Ash UK/US

You need to stop watching Fox News

Kidding aside, I refuse to send those paper slips in, I call them, get the name of person I making the payment to and any conf # I write it on the bill along with the date and which credit card I used. Can you tell I have been burned before!

anotherlimey

I'll have to give that a try, thanks!

robin1234

That's nothing - I just got a bill from the hospital for an ambulatory procedure I had in June 2006. The total invoice was about $4,000, they now say I finally owe about $340 ... I wouldn't mind paying it if I was sure I owed it, but the accounting breakdown from the hospital and from my insurer and my wife's insurer is so obscure, contradictory and confusing there is no way I can figure out who paid what, whether I owe any money or what.

When I first came to the States, I was so disgusted with medical bills I simply ignored them, and the providers eventually stopped asking for the money. I believe they have got more professional and persistent in the last few years. But I'll be damned if I'll just pay up because they reckon I owe them money.... my question is, what do old people or the mentally handicapped etc. do with all this confusing billing??

Tracym

I hope you are not making fun of the fact that my relative died right after my wedding. I would seriously be quite offended - and I hope you are better than that.

As I said, sucks both ways. He missed my wedding and died (in the UK) because of the limitations of that universal health care system. Sucks to die because of the limitations of a non-universal system as well.

fatbrit

No -- I'm not making fun of the fact that anybody dies needlessly.

And to have less people dying needlessly, we need radical reform of the American system. The NHS needs a bit of recalibration, that's all.

Tracym

Glad to hear that

Just don't want to trade one set of problems for the other, that's my view. But you're well aware of my views, I won't bore you (and myself repeating them.

Giantaxe

Noone's advocating a UK style National Health Service in the US anyway, so your very unfortunate anecdote is indeed boring.

Steerpike

I'm very concerned with the system here as I get older and face possible unemployment (for reasons stated above) but I will also say that both I and my girlfriend have received fabulous coverage while working for good companies with good group insurance. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through surgery, radiation, the works. A few years later, they found more 'lumps' and gave her 'the works' - MRIs, genetic background research, ... everything. I've had minor surgeries myself and have been perfectly executed, and just a few months ago I went in and complained of back pains, and got dispatched the next day to a physical therapist and got most of it covered ($500 deductible).

It's my girlfriend I worry about in the future. She's had documented breast cancer, is in her 50s, is a programmer (not a job to have at 60 years old!), and will have a terrible time getting private insurance due to pre-existing conditions. Ironically, since I'm healthy and still working, I'll put her on my insurance (California is great about covering un-married couples) but ... I wanted to retire early!!!

We just have to fix the private insurance system - prevent them from denying coverage due to Pre-Existing conditions. Best way to do that is with a single payer system.

Tracym

Some are advocating it - you are wrong.

I don't find death of ppl I care about, or anyone in fact, boring - I'm sorry you are so insensitive.

If you're that bored, please put me on ignore - then I won't be as annoyed by you.

Elvira

Perhaps you would want to consider deleting your comment whilst you still can...

ugacrew

We are advocating it. It just that congress is sleeping with the enemy right now and loving every minute of it. They're all a bunch of wusses that can't be weened off of election money and promises of board positions after they are 'fired' by their constituency. It's the same for a lot of other issues as well. Take the oil industry for instance. To be blunt, congress don't have the balls to make legislation to fund such initiatives that would protect our greatest natural resource, our citizens. If they think Monica Lewinsky and the DC Madame were in the business of being whores they've missed the biggest ones of all, Congress!

RoadWarriorFromLP

I'm all for reform, but personally, I don't think than an NHS-style model would work in the US, given what we're starting with.

There are plenty of models to choose from aside from those used in the UK or Canada. Unfortunately, with all the cries of "socialism", it's difficult to discuss them intelligently. (As if Switzerland, Japan and Taiwan are all Commie pinko paradises.)

Giantaxe

By noone, I mean noone with the political power to change or influence the current system. I'm well aware that some folks on this board want such a system here, but it simply isn't on the political agenda in this country. That's why unfortunate anecdotes such as Tracy's are boring to the discussion:- a US NHS simply isn't going to happen.

Giantaxe

Agreed. Tracy is a classic example of the "problem" that has to be overcome to get change done. It's all too easy to cite unfortunate anecdotes from other systems and use them as an obstacle to improvement or change to the system one is familiar with. Throw in the "socialist" label and rational discussion is all but impossible.

Irn-bru

There are not many!

Most are just wanting a universal healthcare system knowing the NHS style set-up won't work in the US (I have been informed why over the years by Elvira and snowbunny )