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by pepe09 on October 26th, 2006
It is kind of like a vending machine, the more change you put into it, the more you get out of it.
When you stop feeding the machine with change, the music stops.
For 44 million Americans, it does not work. They are without any healthcare insurance.
What happens when they get sick? They stay sick, somehow get better, or they go to the Emergency Room and their bills get paid by the taxpayers or other patients.
Americans pay 30to 40% more for the exact same pharmaceuticals than Canadians or Europeans use.
Why? Because the pharmaceutical companies can get away with it (They are very nicely politically connected).
Some states, like Massachusetts are working to provide a mandatory health coverage plan, but this effort is a state by state initiative, and there are 50 states.
Ironically, a huge (and unhealthy) portion of the US budget each year goes to Medicare and Medicaid.
Between all of the existing government health care programs, the US is already 40% or more on the way to a national healthcare system.
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I am up doing a paper for my benefits class. What is your opinion on healthcare reform?
by Ms. Whiplash on November 8th, 2011
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Out of all the countries ive lived in the world, the UK has the worst healthcare system ever! ( NHS ) WHY ?
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Comments
So if you're ill and have no insurance you can get treatment at the Emergency Room?
by lady fuschia on October 26th, 2006
Federal law prohibits ERs from turning away patients. Unfortunately, ER medicine is very expensive, and this adds to the cost to government (taxpayers) and insured patients who must cover the cost of uninsured patients.
by ptrask on October 26th, 2006
So an ER treats things like kidney infections and flu then? Non-emergency things?
by lady fuschia on October 26th, 2006
No ER's don't accept any non-serious patients, you must pay upfront or you go home. We do have what you call, Urgent care for those, and they are pay upfront too, but cheaper and take care of broken bones etc. If you still can't afford it,
by littleknown on October 26th, 2006
Lady Fuschia - from my experience, the ER will treat kidney/urinary tract infections. They don't like to see people with the flu unless they have severe side effects from it (i.e Severe dehyrdation) something that could cause a worse condition.
by Jenniferocious on October 26th, 2006
But... to continue - they can't turn someone away simply because they are only there for the flu. They have to see someone if they wish to be seen. They just don't appreciate patients with the common cold or flu with no other reason to be ther
by Jenniferocious on October 26th, 2006
But why would you bother to get health insurance if the government will pay anyway?
by Carmella on October 26th, 2006
You first have to qualify, Carmella. If you make too much money, then you're expected to pay. The hospitals will even go so far as to garnish your wages from your paychecks if you don't pay.
by Anonymous on January 31st, 2007
Even with health insurance there are problems getting them to pay their share or pay on time. Approval codes are required for surgeries, and doctors must coordinate with insurance what procedures will be done and at what agreed charges, but endless paperwork creates unnecessary stalls. It took me over 2 years to finally resolve bills for my back surgery, because insurance people didn't complete the papers and wouldn't look up codes to verify charges. The company CEO had told me to be sure I had all my conversations logged as proof of when and who I talked with each time. It was the only thing that finally saved me in the end from having to cover 20K$ of bills!
by MyKinKStar on January 31st, 2007