NHS

[Low Key]

As a UK citizen, could I please clarify on something: I saw on the news an American girl say that she's seen loads of British people on the news all the time saying they've had to wait 6 weeks for doctors. She's a fucking liar, I've never had to wait that long and neither has anyone else I've ever known.

This plan isn't a bad thing, it's just that sadly a lot of Americans don't really understand what is being proposed.

I'm glad to read British citizens don't have to wait long to get treated. At least someone is out setting a good example. I know very little about the NHS (feel free to inform me), but I already see one major difference between the our two countries when it comes to illegal immigrants and the high possibility of abuse in that regard. If anything would cause long wait times and bad quality service, it would be that.

...And people like Octomom [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadya_Suleman]

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

As a UK citizen, could I please clarify on something: I saw on the news an American girl say that she's seen loads of British people on the news all the time saying they've had to wait 6 weeks for doctors. She's a fucking liar, I've never had to wait that long and neither has anyone else I've ever known.

This plan isn't a bad thing, it's just that sadly a lot of Americans don't really understand what is being proposed.

I'm glad to read British citizens don't have to wait long to get treated. At least someone is out setting a good example. I know very little about the NHS (feel free to inform me), but I already see one major difference between the our two countries when it comes to illegal immigrants and the high possibility of abuse in that regard. If anything would cause long wait times and bad quality service, it would be that.

...And people like Octomom [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadya_Suleman]

I'm not really sure how the American health system works...Ok, let's say for sake of example you were ill and you wanted to see a doctor, would it cost you anything and how long would it take?

 

[Low Key]

I'm not really sure how the American health system works...Ok, let's say for sake of example you were ill and you wanted to see a doctor, would it cost you anything and how long would it take?

To see the doctor simply for a check up, without insurance, would probably run me about $125. It's usually $10 with insurance. Lab work like blood tests, cholesterol/diabetes check, etc. will add another $200 without insurance and 100% covered with it.

It might take me between a day if someone cancels and a week to get in, depending on my schedule if I have work and can't make it to the clinic before it's closes for the day. That's for anyone, with insurance or not.

Anything more serious like a broken arm where I'd have to go to the hosptial, different from a clinic, and I'd need insurance or they'd turn me away. Unless it's an emergency, like if the paramedics were called, then I wouldn't need insurance, but I'd be screwed on the bill.

Edit: And for further information, if I were to try and get health insurance for myself right now, it would cost anywhere from $70-$150 a month, and I'm a 24 year old full time college student who smokes.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

I'm not really sure how the American health system works...Ok, let's say for sake of example you were ill and you wanted to see a doctor, would it cost you anything and how long would it take?

To see the doctor simply for a check up, without insurance, would probably run me about $125. It's usually $10 with insurance. Lab work like blood tests, cholesterol/diabetes check, etc. will add another $200 without insurance and 100% covered with it.

It might take me between a day if someone cancels and a week to get in, depending on my schedule if I have work and can't make it to the clinic before it's closes for the day. That's for anyone, with insurance or not.

Anything more serious like a broken arm where I'd have to go to the hosptial, different from a clinic, and I'd need insurance or they'd turn me away. Unless it's an emergency, like if the paramedics were called, then I wouldn't need insurance, but I'd be screwed on the bill.

Edit: And for further information, if I were to try and get health insurance for myself right now, it would cost anywhere from $70-$150 a month, and I'm a 24 year old full time college student who smokes.

Wow. I was not expecting that much. Well basically, under a national health service plan, you wouldn't pay anything. I mean, yes, you'd pay taxes for it, but nothing direct like that. For instance, I once has reason to think I had glandular fever, so I went to my doctors and I had to have a blood test but there was no fee afterwards. You just do it and go.

 

[high sandwich maker of lamuella]

I think the US is long overdue for public healthcare and, being from the UK, I've always been appalled at the idea of someone being refused treatment because they can't afford it. I see healthcare as a human right and wealth does not affect your entitlement to it.

 

[Hutchy_Bear]

I live in the UK and it is a good thing. I wonder what it would be like if the UK gov actually had money. I find it weird that countries don't have it. You don't pay for the police or firemans help so I find it weird that you have to pay for healthcare.