(September 23, 2016 at 3:24 pm)mh.brewer Wrote:

(September 23, 2016 at 1:26 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote: America, you have so many advantages. Your petrol is cheaper too and the food........
Still wouldn't want to live there because your health care sucks and I'm clumsy

I disagree. Our healthcare is cutting edge and access unequaled. Are you addressing cost?

I would query your "access unequalled" comment. I have seen episodes of US TV where people do not get treatment because they can't afford it, is TV lying to me?

(September 24, 2016 at 3:31 am)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(September 23, 2016 at 3:24 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: I disagree. Our healthcare is cutting edge and access unequaled. Are you addressing cost?

I would query your "access unequalled" comment. I have seen episodes of US TV where people do not get treatment because they can't afford it, is TV lying to me?

Usually.

Is the alcohol just as bad for one's liver?

Because if so I think this might be a bad idea on the whole. There are a lot of highly foolish people who already get overly drunk and disorderly to an unhealthy level enough.... without needing an absence of a hangover to fail to discourage them.

At least hangovers help to discourage the people who are legally responsible but morally not responsible enough to drink.

(September 24, 2016 at 3:31 am)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(September 23, 2016 at 3:24 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: I disagree. Our healthcare is cutting edge and access unequaled. Are you addressing cost?

I would query your "access unequalled" comment. I have seen episodes of US TV where people do not get treatment because they can't afford it, is TV lying to me?

So you are addressing cost. OK, cost is an issue in the US.

Tell me, if you need a non emergency MRI, what is the wait time in your country? My sister that lived in Canada for 3 years can tell you that the wait time is 6 to 8 months.

BTW, TV lies all the time.

(September 24, 2016 at 7:55 am)mh.brewer Wrote:

(September 24, 2016 at 3:31 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: I would query your "access unequalled" comment. I have seen episodes of US TV where people do not get treatment because they can't afford it, is TV lying to me?

So you are addressing cost. OK, cost is an issue in the US.

Tell me, if you need a non emergency MRI, what is the wait time in your country? My sister that lived in Canada for 3 years can tell you that the wait time is 6 to 8 months.

BTW, TV lies all the time.

When I worked at a hospital the wait time for a non-urgent MRI was about three months. Heres a link to waiting time guides for the NHS.
http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsa...times.aspx 
From what I can tell from this side of the pond your health system for all but the wealthy lags behind most developed countries and you have to pay.

(September 24, 2016 at 3:31 am)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(September 23, 2016 at 3:24 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: I disagree. Our healthcare is cutting edge and access unequaled. Are you addressing cost?

I would query your "access unequalled" comment. I have seen episodes of US TV where people do not get treatment because they can't afford it, is TV lying to me?

How likely would it be that you'd see an episode of US TV where the patient went to get care, got it, and went home?

(September 24, 2016 at 8:02 am)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(September 24, 2016 at 7:55 am)mh.brewer Wrote: So you are addressing cost. OK, cost is an issue in the US.

Tell me, if you need a non emergency MRI, what is the wait time in your country? My sister that lived in Canada for 3 years can tell you that the wait time is 6 to 8 months.

BTW, TV lies all the time.

When I worked at a hospital the wait time for a non-urgent MRI was about three months. Heres a link to waiting time guides for the NHS.
http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsa...times.aspx 
From what I can tell from this side of the pond your health system for all but the wealthy lags behind most developed countries and you have to pay.

Video blocked in the US.

Lets see. In the early 90's I needed non emergency back surgery. I had an MRI within a week. I had surgery within 2 weeks. At the time I was making around $20K/yr. Did that make me wealthy? Around the same time my four year old son had bilateral inguinal hernias, a non emergency. Surgical treatment was the best long term option. He had his surgery within a week. The potential consequence of waiting was strangulation and bowel resection.

So, 3 months you find acceptable? The web site indicates 4.5 months and it may take longer depending on the bureaucracy.

From the site quote: "If you cannot be seen within the maximum waiting time the organisation that commissions and funds your treatment (CCGs or NHS England) must investigate and offer you a range of suitable alternative hospitals or community clinics that would be able to see or treat you more quickly. However, you will need to contact the original hospital, clinic or commissioner first before alternatives can be investigated for you. Your local CCG or NHS England must take all reasonable steps to meet your request."

If you are not treated within the 18 weeks (according to the site), so they will start an investigation. Good for them.

(September 24, 2016 at 8:54 am)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote:

(September 24, 2016 at 3:31 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: I would query your "access unequalled" comment. I have seen episodes of US TV where people do not get treatment because they can't afford it, is TV lying to me?

How likely would it be that you'd see an episode of US TV where the patient went to get care, got it, and went home?

It happened in friends sometimes. But they were quite well off mostly.

(September 24, 2016 at 8:55 am)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(September 24, 2016 at 8:54 am)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: How likely would it be that you'd see an episode of US TV where the patient went to get care, got it, and went home?

It happened in friends sometimes. But they were quite well off mostly.

Not at first, they weren't. Rachel, Joey and Phoebe were nearly broke at first. There was this one time Monica had to exchange names with Rachel when filling out an insurance form just so Rachel could get treatment for an injury. There was also this time Joey had a hernia and wouldn't get his health insurance back until he showed up for this acting job a few days later, so he went in and did it whilst in pain. I think Chandler offered to support him financially, as usual, but Joey turned him down for whatever reason.

In fact I can't think of any such succesful episode. There was always a problem with the hospital care, even with pregnancies, it seems to me.

I'm a big fan. Don't judge 

(September 24, 2016 at 7:55 am)mh.brewer Wrote:

(September 24, 2016 at 3:31 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: I would query your "access unequalled" comment. I have seen episodes of US TV where people do not get treatment because they can't afford it, is TV lying to me?

So you are addressing cost. OK, cost is an issue in the US.

Tell me, if you need a non emergency MRI, what is the wait time in your country? My sister that lived in Canada for 3 years can tell you that the wait time is 6 to 8 months.

BTW, TV lies all the time.

How long, I wonder, would one have to wait for a non-emergency MRI - or any other expensive tests - if one lacked the resources to pay for it?

Access to health care in the US in many areas is largely contingent upon one's ability to pay for it. I would hardly call that "unequaled access". I would call that "inequitable access", personally.

As far as your MRI anecdote goes, I'm currently in month 3 of waiting to see a specialist for a condition I have had for almost five years, a condition that is just as debilitating as a fucked up knee or back.