The Facts About USA Health Care...
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The Facts About USA Health Care...
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I made this post to clear up some misinformation about Health Care in the USA. As most of the English Doctors are well aware they have Socialized medicine in the UK, the USA does not
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The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 5/7/2012 8:36 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1285
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
I made this post to clear up some misinformation about Health Care in the USA. As most of the English Doctors are well aware they have Socialized medicine in the UK, the USA does not, However in the American system no one is turned away from health care in Clinics, and Emergency rooms. Most of the people on Welfare get free health care at ER's, and this clogs the system. Some here would say that these same low income people, or No income people - Welfare recipients do not get offered a primary care Doctor. Not true either, these people just do not care about going to preventative screenings, or wellness visits, they only go to the Doctor when sick, and that means a local ER will be clogged up with people with sniffly noses, minor sinus infections, Gastroenteritis - all self limiting conditions in most cases. meanwhile those of us who choose to live productive lives, I.E - We WORK! Well we are forced to pay extremely high premiums and co-pays for our health care and drugs. So what is the soultion here? Matthew Bilingsley please give your opinion, and Odysseus of course. |
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Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 5/7/2012 11:35 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2948
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 23/5/2013 |
My wife just spent two weeks with friends in the southern USA (yes, we like US citizens and she was struck by their courtesy and generosity). However, their biggest concern was health and that they would be able to continue in their health fund lest they lose their house when they contract a serious illness eg cancer. There appears to be no Fairy Godmother or Tooth Fairy in the USA. |
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Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 6/7/2012 4:08 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1285
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
Odysseus, you were in the USA? And you did not even Stop to say Hi? Well next time you will have to swing by my State, and I can make you some of my Famous Cooking. I am a Real good Oriental cook, Stir Fry, I also do Italian, and Good Olde Home style food. We could even drink some fresh coffee, or a cup of Earl Grey Tea. DuaneF |
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Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 6/7/2012 9:48 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2948
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 23/5/2013 |
In Response to Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...: Odysseus, you were in the USA? And you did not even Stop to say Hi? Well next time you will have to swing by my State, and I can make you some of my Famous Cooking. I am a Real good Oriental cook, Stir Fry, I also do Italian, and Good Olde Home style food. We could even drink some fresh coffee, or a cup of Earl Grey Tea. DuaneF Posted by DuaneF That is vey kind of you, Duane. No, I stayed at home and was Mr Mum for two weeks. However I have read a lot about the Civil War and would like one day to do a trip with this in mind. Odysseus |
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Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 6/7/2012 10:45 AM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1447
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
Hi Duane Thanks for addressing some of these points. It is good to know that people who are unable to pay (whatever their circumstances) can receive medical treatment. I know the US like to call any state provided healthcare 'socialist' but I don't entirely agree with this description. I think of it more as humanitarian. There are many inequalities in health and wider society and it is good to know that whatever your position that there is a health service there to help you out when you're in need. Can you clarify reports we often hear of when ambulance paramedics check the patient's wallet or phone up to check they have health insurance before proceeding to the hospital? Why not just take someone who has been knocked over straight to the hospital? Surely, this goes against what being a doctor should be all about - indiscriminate care. I agree that it is not fair that people who don't bother to work should reap the benefits of free healthcare when those who work have to pay insurance and co-payments. However, there are always going to be people who are disadvantaged and that's kind of what the NHS system recognises. This is not socialism because socialism likes to create the illusion that everyone is equal but the British system recognises there are inequalities and does its best to address these and provides for the good of public health. Thomas Jefferson said "all men are created equal" but they are not necessarily treated equally. The US government spends 17.9% of GDP on healthcare and the UK only spends 9.6% - so it's not as if there is no money about to pay for people to all receive state-funded healthcare in the US. Why do US citizens have to pay their own share? From the outside it seems you get a really raw deal. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.TOTL.ZS In Response to The Facts About USA Health Care...: I made this post to clear up some misinformation about Health Care in the USA. As most of the English Doctors are well aware they have Socialized medicine in the UK, the USA does not, However in the American system no one is turned away from health care in Clinics, and Emergency rooms. Most of the people on Welfare get free health care at ER's, and this clogs the system. Some here would say that these same low income people, or No income people - Welfare recipients do not get offered a primary care Doctor. Not true either, these people just do not care about going to preventative screenings, or wellness visits, they only go to the Doctor when sick, and that means a local ER will be clogged up with people with sniffly noses, minor sinus infections, Gastroenteritis - all self limiting conditions in most cases. meanwhile those of us who choose to live productive lives, I.E - We WORK! Well we are forced to pay extremely high premiums and co-pays for our health care and drugs. So what is the soultion here? Matthew Bilingsley please give your opinion, and Odysseus of course. Posted by DuaneF |
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Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 6/7/2012 10:48 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2049
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 22/5/2013 |
