@ JACKIE and OWIE If Americans can’t afford it, they die anyway, don’t they? Plus the United States has waiting lists for specialty care, too. Canadians rarely come to the United States for health care. Less than 1 percent of Canada’s health budget goes to paying for care Canadians get in the United States. Canada’s waiting-list problem stems largely from underfunding, which I’m sure they corrected now. Waiting times would likely be no longer in the United States than they are now, because we spend much more than other countries do on health care and still have many more specialists and capacity.
Wow, a lot of ignorance today. Bottom line: the biggest obstacle to effective healthcare in this country is the insurance industry. (cf. the Catholic Healthcare Association.) Americans pay more for their healthcare than anyone else in the world by a substantial margin — 50% more than the second-highest — and yet we don’t cover a huge percentage of our citizens, satisfaction ratings are low, and we are ranked only 28th in the world on healthcare. That’s a bad cost-benefit ratio by any standard.Insurance companies have inserted themselves between doctors and patients so that we use unnecessary evaluations in some cases and block expensive ones on the other; doctor visits have been reduced to utterly ridiculous times (fifteen minutes), women who have given birth are kicked out of the hospital within 48 hours.Going to the emergency room (a Rush statement) will not address chronic problems, nor long-term treatment issues. You don’t get dialysis in the emergency room, nor long-term chemo, nor an ongoing observation of the person over time. But early detection of issues like those GREATLY increase the chances of survival, as well as the ability to eliminate problems early and in a less costly manner.There have been a number of highly effective solutions, which have been thoroughly stomped upon by the GOP, the insurance industry, and most of the right-wing posters on this list. Our healthcare system sucks. There are at least three major ways to make it substantially better AND cheaper to run, but all have been rejected by the lackeys of the insurance industry or those deluded into thinking that business is burdened by this. The Wall Street Journal said in an editorial that they favored universal healthcare because it costs businesses too much today. The so-called “Obama” plan is a Romney plan touted by the GOP until Obama reluctantly accepted it, it gives MORE money to the insurance industry, and completely dodges some of the fundamental problems.
All good points Motivemagus. I have read that insurance companies add about 30% to American health care costs and, of course, add nothing to health care except more bureaucracy. My experience with the Canadian health care system is that wait times for critical treatments are minimal. Wait times for elective treatments such as hip replacement could be a year, but most find that acceptable because there is no cost other than what has already been paid through taxes. Canadian health care costs are about 30% to 50% less than American, coverage is universal, and on average our life expectancy is higher. No health care system can be perfect since we all die eventually, but the Canadians I know are very satisfied with our system, and find the American resistance to meaningful changes very puzzling.
Part of the problem, a large part, is that Americans have been convinced BY INSURANCE COMPANIES, that they need an MRI to treat the common cold, and doctors are required by fear of tort (malpractice) to “give the patient what they want”. Many “diagnostic” tests really aren’t medically required, but “insurance” companies are more devoted to insuring their profits, than health. BTW, getting to see my “regular doctor” on my insurance typically takes longer than seeing my very much under-funded VA source- and at VA, my medications don’t cost $5.60 per pill- which pharmaceutical companies can charge for a $0.04 pill, under Medicare, because REPUBLICANS wrote in “no bid” rules- totally stupid, and typical.
Howie, as usual, you’re wrong on the facts. Anyone can show up at the emergency room and get critical care in an emergency. Nothing else, and they’ll send you right back onto the street as soon as the emergency is stabilized, with no follow up care (until it becomes an emergency again). It’s a right-wing talking point, and it’s false. For a country that loudly claims to be “Under God,” we are the worst in the civilized world at taking care of the poor and the sick. It’s shameful, and the Republicans solution is to privatize care for the elderly as well.
@s – I observe you don’t dare to counter MY post, do you?@Radish, I hope you were kidding about the MRI being radioactive. MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and uses magnetism and radio waves. It’s far safer than X-rays, which is one reason why doctors want to use it apart from the great images.
alan.gurka over 12 years ago
Slowly turning us all into zombies. Sadly, the pols in DC are safe since zombies only want brains.
grapfhics over 12 years ago
Everyone knows lowering costs will improve your bottom line, except the healthcare industry. They keep lowering services.
grayhares01 over 12 years ago
Right because the 4 month wait for an MRI in Canada or England is SO much better…
d_legendary1 over 12 years ago
@ JACKIE and OWIE If Americans can’t afford it, they die anyway, don’t they? Plus the United States has waiting lists for specialty care, too. Canadians rarely come to the United States for health care. Less than 1 percent of Canada’s health budget goes to paying for care Canadians get in the United States. Canada’s waiting-list problem stems largely from underfunding, which I’m sure they corrected now. Waiting times would likely be no longer in the United States than they are now, because we spend much more than other countries do on health care and still have many more specialists and capacity.
d_legendary1 over 12 years ago
As a matter of fact I have an appointment with a liver doctor at the end of next month!!!! Tell me our health care system doesn’t suck.
