So glad my Mother gets healthcare in Britain

[GregLee]

Here is a link to a Hawaii Threads posting with links to a couple of comments on a certain party's take on single payer health care. I suppose you all will have seen the Jon Stewart bit, since it's from several months ago, but in case not, well, it's hilarious. HI's universal healthcare - HawaiiThreads.com

 

[Alan]

My emergency backup plan for medical is to return to the UK.

Me too. Since I was born there and lived there for years as a child, I hope they'd welcome me back.

Plus I love that little island.

That is our backup plan also. This long vacation has confirmed to us that we could easily live with poor weather if we needed to.

Purron, if you were born here before 1/1/1983 then you'll have no problems moving back if you wish to. After that date the law was changed so that being born here didn't automatically mean citizenship. Everytime we renew our UK passport we skip loads of questions because we were born before the law changed.

 

[kimcdougc]

Hmm I have hard some Canadian friends that can't stand their healthcare system. They said they have to wait months to see a specialist. Also, isn't the UK healthcare system lacking funds right now. I think the whole world is lacking funds for everything right now. Don't guess any of us have come up with the perfect health plan but if anyone has one please reply so my husband can retire and not just work for our health benefits.

 

[antmary]

Health insurance is the biggest wolf at my door. I have long advocated for a single payer system for universal health care. Insurance premiums are the biggest expense and financial worry that we have.

I envision a true healing system as one being in the business of health; what we have here is "health care" as a business.

 

[brett]

We live in Canada and we are very satisfied with our universal health care. Yes, there are challenges, but on balance the system is sound. Poll after poll has told our politians that we will not accept a user pay system. Not long ago a national television network did a poll as to who was the most famous Canadian. Many well known people were put forward. In the end, it was narrowed down to the one man responsible to introducing health care to Canada. Universal health care impacts many other areas. Some time ago I read a study about international prescription drug costs. People in countries with some form of universal health care pay considerably less for the same prescription drugs than those who do not. At the time of the study, Canada was 30 percent less than the US, UK and France were about 50 percent less.

 

[haha]

People in countries with some form of universal health care pay considerably less for the same prescription drugs than those who do not. At the time of the study, Canada was 30 percent less than the US, UK and France were about 50 percent less.

Yeah, but our Doctors and pharma and health insurance executives get to drive 911s.

Even our pharmacists drive BMWs.

Not long ago I saw an optometrist I had consulted at Costco driving on I-5. She was in a new Beemer 7 series, and looked very smart indeed.

Now, wouldn't I be ashamed if my optometrist had to tool around in an Accord?

Ha

 

[Meadbh]

Now, wouldn't I be ashamed if my optometrist had to tool around in an Accord?

There's nothing wrong with an Accord. Especially the 1995 edition which I am about to drive across Canada.

Dr. Meadbh

 

[haha]

There's nothing wrong with an Accord. Especially the 1995 edition which I am about to drive across Canada.

Dr. Meadbh

That is fully acceptable for a socialist doctor, so you are OK.

Ha

 

[Gone4Good]

People in countries with some form of universal health care pay considerably less for the same prescription drugs than those who do not. At the time of the study, Canada was 30 percent less than the US, UK and France were about 50 percent less.

And do a considerably better job holding down health care inflation over all . . .

 

[travelover]

Oh sure but they are dying like flies. Last count only 34 million left.

And do a considerably better job holding down health care inflation over all . . .

 

[brett]

I think that one of the main differences is that most people in Canada do not refer to it as 'socialized' medical care. And I think the same would be true of people in Europe, Australia, and N.Z.

Instead we view it like we do police and fire protection, clean water, etc and other necessary goverment services, ie a basic necessity to our well being that is provided by the government through our taxation system.

 

[lynxville]

While traveling in England my daughter got sick, used the emergency room. The hospital was filthy, guards at the door to keep the zombies out. It was a horrible experience, socialized medicine isn't for me. I have met a number of Canadians that are not so fond of socialized medicine either. Don't think it's free someone is paying the bills and that money comes from you know who.

 

[Zathras]

... Don't think it's free someone is paying the bills and that money comes from you know who.

This is true now. Someone walks into an emergency room, gets life saving treatment, but has no insurance and can't pay. Guess who pays?

 

[ziggy29]

And yet even Canada's trend line, while not as alarming, is still unsustainably "up".

 

[Gone4Good]

And yet even Canada's trend line, while not as alarming, is still unsustainably "up".

I'm not sure how unsustainable that trend line is. It's basically held flat at 10% of GDP since 1992, with some ups and downs. Even if we assume a continuation of the longer-term trend you're looking at a doubling over the next six decades - at which time all of the boomers, and most of their children, will have passed on.

That seems affordable to me.

