USA health system... umm... what the hell?!

[AngryFrenchCanadian]

USA health system... umm... what the hell?!

It's more like "USA... umm... what the hell?!"

It's not just its health system, its the USA in its entirety that is "WTF?!"

 

[Callate]

We pay more for healthcare to achieve statistically fewer positive medical outcomes. We produce tons of high-paid specialists and a shortage of general practitioners and nurses. We have highly paid lobbyists who demonize any attempt to make sure anyone can see a doctor, and tons of credulous idiots who believe them when they're told it will be more expensive than and worse than what they have now, and that it will mean allowing government bureaucrats to decide when their parents and grandparents die. Idiots who are willing to yell down anyone trying to explain how they're misinformed using words of more than one syllable that can't be organized into a punchy chant.

It's not as bad as you think... In many ways, it's worse.

But, hey... At least we have M-rated games! Ha ha... (*groan*)

 

[scott91575]

The healthcare system in the united states is Bull. Shit. Period.

Health care is a business.

Socrates once said (or perhaps Plato) that if you wanted to have a chariot built, you'd go to a chariot maker. If you wanted to get a bone fixed, you'd go to a doctor etc. The point being that these people/practices exist to fill a need in society.

Now we're back to health care is a business.

Health care, being a business as it is, does not exist to fix people. It exists to make money. That's why businesses exist. Insurance companies don't give a shit about people and making them healthy. They care about their bottom line and making it healthy. This is why they have people (seriously, wish I was kidding but fuck I'm not) who scour patient claims for reasons to deny coverage through loop holes or their own jargon'd contracts/health plans. It's bullshit, plain and simple. It's existence for the wrong reason. It's damaging and destructive. And the people behind it don't give a shit. They have money to act as a salve for their wounds.

In closing, someone asked me once (as a diabetic from age 10 - healthy btw and looking to stay that way but finding insurance for the cost is... difficult) how I thought insurance company execs sleep at night.
My response: Quite heavenly, I imagine. *sullen pause*
They probably lie their heads on pillows stuffed with angel-soft down clipped from the wings of patients they've slain, whose familes had to watch as their bodies swung suspended with loopholes around their necks like nooses.

So, you think every industry that makes money is poorly ran and the government should do it? I mean, obviously, anything ran by the government is done well.

Think about this. Canada and the US have very similar economies except socialized healthcare. Canada flips the bill for 70% of it's healthcare, the US 50% (elderly people in the US do have government health care). Canada spends 5% more of their GPD than the US. 5% of their GDP for 20% more spending on health care. On top of that, I have worked with Canadians for years (in Detroit, which attracts many people from Windsor). All of them would rather go to a US hospital or see a US doctor.

Privatization is not a bad thing. There simply needs to be some more regulation and coverage for people on the lower end of the scale. Overall the health care for the insured in the US is some of the best in the world, and innovation is pretty much second to none. There does need to be issues cleared up on the low end, and pre existing conditions/denial of coverage needs to be eliminated. Yet the idea that companies out to make money is a bad thing is a horrible, horrible idea proven to be inefficient. Honestly, since this is a video game site, how well to you think your government would do in making video games? Privatized health care drives a ton of innovation. 6 of the top 12 (including the top 2) pharmaceutical companies are American. Even pharmaceutical companies outside of the US are driven by competition in the US market. Without the US healthcare market, many of the innovations you know and benefit from would never exist. A substantial amount of the top specialized hospitals in the world are in the US. There are some great things about privatized business, including innovation and streamlined businesses.

Just match up a business ran by any government where they have to compete vs. the private sector. They always lose unless heavily propped up by tax money giving them a competitive advantage.

Capitalism is not a bad thing, even in health care. There simply needs to be some checks added in so there is care for all. The problem we are facing in the US is determining that care, and who pays for it. Yes, the current system is broken, yet full scale socialist medicine funded by the government is not the answer.

