NC Penguin

I have to say that your very brief wait in a US ED is more the exception than the norm.


NC Penguin

Bob

depends, if it's dental, you'll have more chance of them trying to royally screwing you over...

Pulaski

Dunno, ....it's typical for me though!

Yorkieabroad

Whats typical though...

We used to pay our own insurance at about $500 per month. Wife got a job with medical, and its now $1000/month for pretty much the same cover (fortunately all paid by the employer...) So much for the power of bulk purchasing

Last I heard, NI tops out around 3200, plus 1% of earnings over 35k. not sure what current UK private insurance rates are like - last I had 5 years ago was 2000/year. So to get up to matching the current $12k/year, I reckon I'd need to earn around 230k sterling. And if thats typical in North Yorkshire, my mates weren't standing enough rounds last time back

Ps - its late and I've had a few beers, so if my maths don't add up you know why!

snowbunny

I believe it will happen when the Baby Boomers are all on Medicare. I've said this before, but I can't see younger workers having to pay incredible taxes to fund seniors' health care AND having no universal care themselves.

jen_andreson

US system, definitely. I will take access to care and quality care...and peace of mind for my family. I would love love love to see a universal system here, but it will never happen in a country with such a high population, unlesse the entire tax system is overhauled to work this in. As I mentioned in another thread, I even campaigned for uni care during several political campaigns but it's going to take ages before an appropriate plan can be developed. Can't imagine a US mum being told there is a 3 week wait for her doc to see her ill baby!

My experience:

US: expensive, but our salaries are higher and cost of living lower so it doesn't change our budget. No waiting, good care, easy referrals, yearly physical 'woman check'. Breaks my heart to see the OAPs and chlidren who do not have care, but at least I know I won't be turned away in an emergency.

UK: not given my asthma meds as they were not on the pre-approved list. Had to pay for op for hubby to avoid 11 month queue that would have kept him off work while he waited...which obviously would have crushed our income. One female exam every 3 years that was a smear test only (no preventative check). Never had a medical, blood test, any preventative at all. Had private via work but still needed NHS GP to do the referrals, which he wouldn't do (as he favoured the 'go home and rest/join the queue' approach). Ended up paying for private (withouth my GP referral) many times to jump a 3 week queue at my GPs...the cost was £65-£85 a visit plus meds...just like going private in the US although this was in addition to NHS and private (bupa) costs.

The standard NHS antibiotic is amoxicillin which costs 3 quid for 7 days, but the NHS still charges the standard fee of 6+...and uses this as a money-maker, even though it's no longer an effective treatment (it's so overused, but it's 'on the list'). I realise the US plans also have 'lists' but I've never seen one so restrictive as to tell docs what to do for each illness.

Had a baby in UK and she was left in the room with me to look after her alone, despite my being exhausted and in pain. My hubby wasn't allowed to stay with me. Given a packed lunch of a sarnie, walkers, and a kitkat afterward, which are the last things a woman should eat! My hubby smuggled in fruit and some dairy (which all nursing mums need). No ante-natal care as far as vitamin advice, was told to re-use my urine speciman cup for each mid-wife visit due to cut-backs (how can that be sanitary!), no internal exam to check for problems. Midwife had patient load of 95 and was stressed beyond belief so we paid for private....more out of pocket.

Friends children had scarlet fever from untreated strep as GP told her to take them home and rest...

Yes, it works for some but the UK population is now too great to rely on this system...it needs to be overhauled and returned to it's glory...so that it's in good shape when we move back there to retire!

AmerLisa

I had my last baby in the UK, and while I feel I got pretty good treatment, I went through the same thing that you did. Although my case was different, I ended up with an emergency c-section and had lost a lot of blood in surgery. In fact the midwife later told me that 1500cc's was quite a bit. At any rate, after the surgery I was wheeled into their recovery room, dazed, in pain and just barely awake, and guess what came in with me? My brand new baby daughter. I was hooked up to all sorts of tubes, etc (probably should have been in ICU) and they brought my daughter into my room, right my bed, to care for. I couldn't turn myself in bed, much less reach over to get my daughter out of her crib......

NC Penguin

Whilst some of you are saying that the US private health care is better, why are Americans travelling overseas for treatment because it is cheaper? Brits have been heading to Europe (and beyond?) for some time.

There's a fourfold problem with American private healthcare:
accessibility (waiting lists, providers if one doesn't live in a city, specialty services not available locally)
cost
quality of services (vary wildly across the country)
paperwork between you, your medical insurance provider and the treatment provider


NC Penguin

AmerLisa

But, I think that's just it, there's problems with both systems.

jen_andreson

Thanks for sharing your story. The day was such a difficult one for us--a miracle in one way and then so difficult...I will not forget waking up and hearing her cry and being unable to get to her. My husband was devastated when they told him he had to leave.

