"Socialized medicine"

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I am interested in your opinions about introducing a national healthcare system in the United States. What do you think about introducing free basic packet of healthcare services (e.g. emergency services and annual medical, eye, dental exams)? Do you know anything about national healthcare systems existing in other countries such as Sweden and Germany?

I would also be happy to get some information on this issue from abroad. Grushenka

I am interested in your opinions about introducing a national healthcare system in the United States. What do you think about introducing free basic packet of healthcare services (e.g. emergency services and annual medical, eye, dental exams)? Do you know anything about national healthcare systems existing in other countries such as Sweden and Germany?

I would also be happy to get some information on this issue from abroad. Grushenka

Kinda like here in Canada except we don't cover eye exams or dental, just everything else. Works for me, but be prepared for your taxes to sky rocket and nurses wages to plummet, (and forget the sign on bonuses and incentives!)

I think we have to be careful about definitions. Nothing is free. Nothing. Someone always pays.

I mainly deal (at this time) with Lyme disease patients. Yes, Canadian patients can get antibiotics "free". However, they are limited to very old antibiotics that are not nearly as effective. Many come to the US to try Zithromax or an experimental drug.

I have also heard stories of patients being moved up on Canadian surgery lists by paying under the table in US dollars (cash).

You're quite wrong my friend to the south! Unless you have drug benefits you pay for drugs, and we do not administer "very old" anitibiotics in Canada. And we have Zithromax! Lots of it! For everyone!

What a crock, do some reading!

PS may I remind you that Americans flocked to Canada by the tens of thousands for the flu shot this winter?

Specializes in pure and simple psych.
well would you please just tell that to my friends who *are* working and are MEDICAID-INELIGIBLE, please? Then, maybe they can get on "easy street" like your son.

My friends can only get COBRA, which they cannot *AFFORD* so they have NO medical insurance whatsoever. I think it royally sucks that anyone who puts in 9 or 10 hours a day at work can't get medical coverage, dont' you?! So sorry, I stand by my original post. Before we build more bombs, spend more money on overseas charity, we need to take care of the ones who have to do without basics like healthcare first. :angryfire

When people realise that Insurance Institutions are the reason that health care costs so much, we will be on the way toward mending our system here. If we pay a single payor, (yes, the government) directly, there would be no increase in fees paid, or co-pay, or whatever. Large insurance companies pay MILLIONS to their CEOs, who take our payments and gamble on the stock market. Take profit out of health care, and we could afford the care we have now, and more. It is always about the money in the US.

When people realise that Insurance Institutions are the reason that health care costs so much, we will be on the way toward mending our system here. If we pay a single payor, (yes, the government) directly, there would be no increase in fees paid, or co-pay, or whatever. Large insurance companies pay MILLIONS to their CEOs, who take our payments and gamble on the stock market. Take profit out of health care, and we could afford the care we have now, and more. It is always about the money in the US.

I take it you've never worked for the government.

Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.
When people realise that Insurance Institutions are the reason that health care costs so much, we will be on the way toward mending our system here. If we pay a single payor, (yes, the government) directly, there would be no increase in fees paid, or co-pay, or whatever. Large insurance companies pay MILLIONS to their CEOs, who take our payments and gamble on the stock market. Take profit out of health care, and we could afford the care we have now, and more. It is always about the money in the US.

EXACTLY.

The money is already there to cover every man woman and child in this country. The problem is that it's grossly mis-managed.

I don't think there is any perfect system as far as guarateeing the money is well spent. It is true that America spends more per capita than countries with "socialized" or universal systems.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
When people realise that Insurance Institutions are the reason that health care costs so much, we will be on the way toward mending our system here. If we pay a single payor, (yes, the government) directly, there would be no increase in fees paid, or co-pay, or whatever. Large insurance companies pay MILLIONS to their CEOs, who take our payments and gamble on the stock market. Take profit out of health care, and we could afford the care we have now, and more. It is always about the money in the US.
You get NO argument from me on this. I already see this as the problem. Why so many don't is beyond me.
Specializes in ICU.
Very true. It could never be completely free. What worries me about socialized medicine, is that it would remove the individual person's power of choice. Every aspect of one's healthcare would be directed and managed by bureaucrats. Noncompliance would result in being refused insurance coverage. And what would be done with people in high-risk groups for certain diseases and conditions? Such a system might refuse them any insurance coverage.

