Uninsured

[Diane]

Hey,
Recently read an article on the Internet about the medically uninsured people in the U.S. They said that 50 million here are without health insurance, roughly half of our population. Awful. It said that they had suggestions. I thought it would be suggestions on how to obtain more services, however, it was not what I expected. They did a study of 11 high income countries and said that our country was TWICE as expensive for those less fortunate. Included was the expense of doctors, treatment at hospitals, drugs, follow up care, as well as prescriptions. Their advise was for those with medical issues to leave the country for help. Can you believe that? They did say that the U.S is very advanced in treatment etc. but that was only for those certain people, the ones that could afford it. They also said that the only other countries that are worse than us was Germany, New Zealand, and Australia. Never would have thought Australia would be worse than the U.S. Oh well.

[miolchu]

Re: Uninsured

A lot of insured people are not much better off than the uninsured in the United States as many plans pay a low percentage of medical fees, forcing them to utilize unsecured credit if they have to obtain medical services...

Things will not improve until our elected officials have to have the same medical plans that the rest of us have (retirement plans, for that matter).

[1938 Observer]

Re: Uninsured

Hi Diane,

Australia is definitely far better than the USA, the public health scheme does have its problems and waiting lists for non essential i.e. 'elective surgery' [other than life threatening] surgery can be a little long winded at times depending on which state you reside in.
In the last few years my wife has had two knee replacements, two abdominal hernias, gall bladder removal plus other 'bit's n pieces'......all on the free list [we are uninsured..too costly]

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Nothing is absolutely perfect, however I think I would rather live "downunder" than anywhere else. Live..being the operative word.



Gordon. :redrose:

[Glesgalass]

Re: Uninsured

Strange article Diane. The writer couldn't have done their research very well. As a matter of fact, in Australia, even though we have a public health system which includes subsidised medications, just under 50% of people have private health insurance of some kind,

You see, because our private health insurance doesnt have to cover medications or doctors fees except while in hospital, it's relatively cheap here. You can select whether or not to have dental & extras cover or just private hospital cover. I have retained mine in my retirement (private hospital only) because it only costs $54 per month, reason being I have been in this fund for more than 30 years.

Elda

[Euan]

Re: Uninsured

I agree that the hospital system in Oz is fine, we only have private cover for what we call (extras), includes dental, optical etc.. My cancer op cost us nothing through the public hospital system, and there was only a few weeks waiting period, and was looked after exceptionally well. My knee op done through the private hospital system without the waiting period and was paid out of pocket, and cost thousands, but was our choice. I was looked after just as well as i was in the public hospital system.
I have never had any reason to complain about our health system public or private.

[Alastair]

Re: Uninsured

Well I've just got back from my eye exam here in Canada. The annual eye exam is taken care of by the State health system (OHIP) so costs nothing. I then had to get some laser treatment and that jus cost $250.00 for a more detailed examination but the treatment was free.

Then I got that bleeding in my eye which meant surgery to wash out the blood and that also was free.

Today I've just got back from another eye exam for cataracts. These can be treated by OHIP free but if you want to take advantage of lenses then you have to go private. Again the exam was free but required some laser treatment and an injection in one eye and that cost $260.00. However I have to get further surgery in December for one eye and more for the other eye in January. That costs $6000. They actually give you options from $575.00 per eye and it goes up in 6 stages to the $3,000 an eye. I elected to go for the most expensive as that was I don't need to wear glasses and colour depth is better.

While that's a lot of money I figure it's worth it as your eyes are very important.

Alastair

[FriedaKateM]

Re: Uninsured

Hey...In regard to our "insurance" here in the USA, I have Medicare, plus a Medicare Supplement plan (on my own dime), & a drug plan (on my dime). However, after having extensive tests about two years ago, which entailed a whole lot of time, & likely thousands, I had to pay nothing. On the drug plan, I've downsized to a cheaper one, which as of this past year I paid zero for prescriptions, now will have to pay a small co-pay.

The one hitch I have, is NO dental insurance. My teeth are fairly okay, so I have to endure not going to the dentist. Last I had was a crown, which cost $350. Luckily, I was able to pay it. My eyes seem not to have changed so far, in over 6 years, no cataracts, so I keep squeezing by with the one pair of glasses. Everywhere is okay for some.

I do agree that OUR congressmen & senators should be ABSOLUTELY FORCED to live like the rest of us in regard to health insurance. There wouldn't be quite so much argument then!!!

[miolchu]

Re: Uninsured

Well I've just got back from my eye exam here in Canada. The annual eye exam is taken care of by the State health system (OHIP) so costs nothing. I then had to get some laser treatment and that jus cost $250.00 for a more detailed examination but the treatment was free.

Then I got that bleeding in my eye which meant surgery to wash out the blood and that also was free.

Today I've just got back from another eye exam for cataracts. These can be treated by OHIP free but if you want to take advantage of lenses then you have to go private. Again the exam was free but required some laser treatment and an injection in one eye and that cost $260.00. However I have to get further surgery in December for one eye and more for the other eye in January. That costs $6000. They actually give you options from $575.00 per eye and it goes up in 6 stages to the $3,000 an eye. I elected to go for the most expensive as that was I don't need to wear glasses and colour depth is better.

