How good/bad is your socialized health care?

[Rhian]

My experience I think everyone knows about.

I'm happy for what we have, ie - radiation was covered, most appts and with specialists, are covered. Thank god because I would have no way otherwise.

That said, it's free till you get sick up here.

I need to set Michael Moore straight.

[invader]

I think a lot of it also has to do with the local population. If socialized health care was implemented in America any NYC resident that couldn't afford to go private would be fucked.

[Forbin]

My wife and I have lived in Britain and the US, she's American, I'm English. Neither of us have been serious sick but we have used healthcare obviously.

Our experiences are pretty typical of what you hear. In Britain, my wife had to wait 18 months to be seen by an ankle specialist and get keyhole surgery. In America, she lived with it for years and walked with a cane at the age of 25 because she couldn't get treatment at all.

BTW, I don't know about Canada but in Britain, there's no law against private healthcare, in fact, if you can afford it, you're encouraged to do so. I think this debate about private vs public is a false dichotomy.

[Lanfear]

I am very happy with the health care - I wouldn't call it free because its included in my taxes but everybody is getting the health care they need.

All normal heath care procedures are payed, you pay a small part of your prescription costs yourself but there are programs to cap this for people with chronic drug needs, dental care is covered but only in the basic form (so to get gold or ceramic caps you have to pay extra but your holes will get filled with the cheapest option), contraception is only covered for girls under 20 but I believe abortions and births are free , you can choose to get additional private insurance which will get you better treatment in a hospital (e.g. single room) but if you need an operation you will get it no matter what.

I am also insured if I get ill in a lot of countries around Europe and need a doctor there.

I'm usually very healthy so I never had to test it but just knowing that I get my regular check ups and can go to a doctor at any time without worrying about money is very very nice and people complaining here (and they do a lot) really drives me quite mad - that's complaining for the pure sake of complaining.

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by Forbin

My wife and I have lived in Britain and the US, she's American, I'm English. Neither of us have been serious sick but we have used healthcare obviously.

Our experiences are pretty typical of what you hear. In Britain, my wife had to wait 18 months to be seen by an ankle specialist and get keyhole surgery. In America, she lived with it for years and walked with a cane at the age of 25 because she couldn't get treatment at all.

BTW, I don't know about Canada but in Britain, there's no law against private healthcare, in fact, if you can afford it, you're encouraged to do so. I think this debate about private vs public is a false dichotomy.

Help me understand "couldn't get" a little better. Was it not available to her for a specific reason?

[jeffdrafttech]

We did this thread once before, with a poll, and the results were overwhelmingly in favor of single-payer systems being great for health care consumers

The original thread link: http://www.keithandthegirl.com/forum...lthcare-11534/

[ihatethesooners]

Originally Posted by jeffdrafttech

We did this thread once before, with a poll, and the results were overwhelmingly in favor of single-payer systems being great for health care consumers

The original thread link: http://www.keithandthegirl.com/forum...lthcare-11534/

Damnit. I swear I did a search. Obviously, not a very good one.

[imezru]

I am from Canada as well and am generally happy with my health care. I have had to endure the 5-6 hours waits at ER on the odd occasions but just as often I have been in and out (stiches and all) within 1-2 hours.

My Dad recently had his hip replaced and between initial consultation and surgery the wait was approx. 4 months. He caught a cancellation other wise the wait would have been two months longer. While that may seem like a long time there was no cost and the reality is that he spent 72 years in the 250lb weight range that did his hip no favors. Had he lost the weight (he is 6ft tall) that was recommended by his doctors, whos to say his hip might not have needed replacing.

Both of my children were born by C-section at no cost and my employer pays my prescription costs less 10%

I believe that you judge a country by how they treat their most vulnerable and if a homeless person walks into and ER with chest pains they go right to the front of the queue in Canada even if the next in line is a CEO with a sprained wrist. That and neither person has to use a credit card (or fake name) to pay for their treatment.

Just my .02...it's not perfect but it's not the #1 cause of personal bankrupcy either...just saying

[Bebe]

Originally Posted by jorjo

(I’m sure Bebe will correct any mistakes I may have made)

Ya got it all right

I had surgery last year and waited one day between diagnosis and actually getting the surgery. And it was all free. For non-emergency surgery, I waited about 3 months to be seen.

Seeing the regular doctor is also subsidised - I pay NZ$30 per visit, plus $3 for any prescriptions I need, including the pill. If you're under 25, all sexual health care is free, including getting contraceptives. And health care is all free for under 6 year olds.

My ex, Simon, has cancer. He has had amazing treatment, all immediate, all free.

Of course there are always the terrible stories, but all my own experiences have been fairly positive.

[picard102]

Love our system here. Unless you get something terminal, you're probably not going to see a bill.

Dental and vision just went out the door recently though, and that shit is expensive. I can see how you could go into massive debt if you didn't have insurance.