This is one of those myths that seems to persist. Yes if you turn up to a public hospital you do not get a choice of who you see but I think that is the same everywhere. We do, however get a choice of GP - basically whoever you want but the GP does not care for you in hospital unless you are going to a private hospital - public hospitals yp no choice - you will be placed under a consultant which will be whoever is on for that day but often the consultant who is seeing you as a public patient would also see you as a private patient if you so chose.

Since ours is a two tier system we have the choice of having private health insurances as well so if we want to we CAN have a choice.

Even in the public hospitals there is a an opt out option. You can ask for another doctor if you have an issue with the person currently treating you - it is not often done but the option IS there.

I've never understood why people think that either Gwenith. When a baby is born in my hospital here in California, they get the neonatologist that happens to be on. They don't get to go through a menu to pick one. It's no different than in Canada. I have been sick and worked in both countries and don't see a real difference when it comes to decision making. It's between the patient and the doctor. I don't know any docs who make decisions based on insurance companies or the government.

I am not at all smart on the issue, I readily admit. I have nothing but questions myself:

Like IF we justify spending the bucks to build bigger, better weapons systems, enough to destroy the world- 2000 times over......

And IF we can spend big bucks on charity overseas, foreign worker recruitment, etc.....

And IF we can afford mass bail-outs of failing corporations in the form of "corporate welfare"........

IF we can continue to cover illegal and undocumented immigrant/indigent care......

IF we can spend millions to celebrate the inauguration of a President (not just Bush)......

then why can't we insure the WORKING POOR?????!!!!!!! You know, the poor average sucker who DOES hold a low-paying, unbenefitted job? The ones we are seeing increase in numbers EVERY year that passes as companies just cut these benefits out from under them?????? The one whose working backs on which building a great nation's progress rests????

Anyone???? :confused:

As I said, I am not too damn smart after all. I just have that BURNING "why" question that I can't seem to get any answers to. :cool:

Why indeed!?! When you get the answer to these questions, please share them. I too have been asking myself those very same questions.

This is one of those myths that seems to persist. Yes if you turn up to a public hospital you do not get a choice of who you see but I think that is the same everywhere. We do, however get a choice of GP - basically whoever you want but the GP does not care for you in hospital unless you are going to a private hospital - public hospitals yp no choice - you will be placed under a consultant which will be whoever is on for that day but often the consultant who is seeing you as a public patient would also see you as a private patient if you so chose.

Since ours is a two tier system we have the choice of having private health insurances as well so if we want to we CAN have a choice.

Even in the public hospitals there is a an opt out option. You can ask for another doctor if you have an issue with the person currently treating you - it is not often done but the option IS there.

If you choose to buy your own insurance, do you get a tax credit for not being in the socialized program?

Very true. It could never be completely free. What worries me about socialized medicine, is that it would remove the individual person's power of choice. Every aspect of one's healthcare would be directed and managed by bureaucrats. Noncompliance would result in being refused insurance coverage. And what would be done with people in high-risk groups for certain diseases and conditions? Such a system might refuse them any insurance coverage.

Having been a patient under the UK National Health Service and had private health insurance in the US I'd just also like to add this;

The majority of Americans have no choice in who insures them; that choice is made for them by their employer.

The insurer then makes choices on which doctors are in network. PPO's are obviously better than HMO's. In my experience, the choice is far less in the US system.

I can't see an argument for less choice under a universal healthcare system.

Having lived under both systems I can tell you that the six of one, half a dozen of the other argument runs true.

However, I do feel more comfortable with a society that believes in healthcare as a right, not a privilege.

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