Originally Posted by nun

It seems that doctors in the US are so scared of missing something that they make stupid recommendations either because of law suits or because they get paid more the more procedures and drugs the give out.

Originally Posted by sallysimmons

The more I have studied this issue, the more I think that private health insurance in a pure free market just can't work. The companies are not evil - they're just doing what they're supposed to do ... make money for their shareholders. I realize Americans will never go for 'socialized medicine' which is why, in the end, I think I'll wind up back in the UK. I just think this system is unsustainable and I don't want to grow old here.

Originally Posted by sallysimmons

Madness! In 2014 when that part of the new law kicks in, they won't be able to deny you. Nor will they be able to charge you more than other people. But hopefully by 2014 it won't matter to you because you'll be back in the good old UK getting free care. That's if Cameron has left the NHS intact of course (big if!)

Originally Posted by MaineLeedsbloke

I am hoping and praying that the US supreme Court finds the Obamacare "mandate" unconstitutional and throws out the whole law. I am amazed at the liberals who seem to have a misguided belief that the US government can run everything efficiently. The soon-to-be anniliated Democrats (god I can't wait until Nov 2nd!!!!!) whose arrogance and ignorance knows no bounds were so determined to pass any old cr*p that they forgot a very important point of "separation". I am extremely confident that the US Supreme Court will find the "mandate" unconstitutional but because the framers of this bill took 5 minutes to craft this pile of pooh, they forgot to separate this very controversial part of the bill from the rest of this stinking mess. What this means is when the US Supreme Court finds the mandate unconstitutional, the whole law has to be thrown out. Had they taken their time to write the bill properly, the mandate could have been thrown out without the whole law collapsing........but what would you expect from a bunch of sc*mbags who have stolen from our grandchildren to feed their liberal dreams.

Originally Posted by MaineLeedsbloke

I am hoping and praying that the US supreme Court finds the Obamacare "mandate" unconstitutional and throws out the whole law. I am amazed at the liberals who seem to have a misguided belief that the US government can run everything efficiently. The soon-to-be anniliated Democrats (god I can't wait until Nov 2nd!!!!!) whose arrogance and ignorance knows no bounds were so determined to pass any old cr*p that they forgot a very important point of "separation". I am extremely confident that the US Supreme Court will find the "mandate" unconstitutional but because the framers of this bill took 5 minutes to craft this pile of pooh, they forgot to separate this very controversial part of the bill from the rest of this stinking mess. What this means is when the US Supreme Court finds the mandate unconstitutional, the whole law has to be thrown out. Had they taken their time to write the bill properly, the mandate could have been thrown out without the whole law collapsing........but what would you expect from a bunch of sc*mbags who have stolen from our grandchildren to feed their liberal dreams.

Originally Posted by zargof

Bravo! Some impressive invective there. Just one question, how it the mandate unconstitutional?

Originally Posted by MaineLeedsbloke

Congress has the right under the Commerce clause to regulate and tax interstate economic activity whatever it is. However, the useless Democrats are trying to use this same clause to justify the mandate when there is no economic activity. You cannot tax or regulate an individual for doing nothing. If this is allowed to stand then the power of the federal government will be limitless something that the constitution is supposed to prevent.

Originally Posted by Giantaxe

Some differing views on its constitutionality and on whether if it isn't, the whole bill would be kicked out:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...thlegal24.html

Originally Posted by MaineLeedsbloke

First of all, I wouldn't trust a liberal newspaper anyway.

Originally Posted by MaineLeedsbloke

Secondly, the points I brought up were only discovered recently under the Virginia lawsuit.

Originally Posted by MaineLeedsbloke

Anything that he or his alter-ego VTLeedBloke posts

Originally Posted by EnglishmanInMICHIGAN

I am absolutely amazed I find myself sitting here in the UK, and about to share with you what I will.

I have lived in the USA since February 2006. My wife is American, and we have a gorgeous home on a beautiful remote Island in Michigan. Paradise just about sums it up.

