What state is the health service in where you are?

Freebase Dali · 04-02-2014, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

If you go to A&E here you have to wait minimum of 1-2 hours and it can take up to 12 hours to be seen. I have had many health issues in the past 8 years and have had to go with Ambulances which tends to get you seen faster (one of the times I had a seizure). I spent many days in the women's unit due to my endless cysts and Endometriosis pain and it took a long time before I got my surgery. Luckily the nurses from the Women's Unit would get me right up to be admitted rather than 3-4 hours in emergency to be then sent to the Women's Unit anyway.

The health services are free, everything is covered (ultrasounds, CT scans, etc) but you have to pay $80 each time you go by ambulance unless you pay $40 a year to be a member.

That mirrors pretty much what it's like to be admitted to a university medical center here in my state, on indigent care. You'll be at the hospital most of the day, because there are too many people to be serviced.

On one hand, I appreciate that we have a system that allows low-income individuals to get treated free of charge at UMCs, but on the other, the quality of service is severely degraded because there is just too much demand for the supply.
My dad just got shoulder surgery at our local UMC free of charge, and he was just trying to get a refill on his pain meds, waited an entire day in the waiting room for them to turn him away because after all those hours, the verifying doctor had gone home for the day. So he had to spend a few days in excruciating pain because they wouldn't refill his script, and the same script would have costed him hundreds of dollars at a retail location.

djchameleon · 04-02-2014, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Irrelevant of all the above, though, there is one simple fact that people should know: If you subsidize a public service, you'll need to take more taxes. And in relation to ANY insurance, if you reduce the amount of money insurance companies get from otherwise healthy people, there is simply not enough money for those companies to cover the sick. This is how insurance works. And that's why you see sky-high premiums in a privatized system when more people are subsidized by tax dollars in a government-run insurance program. But on the same token, if people aren't getting private health insurance, the same thing happens. At least people will be forced to choose between public or private, and maybe a greater number will choose private and drive down the private premiums. But if the public option is cheaper because of subsidies, that's what they'll choose, and the government will win out in the end.

Just give it time. The system will provide its own evidence as time goes on.

There is no public option though. I'm not sure where you are getting that from.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 04-02-2014, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

wow 80 bucks is so dirt cheap for an ambulance ride.

Some people get billed close to 1,000 dollars for an ambulance ride.

Well, considering how little our population is, it's considered a lot. However in saying that, ambulances are run on donations and are not supported by the government completely.

djchameleon · 04-02-2014, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Well in Ireland you're not charged for the ambulance. Do they charge you for calling out the fire dept too?? Surely these are community services paid for by, in our case the State, in yours, well, the state I guess? No?

I don't know about other places but our fire dept is actually mostly volunteer and the small budget they have is from our state budget or maybe our city budget. I'm not quite sure but I know they don't get much money. It is so bad in our area that we end up getting volunteers from near by towns as well to respond to our fires.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

Well, considering how little our population is, it's considered a lot. However in saying that, ambulances are run on donations and are not supported by the government completely.

Oh okay sounds similar to our fire fighter dept in my area's situation.

Freebase Dali · 04-03-2014, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

There is no public option though. I'm not sure where you are getting that from.

I think we have different ideas about what public options are...
In my case, I'm referring to an option that is funded by taxpayer money in some significant part, IE subsidies. I'm aware we don't just have the option to get free healthcare, UNLESS you do so through indigent care and prove you're absolutely unable to afford health care otherwise, which is completely available through University Medical Centers. At least here in LA. My dad just got surgery for free. In a red state. But he did have to wait months for it to happen... because he's far from the only one that needs assistance.

Obviously, indigent care is based on an income threshold. If a person made enough money to be able to afford full on privatized health care, they would not qualify for indigent. Nor should they.
"Public option", in my opinion, isn't about just deciding you want something for free. It's about needing something because you could not afford it otherwise.

djchameleon · 04-04-2014, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

"Public option", in my opinion, isn't about just deciding you want something for free. It's about needing something because you could not afford it otherwise.

We don't have different ideas of what a public option is. Maybe I am just misinformed then. I thought that in certain states people don't have a public option and have to deal with private insurance companies raising their rates because they can and have no competition with companies that are getting subsidies.

Xurtio · 04-06-2014, 08:20 PM

Currently on a study permit in Canada and it's seemed to have met all my needs just fine, so far, but my health concerns are minimal.

Astronomer · 04-06-2014, 10:33 PM

I'm in Australia, where the healthcare system used to be fantastic and rivaled, if not topped, some of the best in the world. Sadly, it is going downhill as most hospitals and medical services become privatised and public services are turning to crap due to lack of funds. A lot of my family are in the medical field and are either a) losing their jobs at public hospitals due to everything being privatised or b) struggling because public hospitals are so understaffed and underfunded. Private services are booming but are sadly unaffordable to most.