But, the care (aside from the private midwife) was bill-free and that is a plus to a lot of people. However, personally I feel better knowing that if we have baby 2 my husband can stay with me/our baby.

jen_andreson

[QUOTE=NC Penguin]Whilst some of you are saying that the US private health care is better, why are Americans travelling overseas for treatment because it is cheaper? Brits have been heading to Europe (and beyond?) for some time.
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I think Brits tend to travel because of the waiting list, and yes, because of the cost. Isn't that therefore a flaw within the system of universal care?

In the US, those without insurance are put in the same situation. They will always seek about the cheaper option, as they foot the bill and look after their pennies.

Both countries have serious problems, but it's up to us to do what works for us, individually, if we are able to control our circumstances.

For me it works like this:
US: good for those with good jobs/benefits and a good group plan, or for those who can pay the premiums on their own. In general, this gets one timely and efficient care.

We have good jobs/were able to pay the premium so the system works for us.

UK: good if you do not have a job, are on benefits, can't afford private, etc. In general this gives one adaquate care, but not necessarily timely care or certain perks that we might prefer (like not having a baby in a ward).

We were not comfortable with this, as we spent a lot of money to get round the waiting.

It's not a matter of right or wrong, as both have their merits. It's a matter of choosing which you want. For us, health care in the US costs us more than in the UK, but overall our costs of living decreased...but we took all of this into account when budgeting for our move and US life.

And, I cannot see the US or the UK increasing the taxes to the extent of say France, Denmark, etc., where (from what I've heard) the universal system works.

Rompers

That's very true - and I know my own US medical horror story is not typical. Looking at cold hard facts though:

The US spends 2.5 times as much per person as the UK does yet life expectancy is lower and infant mortality higher in the US than in the UK.

AmerLisa

I've read certain things about infant mortality....although haven't seen stats in comparison to the UK. However, I did find a chart (albeit old) that gave life expectancy rates among countries

http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa042000b.htm

The difference between the UK and the US is pretty small. Did you have other information?

Rete

I've been lucky through the years. Never was sick until I had breast cancer in 1991. Since the BC it has been a diagnosis of diabetes. Never have I had to complete any paperwork. Even with an HMO for the BC, the worse paperwork was getting the referral slip but that was nothing as the doctors worked with one another, i.e. gyn with the breast surgeon, with the hospital and they were the ones who contacted the healthcare provider, not me.

With the diabetes, it has been a non-paper trail for me and never have had issue with the healthcare provider (BlueCross) in regards to meds, monthly blood testing, classes, etc. So through it all my only concern has been for my health and not the paperchase or payment of bills. I count myself very very fortunate.

My oldest who just had a baby in January has no medical insurance. Fortunately for her, her husband had the insurance money from the insurance companies after he was wiped out in Katrina. So they paid their OBYN, the hospital and the baby's doctor cash upfront. Because they did they were given huge discounts on the bills. After the birth they were visited by a social worker who wanted to sign the baby up for medicare since they had no insurance but they declined as they felt they could afford to pay for his care.

They are looking for private healthcare but while the premiums are affordable ($845 a month for the family with BlueCross) the deductibles are outrageous.

My paperchase trail is with dental coverage. I have my own from my company, Atena, and from my husband which is CSEA. I just had to have my six front teeth worked on. Aetna refused to pay for anything while CSEA paid the entire thing. It was a back and forth thing with Atena and as a result I dropped that coverage and now only have CSEA. BTW CSEA is with the teacher's union so very fortunate there but will lose that when Jim retires in three years.

As for medicaid, I'm amazed that some people claim that they can qualify for medicaid if they have not worked 40 quarters. Jim was denied coverage even though he is 65 because he does not have 40 quarters since he only emigrated to the US at age 58 and started working then. He also cannot get his own SSI retirement but can draw on mine which we don't want because it will lower my monthly payments when I retire in 7 years. So retirement issues are the major thing in our lives, both retirement checks and healthcare.

There is no easy answers and whatever they come up with won't benefit me as it will take years to get a national healthcare plan in place and working properly.

jen_andreson

Here are infant rates--not much difference.
http://www.geographyiq.com/ranking/r..._Rate_aall.htm

Rather than looking at life expectancy I look at quality of life. As I mentioned, hubs needed surgery and was waiting for 11 months and our quality of life was deminished...paying for it improved our quality of life as it put an end to the misery.

http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf

His life expectancy was not necessarily in jeopardy...but the quality was.