The Joys of the US medical system

[JimandChristy 1,689]

"The Joys of the US medical system" doesn't really make sense!!!! There are NO joys!!!

However, in Canada, where I'm from.... we don't get "free" medical care.... we do in fact pay for it.... BIG TIME!!!!

At my husband's income level here in the U.S., he pays at least 1/4 of the income tax here than he would in Canada. So, we have more useable income here than we would ever have in Canada. The only difference is that in Canada you never have to worry about getting sick, going to the hospital, delivering babies or seeing a doctor. You may have to wait.... but it won't cost you anything.

As what you are saying, in Canada, u dont normally get it as free as you've been paying for your healthcare system though ur excessive taxes, then there should be NO WAITING GAME....

I agree but the thing is when I fell in the USA last summer with a minor ailment, it took me two hours to see a doctor whereas in the UK it takes me all of 10-15 mins to see my doctor. The one part of the health care system where you could argue the US is ahead of the UK is when you have a major ailment, one that requires surgery or specialise treatment. OK you may have to wait 6months in the UK however in the US you may never receive it because you won't be able to afford it anyway.

The majority of people only need the basic health care coverage and this is where the US system falls down, you only need to look at the tens of millions of Americans who can't get insured.

[nickandkayte 0]

Well I have had a nice few run In's with the US medical system... I am so very proud of our NHS.

During my visit to a friends house in the summer of 2008 I suddenly started to pass blood in my urine (Sorry for the details!). A LOT of blood.

I get to the hospital, wait 5 hours to be seen, and got diagnosed with a UTI, and I got CHARGED $500 before my insurance covered the bill and paid me back. I Left with no antibiotics or pain killers.

Oh and the diagnosis? Completely wrong and ended up spending 2 weeks in hospital in the UK removing a kidney stone, and treating a kidney infection...

This February 13th, I ended up in a hospital in Newark (I know...The worst), throwing up every 10 Min's, not keeping water down... I had to wait again 5 hours to be seen at which point I was unconscious in the waiting room and luckily I wasn't robbed, I had a fellow flight member keeping a eye on me.

They took me in a room, gave me a Saline bag, and sent me on the flight to Virginia from Newark at 5am. Passed out again on the flight, managed to get hold of a doctor in Virginia who was a personal friend of mine who sorted me out with antibiotics, saline for another 3 days, and some pain killers. Severe gastroenteritis. And I got charged $400 this time for just coming in a ambulance and the 1 hour of treatment before getting turfed out. I wasn't even seen by a Doctor.

The NHS have been great over here, then again I am a member of the NHS partnership and was in Medical school.

In the USA I think I will get my Dr. and then come back to the UK and practice...

That's just my opinion here

[TracyTN 237]

Thought I resurrect this thread, my biggest worry/fear about moving to the USA is Health Insurance.

That's ok. Honestly my biggest fear - if hubby and I had to move back to the UK for any reason - would also be health care. *shudder*

[nickandkayte 0]

Thought I resurrect this thread, my biggest worry/fear about moving to the USA is Health Insurance.

That's ok. Honestly my biggest fear - if hubby and I had to move back to the UK for any reason - would also be health care. *shudder*

This is also my biggest fear, as we want a family in a few years, I am unsure whether to have a baby in the USA or UK.

Can anyone give any advice on good health insurance companies for women from their personal experience?

I know my Fiance has the GI bill which can give him subsidised health care but I doubt it applies to me

[MissusM09 1]

it just amazes me how brainwashed some americans are about systems like the NHS. Someone did a job on them thats for sure, and it was probably the same people who profited from it, lots of backhanders, under the table sh**, propagandising against it, republicans love that stuff because it benefits them and thier friends ( who have major shares in those medical drug companies).

LOok the NHS or systems like it ARE NOT communist regimes, where we all sit down in hippy-hold-hand-circles-kumbayaying. sharing out our belongings and last few vestiges of dignity, but a well thought out system that though heavily burdened increases the life expectancy over EVERY person in the uk by 15 - 25 years or more in comparison to thOSE living in the USA. I am fretting because i have to get a root canal, and i'll be darned if i'M going to pay for it thru the nose, when i can get it here for 46 pounds . I'll even delay my ticket to avoid it. All this talk about how expensive it is for drug companies to develop products and the testing and the blah blah blah blah....seriously they do it here, and we still pay £6 for our prescriptions. The american medical insurance system is a scam, promoted by those who profit from it. No one should put up with it.

I love the USA but I'm not going to be giving up my rights to any NHS benefits in a hurry. TRust me i'm paying my contributions over here.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Life expectancy is the virtually the same in the US and the UK (78 years), though I agree that the NHS, although far from perfect, is a good thing.

[TracyTN 237]

it just amazes me how brainwashed some americans are about systems like the NHS. Someone did a job on them thats for sure, and it was probably the same people who profited from it, lots of backhanders, under the table sh**, propagandising against it, republicans love that stuff because it benefits them and thier friends ( who have major shares in those medical drug companies).

LOok the NHS or systems like it ARE NOT communist regimes, where we all sit down in hippy-hold-hand-circles-kumbayaying. sharing out our belongings and last few vestiges of dignity, but a well thought out system that though heavily burdened increases the life expectancy over EVERY person in the uk by 15 - 25 years or more in comparison to thOSE living in the USA. I am fretting because i have to get a root canal, and i'll be darned if i'M going to pay for it thru the nose, when i can get it here for 46 pounds . I'll even delay my ticket to avoid it. All this talk about how expensive it is for drug companies to develop products and the testing and the blah blah blah blah....seriously they do it here, and we still pay £6 for our prescriptions. The american medical insurance system is a scam, promoted by those who profit from it. No one should put up with it.

I love the USA but I'm not going to be giving up my rights to any NHS benefits in a hurry. TRust me i'm paying my contributions over here.

I'm brainwashed, am I? Interesting. It couldn't possibly be that I've seen my husband and his entire family struggle to get care from the NHS, could it? His father dying from MRSA at the NHS hospital plays no part in it either.

Nope. I'm brainwashed - that's it. It has all become so clear!

Take me to your leader. MWAHAHAHAHAHAAHA

[English Muffin 59]

I love the USA but I'm not going to be giving up my rights to any NHS benefits in a hurry. TRust me i'm paying my contributions over here.

You'll give up your 'rights' to the NHS as soon as you move to the US. Non-residents of the UK (even citizens) can only use the NHS for emergencies if they are already in the UK when the emergency arises.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Good point, Muffin. I know people say that they can get around it by not telling their surgery they've left, but consider this: if you were to return to the UK as a health tourist and were then found out to have abused the system, you could very well be sued for the care you have received. It has happened before: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4415491.stm

[English Muffin 59]

Here's another example Maven. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthne...-treatment.html

[*julez* 124]

You guys must be brainwashed too.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

My brain is squeaky clean and ready for further indoctrination.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

To bad Allan isn't around to weigh in on this issue

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I miss Alan. I need more discussion of duvets, recreational vehicles and kettles.

[MissusM09 1]

did I say YOU??? I said some americans. Its not everyone. sheesh. I was using some of the statistics from that film Sicko. lol i probably jujed them a little but its around that mark. CALM DOWN!!

sorry to hear about your father its really sad, and MRSA will attack someones immune system that has been compromised, but especially so if they are elderly.

My mum has been working in the NHS for nearly 35 years, as yet MRSA cases are not epidemic proportions in the NHS not that we would want them to be, even one case is one case too much however in proportion to the thousands of americans dying or infirm from serious illness, the old, the poor, because they cant afford healthcare in the USA its like comparing a mouse to an elephant.