If we (USA) went to socialized medicine…

The two Davids have it right. Personally, I'm glad, despite all its faults, that we have an NHS and I wouldn't want to lose it; if you want to pay to jump the waiting-list for non-urgent treatment, there's always health insurance

 

Who determines what is urgent and what is not?

And I'm not just talking about a heart attack vs. an ingrown toenail...

You have to be seen by a doctor sometimes to determine if it is 'urgent'.

For example, I went to the doctor for swollen ankles. It turns out that I had a serious heart problem and had already had a heart attack. I was immediately put on several medications and had to undergo several heart-related tests.

I doubt that UHC would feel swollen ankles were 'urgent'.

If I would have been put on a waiting list, I might very well have died...

 

Would doctors suddenly become bad doctors if they were paid by the government? I'm sure a GP would be able to recognize the potential cause for the symptom of the swollen ankles, and he or she would order tests. It would be "urgent" because it would be seen as something potentially very serious.

It's not like you have month-long waiting lists for GPs.

 

GPs send one to a specialist for the tests.

We have already heard about the waiting list for specialists.

 

It depends, Sue. If you go to your GP, then it's usually the GP who assesses you and, if assessed as urgent, s/he'll often ring the local hospital to arrange for you to be admitted there and then. One of my colleagues, for example, went for a routine check-up at his GP's, which revealed that his blood pressure was sky-high. The GP took one look at the BP readings and said, "Mr Bloggins, I want you to go home and pack an overnight bag and then I want you to get your wife to drive you to the hospital; I'll phone ahead and arrange a bed for you." He was indeed admitted that evening and received treatment preventing a possible stroke or heart attack. He's also received follow-up treatment including medication and an angiogram, which fortunately has revealed he doesn't need angioplasty. All on the NHS, not costing him a penny.

Alternatively, if you think it's urgent, you could present yourself at the nearest Accident and Emergency Department (our ER) and be assessed by a triage nurse who, 99% of the time, will be pretty accurate. If s/he think's it's serious, you'll go to the top of the queue. The main reason for high A&E waiting times is either (a)people presenting themselves there with trivial complaints, (b) a lot of drunks turning up Friday and Saturday nights, often having been in fights or, more likely (c) a combination of (a) and (b)


More on the workings of the NHS can be found here and here. Note that the median time to be seen by a consultant if referred by your GP as a non-urgent case is three weeks.

 

Thanks Matt. All the horror stories I've heard have scared me pretty badly since DH and I both have heart problems, and occasionally we need immediate care.

I can recall three incidents, that had we not been seen immediately and rushed to surgery, neither of us would be alive today.

You said "not costing him a penny". But, in actuality, it did cost him by paying higher taxes.

I have never heard a breakdown of what each family would pay, but I'm sure it's not cheap.

Illinois is already one of the highest taxed states in the United States. I don't think we can handle anymore.

You've heard of 'insurance poor'? We're 'tax poor'.

 

Yes, he did pay higher taxes - as do I - ie: 40% above c£33K pa but that was because of his earnings rather than because he personally needed treatment. I guess you also have to ask whether private health insurance would have been cheaper for him (given also that he has both a personal and family history of heart trouble) if there was no NHS.

 

We also have a personal and family history of diabetes and cancer.

I'd prefer to leave things the way they are...

 

See my post #40 on this thread for the three rates on income tax here. I suppose we have to remember that it is not easy to make a direct comparison between one country's taxation and another's because (as in the matter of healthcare) what is paid for through taxation differs from country to country.

 

Yes, and taxation pays for a lot of things besides healthcare.

 

You have group coverage.

If you don't have group coverage, you aren't going to get approved for an individual plan with these conditions.

Your options are welfare, bankruptcy, or death.

 

There's always Medicare...

 

Sue, I have medicade because of a disability(SSI not regular disabilty payments, just medical), and I do have a co pay.

 

My husband worked 10 hour days, 5 or 6 days a week, and we still qualified for assistance because his income never was more then $300. in a month.
After he went to 'public work' we still qualified because he made $3.15 an hour. Everyone getting help is not lazy. here there are laws to prevent it. Anyone receiving public assistance, unless they are seniors or have disabilities must look for work, and prove it. they have a certain time to be employed. One problem is transportation, many do not have a car to be able to go to work. They throw out an unmarried mother quicker then anything, 2 or 3 kids, and get a minimum wage job and expected to make it on her own with that, yet they will not help her get an education so she can get a better job. How is she to pay childcare, and living expenses working for minimum wage. She can't.

 

Oh, ok Donna.

My youngest daughter (in MO) is on disability, and Medicaid, since she lost a leg to cancer and she has no co-pay, but has to travel out-of-town to see a doctor.

My dil (in WI) works at Burger King (due to her husband being in prison) and she is still on Medicaid and food stamps, plus they pay an after-school babysitter for her, but she does not receive any cash.

The laws in each state must be different. I was just going by their respective situations. It may be due to the minimum wage in each state also.

I, in no means, was implying that everyone on welfare is lazy, but I HAVE met plenty who are.

 

The waiting list is just see the doctor for him to determine what tests or care you need. In the mean time she could die from it.

 

I pay a co pay for every dector visit, every test done outside his office, and every prescription.

 

If you live long enough.

 

Read Matt's post above.

You aren't going to be waitlisted for an emergency situation.

Even if you are waitlisted for a non-emergency, three weeks isn't bad. I've waited longer than that with insurance in our system.