California's Costly, Inaccessible Healthcare System

[Umka36 781]

Isn't this the common theme in the US about healthcare costs?

 

"Unfortunately, all that spending doesn't appear to make health care more accessible. That's the troubling finding of a comprehensive new analysis of health care accessibility and openness by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. The study ranked California's healthcare system 40th of the 50 states."

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2018/07/23/californias-costly-inaccessible-healthcare-system/#558c72a332f6

 

[Steeleballz 7,550]

 

   Everything about policy in the US health care system is reactive, geared towards making money off treating major (and preferrably chronic disease). It's never been designed to be accessible. It's never been geared towards preventative medicine. IMO, it's not really geared towards curing illness either. Follow the money.

 

   

[Neonred 3,777]

Think it's bad now?  Wait and see what happens when we get single payor "medicare for all".

 

It's coming.  Just going to take some time, but it's coming. 

 

 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

3 hours ago, Steeleballz said:

 

   Everything about policy in the US health care system is reactive, geared towards making money off treating major (and preferrably chronic disease). It's never been designed to be accessible. It's never been geared towards preventative medicine. IMO, it's not really geared towards curing illness either. Follow the money.

 

   

we can agree its broke

[Steeleballz 7,550]

23 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

we can agree its broke

 

  I can't say all the things needed to fix it, but one thing I would like to see (but never hear about) is to get away from having health insurance linked to employment. 

[TBoneTX 46,712]

If I lived closer to Mexico, I'd simply go down there more often for more stuff.

Do a search for "medical tourism" and see what you find.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

1 minute ago, TBoneTX said:

If I lived closer to Mexico, I'd simply go down there more often for more stuff.

Do a search for "medical tourism" and see what you find.

Recently, I sent my spouse to a foreign country for a dental bridge.  Paid cash.  It was cheaper than here in the US with insurance and a co-pay.  

The pain is real.

[TBoneTX 46,712]

Oh, absolutely.  I haven't been to a U.S. dentist in years.  Mexico or Ecuador only.

[Dee elle 1,368]

2 hours ago, Neonred said:

Think it's bad now?  Wait and see what happens when we get single payor "medicare for all".

 

It's coming.  Just going to take some time, but it's coming. 

 

 

Having  lived most of my life in a country with a Single Payer health system, I can tell you that  I will take that system any day. Not all single payer  systems are the same I know.. but there are some very good ones. 

[Lemonslice 5,067]

2 hours ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  I can't say all the things needed to fix it, but one thing I would like to see (but never hear about) is to get away from having health insurance linked to employment. 

Some marry for immigration benefits, others to get health insurance... 

 

Agree totally on insurance linked to employment being a terrible idea.  

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

14 hours ago, Umka36 said:

Isn't this the common theme in the US about healthcare costs?

"Unfortunately, all that spending doesn't appear to make health care more accessible. That's the troubling finding of a comprehensive new analysis of health care accessibility and openness by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. The study ranked California's healthcare system 40th of the 50 states."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2018/07/23/californias-costly-inaccessible-healthcare-system/#558c72a332f6

I lived in California for 5 years and we never really had a problem with the healthcare there at all on average. But about 2 years in living there I switched my wife and kids from their primary care doctors to a whole new clinic and doctors. This is because the primary care clinic they were going to were the worst in trying to schedule a appointment, losing paperwork, and keeping people waiting for hours in the waiting when they had an appt. My wife had a 10:30pm appt time and she sat there until 12:45pm without being seen until she had to go get our kids from school, she then had to reschedule that appt. My son's shot records from that clinic went missing as well.

 

I know I heard how a Illegal sued the California form of Medicaid because she was on it but no doctor will accept it because of the very low pay outs for the Medicaid there.

[Keith & Arileidi 437]

14 hours ago, Steeleballz said:

 

   Everything about policy in the US health care system is reactive, geared towards making money off treating major (and preferrably chronic disease). It's never been designed to be accessible. It's never been geared towards preventative medicine. IMO, it's not really geared towards curing illness either. Follow the money.

 

   

This a great point. 

Honestly, I don't get why insurance companies don't provide free gym memberships. 

[Dashinka 25,211]

8 hours ago, Dee elle said:

Having  lived most of my life in a country with a Single Payer health system, I can tell you that  I will take that system any day. Not all single payer  systems are the same I know.. but there are some very good ones. 

Is there a perfect system out there?  I believe the UK's NHS is in rough shape both in service and financial, and the wait times in Canada for many procedures are outlandish.  I suppose there might be a perfect system.

 

8 hours ago, Lemonslice said:

Some marry for immigration benefits, others to get health insurance... 

 

Agree totally on insurance linked to employment being a terrible idea.  

 

11 hours ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  I can't say all the things needed to fix it, but one thing I would like to see (but never hear about) is to get away from having health insurance linked to employment. 

Completely agree, tying it to employment compensation was and is a mistake.

[Dee elle 1,368]

No perfect system anywhere unfortunately as the perfect system to us consumers woukd be best care the day we need it for zero oit of pocket cost and minimal tax cost ! 

Australia has a mixed system with tax funded single payer system that covers everyone and a parallel private insurance for elective trestment. 

So, yes if you have money you can get your knew replacement or cataract surgery next week rather than next year.. but this is a positive.. everyone who chooses to pay for their health needs releases a place on the waiting list for those who are not able to do so.

Perfect?  no.. working well? .. in my experience,  very well....

so why am I here ? 2 kids and their families including 6 grandchildren. Yes its my choice to be here, and I accept the consequences of that choice.. 

 

[Dashinka 25,211]

13 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

No perfect system anywhere unfortunately as the perfect system to us consumers woukd be best care the day we need it for zero oit of pocket cost and minimal tax cost ! 

Australia has a mixed system with tax funded single payer system that covers everyone and a parallel private insurance for elective trestment. 

So, yes if you have money you can get your knew replacement or cataract surgery next week rather than next year.. but this is a positive.. everyone who chooses to pay for their health needs releases a place on the waiting list for those who are not able to do so.

Perfect?  no.. working well? .. in my experience,  very well....

so why am I here ? 2 kids and their families including 6 grandchildren. Yes its my choice to be here, and I accept the consequences of that choice.. 

 

That is about as perfect as it might get.  I am fine with having a parallel public and private system.  Is it more common to have people ask their providers for a cash option at the Dr.'s office in Australia?  I find myself asking this more often now that I am on a High Deductible plan and not an HMO.