Private health care...

clee1 · Mar 9, 2006

"Private" health care initiatives will introduce competetion into the HC marketplace. When people have more choice, overall the situation will improve for everyone.

HOWEVER, when the population at large is charged (via taxation) to pay for healthcare (public schools in the USA) and the system isn't doing an adequate job, ONLY the people of means can afford to "opt out" of the system.

So..... what you wind up with is the same old haves vs have-nots: and some folks just cannot STAND for someone to get ANYTHING that they cannot have/afford.

I have NEVER understood why people want to give control of healthcare to government bureaucrats - the very same folks that NEVER seem to do anything well.

irishnurse67 · Mar 10, 2006

Hi everyone,
This question is posed at nurses, student, and pre-students.
I was wondering what you think about what happened in Alberta where they have introduced a private health care system??
Some things you could consider are
1) How you think this will affect the public system?
2) Will this lead to better care for patients?
3) How will it affect you?
4) Do you support Alberta's 3rd way? (their new policy allowing private health care?)
Any type of response would be helpful... your opinions as medical professionals would be very valuable.
Thankyou,
Katrina

I have plently of relatives in Canada, but they live in New Brunswick. Most of them have private health insurance, even though health care there is "free."

They say that technically it's illegal, but the government turns a blind eye b/c it takes a burden off of them, obviously. Citizens there are sick of waiting forever for much needed care and being kicked out of the hospital before they should be (not that it doesn't happen here, but to a lesser degree). My relatives used to come here and pay out of pocket. That is how satisfied Canadians are w/their care up there. The same situation has been present in Europe for years. And you think our income taxes are bad, try living in Canada!

pickledpepperRN · Mar 10, 2006

I have plently of relatives in Canada, but they live in New Brunswick. Most of them have private health insurance, even though health care there is "free."
They say that technically it's illegal, but the government turns a blind eye b/c it takes a burden off of them, obviously. Citizens there are sick of waiting forever for much needed care and being kicked out of the hospital before they should be (not that it doesn't happen here, but to a lesser degree). My relatives used to come here and pay out of pocket. That is how satisfied Canadians are w/their care up there. The same situation has been present in Europe for years. And you think our income taxes are bad, try living in Canada!

Happens here too. Insured patients wait or are denied needed care, are discharged too soon, and some cannot get insurance because of pre existing conditions.

Geeg · Mar 10, 2006

I do not believe there is any such thing as competition in healthcare. When you are hit by a car, you don't have the luxury of deciding where to get the best care, you just need it ASAP. Plus, healthcare costs, at least in the USA, are secret and so convoluted that it pre-empts genuine comparison of cost and quality.