Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
Apr 25th 2007, 5:08 pm
#781
A lion in your lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Sparta NJ
Posts: 7,605
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
but in some systems the amount you personally pay is not directly influenced by the type of the treatment you receive and the frequency with which you need it.
Apr 25th 2007, 6:04 pm
#783
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
The US pays 16% of GDP for healthcare and covers - and I use the term loosely - 84% of the population.
The UK pays ~ 8% and covers 100% - including emergency care for visitors... (Other European countries are in the same ballpark AFAIK, though they would normally only cover citizens of other EU countries for emergency care)
Apr 25th 2007, 6:28 pm
#784
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
It's like banging my head against a wall...
The US pays 16% of GDP for healthcare and covers - and I use the term loosely - 84% of the population.
The UK pays ~ 8% and covers 100% - including emergency care for visitors... (Other European countries are in the same ballpark AFAIK, though they would normally only cover citizens of other EU countries for emergency care)
The US pays 16% of GDP for healthcare and covers - and I use the term loosely - 84% of the population.
The UK pays ~ 8% and covers 100% - including emergency care for visitors... (Other European countries are in the same ballpark AFAIK, though they would normally only cover citizens of other EU countries for emergency care)
In many cases, you don't pay more in the U.S. depending upon what treatment you have - in my friend's case for instance, she pays nothing also. Under many insurance policies, that is the same. In some cases, it isn't.
What was under discussion was how much was the employer's contribution, and what came out of the employee's pocket, an entirely different issue.
Apr 25th 2007, 9:18 pm
#785
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
yes.
Apr 25th 2007, 9:25 pm
#786
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
I disagree. Americans don't like confrontation so can't take criticism of their country/themselves, whatever. I am generalizing here.
Brits will take the piss out of themselves, their country, your country, France, Spain, whatever, and don't take it as personally.
Two different cultures here. Two different ways of looking at things and communicating.
Brits will take the piss out of themselves, their country, your country, France, Spain, whatever, and don't take it as personally.
Two different cultures here. Two different ways of looking at things and communicating.
Apr 25th 2007, 9:29 pm
#787
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
I think sometimes it's down to the individual, regardless of their nationality.
Apr 25th 2007, 10:44 pm
#788
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 535
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
Been learning a lot about insurance in the past 2 pages LOL. I have no clue if we have an HMO or the PPO thing. The cards don't say & so far since having them, we've never used them. I did notice under PCP it says new selection required so I guess that means we've got to do something and pick a primary care doctor. Does that mean we're on the crappy HMO thing? We haven't used them simply because I have no bloody clue what to do.
Apr 25th 2007, 10:50 pm
#789
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
sometimes is the operative word I think. On the whole, I agree completely with TouristTrap
Been learning a lot about insurance in the past 2 pages LOL. I have no clue if we have an HMO or the PPO thing. The cards don't say & so far since having them, we've never used them. I did notice under PCP it says new selection required so I guess that means we've got to do something and pick a primary care doctor. Does that mean we're on the crappy HMO thing? We haven't used them simply because I have no bloody clue what to do.
Been learning a lot about insurance in the past 2 pages LOL. I have no clue if we have an HMO or the PPO thing. The cards don't say & so far since having them, we've never used them. I did notice under PCP it says new selection required so I guess that means we've got to do something and pick a primary care doctor. Does that mean we're on the crappy HMO thing? We haven't used them simply because I have no bloody clue what to do.
I was going to say ask the employer what it is, but you ARE the employer aren't you? If I remember right...
In that case, call whoever sold you the insurance and ask them what exactly it is. I would make sure you found out, because if it IS an HMO, other than the emergency room you will have to start with the primary care physician (which you appear to not have) before you can do anything else.
If it's a PPO, they should have given you a book of their preferred providers - if you have a problem, you should go to one of them if possible. That's probably all you'd have to worry about.
If it's an HMO, they should have given you a book of the primary care docs you can choose from. You would have to pick one of those docs, and call him/her first for any problem short of going to the ER.
Apr 25th 2007, 10:57 pm
#790
Ivegotta Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 900
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
I disagree. Americans don't like confrontation so can't take criticism of their country/themselves, whatever. I am generalizing here.
Brits will take the piss out of themselves, their country, your country, France, Spain, whatever, and don't take it as personally.
Two different cultures here. Two different ways of looking at things and communicating.
Brits will take the piss out of themselves, their country, your country, France, Spain, whatever, and don't take it as personally.
Two different cultures here. Two different ways of looking at things and communicating.
Apr 25th 2007, 11:34 pm
#791
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Hammersmith and Fulham, London
Posts: 119
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
I just read the OP and a lot said in it about the UK I think about the USA...I've always thought the treatment women get in the USA while expecting etc was very 3rd world or it is around here unless you have State healthcare...the weather is crap...too hot or cold...and my daughter is always moaning about rude customers....but saying that none are good enough reasons for us to leave the USA...because for the most part the good outweigh the bad...
