Uni Health Care

[Meatball]

1. What do you believe are the pros/cons?

2. If you could change something about it, what would it be?

1. Pros/Cons
Pros

• You never talk money at the hospital/doctor
  
• You never worry about money and health
  

Cons

• There can be wait times.
  
• Prescriptions aren't covered.
  
• Apparently it's a challenge to keep doctors working here
  

From my experience, the system is great, and has always worked out for me. My most recent experience:

A few years ago I had a pretty bad ingrown toenail and went to a walk-in clinic. They prescribed me antibiotics and referred me to a general surgeon. The appointment to consult the surgeon was a month and a half away. After the consultation, we scheduled an appointment 3 months later.

A year later I had the same issue on my other foot, and I went to a walk-in and got an appointment for a consultation 3 months later. I decided to go to a private podiatrist and go an appointment 2 days later. After that appointment we scheduled surgery for the following week.

It cost $200 ($50, after my insurance) and it was done. It's too bad our national healthcre system couldn't provide the same speedy response, but I can understand why. My toe wasn't going to kill me(if it was, I wouldn't be waiting 4 months anyway), and I have the luxury of being able to choose a private clinic.

[Samson]

Meatball, where are you from??

So even though you guys have an Universal Health Care in place, you still have the choice in going to a doctor that charges and also paying for a private Health Insurance?

That beyond sounds great... The best and worst of both worlds, but at least you have a choice.... I want that for us here in the U.S.

[leo-rcc]

It's the same here.

[Meatball]

I'm from Canada. I don't know the exact guidelines, but for a lot of things you do have some private options. I'm not sure I was find a private neurology or cardiology clinic, but for stuff like my foot problem, or a broken arm or something, you have options.

In Winnipeg it's common for people to go to a private clinic for broken bones, as the wait times at hospitals can be lengthy.

[binny]

Same here in the US (wait times at hospitals). I will not go to a hospital emergency room for anything unless I'm going to die. My son got bit in the lip a while ago by our dog and I had the choice of the hospital or the same day clinic (because it happened after 5pm and the regular clinic closes at 5pm, but the same day clinic is open till 8:30pm, lucky for him) to get stitches. I would still be waiting at the hospital if I went there.

[Samson]

Binny, I'm with you on that....

My son broke both of is arms a few years back from skateboarding. Both of his arms had his bones almost sticking out. I rushed him to the emergency room in which we waited 5 hours before anyone would see us...My son almost passed out a couple of times from the pain...

Even with insurance that I pay out the yen-yang every month for, and with a hospital being In-Network, it still cost me $4000 dollars, along with, not including the cost to go back 2 other times to the doctors office.

I'm so sick of anti-universal health care commercials and complete idiots using the same tired story of Waiting periods and not being able to choose their own doctors etc. etc.

We can barely choose our own doctors today and still have to wait for anything to be done. At least with the Universal Care option we wont have to hand over our first born and house.......

[binny]

I'm so sick of anti-universal health care commercials and complete idiots using the same tired story of Waiting periods and not being able to choose their own doctors etc. etc.

We can barely choose our own doctors today and still have to wait for anything to be done. At least with the Universal Care option we wont have to hand over our first born and house.......

You are so right. My son lost his psychiatrist because he is no longer a preferred provider with CIGNA. If I want to continue to see him there is a $3600.00 deductible per year and I'm only allowed 20 visits a year. The office visit is $125.00per hour without insurance. Lets do the math $125.00x20=$2500.00. They have it set up so you can never meet your deductible so they never have to pay. Now I have to search for a preferred provider and start all over again. I have one thing to say about that. Shit.

[bozo]

There's not too much about being British that fires me, but our National Health Service i.e. immediate access to health care, paid through taxation, is our finest claim to fame.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

AS far as I'm aware,private health treatment remains available in countries with universal health care. It's the case here and I'm pretty sure also in the UK. (ever heard of Harley St?) The wealthy notice no change.

Here our hospital emergency rooms (public AND private) operate on a triarge system. I was once admitted by ambulance. I was seen immediately (turned out to be a minor)


My perception is criticism of Universal health care seems to come from from two broad areas:

The HBO's screaming their tits off. I would have thought that would immediately set off alarm bells.IE if the health funds are agin it,Universal health care is almost certainly going to be a good thing for the public.

The other group are those to whom I refer as "the greedy middle classes". Some call themselves "libertarians",big on personal freedom,but small on equality and social justice. By far the larger proportion of this group are actually in favour of universal health care,and welfare generally. So long as THEY don't have to pay for it and are in no way suffer any personal inconvenience.

Such people seem too smug or too stupid to grasp that THEY may PERSONALLY become one of "the have nots" in a terrifyingly short time. It's in their best interest to make sure there are effective systems of health,education and welfare. I'm probably being simplistic, however,I suspect the US could be the envy of the world had it spent the money it spent on the Vietnam and Iraq wars on those things instead.



Thought for today: " Hell hath no fury like vested interest posing as moral principle" (anon)

[bozo]

AS far as I'm aware,private health treatment remains available in countries with universal health care. It's the case here and I'm pretty sure also in the UK. (ever heard of Harley St?) The wealthy notice no change.

Here our hospital emergency rooms (public AND private) operate on a triarge system. I was once admitted by ambulance. I was seen immediately (turned out to be a minor)


My perception is criticism of Universal health care seems to come from from two broad areas:

The HBO's screaming their tits off. I would have thought that would immediately set off alarm bells.IE if the health funds are agin it,Universal health care is almost certainly going to be a good thing for the public.

The other group are those to whom I refer as "the greedy middle classes". Some call themselves "libertarians",big on personal freedom,but small on equality and social justice. By far the larger proportion of this group are actually in favour of universal health care,and welfare generally. So long as THEY don't have to pay for it and are in no way suffer any personal inconvenience.

Such people seem too smug or too stupid to grasp that THEY may PERSONALLY become one of "the have nots" in a terrifyingly short time. It's in their best interest to make sure there are effective systems of health,education and welfare. I'm probably being simplistic, however,I suspect the US could be the envy of the world had it spent the money it spent on the Vietnam and Iraq wars on those things instead.



Thought for today: " Hell hath no fury like vested interest posing as moral principle" (anon)

Of course the wealthy can go private in the UK. EVERYBODY however has access to excellent healthcare through the National Health Service. It is " the envy of the world " to use that hackneyed phrase.