox News.

 

Here in Ontario, a province that has a universal coverage, I have had the privilege to choose any doctor I wanted at any time at any location. I've had as many doctors as I wanted. The one I have now, I've had him for five years. An excellent one, may I add, too. I also like the idea of the richest and the poorest being the same when it comes being covered and equal. You might even have the same doctor, a dream to many in that crumbling system you have and are probably cherishing in the States.

 

And what healthcare coverage if the insurance companies ask you so many medical questions beforehand in their applications. Should you state any major pre-existing conditions in their applications, you will automatically disqualified into their plans. You cannot lie either, for they will find out and won't cover you, making you bankrupt in the process. Their plans themselves are a lot more confusing. And after all, it is for profit.

 

Yea, many people come from other countries and be admitted and treated at fancy clinics and hospitals such as Mayo Clinic in Rochester and John Hopkins in Baltimore. But can you, as an average common person, afford it, even with your paid private insurance?

 

And those 'many people' can certainly do, for because they are the wealthiest, some kings and other royal families. Best doctors might be enticed to work there because the pay is good, the patients few and far. It is like homeless people being told you live in the richest country. What does that do for that homeless person?

 

Simply nothing better than this card for me and I would never trade anything for it:

 

[SeeKer]

First off thanks for the reply. Buuxo, Obama's doesn't really have a completely concrete plan and thus i am highly critical that he will get what he wants. The house and the senate will distort it and maybe he will get part of his plan handed back to him. Plus when I was visiting the UK i was under the impression that you were stuck with the GP that is within your zip code or something (correct me if I am wrong Brits).

 

Originally posted by Naden:

For a healthcare system to be sustainable, it has to be non-profit and its focus on preventive and low-cost care. The US system is the opposite of this. No matter how you slice it, it will cover fewer and fewer people to protect investor profits.

I absolutely agree that the US healthcare system seeks to treat instead of prevent. Its a fixable thing but i disagree that government should fix it by giving a universal system. Every time the government takes over an industry the industry inevitable suffers from lack of quality due to mandates. Por example, if you need a procedure and for some reason or other you don't meet the criteria to have that procedure you are basically SOL in a universal healthcare system. I don't need to belong to a certain age bracket to get an exam that my doc thinks i should. Not to mention the wait times.

 

I also have seen first hand what the Medicare D plan has done for the baby boomers. Some of these people have to pay close to 5K during a period they call coverage gap. These are people who don't have a steady income but live on their life savings. But due to competition in the retail industry most of the daily drugs they use are $4.

 

I think our healthcare system needs to be fixed but i am not sure that making healthcare universal and paying for it via taxation is the only solution.

 

Ps:-I am trying to get a feel on what the system is like (inside and out), so erm correct my erroneous misconceptions with a smile

[Naden]

^ Seeker, I think Medicare/Medicaid are the only reason the US healthcare system is actually working. It covers the old and the poor while the insurance industry has legions of business suits working day and night on algorithms that exclude most others from care.

 

I'm not certain what criteria you're writing about, but necessary procedures are covered under a public health system. Some elective surgeries or those that can wait (e.g. knee replacement) have to be rationed. I can't think of any public system that can function without some rationing.

 

The wait time issue is largely a scare tactic to frighten US citizens, I think. I'm sure that under a private insurance plan, you must wait for specialists and even MBAs at the insurance company to approve treatment. Public systems have their problems, without a doubt, but the US system, to me, is unfathomable and quite barbaric.

[roobleh]

The present US healthcare system is working for the greedy private insurances. They will do all they can to scare off people, and that tactic is working as I can sense the fear they planted in u and many other Americans.

[SeeKer]

^^You can sense fear? You must have very good senses.

 

Anyway, Naden, yes there are some major specialists you have to wait for. Those that are well known and have legions of people coming from all over the world to see them but otherwise most of the specialists in the US are more than happy to see you when you make appointments.

 

Medicare/Mediaid puts a lot of strain on the industry, especially when it comes to reimbursement of claims. It is backlogged and the poor professionals who deal solely with them are forever being dragged along to get paid. Eventually they do get paid but what will happen when the government is solely in charge? The quality of care will go down cause lets face it most doctors don't have the patience.

 

We are already giving free healthcare to people but the government is stringent on what they cover. Take it from someone who works in the industry. They don't cover everything and anything. Its a bell curve and the outliers are screwed. These people have supplement insurance that they got to cover what the government doesn't. Not everyone will have the same ailments or follow the usual timeline of getting those ailments.

 

I am not sure but i don't think de-privatising the healthcare industry is a good thing. I think maybe regulations are a better alternative and possibly the government can supplement coverage for those who can't afford it.

 

I know this is right wing propaganda but i gotta throw it out there since this is a

from one person who fell through the cracks in a universal healthcare system. There is another of a girl from Alberta too but one example is enough for now.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

what we are getting is not universal healthcare. Those dreaded HMOs will still be here. the way Doctors are paid is gonna be the same. and at last, there is still a big if on how the uninsured will be insured, public option or some coop.

[Che -Guevara]

The American Medical Association has weighed in on National Health Insurance.

 

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.

 

The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

 

The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.

 

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, "Oh, grow up!"

 

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

 

Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.

 

The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."

 

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.

 

The Anesthesiologists thought the idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

 

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington .

[Abwaan]

Originally posted by SeeKer:

. If our healthcare system sucks......why is it that many people come from all over the world to be treated here?

 

I don't think that is the case. It is just that not everyone in the US can benefit from it.

 

Plus...I would consider in every case scenario rather than just thinking about it that you are happy with it right now!

[General Duke]

I grew up in the UK and had major surgeries in my late teens. I received the best care and never worried about the cost, nor did it burden my family. Its clear the present US system is broken, how else can you have over 40 million Americans without access to adequate healthcare?

 

Anyhow as a US resident with a young growing family I believe that the public option would give my family more choice, though I get good insurance through my job, I want to know that my family would have some health coverage if something were to happen to me.

[Buuxo]

Originally posted by Che -Guevara:

The American Medical Association has weighed in on National Health Insurance.

 

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.

 

The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

 

The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.

 

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, "Oh, grow up!"

 

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

 

Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.

 

The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."

 

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.

 

The Anesthesiologists thought the idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

 

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington .

Being a Public servant isn't so bad? They should give the idea a go.