Motivemagus over 12 years ago
Wow, a lot of ignorance today. Bottom line: the biggest obstacle to effective healthcare in this country is the insurance industry. (cf. the Catholic Healthcare Association.) Americans pay more for their healthcare than anyone else in the world by a substantial margin — 50% more than the second-highest — and yet we don’t cover a huge percentage of our citizens, satisfaction ratings are low, and we are ranked only 28th in the world on healthcare. That’s a bad cost-benefit ratio by any standard.Insurance companies have inserted themselves between doctors and patients so that we use unnecessary evaluations in some cases and block expensive ones on the other; doctor visits have been reduced to utterly ridiculous times (fifteen minutes), women who have given birth are kicked out of the hospital within 48 hours.Going to the emergency room (a Rush statement) will not address chronic problems, nor long-term treatment issues. You don’t get dialysis in the emergency room, nor long-term chemo, nor an ongoing observation of the person over time. But early detection of issues like those GREATLY increase the chances of survival, as well as the ability to eliminate problems early and in a less costly manner.There have been a number of highly effective solutions, which have been thoroughly stomped upon by the GOP, the insurance industry, and most of the right-wing posters on this list. Our healthcare system sucks. There are at least three major ways to make it substantially better AND cheaper to run, but all have been rejected by the lackeys of the insurance industry or those deluded into thinking that business is burdened by this. The Wall Street Journal said in an editorial that they favored universal healthcare because it costs businesses too much today. The so-called “Obama” plan is a Romney plan touted by the GOP until Obama reluctantly accepted it, it gives MORE money to the insurance industry, and completely dodges some of the fundamental problems.
Gypsy8 over 12 years ago
All good points Motivemagus. I have read that insurance companies add about 30% to American health care costs and, of course, add nothing to health care except more bureaucracy. My experience with the Canadian health care system is that wait times for critical treatments are minimal. Wait times for elective treatments such as hip replacement could be a year, but most find that acceptable because there is no cost other than what has already been paid through taxes. Canadian health care costs are about 30% to 50% less than American, coverage is universal, and on average our life expectancy is higher. No health care system can be perfect since we all die eventually, but the Canadians I know are very satisfied with our system, and find the American resistance to meaningful changes very puzzling.
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
Part of the problem, a large part, is that Americans have been convinced BY INSURANCE COMPANIES, that they need an MRI to treat the common cold, and doctors are required by fear of tort (malpractice) to “give the patient what they want”. Many “diagnostic” tests really aren’t medically required, but “insurance” companies are more devoted to insuring their profits, than health. BTW, getting to see my “regular doctor” on my insurance typically takes longer than seeing my very much under-funded VA source- and at VA, my medications don’t cost $5.60 per pill- which pharmaceutical companies can charge for a $0.04 pill, under Medicare, because REPUBLICANS wrote in “no bid” rules- totally stupid, and typical.
Noveltman over 12 years ago
Doctors want single-payer. Insurance CEOs want anything but single-payer. That should tell us all something.
ARodney over 12 years ago
Howie, as usual, you’re wrong on the facts. Anyone can show up at the emergency room and get critical care in an emergency. Nothing else, and they’ll send you right back onto the street as soon as the emergency is stabilized, with no follow up care (until it becomes an emergency again). It’s a right-wing talking point, and it’s false. For a country that loudly claims to be “Under God,” we are the worst in the civilized world at taking care of the poor and the sick. It’s shameful, and the Republicans solution is to privatize care for the elderly as well.
Gypsy8 over 12 years ago
@ sI’m reluctant to judge someone I don’t know, but basis your posts s, you must be a very stupid person.
doc white over 12 years ago
my married daughter did and got an mri.
Motivemagus over 12 years ago
@s – I observe you don’t dare to counter MY post, do you?@Radish, I hope you were kidding about the MRI being radioactive. MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and uses magnetism and radio waves. It’s far safer than X-rays, which is one reason why doctors want to use it apart from the great images.