Englishman43

Maybe it's not a fountain but one of those fancy " Birthing baths".

cliff1961

I know what i think of the US Health care & UK NHS but there may be 1000's out there who do not know and wish to know the difference of both.
Ian..... Have Feelings for others!

hoofie2002

The biggest single difference is....cost. More or less all treatment under the NHS in a hospital, gp or outpatient clinic costs zero - zip - nothing. The only thing you pay for is medication from a chemist [fixed price for anything]. There are minor exceptions to this rule [fertility treatment is often one] but that is more of less it.

Yes it is a 'socialist' system but just about every single person in the UK; left or right-wing would consider it one of the best things that ever happened. You hear stories of people in the US bankrupted by medical bills; people having to choose which finger to keep and other horror stories.

One other fundamental difference; in the UK doctors/surgeons are primarily employed by the N.H.S. or sell their services full time. Private work is not their primary income - "NHS for their mortgage; private for their Porsche".

It is by no means perfect; the cost pressures are huge and the repeated screwing around by all recent goverments of the management structure has caused huge damage - but it still works.

cliff1961

I totally agree!

The US health Care is more interested making profits rather than caring for a patient, we are only a number to them.


For what you pay for US Health insurance coverage can be OK through your Employer, on one concern what the health Insurance gives you and what you need is entirely different.
If you get what you are paying for thats ok!

BUT 1000's DO NOT!

dunroving

Actually, even prescriptions are free in Wales and Scotland, and in England if you have multiple medications, you can get a fixed-price certificate to cover all medications - I think it is about £29 for 3 months and about £100 for a year - that's about what I would pay for a couple of months' hayfever medication in the States - and that was a co-pay! (i.e., I had health insurance).

dunroving

Mate, I think the reason people are getting shirty with you is that you say you want opinions, and then when people give them, you shout back telling them how wrong they are.

Lay off the full caps and let people have their opinions and you might get to learn about what other people actually think.

ian-mstm

I agree... but that's not what you asked for.

Ian

Xebedee

All arguments about moral right or wrong, fairness and politics are just that - arguments and won't change anything here.
Its also my considered opinion that the corporations in the US have cleverly brainwashed the public, bought the key decision-makers (Washington) and entrenched themselves so much into the economy that it'll take a very slow and incremental change before they relinquish control. I expect they'll fight it every step as well.

Yeah, all that sounds nice, but I see the US medical business as no different from taking your car to the garage. Pure money-maker and unfortunately for the poor here, it just sucks more and more each year.

Duncan Roberts

Here's a question, what do you actually know about the UK or US system and how they work? I mean actual facts, not opinion or what you think.

Rete

US Medical Care can be #1 IMHO with the exception that it is more than helpful to have good healthcare insurance. While I've only been to the ER in Canada, I have to say that the treatment I've received in US ER's is excellent while Canada's sucked big time.

Here in the US you can be bankrupted by a health issue, even with medical insurance. So which is better? The one that offers care without fear of not being able to pay for the care or the one that requires payment? If that is the only criteria one is going by, then the UK is the best.

There is a difference between medical care which is the care provided by doctors, nurses, technicians and healthcare which is usually thought of as medical INSURANCE. I'm assuming you are asking about medical care.

Rete

That statement is so one-sided and unfair. I have had two physicians who have cared more about my health then cost and to them I am far then just a number.

You have a prejudice for whatever reason and are using this thread to serve your own purpose without allowing others to express their disagreement with yours.

Are the thousands you are concerned about Brits? or are they all people? If you are this disenchanted with the US medical system and the US healthcare system, may I offer you a ride to the airport?

ian-mstm

He's upset because his wife has scleroderma... so 1) he blames the US health care system for not diagnosing her sooner, and 2) he blames the US health insurance companies for denying her treatment as it's a pre-existing condition.

He earlier claimed that she was dying because of "crooks and incompetents". I tried to point out that she'd have the disease whether or not the US health care system or insurance companies existed.

He is so consumed by hatred for these systems that he sees only his side of things. He can't allow that there is another side and that people might prefer that.

I'm just guessing about all this, of course... because he's pretty much told me that I know nothing about anything.

Ian

Rete

There is an answer for him and his fortunately. Leave the US and return to the UK and get the medical care that she needs.

Also I am very close to an expat who had cancer and didn't have healthcare and was only a PR. Not eligible for medicare or medicaid (officially) the system found a way to get the medical care needed with a top specialist at no cost to her.

cliff1961

How the UK or US system works and how you are treated is entirely different.
What you need and what you get is entirely different.
My points of view are going by Experience not imagination.

"IAN" my experiences just do not include the fact that my Fiance' has Hepatitis C, my experiences include far more related issues than her alone.
They will include herself, her & my friends and her family in US.

there are good doctors and bad doctors every where, but if you fall in the hands of a BAD doctor you will pay for it!
Here is one story of my experiences, NOT IMAGINATIONS!


Family member in US


How would you like the fact of being in good health all your life paying your health insurance for approx 50 years had very little attention from hospitals in this period of time, you have now reached the age of 70 and had a STROKE! this has just happened to a member of family in US.

Now your health insurance company offers you one week in hospital and one week in rehabilitation! by the end of two weeks you cannot talk, walk or care for yourself you have to sell your property and business just to keep you in a residential home?

You require several weeks in rehabilitation in which to have therapy to get over the stroke in which to possibly care for yourself.
Imagine all the Health insurance premium paid for 50 years when the time comes that you need it, many do not get it!
What you need and what you get from US health insurance is entirely different.


Family Member in UK

I have an uncle who suffered a stroke 4 years ago in the UK lucky enough i saved his life knowing there was something wrong due to his daily routines alerted his sister and had to burst in the door and found him on the floor full of carpet burns suffering a stroke!

He received 3 weeks in hospital and 8 weeks in rehabilitation having exercises and a special machine to help him bring back his speach, after 6 weeks it came back but will never speak so sharply or walk so steady again but at least he is capable of taking care of himself at the age of 76.

Duncan Roberts

So you are basing your entire view of systems that treat millions of people each day and is extremely varied and complicated off your own personal experiences? If I do the same, the US system hands down beats the NHS one for speed, access, treatment, quality of care and options.