Unfortunately I have returned to the UK under what can only be described as bitter sweet circumstances. Sweet because my 33 year old son just got married here in the UK on the 21st of August, but bitter because I must undergo spinal surgery before my ability to walk is gone.
Being a BRITISH citizen I fully expected to return home to the UK, go to my doctor with all my x-rays, MRI scans and full written documentation and reports from the orthopedic surgeons in the USA, and then be referred to an orthopedic surgeon.
Are you kidding me??????
I was staying temporarily with my father in Knutsford, so I did a temporary visitors registration, expecting no problems.
How wrong I was.
First doctors appointment....That will be £40:00 please.
I walk in and see the doctor as a PRIVATE patient, she dishes out the necessary pain killing prescription and I head off for the pharmacy. Pass the prescription to the pharmacists assistant. She takes it to the Pharmacist, who peeks round the corner at me like I was something from outer space. "What are these drugs for sir"?? Instantly I sense difficulty. I said..... Why the question please? The doctor just prescribed them for my spinal injury. "You realise these are a "Class A" drug don't you??
I replied.... Whether they are a class A or a class Z is totally irrelevant to me ma'am, they are the same drugs I had back in the USA and the same drug prescribed here by the doctor. I didn't realise that an inquisition was now part of having a prescription administered.
The pharmacist then said.... "Well the doctor has prescribed this on the wrong prescription form anyway, but when you come back with the correct prescription, that will be £130:48!!!
You have got to be kidding me!!!!

I knew that I still was registered with my old doctor in the North West of England so I quite simply phoned my old doctor to confirm that I was still registered and asked if they would transfer my medical records to my final destination in the south of England, once they had been requested by my new doctor.
NO PROBLEM SIR!!!
So..... I made an appointment with my new doctor in the south of England, registered, went and saw the doctor, had the prescription made out for the same class A drug, went to the pharmacy and had the exact same medication administered...(NO QUESTIONS ASKED).
I realised I was back in England folks.
So much red tape, hurdles to jump and oceans to swim to achieve the simplest of things.
Back at home in the USA, I have never gone through such garbage in all of my five years there, as I encountered in my first days back here in the UK.
What is absolutely amazing to me is this....... I could be an illegal immigrant in the UK, attend a doctor without fear of being asked to pay a dime, FREE PRESCRIPTIONS, hand outs galore from the Department of Health and Social Security, FREE HOUSING and all the allowances that go with it, and here I am as a BRITISH CITIZEN, having paid thousands of pounds into the National Health Care system and the Social Security system, and They have the audacity to ask me to PAY!!!!

I am so so glad that I have a home back in the USA, where I am treated BETTER as a British Citizen, than I am in my country of birth.
How sick is that little scenario folks.
I could go on with other events which have unfolded over the last three weeks, but that story of itself, is possibly enough to HELP PEOPLE RETHINK ABOUT RETURNING TO THE UK IF YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO.
My advice if you are in the USA and want to come home.... If you think the grass is greener in the UK folks, YOU ARE SERIOUSLY WRONG...... stay where you are, other than to come for a visit.
I am a former police officer / military police officer too in the UK, and it is the best thing I ever did leaving this hole. I cannot wait to be back home in the States with my darling wife and American family members.
How sad to think that this ONCE UPON A TIME amazing land, thinks more highly of total foreigners, than it does of its own people, who helped give this nation the foundation and structure it ONCE adhered to.
It should no longer be "God save our gracious Queen" but GOD SAVE THIS LAND!!!
Is already too late I ask myself.
EJH

Originally Posted by MaineLeedsbloke

Congress has the right under the Commerce clause to regulate and tax interstate economic activity whatever it is. However, the useless Democrats are trying to use this same clause to justify the mandate when there is no economic activity. You cannot tax or regulate an individual for doing nothing. If this is allowed to stand then the power of the federal government will be limitless something that the constitution is supposed to prevent.

Originally Posted by nun

YAWN......another Federalist. The theme of this thread is that 99% of us with experience of the US and UK health insurance schemes would choose the UK scheme because of it's universal coverage and simplicity. The US system delivers excellent care to those that can afford it and don't fall foul of insurance exclusions. However, it is amazingly inefficient, expensive and elitist and it's growing cost will require radical change. The UK system has problems with waiting lists, but it delivers better overall health care to everyone (life span is longer in the Uk than the US and the UK has fewer infant deaths) at half the per capita cost of the US system.