While that's a lot of money I figure it's worth it as your eyes are very important.

Alastair

Wow Alastair,

it sounds like you have persnickitty peepers!

[Glesgalass]

Re: Uninsured

In Australia if you are on a pension of any kind dental work is free through the public hospital system. Some say that there is a long waiting list but, in practice, I have found that they are inclined to give priority to age pensioners or people who are in pain. I've never had to wait more than a couple of weeks for an appointment and, of course, you will get an emergency one if in pain. This applies to age, widows & disability pensioners and those on a single parent pension.
I used to have dental cover in my private health insurance but I found it wasn't worth it as you were lucky if you got half the cost back which could amount to thousands of $ cost.

Elda

[Diane]

Re: Uninsured

Hey,
I was so hoping that Gordon, Elda, and Euan would reply to this. I just knew that Australia had a good health care system. Tom, I know you will understand our health care. However, I haven't heard the phrase "persnickittty" for a very long time. I am on Medicare Disability with a degenerative condition. Not trying for sympathy at all, just want to explain how bad it is here. The very last drug to help my symptons since there is no cure, falls under Medicare Part B as it has equipment to administer the drug. I have to pay 20 percent and the drug costs 18,000 a month. When I called and told them that I couldn't pay the deductible, they said sorry can't approve you. I was devastated and said that if I don't get this drug I would die, they said sorry again. I did eventually find a charity that helped with my portion. Sorry that I am rambling. Oh well.

[Glesgalass]

Re: Uninsured

That's awful Diane. I can't say it never happens here that meds cost a lot....it sometimes does until a new med is approved by our pharmaceutical benefits system. However, I've never heard of anyone dying because a medication was denied. It's not free here but I believe each item on a prescription will not cost more than about $30 and for pensioners it costs $5.50.

I've been told by other internet friends in the USA that you can sometimes get free meds from the manufacturers. I can't imagine how anyone could afford $18, 000 per month.

What I have seen with my own eyes is the fees which doctors there charge. 6 years ago when I was in Arizona I saw a doctors bill which had come for my late daughter in law. It was $140. I asked my son if that was one of the specialists she was seeing and he replied that it was just the GP's bill for ONE visit. I was stunned. Even today (6 years later) our GP's only charge around $60. I reckon you are getting ripped off there. Most of our GP's also will only charge the medicare rebate for pensioners and/or children.

Elda

[DonnaFlood]

Re: Uninsured

It's true. Doctor bills have escalated to an unbelievable place. Around 1970 we were living in Dallas. Crop dusters spraying fields gave me a terrible cough, couldn't overcome it. I came home to our old family doctor. We visited a
bit and his questioning told him what was wrong with me. He gave me cough medicine, gave me, mind you, cough medicine. The bill was 15.00. When I went back to Dallas a neighbor told me her doctor charged her 300 dollars plus tests to see what was wrong with her.

Native Americans have free insurance in agreement wth our treaties. Our ancestors asked that the phrase be written in,
"for as long as grass grows, and water flows." It has been a binding contract. However, the treatment at the clinics is
horrible. Day long waits to get help, medicine you don't want, and less than clean waiting rooms.

The last time I went the clinic was too crowded so they sent me to the emergency room in Stillwater. They did tests,
xrays and could find nothing wrong. One doctor said, "I don't even think you have diabetes." I almost laughed out loud but thought better of it. Rile the doctor and its like riling God. Long story short, the bill was 1500.00 the Indian clinic would not pay the bill,
for whatever reason. Finally my daughter called them and gave them the riot act. "Well, you call the hospital and tell them we will pay when money comes through." they grumbled.

So I did. I said something like this, "You have turned this account into Bill collectors and they are driving me crazy. I have had A-1 credit for a lifetime and at the age of 74 you are trying to ruin it.

Anyway they did finally pay the bill. Point being we are not top of the list on their priorities. I told someone, "They can
just give our land back, at the cost of land I could sell mine and live comfortably the rest of my life. . . .silence on
the home front.

Donna

[apictish1]

Re: Uninsured

Taking the subsidized health care away from US government officials still would not result in improving the US healthcare system for "we the people" because the government officials are relatively a lot more wealthy than the typical american. So they could afford to buy private healthcare that the average working class american could not afford. The only way to make government officials and the uberwealthy more responsive to the needs of working class americans is to decrease the income disparity that exists between them. Unfortunately, american culture has become much less compassionate and much more greedy. And far too many of the "99%" have bought into the uberwealthy propaganda that "trickle down economics" works (despite the obvious evidence to the contrary over the last 30 years). Also, far too many of the american "99%" have bought into the fiction that they will some day belong to the 1% and why should they then be forced to share with the more needy. Crazy. Given this miserable situation in america today, it has been hard to have any hope for the future. But the occupy movement has at least increased awareness of the class war perpetrated on this nation (and the world) by the 1% uberwealthy. So I guess there is always hope.