Calling All Non-Americans!! Would You Trade Health Care Systems With Us?

[Bono]

Yes, in a heartbeat.

And Lewis, I'm sorry, but that's not true at all. Complaints about Britain's system (which is far from excelent, Germany's is way better) are almost all rationing related, not complaints of doctors about unruly patients.

[Bono]

Why would I trade a free service for an HMO? That would be insane.

I don't know why so many people seem to be under the impression that HMOs are the only type of health insurance available in the US: They're not even the type of plan most people have.

[Bono]

Yes, in a heartbeat.

And Lewis, I'm sorry, but that's not true at all. Complaints about Britain's system (which is far from excelent, Germany's is way better) are almost all rationing related, not complaints of doctors about unruly patients.

OK, why?

I'm looking for non-Americans to elaborate a little on their experience with their health care system and why you wish to keep/scrap it. I believe there is a lot of ignorance being spouted off about the experience of "socialized medicine" in the health care debate right now (and likely much more to come), and I want to inject a little reality into all the rhetoric.

Why? Well, the waiting lists obviously. The crumbling infrastructure is also a reason, even though there have been improvements on that lately (note I'm talking only about Portugal).

There are waiting lists of months only to see a specialist, let alone to start treatment. Moreover, there is a significant delay in adopting the latest treatments, and even then they are rationed because they are so expensive. *rolls eyes*

The thing that disgusts me most is the delay in cancer treatment and surgeries whereupon many people whose cancer was curable when diagnosed end up sentenced to death.

The fact that the judicial system is very reluctant to punish negligent doctors doesn't help either.

[Bono]

Ok, fine...substitute "99%" with "vast majority".  There is that better for the posters more concerned with semantics than substance?

Most people on here are college students with lower middle class parents that have a good chance of being under the poverty line...

No they're not, they're upper middle class suburban privileged brats that feign victimization and borderline poverty for emotional appeal.  They have no idea what financial hardship is and only further embarrass themselves by pretending to have a had life.

I doubt they feign anything but they aren't upper middle class and they probably have experienced ramen poverty. In other words they aren't privileged or anything, they are basically average Americans.

I am not upper middle class in anyway. My family has employer based healthcare and some other things but my dad is basically unemployed and we have had medicare and food stamps in the past. My life isn't difficult but it is basically retarded to assume that I get everything I want and that my family is prosperous.

You're all retired?

[Bono]

But for cutting-edge technology, specialists, and immediate service ours is superior.

...if you have the money (and certain other things). And if you don't? Ordinary people can have rare-and-serious illlnesses as well...

I didn't say it was cheap or that it was universal. My point was that, in the US's system, we should strive to keep the good aspects of our care while simultaneously providing universal coverage (however one may go about it).

There's absolutely no reason why high-quality specialist care can't run alongside a state healthcare system. And, speaking from very recent personal experience, no reason why it can't be part of it.
Vanity operations and the like; that's different.

That's only because they don't have anywhere else to work at. The problem is not that there aren't good specialists in state systems, but that access to them is rationed.