What about Oddyseus' point on being bankrupted by healthcare, Duane? And tell us please, about people with chronic health problems, who cannot make the choice that you have, to work, because they can't? Who have lifelong drug and other costs, the rheumatoids, the epileptics, those with cerebral palsy or severe lung disease. How is their plight alleviated in the US? And as you say, US citizens with no insurance cover can get help in clinics and ERs. But who cares for those whose health needs monitoring, the hypertensives or the asthmatics? And maternity care, who provides that to the uninsured? Just to be clear, private health insurance in the UK does not cover maternity care, except for emergency care. If you wish to defend your country's stance, I think you should cover all that, at least. Then we can discuss our faults, many of which are the same as yours, overreliance on A&E care for minor, self-limiting illness, and a tenedency to not feel responsible for one's own illness. John |
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Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 6/7/2012 2:23 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 38
First: 23/10/2009 Last: 9/10/2012 |
In Response to The Facts About USA Health Care...: I'm surprised at the contempt that DuaneF see's the USA's poor with! Is it not a universally accepted principle that in a capitalist system the poor, and unemployed are needed, by the State/industry; in reality to keep down costs. With full employment comes better rights, better conditions, better pay, and less profit. People on the whole want to work, but getting a job in these times is difficult, particularly if you've lost your house, your job, and your confidence, through the fault of those "working" in global finance. Psychological illnesses is common in areas of high unemployment. Can this just be a coincidence? Or is it a symptom of wider social ills? Socialised medicine can intervene in this cycle it is cost effective, economically (locally and nationally) and an ethical response to poverty and social deprivation. If the US had a more socialised system, then the queues for "sniffles" may also be alleviated. |
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Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 6/7/2012 3:01 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 225
First: 15/5/2012 Last: 22/5/2013 |
In Response to Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...: What about Oddyseus' point on being bankrupted by healthcare, Duane? And tell us please, about people with chronic health problems, who cannot make the choice that you have, to work, because they can't? Who have lifelong drug and other costs, the rheumatoids, the epileptics, those with cerebral palsy or severe lung disease. How is their plight alleviated in the US? And as you say, US citizens with no insurance cover can get help in clinics and ERs. But who cares for those whose health needs monitoring, the hypertensives or the asthmatics? And maternity care, who provides that to the uninsured? Just to be clear, private health insurance in the UK does not cover maternity care, except for emergency care. If you wish to defend your country's stance, I think you should cover all that, at least. Then we can discuss our faults, many of which are the same as yours, overreliance on A&E care for minor, self-limiting illness, and a tenedency to not feel responsible for one's own illness. John Posted by John D JohnD: People with chronic health problem, as you say, "the rheumatoids, epileptics, cerebral palsy, severe lung disease, the hypertensives and the asthmatics"-- are covered by the federal program- Medicare and the state program- Medicaid if you cannot afford health insurance. Maternity care is provided by community clinics funded by the state and Medicaid. Life long medication is covered in the elderly is covered by Medicare D. John D, we do care about our sick and the elderly, but it becoming enormously expensive. |
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Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 6/7/2012 3:19 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 5
First: 25/5/2012 Last: 2/5/2013 |
In Response to Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...: USA health care is unequally distributed and results in poor health outcomes for the marginalised poor. Barack Obama is to be congratulated on his health care reforms - it seems that he has read "The spirit level" by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, which is about health and wealth disparities. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in improving the health of the poor in their country. |
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Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...
posted at 6/7/2012 4:27 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1285
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
Thanks for chiming in on the post Matthew. Yes we do receive a really raw deal. Especially the people in this country who elect to work! As to Paramedics checking wallets for Health insurance before going to hospital, these are reports are not true, At least not in my neck of the woods, New York. Paramedics and EMTS, as well as Police check wallets for Medic alert cards, and bracelets, to signify Allergies to medicine, as well as cards indicating Implanted pacemakers, since when I was a Police Officer we carried AED Defibrilators in cruizers, and if your a Paramedic you carry other medical items concurrent with your skill set. I think the USA needs to get a better system. DuaneF In Response to Re: The Facts About USA Health Care...: Hi Duane Thanks for addressing some of these points. It is good to know that people who are unable to pay (whatever their circumstances) can receive medical treatment. I know the US like to call any state provided healthcare 'socialist' but I don't entirely agree with this description. I think of it more as humanitarian. There are many inequalities in health and wider society and it is good to know that whatever your position that there is a health service there to help you out when you're in need. Can you clarify reports we often hear of when ambulance paramedics check the patient's wallet or phone up to check they have health insurance before proceeding to the hospital? Why not just take someone who has been knocked over straight to the hospital? Surely, this goes against what being a doctor should be all about - indiscriminate care. I agree that it is not fair that people who don't bother to work should reap the benefits of free healthcare when those who work have to pay insurance and co-payments. However, there are always going to be people who are disadvantaged and that's kind of what the NHS system recognises. This is not socialism because socialism likes to create the illusion that everyone is equal but the British system recognises there are inequalities and does its best to address these and provides for the good of public health. Thomas Jefferson said "all men are created equal" but they are not necessarily treated equally. The US government spends 17.9% of GDP on healthcare and the UK only spends 9.6% - so it's not as if there is no money about to pay for people to all receive state-funded healthcare in the US. Why do US citizens have to pay their own share? From the outside it seems you get a really raw deal. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.TOTL.ZS In Response to The Facts About USA Health Care... : Posted by mbillingsley |
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