First brush with US healthcare system
#196
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
I simply said - socialized medicine is the definition all over the place for government run universal health care. So I don't see the problem with the word - it appears to simply be the truth.
And if Americans don't like it, that's up to them. And if the majority wants socialized medicine, they'll get it.
And if Americans don't like it, that's up to them. And if the majority wants socialized medicine, they'll get it.
And yes, I do think it brings to mind socialism. I've said it before on this board, many many Americans have said to me "well you're used to a socialist healtcare system, aren't you?". I wonder if that's where they got the socialist aspect of it, from the term "socialized medicine". I hadn't thought about that until I heard that term today.
#197
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
The term began as a somewhat pejorative phrase first popularized in 1920s and 1930s United States politics by conservative opponents of publicly operated health care, proposed during the administration of US President Franklin Roosevelt and later championed by US Senator Spessard Holland of Florida, Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee and many more. Organizations that generally oppose expansion of government services still tend to use the phrase in that way.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialized_medicine
i.e. if you use that phrase, you are opposing it. Which is fine if you want to. But don't, please, pretend that it's a neutral term.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialized_medicine
i.e. if you use that phrase, you are opposing it. Which is fine if you want to. But don't, please, pretend that it's a neutral term.
#199
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
Probably coming back full circle, the NHS has many many problems. It only looks good when you compare it to the US system.
One oddity, assuming I have it right, if your Employer pays for your heath insurance, no tax, if you pay for it, no deduction.
So in general the rich get a tax deduction and the poor do not.
One oddity, assuming I have it right, if your Employer pays for your heath insurance, no tax, if you pay for it, no deduction.
So in general the rich get a tax deduction and the poor do not.
Conversely, when it comes to other tax things, I am classed as "self employed" because I own the company & it's an S-corp & thus pay income tax on any profits the company makes.
Last edited by danfan; Apr 17th 2007 at 10:20 am.
#200
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
Don't know if this has been covered yet because I haven't read the whole thread. You can always negotiate a discount too if you have no insurance and if you can pay the bills in full within 30 days of them arriving.
I wish I'd known that once when we had a $3k bill but the next time we got a big bill, I heard my husband on the phone asking for a discount. Yup, got 40% off that one. Next few that came in (he had a broken hand so lots of bills kept coming) I'd call for each one and get 30- 50% off each bill.
When a final bill came in for over a grand, I called up & said I can pay $400 now and mark me off as fully paid, or I can pay $50 a month for the next x months. They took the $400 and sent me a zero balance statement with the "courtesy deduction".
I wish I'd known that once when we had a $3k bill but the next time we got a big bill, I heard my husband on the phone asking for a discount. Yup, got 40% off that one. Next few that came in (he had a broken hand so lots of bills kept coming) I'd call for each one and get 30- 50% off each bill.
When a final bill came in for over a grand, I called up & said I can pay $400 now and mark me off as fully paid, or I can pay $50 a month for the next x months. They took the $400 and sent me a zero balance statement with the "courtesy deduction".
You were just being charged the normal rate.
#201
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
yup, I do recall ranting about that to my husband. How many people just pay the bill though? Or pay in a few installments and lose the discount? I did when we had a $3k bill once before, paid it not even thinking we could negotiate.
#202
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
My doctor friend had an interesting comment at lunch today. She said in medical school they were told the ideal health care system should be 3 things:
1. Good
2. Fast
3. Available to all
And most or all systems get 2 out of 3 of those.
edit: wasn't really counting or addressing third world countries without any of the 3.
1. Good
2. Fast
3. Available to all
And most or all systems get 2 out of 3 of those.
edit: wasn't really counting or addressing third world countries without any of the 3.
#203
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
My doctor friend had an interesting comment at lunch today. She said in medical school they were told the ideal health care system should be 3 things:
1. Good
2. Fast
3. Available to all
And most or all systems get 2 out of 3 of those.
edit: wasn't really counting or addressing third world countries without any of the 3.
1. Good
2. Fast
3. Available to all
And most or all systems get 2 out of 3 of those.
edit: wasn't really counting or addressing third world countries without any of the 3.
Not so good if you can not afford it. Just like the US.
#204
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
Actually, lol, it wasn't MY point anyway, my friend the doc told me, and I just found it interesting.
#205
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
If you go private. Most third world countries do provide free healthcare to everyone, but often it is not up to standard. But most of them have private healthcare that is both good and fast, and in dollar terms, inexpensive. India, Panama, etc.
#206
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: First brush with US healthcare system
I think that's what my friend was referring to - trying to find the "perfect" all three in one system.