 

[Mr. 47]

Proud to be Canadian. Free health care! ^.^

I view the american health care system as some sort of legal blackmail. (*activates flame shield*) Think about it. You are dying, you need help. Give this guy several thousand dollars, and you can live. You can't get it, you die. Pay or Die. It's as simple as that.

Slightly OT: What happens if your injury leaves you unable to communicate, with no family or friends you can give out your health care info, and no identification? Do they just hope that you have the money, or just let you die? Never quite understood that.

 

[Razzigyrl]

I can honestly say my favourite thing about living in the U.K. is our N.H.S. I am twenty two, have nearly every tooth in my head filled, have a half crown and two extractions, and I never paid a penny. I have terrible eyesight, and I have glasses, but the only thing I needed to pay for were frames. The lens, appointments, etc. were absolutely and gloriously free. I have been to the hospital several times, for stitches in various parts of my body (mainly my head) and never had to pay a thing. I have never broken a bone, but if I did, guess what? I wouldn't have to pay a thing. I am just now finishing my education, so some of the more specialist things I may have to pay for in the future, but for now, Mister NHS and I have had a wonderful relationship.

My word, I'm filled with jealousy. I'm an american, and currently uninsured. To get an insurance plan that's not a shop plan (through a job that actually gets such health benefits) would likely cost me around $200+ per month for the minimum, least-likely-to-help plan. Those don't include anything for dental or vision care usually, and I've been too afraid to look up a plan for dental care. The only way people in the US can get the care you describe is to jump through hoops and fill out massive amounts of paperwork, then hope very hard, or get in legal trouble and find themselves in the prison system. (Because prisoners getting less-than-adequate care is considered cruel and unusual or some such.) There have actually been stories in Yahoo News about people getting themselves arrested for just that purpose, and it scares me that we have to go to such extremes just to get any help.

Apparently 'Obamacare' is supposed to help, but it's not going to kick in until 2014, and that's if the politicians leave it be. I'm so sick of this corporation-funded fearmongering against any kind of help for those who are less than filthy rich. I would absolutely love to get the health care I need without spending time in prison.

 

[Jakub324]

There has to be problem with a system like that. I live in the UK where you only have to wait weeks for an exam, but at least you don't have to cough too much up, if any.

 

[Ghengis John]

BUT COMMUNISM AND COMMUNISM IS BAD BECAUSE TERRORISM AND NAZIS AND FREE SPEECH

Your response here. This is about what this thread requires. It is also win.

See my response here, number: 180?

That guy is going to take one look at it. Furrow his brow. Huff, turn around then go "damn guvernment!".

 

[Jegsimmons]

Don't judge an entire system on one event.
Quite frankly, I'm not very happy about our system. But not because I support government health care. I don't. I'm unhappy because of all the restrictions put on insurance companies and hospitals so it cost an arm and a leg To do anything.

And yet the English NHS is considered the most efficient health system on the planet. So why don't you want support for this stuff. People pay not nearly as much in taxes as you do in insurance. And don't for one second think its legislation that makes treatment in your country cost a ton. Healthcare over there costs a ton because the insurance companies want to make money of your health and they have enough money pumped into Washington to allow them to charge however much they like.

Also this can be used to judge the system because of how casual people were about it till people with a real health system started wondering WTF America. Because no one batted an eyelid at the health company it can be guessed that it is not a rare occurrence.

The poor of America (about 50 million people) get the delightful choice between eating or having insurance. Seriously why have you guys not sorted this thing out already.

i assume you dont live in america....but i digress. irrelevance.

heres the deal...i couldn't give a shit about england's health care...that's england not america. argue all you want that two different cultures and two different nations.
insurance wouldnt be so fucking expensive if they would release restrictions on the companies, you may not know this but i can't purchase insurance from outside of my state. so what happens? you start getting monopolies in individual state because you eliminated the possibility of competition. If you allow competition you cause the insurance companies to lower prices and up benefits to attract consumers and employees. thus more people will be able to get health insurance. And not just that either, you give medical school and student tax breaks and more benefits to make going to medical school easier and less stressful it will be easier to not only get doctors that know their craft but in the long run and can decrease prices.(thats just one area, there are a ton the government could assist such as medical research and what not). argue all you want, health care is in fact not a god given right. it never was. and neither is it a right granted by the US government (thank god because they can barely run the fucking post office and balance a budget)
yes universal health care is a nice idea...but why should it be government ran? why can't the government help the private sectors to make health care more affordable with out makeing cuts (after all they are to HELP the private sector and keep up competition, not BE the competition.)

