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ORIGINAL: Lucylastic

Seems to  me that the health care system in Canada and UK has most problems because there are too many bureaucrats and not enough front line staff. Saving their own asses and not knowing what the hell they are doing and not listening to the people who do make a difference. The systems need streamlined, the money directed to the nurses, doctors, technicians, support staff, not the bloody managers and their never ending assistants.
I worked in the NHS for 8 years and the Canadian system for three. Neither of them is perfect, people suffer and die, needlessly, however the US is damn scary regarding basic care and ongoing treatment unless you can pay for it.
Lucy

Hello Lucy, thank you for posting.
I love to hear stories from citizens that actually live in countries
with Nationalized Health Care.
I have such mixed emotions on the subject.
Are you happy with the standards and level of health care that is available to you?
Do you think your system is fair?
How are the senior citizens treated and those with chronic long term health conditions?
I have heard of people in Canada coming to the USA to get certain operations.
Please give us some more information, thank you!



_____________________________

Namaste'
To Each His/Her Own
"DENIAL ain't just a river in Egypt." Mark Twain


What's your favorite fetish?
"My partner's whisper"--bloomswell

(in reply to Lucylastic)

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ORIGINAL: philosophy

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ORIGINAL: thishereboi

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ORIGINAL: kittinSol

Have you ever lived in a country that has national healthcare? It's pretty fucking fantastic - so much less expensive for everybody in the long run - but perhaps you enjoy paying out of the skin of your ass and relish the idea of being taxed on your healthcare plan .

I have never lived in a country with national healthcare. However I have experienced federal run clinics and hospitals. The idea of those same people taking over national health care scares the hell out of me.

....so i assume you favour scrapping the current Federally run US military in favour of a privately run for-profit one?

Just because you can point at something run badly by Federal authorities doesn't mean they're all badly run. i can equally point at some pretty badly run private companies.

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ORIGINAL: Politesub53

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ORIGINAL: thishereboi

I have never lived in a country with national healthcare. However I have experienced federal run clinics and hospitals. The idea of those same people taking over national health care scares the hell out of me.

The same Doctors that work in the NHS also work for the private hospitals here in the UK. Given the size of our health service, it does pretty good.

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Actually, I'm not sure that that is entirely true. Certain hospitals must take the uninsured, but there are private hospitals that do not. I think it has to do with whether they get government funding. And one of the local hospitals in Decatur, AL (near Huntsville, where I live) is shutting down because of the influx of illegal immigrants who are uninsured but who must be treated. And that isn't a whack on illegal immigrants...it's just the reality for this particular hospital.

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ORIGINAL: Alfonzo

I am from Canada and while our heqalthcare doesnt cover dental it does cover emergency dental.  If you break your tooth you are covered.  Now as for prescriptions and eyeglass and dental almost every benefit package i have ever had covers part of this from 60% and up.  Those on welfare get it free.  Those not working well they still get free medical.  Yes we wait for optional surgery and we wait for big operations like transplants but I think most do.  I have never been seriously ill but i have been in the hospitl many times for stupid things and i have gone to the doctor many times over flus and colds and other everyday things, I have had a baby born in a wonderful hospital and I love the fact that when i leave i just walk out.  No bills, no going intop debt from getting sick, i just leave and its covered. 

It's not perfect and like i said i am not elderly or extremely ill  but when i need it its there and i havent gone broke using it.

Thanks for the update, cutie.
Oh! back to the topic.

Humm, I am going to send this to my Canadian friend.

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ORIGINAL: slaveboyforyou

One of the big reasons I am for a national healthcare system is that we are already paying for the uninsured.  When someone shows up at the emergency room, they have to treat them.  When they can't pay, who do you think the costs get passed too?  We pay for all of this whether we want to or not.  We pay for it in so many ways.  The costs that are incurred from uninsured patients is enormous.  I honestly think it would be cheaper just to provide medical coverage for everyone.  Of course that's only a practical reason.  Morally, I think it's wrong for someone to have their entire life destroyed because of medical bills they can't pay. 

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ORIGINAL: candystripper

bestbabynyc, what on earth makes you think the US is about to adopt a National Health Care System?
 
I think you can rest easy, if it worries you, as the greed of the pharameactical companies, insurance industry, etc. is most likely powerful enough to block such a thing from happening at least during your lifetime.
 
starglre, I have heard some 'horror' stories from people dependent on their NHS about waiting 2 years for a hip replacement, etc.  I admit I'm not entirely comfy with the government getting in the health care delivery system...but I am quite comfy with furnishing taxpayer-paid care to the poor and uninsured, of which we have many.
 
candystripper 

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How can you preach Democracy when you deny your most vulnerable, the poor and uninsured such a basic right?

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ORIGINAL: Kirata

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ORIGINAL: DomKen

Similiarly I don't read moonie owned publications for information on progressive politics or science and I don't check with catholic publications for news about birth control techniques.

I know that sounds logical to you. But dismissing something because of who wrote it is prejudice, not reason.

K.

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But I'm not dismissing it because of who wrote it. I'm dismissing it because the authors have a well known bias on the subject.

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ORIGINAL: celticlord2112

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But I'm not dismissing it because of who wrote it. I'm dismissing it because the authors have a well known bias on the subject.

In other words, you are dismissing it because of who wrote it, but don't want to sound prejudicial.

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Let me ask this: given the realities we have here in the US, how would you change things to make sure everyone has at least some basic level of health insurance? Let's cut the crap and cut to the chase. Use me as an example. I've been unemployed for 14 months. I have a wife and 2 children. How would you change things so that my family and I are insured?

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ORIGINAL: ThatDaveGuy69

CL: Not sure if your "basic rights" comment was meant to be flip or serious.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

This is from the Declaration of Independnce.  It's a great document but it is not law.  It is how we told King George to sit & spin.  Notice also that the text reads "among these" which clearly means that they aren't necesarily the only rights, just the ones the FF's were willing to commit to.  A government can, at any time, add to or subtract from the rights it guarantees to it's citizens.  In the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights was added to specifically guarantee the rights therein.  It it possible, at least in theory, to add an amendment that would define health care as a right of every citizen.  Ain't gonna happen - ever - but the process exists.

So far, I've read a lot of anti-NHS speachifyin'.  Let me ask this: given the realities we have here in the US, how would you change things to make sure everyone has at least some basic level of health insurance?  Let's cut the crap and cut to the chase.  Use me as an example.  I've been unemployed for 14 months.  I have a wife and 2 children.  How would you change things so that my family and I are insured?

~Dave

Dave is on point as usual!
Even though I love my healthcare you have to think of everyone.