 

[M Paquette]

While traveling in England my daughter got sick, used the emergency room. The hospital was filthy, guards at the door to keep the zombies out. It was a horrible experience, socialized medicine isn't for me.

That's more of a hospital thing than a 'socialized medicine' thing. Guess which country inspects restaurants and cruise ships for cleanliness, and tests equipment in food processing plants for bacterial content, but exempts hospitals from cleanliness and sanitation checks?

 

[rescueme]

Yeah, but our Doctors and pharma and health insurance executives get to drive 911s.

Even our pharmacists drive BMWs.

OTOH, DW/me are, and have done quite well with our VGHAX (Vanguard Health Care Adm) with a YTD return of just over 14%.

While we may not be able to pay less for pharma, at least we're sharing in the profits . BTW, pharma is only a portion of the health care spectrum that Ed Owens and Jean Hynes invest in.

 

[rescueme]

While traveling in England my daughter got sick, used the emergency room. The hospital was filthy, guards at the door to keep the zombies out. It was a horrible experience, socialized medicine isn't for me.

DW/me spent a month "down under" a few years ago.

Our tour guide (an Oz native) spoke about the health care situation. I'm not sure if it is the same plan as England, but she said that while she was eligible for the public health care system (AKA Medicare), she still paid for private coverage, due to what she felt was lacking in the public sector. She told a story (true or not - who knows) mentioning her experience with the public (hospital) system which sounds like what you went through.

As for me? I'm happy with my (U.S.) private coverage, as a pre-Medicare retiree. Of course, while I still co-pay for coverage, it's not too bad since it's provided via my former employer and runs a bit less than $500/month for both of us with little out-of-pocket expense (e.g. co-pay). For those that go it alone and pay high rates for high deductable plans, I well understand the concern (I was there in my "early life").

 

[kcowan]

There's nothing wrong with an Accord. Especially the 1995 edition which I am about to drive across Canada.

Dr. Meadbh

Welcome to BC Meadbh!

 

[kcowan]

I have met a number of Canadians that are not so fond of socialized medicine either. Don't think it's free someone is paying the bills and that money comes from you know who.

The ones you met are buying the Koolaid from down south. We have private hospitals that are funded by rich local donors. We also have a single payer insurance system that prevents usurious profits by HMOs and insurance companies.

The system is great! It is not perfect because we can't afford perfect.

(BTW we also have private coverage for drugs, dental and Blue Cross.)

 

[haha]

I would embrace the Canadian system down here. But only Rep Weiner was for it, and I am afraid that he may be on his way out.

Ha

 

[youbet]

I would embrace the Canadian system down here.

I agree but I've heard that those cheap SOB's don't want to pay for my health care. I say cut off their supply of drugs until they issue cards for the 300 mil of us to head north for treatment.

 

[youbet]

(BTW we also have private coverage for drugs, dental and Blue Cross.)

What's the point of that?

 

[brett]

It is funny that you mention drinking the Koolaid. We were travelling in the US during the debate. Some of the TV and billboard ads-on both sides of the issue, astounded us.

But the oddest thing occured on one of those few hour boat tours on Lake Tahoe. We were speaking with a few other couples. One lady, from LA, told us she had a sister who 'knew' about the health care in Canada and had it on 'very good authority' that the hospitals in Canada were 'dirty' and many of the nurses wore burkas (sp).

I was fortunate to catch the pricelesslook on DW's face as she turned around to hide her surprise and her amusement. DW, as an RN, spent many years working in hospitals in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. I had been in the hospital several times and our late parents had hospital stays multiple time in British Columbia. We laughed about it later, both agreeing that the reason we did not comment is that it would have served no purpose. We still laugh about it.

 

[Purron]

It is funny that you mention drinking the Koolaid. We were travelling in the US during the debate. Some of the TV and billboard ads-on both sides of the issue, astounded us.

But the oddest thing occured on one of those few hour boat tours on Lake Tahoe. We were speaking with a few other couples. One lady, from LA, told us she had a sister who 'knew' about the health care in Canada and had it on 'very good authority' that the hospitals in Canada were 'dirty' and many of the nurses wore burkas (sp).

I was fortunate to catch the pricelesslook on DW's face as she turned around to hide her surprise and her amusement. DW, as an RN, spent many years working in hospitals in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. I had been in the hospital several times and our late parents had hospital stays multiple time in British Columbia. We laughed about it later, both agreeing that the reason we did not comment is that it would have served no purpose. We still laugh about it.

Sadly, your story doesn't surprise me. Many Americans seem to enjoy putting down the way other countries operate. Can't stand to think anyone has figured out a better system than we have in the good old USofA.

I've seen this first hand when traveling overseas. When it's happened, I've always been tempted to say "Don't look at me, I'm Canadian".