The same thing is happening with our public education system here. Our government is almost trying to mimic the systems in countries like the US for some bizarre reason, but I don't see it working for us. We've gone from free healthcare of fantastic quality, available to everybody, to now decrepit public hospitals of low quality medical care OR you pay premium dollar for a private service (that most can't afford). Exactly the same with public schools vs. private schools. It's just not fair. Everybody is entitled to health and education services, regardless of income. In the past, Australia was ALL about fantastic public schools and public hospitals that every single member of the public could utilise, private services weren't even a part of it! Now they are taking over.

I am fortunate because of my job and income I can afford an industry private health insurance, so I am able to enjoy the benefits of the private medical services here. I just can't say the same for the rest of the general public.

ThePhanastasio · 04-06-2014, 10:37 PM

Mine is meh to solid. For regular health concerns, we have urgent care, which is way cheaper than the ER for minor emergencies and illnesses, I.e. influenza, infections, and breaks/sprains. Insurance covers it nicely, they don't order unnecessary tests, and I've never waited longer than half an hour. We also have very affordable mental healthcare in my area, generally covered 100 percent by insurance, and if it isn't, it is on a very affordable sliding scale. If I lose my insurance, it is $14 a session. The counselors all have a masters degree at a minimum, although quite a few have PhDs...and there is a licensed psychiatrist (drug therapy as opposed to talk therapy, but that's why they have counselors) who is also $14 a session (once a month) if I lose my insurance.

The meh is because of the bill I got after my...uh...suicide attempt. I guess the tests were probably valid, but getting blood taken every 3-5 hours for 72 hours isn't exactly cheap.

anticipation · 04-06-2014, 11:46 PM

I don't support big pharm so there is really 0 reason for me to have healthcare. YOLO ma****as.

04-06-2014, 08:20 PM	#37 (permalink)
Xurtio Brain Licker Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 1,083	Currently on a study permit in Canada and it's seemed to have met all my needs just fine, so far, but my health concerns are minimal. __________________ H̓̇̅̉yͤ͏mͬ͂ͧn͑̽̽̌ͪ̑͐͟o̴͊̈́͑̇m͛͌̓ͦ̑aͫ̽ͤ̇n̅̎͐̒ͫ͐c̆ͯͫ̋ ̔̃́eͯ͒rͬͬ̄҉

04-06-2014, 10:37 PM	#39 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	Mine is meh to solid. For regular health concerns, we have urgent care, which is way cheaper than the ER for minor emergencies and illnesses, I.e. influenza, infections, and breaks/sprains. Insurance covers it nicely, they don't order unnecessary tests, and I've never waited longer than half an hour. We also have very affordable mental healthcare in my area, generally covered 100 percent by insurance, and if it isn't, it is on a very affordable sliding scale. If I lose my insurance, it is $14 a session. The counselors all have a masters degree at a minimum, although quite a few have PhDs...and there is a licensed psychiatrist (drug therapy as opposed to talk therapy, but that's why they have counselors) who is also $14 a session (once a month) if I lose my insurance. The meh is because of the bill I got after my...uh...suicide attempt. I guess the tests were probably valid, but getting blood taken every 3-5 hours for 72 hours isn't exactly cheap. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung

04-06-2014, 10:33 PM	#38 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	I'm in Australia, where the healthcare system used to be fantastic and rivaled, if not topped, some of the best in the world. Sadly, it is going downhill as most hospitals and medical services become privatised and public services are turning to crap due to lack of funds. A lot of my family are in the medical field and are either a) losing their jobs at public hospitals due to everything being privatised or b) struggling because public hospitals are so understaffed and underfunded. Private services are booming but are sadly unaffordable to most. The same thing is happening with our public education system here. Our government is almost trying to mimic the systems in countries like the US for some bizarre reason, but I don't see it working for us. We've gone from free healthcare of fantastic quality, available to everybody, to now decrepit public hospitals of low quality medical care OR you pay premium dollar for a private service (that most can't afford). Exactly the same with public schools vs. private schools. It's just not fair. Everybody is entitled to health and education services, regardless of income. In the past, Australia was ALL about fantastic public schools and public hospitals that every single member of the public could utilise, private services weren't even a part of it! Now they are taking over. I am fortunate because of my job and income I can afford an industry private health insurance, so I am able to enjoy the benefits of the private medical services here. I just can't say the same for the rest of the general public.

04-06-2014, 11:46 PM	#40 (permalink)
anticipation Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,565	I don't support big pharm so there is really 0 reason for me to have healthcare. YOLO ma****as.