A question for Candadians and UK folks and the Universal Healthcare

[PineappleMama]

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I donno about all those question, but I interrogated poor Thai and figured out that if we applied their system to our income that we'd pay 21% of our income in taxes... which would cover everything from road repairs to ER visits. At least, I think I did the math right... maybe. And if that math is right then their system applied to us would give us a much better quality of life than what we're currently paying and getting with our current systems. But again, that's IF I got it right, and even if I did only applying it specifically to our income and our situation. Might be totally different for people in difference circumstances.

 

[Dar]

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That's wickedly wrong. It's a standard part of the NHS system. Victims of sexual assault are examined first for obvious reasons and then immediately offered counselling.

whoa! that is very wrong, they are victims

yep more then 1/2 my pay every weeks goes out for counseling for the family... one of the members of my family is a survivor of sexual abuse and none of the counseling si covered by the universal health care... $500 per person is covered by hubbys plan

 

[PineappleMama]

Yeesh... and how much is counseling per hour? That could easily be one session for some counselors.
Like they can just snap their fingers and magically fix all the damage done?

 

[redhen]

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whoa! that is very wrong, they are victims

yep more then 1/2 my pay every weeks goes out for counseling for the family... one of the members of my family is a survivor of sexual abuse and none of the counseling si covered by the universal health care... $500 per person is covered by hubbys plan

Wow.. half your pay... ugh...

 

[Dar]

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$85 - $100 per 45 minutes

 

[redhen]

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$85 - $100 per 45 minutes

Thats about what it costs here...

 

[PineappleMama]

Wow... so five sessions and you're "cured"... clearly the people who passed this have never been a victim, heck never even known a victim, of such a thing... if they had then maybe they'd have a clue as to the actual damage involved... for many it takes five more more sessions just to establish enough trust (blown to heck and gone by the incident) to even begin talking...

 

[AngieChick]

Wow, this has been a great, informative thread. I watched the "Health Around the World" video months ago and it became increasingly frustrating to me to watch the sound bites surrounding the health care reform.

I was truly hoping for universal health coverage here in the states (more cost effective and more people covered), and I was saddened when it was killed before it hit the table. Honestly, it made me yearn to move to a country that has coverage. I have insurance, and have had it since graduating from college. However, it scares me to know just how easy it is to lose it.

Red: I get where you are coming from, and I agree that it should be covered. However, what is and what isn't covered by insurance varies state - I doubt that most cover it. It doesn't mean that your health insurance is better than state run insurance would be, just that your insurer is forced by your state to behave. Therefor, it means that if we ever get universal coverage in the states women should fight to have it covered. There is definitely a gender gap (Viagra anyone?) in what is covered. I could get into horror stories about my cousin's recent battle with her insurance company over treatment of her very dangerous endomytriosis, but that would be a very very long post. Suffice to say that it was bad, very very bad.

Even if you have private insurance, don't assume that you are safe from huge medical expenses.

 

[PineappleMama]

^Ain't that the truth.

How many times have we heard about people needing something, life saving stuff or not that they believed they were entitled to as per the contract, and the insurance company finds a way to weasel out of paying for it... and the people can't afford to pay for it so it's tough nuggets?

That's the snag with what they did manage to pass... they didn't really alter what the insurance companies can and can't do. IMO they just made it where we're forced to pay them whether they come through with their end or not.

 

[thaiturkey]

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Here's just a question I had based on my experience visiting the island of the UK awhile back (ok, it took me 2 years to pay for that trip- but worth it) and my Grandmother's stories of living in and visiting family in Wales:

1- What would be the population difference between a country like the UK and the US?

2- What would be the geographic size difference between the US (including HI and AK) and all of the UK?

3- What would be the actual financial numbers? As in, starting up and annual; to make a comparative program work for a country the geographic size of the US?

4- What would the actual (or realistic) numbers financial numbers be for tax increases? How would this be proposed? All at once? In steps?



I'll probably think of some more later. I know I can probably look up some population stats, but it's bedtime and I'm tired and cranky

The UK currently has a population of around 69m, I think.

I'll get my head around your other questions later but Google will probably come up with the answers.

What's certain is that the US would have a major task on its hands to introduce a full blown care system for all from where you are now. And that even without the self-seeking opposition that you have to face. In many ways it was easy for the UK back in the '40's. The population was much smaller and there was no real opposition. Nevertheless, the project must have been one of the logical and financial planning wonders of its time. From a system where you had to pay cash to a GP and for hospital treatment and following a major economic depression and a devastating war, suddenly doctors were signing up with the new State scheme and hospitals appeared from nowhere. Looking back, it was a rather crude system but it's come a long way since then. Many of the first big hospitals were converted from old Victorian workhouses. One in my home town still has the original Victorian buildings but is surrounded by modern ones. In the same town is a very modern new hospital that is also a centre for research and teaching.

Where there's a will there's a way.