WICKLC1
King
I would like to know from the people who live in countries with socialized/government provided healthcare, what it is really like, and if it is really better than the current system in the USA.
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Do I want free heathcare?
- Thread starter WICKLC1
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2001
- Messages
- 30,079
Nothing is "free". You either pay for it directly through direct fees (or perhaps via insurance), or indirectly through taxes.
The plus side of socialised healthcare is that it is there for everyone - roughly the same standard of care. There are no people who are trying to downgrade the seriousness of your issues in order to try and avoid paying for treatment.
The downside is generally waiting lists. You don't get automatic treatment there and then - normally, you have to be assessed & referred. If you issue isn't as serious as someone else's, then you are in-line behind them. And the 'free' aspect tends to ensure that the line is fairly long. So instead of trying to find reasons not to treat you, they try to find reasons to delay your treatment.
Personally, I think there is something fairly screwy with the US healthcare system, and I don't think it will be miraculously solved by universal healthcare.
The plus side of socialised healthcare is that it is there for everyone - roughly the same standard of care. There are no people who are trying to downgrade the seriousness of your issues in order to try and avoid paying for treatment.
The downside is generally waiting lists. You don't get automatic treatment there and then - normally, you have to be assessed & referred. If you issue isn't as serious as someone else's, then you are in-line behind them. And the 'free' aspect tends to ensure that the line is fairly long. So instead of trying to find reasons not to treat you, they try to find reasons to delay your treatment.
Personally, I think there is something fairly screwy with the US healthcare system, and I don't think it will be miraculously solved by universal healthcare.
Berzerker
Deity
Taiwan is supposed to have one of the best national health care programs. They cover everyone for a much smaller chunk of GDP. Being an island kinda makes it easier...
McCain has been pushing portability, that would help some.
McCain has been pushing portability, that would help some.
WICKLC1
King
I realize that its not actually free.
I've also been thinking that just because its "free" doesn't necessarily mean that it's high quality. Sure, the Cuban government provides healthcare, but the actual medical services are primitive and not very likely to actually cure you of whatever illness you may have.
I've also been thinking that just because its "free" doesn't necessarily mean that it's high quality. Sure, the Cuban government provides healthcare, but the actual medical services are primitive and not very likely to actually cure you of whatever illness you may have.
Berzerker
Deity
Cuba is under sanctions, they dont make a compelling case for anything
WICKLC1
King
skadistic
Caomhanach
Sanctions from every one or just America? Do any other nations trade freely with Cuba?
Berzerker
Deity
Not without our permission, or they run the risk of our ire argh
Whats that about sanctions for everyone?
Whats that about sanctions for everyone?
skadistic
Caomhanach
So not every one has sanctions against Cuba and Cuba is free to trade with nations. You might want to fact check before you decry other peoples compelling cases. In fact Cuba's top trade partners are Venezuela, China, Spain and Canada.
Berzerker
Deity
What facts do I need to check? I never said everyone had sanctions on Cuba or that they dont trade with anyone. Damn, the straw's piling up real fast.
aelf
Ashen One
I don't see what the problem is. Private healthcare can and do exist alongside universal public healthcare. If you have the money and don't like the waiting lists, go for private healthcare. Win-win situation.
And Cuba's healthcare is way better than what the previous American-backed regime could provide. Very good for a universal healthcare system in a primarily agricultural country.
And Cuba's healthcare is way better than what the previous American-backed regime could provide. Very good for a universal healthcare system in a primarily agricultural country.
philippe
FYI, I chase trains.
what waiting lists? 
We have universal healthcare here, here is roughly how the system goes: you got about 3 or 4 "mutualiteiten" (a kind of company or institution who comes in between for the patient in costs.
you got the Christian one: CM
you got the socialistic one.
you got a liberal one
and a neutral one.
these different ones exist becuase in our history each political side tried to draw poeple in over, by providing a lot of services. Therefore they are really competitive (or used to)
so you pay your taxes and the mutualiteit you chose get's a bit of goverment funding.
