experience with socialized medicine

RS · #1 08-07-2009, 09:20 AM

In the US, we hear a lot about the shortcoming of socialized medicine. For those of you who live in a country with government sponsored healthcare, what has been you experience, both good and bad? And ultimately, would you trade it fora completely privatized system?

Absentia · #2 08-07-2009, 09:27 AM

Well in my country most of the people that complain about the reform are on medicare to begin with and they don't seem to mind that.
I like my healthcare the way it is granted it would be nice to have some regulations on the price of certain procedures and services like MRI's and CT scans and perhaps giving a little help to people who recently lost work, but are also showing initiative to get work.

I'm on the fence with the whole thing but the way it's looking right now it's not going to be good 2000pages and no one has actually read it, even the president who is shoving it down our throats.

Mark Latimour · #3 08-07-2009, 09:32 AM

I've lived under three public systems with the option for private cover. That is the best of both worlds and I have no complaints. I haven't had bad experiences in any socialised healthcare environment.

jojobean39 · #4 08-07-2009, 09:37 AM

Without getting political, just think of socialized medicine this way... let's say we add 50 million people who don't have healthcare into our system. What does that do? Creates longer waits and less quality.

Someone very close to me had to deal with socialized medicine while living in another country in Europe, just recently. The care he received was considered sub par by our standards. The wait was very long. The treatment was poor, at best. Once he moved back to America he was quickly and properly treated.

I am not saying our system is perfect. But the quality is unsurpassed. Malpractice reform and caps on lawsuits, IMO, are a much better approach to making healthcare more affordable.

bongomania · #5 08-07-2009, 09:37 AM

I find that well-socialized medicine gets along much better with other medicines, and is less prone to neurotic misbehavior.

i hate username · #6 08-07-2009, 09:37 AM

Woudnt ever consider living in the US for exactly this reason.

It think its crazy when you here people say "well why should i have to pay for someone elses healthcare" Its a tax reserve it doesnt work that way. What about if you dont want to pay for other peoples use of the fire brigade or the police?

EDIT: and statistically speaking America has one of the worst health care systems in the developed world...So does Ireland by the way just pointing out you can get bad health care on both systems its all down to how well its organised and run

CrispyDelicious · #7 08-07-2009, 09:37 AM

Every time I or one of my family members have been in a hospital, I'm thankful Canada cares for its citizens. Yes there are drawbacks (like in every system), but in the end, I'm glad for our health care system and I would never give it up. I can't imagine having to pay for hospital visits.

jojobean39 · #8 08-07-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrispyDelicious

I can't imagine having to pay for hospital visits.

What on earth do you mean? Someone is paying for your hospital visits. Healthcare is not free. It is paid for with your taxes.

Philbiker · #9 08-07-2009, 09:39 AM

Nobody who lives in a country with this type of system calles it "socialized". That's a term cooked up by demagogues in the USA. It's simply the "National Health Plan". We don't say we have a "socialized" military or a "socialized" park system.

If you know anyone who draws Medicare or Medicaid in the USA, or uses the Veteran's Administration health care, ask them the same question.

Joe Gress · #10 08-07-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I find that well-socialized medicine gets along much better with other medicines, and is less prone to neurotic misbehavior.

:golf clap:

Absentia · #11 08-07-2009, 09:43 AM

I'm just trying to make sense of the myths/facts about socialized health care, such as having to wait months or years for certain procedures, prevenitive care, rations basically all the bad things I hear over here.
granted I know our idiots in washington have alot more work to do, but they won't.

CrispyDelicious · #12 08-07-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojobean39

What on earth do you mean? Someone is paying for your hospital visits. Healthcare is not free. It is paid for with your taxes.

Correct. The difference being, with each visit, I am cared for without question, and am not subjected to a sudden massive bill that I can't afford.

Just like the police, roads, etc, etc,... The cops don't give me a bill every time they stop a crime, nor do I pay to drive on a highway every time I use it. The notion is absurd.

And philbiker is right:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Nobody who lives in a country with this type of system calles it "socialized". That's a term cooked up by demagogues in the USA. It's simply the "National Health Plan". We don't say we have a "socialized" military or a "socialized" park system.

If you know anyone who draws Medicare or Medicaid in the USA, or uses the Veteran's Administration health care, ask them the same question.

I've never before heard the term "socialized" health care. Here we just call it the public health system.

In Canada, at leat, I think it's generally viewed in much the same way as police services, fire services, infrastructure, and whatnot: The concensus is that a unified system ensure that all citizens are entitled to protection by the police, aid by firefighters, quality roads to drive on, a good education, and access to basic health care, etc. A safe, educated, healthy nation is something to be desired.

Of course, IMO, that's the Canadian view of it.

bmc · #13 08-07-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrispyDelicious

Every time I or one of my family members have been in a hospital, I'm thankful Canada cares for its citizens. Yes there are drawbacks (like in every system), but in the end, I'm glad for our health care system and I would never give it up. I can't imagine having to pay for hospital visits.

As Canadian living abroad, I have real concerns about returning to Canada because of how bad it is. Having lived and been hospitalized in Bahrain, Switzerland and Canada, I put Canada in last place.

Your last sentence makes me smile because you are paying for hospital visits today.

Joey3313 · #14 08-07-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojobean39

What on earth do you mean? Someone is paying for your hospital visits. Healthcare is not free. It is paid for with your taxes.

I think you know exactly what he means, and you're just trying to be a dick about it.

i hate username · #15 08-07-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojobean39

What on earth do you mean? Someone is paying for your hospital visits. Healthcare is not free. It is paid for with your taxes.

I think he ment actually having to pay money to the hospital himself every time he had to go,not that the whole system is free.

bmc · #16 08-07-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Absentia

such as having to wait months or years for certain procedures, preventative care,

This is my family's experience in Canada. They are shocked when I have told them getting an MRI within 2 hours here in Switzerland. Not unusual to wait 4-6 months in Canada.

Absentia · #17 08-07-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmc

As Canadian living abroad, I have real concerns about returning to Canada because of how bad it is. Having lived and been hospitalized in Bahrain, Switzerland and Canada, I put Canada in last place.

Your last sentence makes me smile because you are paying for hospital visits today.

nvm

jojobean39 · #18 08-07-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

I think you know exactly what he means, and you're just trying to be a dick about it.

Nope. Trying to dispell the myth that Canadians have "free" healthcare.

And the reason it is called socialized medicine is because, by the definition of socialize, that is what it is.

From Webster:

socialize- to organize group participation in

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socialized

bmc · #19 08-07-2009, 09:51 AM

I get a bill in the mail for every medical visit I take. I pay it and submit to my health insurance. I get most of the money back.

Getting a bill in the mail makes you think twice about going to emergency for a head cold.

I remember going to the Lion's Gate Hospital in 1999 in Vancouver. Since I was no longer a resident, I had to pull out the credit card. $335 just to take a seat and wait. After seeing the doctor, it was around $480. Ten years ago.

A striking number of Canadians really believe health care in Canada is free. It's not.

jojobean39 · #20 08-07-2009, 09:52 AM

I would be curious to know, from those in Canada or other public health care systems, how long would it take to get an MRI or an X-Ray? Or if I wanted elective surgery? Something that is not life threatening, but a problem such as carpal tunnel syndrome. I've heard the horror stories, but I would like to hear it from the mouth of those who live there.