(p.s. poverty in america is determined by your yearly income, not what you can afford...so..yeah saying 50 million people are poor is...iffy...and its not 50 million)

 

[scott91575]

There has to be problem with a system like that. I live in the UK where you only have to wait weeks for an exam, but at least you don't have to cough too much up, if any.

Same is true in the US, well, except I can normally see my family doctor in a day or two or go get same day examination from urgent care. With insurance, I pay little to nothing. I had to have surgery, and I was in within a few days after examination from a surgeon (which again, took maybe a day or two from being recommended by my primary care physician).

The problem is people without health care insurance. As I stated, there is a happy medium that allows for innovation, a stream lined business model without the usual government waste, and coverage for lower end people. This is pretty much what everyone in the government agrees upon. The problem is how to implement it, and sadly there is so much bickering between the parties it is tough to do. In the mean time we are stuck with the current system, which admittedly is broken.

 

[WallyWombat]

I find it funny how so many people criticize the United States, when their own countries have big problems as well. The UK has a terrible education system much like that of the southern US. Australia's educated population is vanishing, I was there last summer and people there barely know much other than stereotypes. But yes the American health care system is pretty bad.

 

[Chefodeath]

If they don't want to do it, then they shouldn't have to. If Americans want to gamble with their health if it means it might save them a bit of money, then that's their choice to make. People like to go on about how the poor are pretty much fucked. Thats very sad and all, but I don't see why the tax payer is obligated to fix it. The entire idea that they are goes against American values.

 

[BoTTeNBReKeR]

Living in Belgium, I've had over 12 medical procedures to my legs in the past 18 years. So, I'm completely horrified by the US Healthcare (if you can even call it that).

 

[Canid117]

I love it when threads like this pop up. I love watching people attack my country in its entirety for one issue or another so that they can feel edgy. Good times.

But yes healthcare needs reform and it is getting it. Sadly the bill doesn't go into affect for a while. Not entirely sure why.

 

[scott91575]

Proud to be Canadian. Free health care! ^.^

I view the american health care system as some sort of legal blackmail. (*activates flame shield*) Think about it. You are dying, you need help. Give this guy several thousand dollars, and you can live. You can't get it, you die. Pay or Die. It's as simple as that.

Slightly OT: What happens if your injury leaves you unable to communicate, with no family or friends you can give out your health care info, and no identification? Do they just hope that you have the money, or just let you die? Never quite understood that.

All hospitals have care for uninsured for life threatening illness. Of course the biggest issue is the long waits, and yes, you could die in the mean time.

For emergency care, they do not turn you away. You do need to provide financial information after you are treated, and if you are above the minimum (I think it's $12,000 a year) they will pro rate cost up to the full cost (I think it's somewhere around $40,000+ income in the last year will require full payment).

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Yeah, I know. We should have upgraded to the European system by now. I mean, regenerating health is some much better, but they still insist on keeping us dependent on health packs when we lose some HP.

 

[roflmecopter]

america the land where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer the poor babies starve and the rich babies sit fat in golden cribs. But hey atleast theres no evil red commies!

 

[Duskflamer]

I love it when threads like this pop up. I love watching people attack my country in its entirety for one issue or another so that they can feel edgy. Good times.

Eh, for better or worse entire countries tend to be judged by the actions of their government, and we did elect the people in charge. In the end, I highly doubt that everyone in Nazi Germany wanted to wage war with the rest of the world, but guess what they're remembered for?