Frontline: LET'S ATTACK BRITAIN'S NHS!!

No more? How can you be so sure? Because it fits what you hope will happen?

In a perfect world there would be no such thing as the IRS or Insurance...ANY KIND.

in a perfect world j j would stop trolling.

thanks Grammar cop, you saved the day!!!

Well heart attacks have that much importance here.

What is the difference in waiting times between the two systems?

Do the clinics have days they are open and closed? Or they just open all the time.

So you pay in time...more so.

Right now if I were to see a doctor here in the USA it would cost me the rest of my life waiting, because I can't afford it.

There are free clinics that are essentially the exact same thing you'll be getting from those that are to be here via other people's tax money.

"So you pay in time...more so."

J_Jammer... Do you think our health care is that cheap or what? I did the math on my insurance. It will cost me over $340,000 for insurance for the rest of my life and that is making two giant assumptions. First... that I never have to go to the hospital because I have deductibles and an 80-20 copay if I do. Second... The current trend of health care costs doubling every ten years would have to stop immediately. As it stands I pay pretty much the same for insurance as I do for taxes. My taxes pay for schools, roads, military defense, and a whole lot more. What have I gotten for my insurance dollars? Very little. Besides, are you saying my taxes will double if this health care reform passes? I don't think so but even if it does I am OK with that knowing that everyone can get care.

Are you that anti government or are you defending a very broken system?

If someone makes 150$ an hour and they need a shot --- just a shot, and they have to wait 5 hours to get that shot, even though it is free, they have waisted 5 hours.

That's a cost of $750 for a single shot.

What I am stating is that no matter which system one gets...one is paying for it all the same. Either time wasted or money wasted.

I don't see how any system offered makes any improvements on anything that is already here.

I don't know what your situation is but I explained mine. Not only would government health care most likely cost me less but it could cover EVERYONE. How can that not be an improvement? The current system is very expensive for me. Provides me with mediocre coverage. And it leaves 40 million Americans uncovered. That means that the government (you and I) have to pick up their bill anyways. The ONLY winner in the current system is the insurance industry. But that stands to reason because they came up with the system. They let the government cover those over 65 because they require more medical care on average. They let the government cover those with preexisting conditions for the same reason. They let the government cover the poor because they cannot pay for insurance. Then the insurance industry fights tooth and nail to cover the rest of us because we can afford (barely) to pay them billions a year in administrative costs and we require the least care. Then, to top it all off, when we do get into a serious (expensive) medical situation they have their army of people looking for ways NOT to cover us anymore so they can dump the cost back on us. Honestly I do not see how a single payer could be worse. I can, however, see how they can make it worse if they continue down the path that they are on letting the GOP and insurance industry rewrite this bill to their liking. I have said it before and I will say it again. Single payer is the way to go if we want to save this country.

"If someone makes 150$ an hour and they need a shot --- just a shot, and they have to wait 5 hours to get that shot, even though it is free, they have waisted 5 hours."

Wait, what kind of shot is this? Is it a flu shot? Because I can make an appointment with my doctor or go to a walk in clinic to get that shot on my own time schedule. I don't have to wait in an emergency room in order to get it for free.

Is it a life saving shot? Then I would likely get it right away if I need it to save my life.

It might perhaps the the example you used, but I don't think it works in the context you mean.

I live in Canada, btw.

Tetanus shot.

Or one could be on a list to help with a blood flow problem that transfers to the other leg... instead of saving the patient's one leg they had to eventually cut both of because the patient had to wait so long to see a doctor about the problem---because of said list. Location Canada.

I just don't think there is a pretty happy ending for everyone no matter the system. Someone will always get screwed and it won't be pretty.

------

Chasingame,

Would it not be best to just have the same coverage as Congress and the President get?

I believe the tetanus shot is given prior to infection, correct? That would be easily obtained at your local GP's office.

As for the leg amputation issue, if a person's limbs are in danger for removal, that would certainly place them closer to first in the waiting line.

You're right, there will certainly be someone at a disadvantage in any system. However, the difference between Canada's system and the US system is that Canadian citizens have the option of seeing a doctor whenever they like to obtain prescriptions. Many US citizens do not have that option.

Sorry. If one stepped on a rusty nail they would then have to go get said shot. That is not considered an emergency.

That doctor for prescription is not always open.

And before I forget to mention, no one sends me an outrageous bill at the end of it all.

But you do waste time that you could be doing something else....seeing a movie, watching TV, sleeping comfortably, vacation...whatever..working to make money.

Unless you are paid to wait then that would make it much better than what we have here.

True, the doctor is not always available. But I still have the option of going another day. Or another. The essential point is that I have the choice.

Sorry I didn't quite understand about the tetanus shot... I'm not sure what kind of emergency, if any, it would be considered. I suppose it depends on the incubation rate of tetanus. Are you sure it's not an emergency though? The bacteria does cause paralysis, and I'd think that would be quite important to take care of asap.

I'm going to send you this video thing someone made about Canadian Health Care and then you can give me your view.

I'm not under any illusions that Health Care hear is great. I just don't see how it's going to be much better being like anyone elses. There are tons of problems with all systems. I may not be wasting thousands with someone else's health care but I will be wasting time and that's just like money.

I do not see how it is better. If it happens, it happens, doesn't mean I have to think it's great.

Well. I would be spending the time at a hospital or clinic, KNOWING that I'll be getting help instead of spending time at home WISHING for help.

IF America was the laughing stock then it would be similar to a third world country...say somewhere in Africa...

IF America was like somewhere in Africa in tents with little means to help people and the rest of the world was more like Norway with their (if I am not mistaken) number one health care (not UK or France or Canada--why are you not more like them?) then why is it that some of those Norwegians come to Africa for surgery?

Explain.

Who knew you'd make this so complicated.

Let me simply this for you.

IF Canada and UK are so great then why do people travel from there to America to get surgery? And I am NOT talking about boob jobs.

Hopefully you don't need it more clearer than that.

My worse experience was when my sister had a mild fever for several hours on a weekend. We went to the hospital and had to wait about 4-5 hours to see a doctor. She wasn't critical, so we didn't get treatment right away.

Worth it?

Definitely worth it. She saw a doctor, despite the time we had to wait, and she got better from it. I do realize however, that what happened to her was very lucky - it was only a mild affliction and one easily cured.

was it free?

If by free you mean "did you get a hefty bill afterward?" Then yes, it was free. We do pay through taxes, though.