I did go to the doctors in Texas for $25 fee, but she gave me 2 boxes of promotional antibiotics free. I think small town doctors are wonderful here in USA...especially Huntsville,TX. Very nice people
I think rural America is very under-rated over here. People need to see the Southern way of living. Its very pleasant
Apr 25th 2007, 11:39 pm
#792
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Hammersmith and Fulham, London
Posts: 119
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
You were luckier than me. When my bike-riding son collided with a car on his way to school, I took him to the nearest ER.
Silly me!!! I should have known that, instead, I should have taken a profusely bleeding and only semi-conscious kid to an ER in a different city - an hour away!! - in rush-hour traffic. :curse:
Needless to say, the ER never mentioned that we might have a problem with our insurance, even though the first thing they asked us when we got there was 'who is your insurance carrier?'.
So they saw him for about 2 minutes, gave him a Tylenol, and sent him to the dentist to get his broken teeth fixed/replaced.
In the evening, he was still in pain, so we took him back. Got an X-ray and a splint this time.
The total cost of those 2 visits (on the same day!) was over FOUR GRAND. Which our insurance refused to pay because... (see above). It took a 9-months battle to get it sorted, during which time the hospital called in debt collectors. If our physician had not stepped in and reasoned with the insurance, we probably would have been stuck with the bill.
US healthcare - don't you just love it.
Silly me!!! I should have known that, instead, I should have taken a profusely bleeding and only semi-conscious kid to an ER in a different city - an hour away!! - in rush-hour traffic. :curse:
Needless to say, the ER never mentioned that we might have a problem with our insurance, even though the first thing they asked us when we got there was 'who is your insurance carrier?'.
So they saw him for about 2 minutes, gave him a Tylenol, and sent him to the dentist to get his broken teeth fixed/replaced.
In the evening, he was still in pain, so we took him back. Got an X-ray and a splint this time.
The total cost of those 2 visits (on the same day!) was over FOUR GRAND. Which our insurance refused to pay because... (see above). It took a 9-months battle to get it sorted, during which time the hospital called in debt collectors. If our physician had not stepped in and reasoned with the insurance, we probably would have been stuck with the bill.
US healthcare - don't you just love it.
Apr 25th 2007, 11:58 pm
#793
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
My point was that, because of the ridiculous insurance based system here, people have to (a) be absolutely sure what/which doctor/which hospital their insurance covers. And that the latter may be miles away, which defies all common sense.
Which idiot would consider it sane that an upset and panicky mother should drive an hour on thefreeway through rush-hour traffic, with a child who is only semi-conscious and bleeding profusely - just because the nearby hospital belongs to a plan that is not covered by the insurance?
I have a son with a serious chronic condition. Last Friday he saw one specialist. Today he had an echocardiogram. Tomorrow he is seeing his cardiologist. Each of these three visits requires 2 hours on the road. despite the fact that all this would be available at a hospital literally 2 minutes from where we live.
Why are we not with a plan that covers that hospital? That's a whole different story - which would provide yet another illustration of the lunacy of the US healthcare system.
Apr 26th 2007, 12:02 am
#794
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Hammersmith and Fulham, London
Posts: 119
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
Eh - that wasn't my point...
My point was that, because of the ridiculous insurance based system here, people have to (a) be absolutely sure what/which doctor/which hospital their insurance covers. And that the latter may be miles away, which defies all common sense.
Which idiot would consider it sane that an upset and panicky mother should drive an hour on thefreeway through rush-hour traffic, with a child who is only semi-conscious and bleeding profusely - just because the nearby hospital belongs to a plan that is not covered by the insurance?
I have a son with a serious chronic condition. Last Friday he saw one specialist. Today he had an echocardiogram. Tomorrow he is seeing his cardiologist. Each of these three visits requires 2 hours on the road. despite the fact that all this would be available at a hospital literally 2 minutes from where we live.
Why are we not with a plan that covers that hospital? That's a whole different story - which would provide yet another illustration of the lunacy of the US healthcare system.
My point was that, because of the ridiculous insurance based system here, people have to (a) be absolutely sure what/which doctor/which hospital their insurance covers. And that the latter may be miles away, which defies all common sense.
Which idiot would consider it sane that an upset and panicky mother should drive an hour on thefreeway through rush-hour traffic, with a child who is only semi-conscious and bleeding profusely - just because the nearby hospital belongs to a plan that is not covered by the insurance?
I have a son with a serious chronic condition. Last Friday he saw one specialist. Today he had an echocardiogram. Tomorrow he is seeing his cardiologist. Each of these three visits requires 2 hours on the road. despite the fact that all this would be available at a hospital literally 2 minutes from where we live.
Why are we not with a plan that covers that hospital? That's a whole different story - which would provide yet another illustration of the lunacy of the US healthcare system.
OMG I agree it is lunacy.
Apr 26th 2007, 5:01 am
#795
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Birmingham, USA
Posts: 802
Re: Sorry that you all think the USA is not as great as UK
I'm an american who has been living in England for 6 years. I think that people over here are to used to getting everything for free! The people in general have been rude & lazy. The country is very pretty but I could live without ever seeing again. I dislike it so much I am moving back to the USA. Can't wait to return & I will never take it for granted again!!! I will have real health care again instead of treatment like something from a 3rd world!!!! If you all dislike the USA so much maybe you should return to your crap weather the UK has to offer!!!!!