Impeding changes to our Health Care system

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by DanaC

The NHS provides a damn good service in Britain. There are gaps, yes, but there are gaps in your system too. Personally, I'd say it is a model of success for all but a very few unlucky people.

All I am saying is that our systems are bloated and inefficient and maybe if they were the size of yours they would not be so. There are way to many factors in the US system of delivery that most other contries do not have to contend with and mainly that is the outside influence of business interests, private organizations, professional organizations, drug companies, etc. And to take some small countries plans and to try to adopt it in the US would make it be doomed to failure. We need to figure it out, but we do not need to rush it and all the details need to be spelled out before the plan is implemented.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

And to take some small countries plans and to try to adopt it in the US would make it be doomed to failure. We need to figure it out, but we do not need to rush it and all the details need to be spelled out before the plan is implemented.

I hope we get the details figured out. Our system is a complete joke.

NATION: United Kingdom
SERVICE: National Health Service (NHS)
MODEL: socialized medicine
HOW IT WORKS: All hospitals are government-owned. All doctors are government employees. Every citizen is guaranteed a basic level of healthcare. Private insurance exists to cover any gaps in the government system.
AMERICAN COUNTERPART: Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
COST: 40% as expensive as American system

NATION: Canada
SERVICE: Medicare
MODEL: single-payer system
HOW IT WORKS: Most doctors and hospitals are in the private sector. All medical bills are payed by the government. Every citizen is guaranteed a basic level of healthcare. Private insurance exists to cover any gaps in the government system.
AMERICAN COUNTERPART: Medicare (limited to age 65+)
COST: 33% as expensive as American system

NATION: Switzerland
SERVICE: private health co-ops
HOW IT WORKS: Insurance is all private, but regulation and subsidies ensure everyone receives fair and affordable coverage.
AMERICAN COUNTERPART: None, yet.
COST: 67% as expensive as American system

NATION: United States
SERVICE: private insurance
HOW IT WORKS: Insurance is expensive and tied to your employer, who takes it out of your salary. Individual insurance is just as bad, or worse. Having insurance doesn't guarantee coverage, as the profit-driven insurers have financial incentive to disqualify you from coverage if you get sick or injured so they don't have to pay for your care. Tens of millions don't have any insurance at all.
AMERICAN COUNTERPART: n/a
COST: Most expensive system on Earth.