You're going to have a big shock if you think Medicare is free and anyway the NHS is free at the point of service as opposed to "free".

The rush to expensive tests without trying simpler things first is one of the very counterproductive things about healthcare in the US. Of course, it doesn't help that many doctors have ownership interests in the places that do the diagnostic tests... Most patients won't argue about the need for such tests, in fact many Americans seem to think the doctor is not doing his job correctly unless they're sent off immediately for them. I know I fell into this trap a couple of years ago when I was sent off for a PET scan that I subsequently believe was a very very longshot at discovering anything awry and should have been the last, not the first, option.

I wouldn't say it doesn't happen, but especially in a non-rural area, it's tough to convince your typical health insurance provider to stump up for home nursing care.

What I like about the French system is that your insurance benefits actually increase if you have a serious medical condition. Here in the US they can't wait to dump you in such circumstances. The French do a lot right in general too: better health outcomes than the US and UK, lower expenses than the US, and near universal coverage. The (somewhat similar) Swiss system also gets high marks in my book.

Private health insurance usually pay for a very limited number of visits per year (some as few as 10 others none at all) so the nurse has to make each visit count, and teach the family to do the care and learn all about the meds in a short amount of time. Including how to catheterize or do dressing changes, pack wounds, you name it. Some people are so squeamish about blood and bodies it's very difficult for them.
I did this job for many years, even Medicare limits how many home visits a person can receive in a fiscal year. Once you are out your out. If someone needs more than the allotted number it all has to be approved ahead of time and it's a lot of paperwork for the home health agency and the doctors. It takes time.
Medicare still costs money, if you qualify for medicare one part is free (part A hospital stays, if I remember right) then you pay for B (Doctor visits) and the prescription part. The prescription part is pretty new, before that they weren't covered and I used to go begging for samples from the doctors office when my elderly patients ran out of meds and the had too much month left at the end of their money, and couldn't afford food or meds.

Part A is only "free" in the sense that there are no premiums. There are still deductables and copayments:

For each benefit period you pay:

A total of $1,132 for a hospital stay of 1-60 days.
$283 per day for days 61-90 of a hospital stay.
$566 per day for days 91-150 of a hospital stay (Lifetime Reserve Days).
All costs for each day beyond 150 days

Exactly.
Plus here you can buy trip in an ambulance per year in advance. they print it in the local paper, 5 trips 10 trips or unlimited, of curse the price rises with the number you choose. Or take your chances and wait for the bill.

I was waiting for one for Ds, his swim coach called when he got sick during a swim meet, they pronounced him OK and left I never did see a bill so I think they only charge if they actually transport you.

If you pre-pay can you go on a trip even if you're not ill, just to get your monies worth and make 'Nee Naw' noises ?

Yes, I used the NHS as soon as I entered the UK. I registered with a local GP and (as a breast cancer survivor) had a free mammogram not long afterwards. I take a daily tablet for which I pay £7.something/month via the NHS. Under my US healthcare plan (provided by my employer, minimum contribution on my part) my tablets cost me £30/month and I was given 2 free mammograms a year.

Let me clarify ... I agree that the American healthcare system is for the most part badly in need of reform. But the healthcare per se that I received in America was superior to what I've had and seen here. I'm sorry if this bothers some of you but it's the truth. Sure, I had to pay for [a portion of] it, but this is where I'm coming from when I speak about the NHS. I think it's absolutely wonderful that over here it's free. I have three adult children who work, but one of them does not have health insurance. I know firsthand the pain she has to endure at times because she does not have healthcare. I hate it.

Btw, I did not use welfare (and I don't understand what that has to do with this conversation). My husband (who is British) claimed contributions-based job seekers for a few months until he found work. His monetary determination was based on him, not me - I wasn't eligible as I was not a UK resident. However, the way the system works over here when you are married is that I still had to sign-on every week and look for work (which I was, of course, doing anyway), although I could not receive compensation.

And no, you do not have to be working in the US to get healthcare. There are free clinics, there are organizations that will cover payment of medical fees for indigent people, and - unfortunately - anyone can take their malais to the Emergency Room of any hospital and they cannot be turned away. They'll be billed for it, and that's a whole other conversation that I don't want to get into. Like I said, the American healthcare system is - for the most part - .

Sally, did you watch it? If you did you'd know what I'm talking about.

My mistake, I meant to say anti-Obama speak.

Watch the programme.

It simply actually can and does happen in the US. You can't generalise like that. There is some absolutely wonderful, excellent healthcare happening in the US. And there are still plenty of doctors (especially small, hometown doctors) who still make house calls.

I'm still trying to get DH to see the NHS under a new light. He is so strong on his opinion and I don't understand why. He can't really compare the two without having experienced the other side. At least I have been brought up under the NHS and have knowledge of the US system.

At the end of the day I'm looking at it from a new Mother's perspective. Do I want to be broke paying out the earth for premiums that don't even cover 100% medical coverage. And then there's the whole yearly and lifetime maximum benefit amount. I mean come on how can you put a maximum amount on your health. Ridiculous!

According to this article, doctors in Britain make ten times the rate of house calls as do US doctors:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...032301745.html