America is the worst rich country in the world

[Ashendant]

...To get a health insurance

"http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/health-insurance-us.71d"

US at bottom of health care survey of 11 rich countries
18 November 2010, 13:51 CET
— filed under: Headline2, Health, insurance, US

(WASHINGTON) - Americans are the most likely to go without health care because of the cost and to have trouble paying medical bills even when insured, a survey of 11 wealthy countries found Thursday.

"The US stands out for the most negative insurance-related experiences," the New York-based Commonwealth Fund, the private foundation that carried out the study, said in an accompanying statement.

The study found that a third of US adults "went without recommended care, did not see a doctor when sick, or failed to fill prescriptions because of costs," it said.

That compares to as few as five to six percent in the Netherlands and Britain, according to the study.

A fifth of Americans had "major problems" paying medical bills, compared to nine percent in France, the next highest country, two percent in Britain, three percent in Germany and four percent in the Netherlands, it said.

Americans were also the most likely to have disputes with their insurance providers or discover insurance would not pay as they had expected.

The survey, published on the Health Affairs website, was conducted among 19,700 adults from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Britain and the United States.

The survey's findings reflect the widespread frustration with health care in the United States that fueled the cantankerous debate over a major overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama in March.

"We spend far more on health care than any of these countries, but this study highlights pervasive gaps in US health insurance that put families' health and budgets at risk," said Cathy Schoen, the lead author of the study.

"In fact, the US is the only country in the study where having health insurance doesn't guarantee you access to health care or financial protection when you're sick. This is avoidable."

The US health insurance system also stood out for its complexity.

The study found that 31 percent of Americans either spent "a lot of time" dealing with insurance paperwork, had their insurer deny a claim, or had their insurer pay less than they anticipated.

In contrast, only 13 percent of Swiss adults, 20 percent of Dutch and 23 percent of Germans reported similar problems. All three countries have competitive health insurance markets.

The study found that just 58 percent of Americans were confident they would be able to afford the care they needed, the lowest rate in the survey.

Seventy percent were confident they would receive the most effective care, compared with 84 to 92 percent of adults in France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and Britain.

"The good news is that there are opportunities to learn from other countries," said Commonwealth Fund President Karen Davis, who went on to praise the health reform bill.

"The Affordable Care Act reforms will provide affordable insurance options for the uninsured, make sure insurance pays for essential care and provide financial security for millions."

The 940-billion-dollar bill will extend coverage to some 32 million Americans who currently have none, ensuring 95 percent of under-65 US citizens and legal residents will have health insurance.

Obama's Republican rivals have however vowed to do everything they can to roll back the measure -- which they view as a costly expansion of "Big Government" -- with their newly-won majority in the House of Representatives.

[Skipper]

God bless the NHS.

[DeistPaladin]

I've said it before but it bears repeating, our Byzantine health care system where for-profit health insurance companies run the care is like having foxes run the chicken coup.

Foxes eat chickens. You can't regulate a system that involves foxes taking care of chickens. The foxes will try to find ways around the regulation. Eating chickens is what they do. Such a system can't be "reformed". It's inherently flawed.

This isn't to say that foxes are "bad" for eating chickens. It's to say that a system that expects them to take care of chickens, against their nature, is bad.

For-profit companies will do everything they can to maximize profits. It's what they do. They will cut costs where they can and increase revenue as much as they can. This isn't to say they're "bad" for doing so. It's to say that a system that expects them to generously spend money to take care of sick people is inherently flawed.

In business, don't reward "A" and expect "B". It ain't gonna happen.

Health care costs money. Sick people need health care. Ergo, sick people are expensive and for-profit companies will try to knock them off their roles. They will also try to deny care as much as they can because this too cuts costs. Health insurance premiums bring in money. Ergo, they will try to raise their premiums as much as possible.

Pretty simple stuff, really. Why can't we figure this out?

[Minimalist]

Pretty simple stuff, really. Why can't we figure this out?

Actually, we do know it....but then some Fox News shit starts talking about "socialism" and every one loses their fucking minds.

[HeyItsZeus]

Pretty simple stuff, really. Why can't we figure this out?

Actually, we do know it....but then some Fox News shit starts talking about "socialism" and every one loses their fucking minds.

And what's wrong with socialized medicine?

[Ashendant]

Pretty simple stuff, really. Why can't we figure this out?

Actually, we do know it....but then some Fox News shit starts talking about "socialism" and every one loses their fucking minds.

And what's wrong with socialized medicine?

Are you in america? they think socialism and communism is the great american satan

[Minimalist]

Here's a story which may help put our brilliant system into context for all of our European and South Pacific posters.

Looks like Sarah Palin gets her "Death Panels" after all. Except, it isn't Obama. It's courtesy of her good friend, Governor Jan "Brain Cramp" Brewer and the GOP shits who run this state.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-2...91704.html

Francisco Felix, the Hepatitis C patient who was denied the transplant, and other low-income patients in Arizona have been refused such necessary procedures after lawmakers cut funding for the agency, known as the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS, CBS News affiliate KPHO-TV in Phoenix reports.

Starting Oct. 1, the agency began reversing its approval of organ transplants for 98 low-income patients, according to NPR. The abrupt change came from a series of budget-cutting measures taken by the Republican-controlled state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer.

Of course, I can hear them now. "WTF. It's just some lousy Mexican."

[DeistPaladin]

Personal story:

My wife would have died last Halloween, a little more than a year ago, if she wasn't on my health insurance. She barely survived as it was. She has asthma and a cold caused her oxygen level to drop dramatically.

Luckily we'd gotten married so she could be covered by my insurance. Since her body parts are sufficiently different from mine, the government has allowed us to get married. Were she a man, the conservative government that likes to be so small and unobtrusive would have prevented us from tying the knot. But that's another issue.

Anyway, thanks to my insurance, the costs were only ruinously expensive instead of unobtainable. We've both had to liquidate our IRAs (retirement savings accounts) to pay the costs. Ah well, I'm planning to work until the day I die anyway.

[Skipper]

Personal story:

My wife would have died last Halloween, a little more than a year ago, if she wasn't on my health insurance. She barely survived as it was. She has asthma and a cold caused her oxygen level to drop dramatically.

Luckily we'd gotten married so she could be covered by my insurance. Since her body parts are sufficiently different from mine, the government has allowed us to get married. Were she a man, the conservative government that likes to be so small and unobtrusive would have prevented us from tying the knot. But that's another issue.

Anyway, thanks to my insurance, the costs were only ruinously expensive instead of unobtainable. We've both had to liquidate our IRAs (retirement savings accounts) to pay the costs. Ah well, I'm planning to work until the day I die anyway.

Seriously messed up that in such a developed country people like yourself have to go through that shit. Financially punished for having the cheek to get ill.

I recently spent the week in hospital due to inflation of my pancreas and an infection. I was in intensive care for 2 days. Had a few scans. Was looked after amazingly by nurses and doctors and was cooked three good meals a day. Then was prescribed a months course of medicines and painkillers....I didn't pay a penny. I don't say it to gloat it's just amazing the differences between our countries and how anyone over there could see what I described as a bad thing. People getting some of the best treatment available regardless of their ability to pay. People criticise the NHS and moan about it over here but I honestly believe it is one of the best things Britain has going for it.

[Minimalist]

I don't say it to gloat it's just amazing the differences between our countries

I'll bet you also don't piss away $600 billion a year on defense. And, of course, the generals are demanding more.