So, everyone has healthcare and what is this talk about waiting lists?
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: Poeple from the UK and Holland go to our country to get medical attention becuase we have high-quality doctors and clinics and we don't have waiting lists.
(except for donors but that's a problem in every country)
We have universal healthcare here, here is roughly how the system goes: you got about 3 or 4 "mutualiteiten" (a kind of company or institution who comes in between for the patient in costs.
you got the Christian one: CM
you got the socialistic one.
you got a liberal one
and a neutral one.
these different ones exist becuase in our history each political side tried to draw poeple in over, by providing a lot of services. Therefore they are really competitive (or used to)
so you pay your taxes and the mutualiteit you chose get's a bit of goverment funding.
So, everyone has healthcare and what is this talk about waiting lists?
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: Poeple from the UK and Holland go to our country to get medical attention becuase we have high-quality doctors and clinics and we don't have waiting lists.
(except for donors but that's a problem in every country)
The security of knowing you will be seen and treated for free or a nominal fee, without having to worry about whether you have insurance and whether it covers this doctor or this hospital or this session or this procedure, should not be underestimated.
philippe
FYI, I chase trains.
I just realised I don't know how bad it can get in the USA, or in developing nations in terms of healthcare, we really have been "spoiled" here.
Btw, Dental plan (so braces and stuff)
I had those for a year or two or so. ( a few years ago)
Total cost? 100 euro.
How do poeple in the USA get those high numbers on their bills?
12 000 $ to restitch a finger, what the hell?
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
As someone who has partaken of socialized medicine for the last 20 years in the military let me say this: it sucks.
Its a minimum 8 hour wait if you go to the emergency room to be seen for anything less than a heart attack. And you simply cannot get a same day appointment if you feel like you are getting ill. Sometimes you cant get one for at least a week. And thats general practice clinic. If you have to see a specialized clinic it may be a month or two.
Its a minimum 8 hour wait if you go to the emergency room to be seen for anything less than a heart attack. And you simply cannot get a same day appointment if you feel like you are getting ill. Sometimes you cant get one for at least a week. And thats general practice clinic. If you have to see a specialized clinic it may be a month or two.
GinandTonic
Saphire w/ Schweps + Lime
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 8,898
Wow that sucked. Last time I went into Casualty I had no wait at all. I'd hit the same finger with a hammer three times in a day or two and the base of the nail needed puss lancing. Tried to do it myself but it hurt like hell. The doc pointed out that really I should have gone to my GP in the day, then numbed the finger and cut it open. Handed me a bunch of spare dressings and made me promise to go to my GP for antibiotics if it reoccured. I waited for the taxi home longer than I did for the doc.
Winner
Diverse in Unity
Well, you are obliged to pay the health insurance. If something happens to you, you are treated regardless of the nature of your problem. There is no surgery which the insurance does not cover. You have to pay for some non-serious things (glasses, some dentist things, cosmetic surgery etc.).
And yeah, you pay about 1 € every time you go see a doctor.
I've never had to wait either, course maybe thats because I've got this overpaid Scottish healthcare 
But the problems I've been in for, Epileptic fits, a car crash (not serious, as in utterly non serious didn't even have concussion, did roll down a 10 m embankment at 80m though
) were looked at quickly and to my satisfaction (got a couple of CAT scans, and some others scans for the fits 
).
Everything else I went into the GP for (even diagnosed myself, went to my appointment and told the lady what I thought it was, turns out I was correct, course I think she was new and a bit nervous).
But the problems I've been in for, Epileptic fits, a car crash (not serious, as in utterly non serious didn't even have concussion, did roll down a 10 m embankment at 80m though
) were looked at quickly and to my satisfaction (got a couple of CAT scans, and some others scans for the fits ).Everything else I went into the GP for (even diagnosed myself, went to my appointment and told the lady what I thought it was, turns out I was correct, course I think she was new and a bit nervous).
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