Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
Yep true, and most developed countries do offer such similar treatment. The difference in this case though is that the treatment options / technology is, it would appear from the anecdotal evidence of the various BC boards I am active on, more advanced. The problem as always seems to be the case with medical care in the USA (and what imo makes the system more barbarically cruel for those reliant upon it) is that they have the technology and expertise to treat so many conditions and yet many are denied access to it because they simply can't afford it
#32
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
Unless you lived in a UK Health Authority which decided that treatment was too expensive and they wouldn't provide it.
#33
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
Aha just got a nice phone call from the head of customer service of the hospital (yeah I know the patients are customers) saying she just got the letter I sent about filing an appeal on the claim.
It seems there is a known issue that they have filing claims with out of state BCBS. It would have been nice of someone to admit that before I spent days making a dozen phone calls and finally filing an appeal.
It seems there is a known issue that they have filing claims with out of state BCBS. It would have been nice of someone to admit that before I spent days making a dozen phone calls and finally filing an appeal.
#35
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
And also because it's not available. This is one of the problems highlighted with the Affordable Care Act, if everyone actually did have insurance there wouldn't be enough facilities and staff. Various places such as the suburbs of Phoenix and various cities in California such as Riverside already have critical shortages, I read.
It's not just a case of, if you can afford it, it's great. The actual limitation of access is what makes it good for those who can get access. If everyone had access, there wouldn't be enough to go around.
It's not just a case of, if you can afford it, it's great. The actual limitation of access is what makes it good for those who can get access. If everyone had access, there wouldn't be enough to go around.
#37
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
And also because it's not available. This is one of the problems highlighted with the Affordable Care Act, if everyone actually did have insurance there wouldn't be enough facilities and staff. Various places such as the suburbs of Phoenix and various cities in California such as Riverside already have critical shortages, I read.
It's not just a case of, if you can afford it, it's great. The actual limitation of access is what makes it good for those who can get access. If everyone had access, there wouldn't be enough to go around.
It's not just a case of, if you can afford it, it's great. The actual limitation of access is what makes it good for those who can get access. If everyone had access, there wouldn't be enough to go around.
Overall it makes for quite a depressing picture.
#38
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 572
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
The quality of care my family and I have received from nurses, doctors, and hospitals, or Regional Medical Centers as they now seem to be called has generally been very good. The system itself is pathetic, and seems designed to be for the benefit of insurance companies and drug manufacturers. In the 1980s, when all of our girls were still at home, we just had small copays, since the rest was covered by company health insurance. It seems that it all started going wrong in the late 1980s, when HMOs appeared on the scene, and we were all fooled by the glowing sales pitch.
I am a fiscal conservative, but to me it is totally wrong that, there are people in this country who do not have access to affordable health care, and prescription drugs, and even worse that some have been driven to bankrupty because of health costs. When Republicans call me for donations to overturn Obamacare, I tell them when you come up with an affordable viable alternative, I might listen, but until then, don't waste my time.
I am a fiscal conservative, but to me it is totally wrong that, there are people in this country who do not have access to affordable health care, and prescription drugs, and even worse that some have been driven to bankrupty because of health costs. When Republicans call me for donations to overturn Obamacare, I tell them when you come up with an affordable viable alternative, I might listen, but until then, don't waste my time.
#39
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 32
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
If the job provides health benefits and dental benefits, do I need to worry about getting my own insurance or is that covered?
Thanks!
Thanks!
#41
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
If you get insurance through an employer, then it may be good, or it may not be.
If you buy insurance independently, then the odds are good that it will be lousy. It costs more yet provides less, simultaneously.
The good news is that if you have a pre-existing condition and you don't have employer-based coverage, then your insurance costs will be low because nobody will sell it to you.
The cheaper policies often don't cover much. They're fine if you don't need very much, but acquire a chronic condition and you'll find that your cost exposure is still extremely high. People who have such insurance believe that they are insured until they find out how little the insurance provides. Many people never get ill enough to discover this, but some certainly do.
That being said, the US has some of the best medical training on the planet. We're still paying too much for it, though -- we're paying Ferrari prices for 3-series BMWs.
If you buy insurance independently, then the odds are good that it will be lousy. It costs more yet provides less, simultaneously.
The good news is that if you have a pre-existing condition and you don't have employer-based coverage, then your insurance costs will be low because nobody will sell it to you.
The cheaper policies often don't cover much. They're fine if you don't need very much, but acquire a chronic condition and you'll find that your cost exposure is still extremely high. People who have such insurance believe that they are insured until they find out how little the insurance provides. Many people never get ill enough to discover this, but some certainly do.
That being said, the US has some of the best medical training on the planet. We're still paying too much for it, though -- we're paying Ferrari prices for 3-series BMWs.
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 32
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
Training doesn't say it all. Actually, US healthcare system is one of the poorest among top countries of the world.
#45
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: Seal Rock, Oregon
Posts: 842
Re: Anyone got anything good to say about the US medical system?
I must be doing something wrong. I'm the IT Manager of a health care facility and I make less money now than I did working in Swindon 12 years ago. On top of that, there's no benefits. I still have to pay for my own health insurance. According to my accounts, the total for just me last year was a tad over $12k.
It's interesting to see people talking about the quality of the health care being good. I was at my doctor's office the other day for my quarterly check up (I'm diabetic) and they were telling people calling in that there were no appointments available until August. My quarterly eye check up is now every 4 to 5 months because none of the eye specialists can fit people in any sooner.
As for the system, where I work, which is a day surgery center that sees around 40 patients a day and employs about 110 people, we have 8 employees who do nothing but argue with insurance companies all day about payments. There are over 40 different insurers we have to cater too. Of course every one has a separate fee schedule and rules about how claims are submitted.
I've worked in both the US and UK systems. If I had one observation, it's that even with the burdens of the insurance system and the "health care as a business" mentality, the bureaucracy behind the US system is nowhere near as bad as the unnecessary red tape and over-inflated management egos I came across during my time with the NHS.
It's interesting to see people talking about the quality of the health care being good. I was at my doctor's office the other day for my quarterly check up (I'm diabetic) and they were telling people calling in that there were no appointments available until August. My quarterly eye check up is now every 4 to 5 months because none of the eye specialists can fit people in any sooner.
As for the system, where I work, which is a day surgery center that sees around 40 patients a day and employs about 110 people, we have 8 employees who do nothing but argue with insurance companies all day about payments. There are over 40 different insurers we have to cater too. Of course every one has a separate fee schedule and rules about how claims are submitted.
I've worked in both the US and UK systems. If I had one observation, it's that even with the burdens of the insurance system and the "health care as a business" mentality, the bureaucracy behind the US system is nowhere near as bad as the unnecessary red tape and over-inflated management egos I came across during my time with the NHS.