[DragonOfEarth]

That reminds me of something else that pisses me off about the health insurance industry. After my eye injury, I got my first bill from the hospital when it was "covered" by my insurance, the bill came to $300. When my insurance claim got denied, the hospital charged me $500 for it. Why in the blue hell do hospitals charge people who have to pay out of pocket more than the damn insurance companies?

i have never heard of that, that i can remember anyway. however; id know that the hospitals usually scew over whoever has welfare & such by saing they need all these tests, etc. that they don't need, because they know the government will pay for it... and thus they get the extra money.

there was a big to do about this a while ago when it was first "discovered" (to me that means the wrong person found out, did the right thing & told)

[czwfan]

with this cospiracy thread lee will join soon

[Ben]

In United Kingdom we have the National Health Service (NHS) something which Obama is proposing to introduce to US. We have had the NHS since the 1940s and it is something of a national insisture to British people. Basically as a tax payer we all pay into the pot for the NHS so we can get medicine and treatment , ops etc free so to speak. You can of course opt to go private an many people do - of course if you had money why not? but our system allows young , old , poor , rich all to have a service of national health care from "cradle to grave" as the motto goes.

Companies in this country also offer private health scheme ...like my grandfather worked for the local government for many years and when he retired he got private health care of which he paid for while he was working (they deducted it out of his wages like £10 a month)

1. How long does it take to get a surgery done?

- Depends ...if we are talking emergency often weeks unless its a real emergency then its done there and then. My Grandmother has a knee replacement 2 years ago and she waited about 8months ...she is due a hip and is currently waiting for a date. She does not have the money to go private.

2. Are doctors in your country typically poor?

- pwff no they are among the highest earns around £75-80 thousand + per year.

3. Do you have or know of any horror stores about getting in to see a doctor?

- Not really

4. How much do you typically pay to get a perscription?

- Well if you are under 18 in the UK or over a certain age (65 maybe 70) you don't pay ...so I am just over 18 now and have yet to have a prescription.

5. About how much of your taxes would you say go to paying for socialized medicine?

- £200 of your council tax (local government tax) goes toward the NHS, as does whatever you pay for prescriptions etc

6. Are there any times where you need to pay a large amount for health care?

- No never ...and that is thanks to the NHS


People knock the British NHS but you have to understand our way of life. It has been there since the 1940's and we consider it an institution . The fact that we don't have to look for a wallet before we rush to a hospital is a nice thing to know. It has its problems yes but every system does.

Maybe America should NOT adopt the NHS system we have because really to introduce something like that to American society now is just well HARD to do. I do think though everybody should have access to health care and I have heard some awful stories about poor people in American not getting adequate treatment.


WoW that was long ...hope it helped :)

[DragonOfEarth]

ther's a show on HBO i watch called "Real Time With Bill Maher" (it's a discussion panel type thing, where him and 2-3 other people talk about politics, current events, etc.) and since he's also a comedian, there's humor here and there. sometimes the panel consiss of journalists, politicians, celebs involved in politics, and various other types of people...

this is a special segment from the show:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ZPo_GOPft3k

i know there's more on healthcare, but i can't seem to find any of them that specifically speak about the healthcare issue on youtube.

however, while looking for some, i found out rep. Alan Grayson started a website dedicatd to those who died because they didn't have healthcare. you can find that website here:

http://namesofthedead.com/

[Ben]

Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura puts Jesse Ventura on the road with investigative producers June Sarpong and Alex Piper and executive producer Michael Braverman. They're on a mission to examine possible conspiracies surrounding secret societies, global warming, alleged 9/11 cover-ups, a research center in Alaska that could be a secret government weapon and apocalyptic prophecies, to name a few.

[DragonOfEarth]

ok, get this: i had to go to the ER yesterday (sinus problems + an ear infection that hurt like a bitch & had everyone's voices echoing in that ear- very annoying) and the family doc cut his hours due to the holidays, so he was booked all day mon. had half a day tues (he had some sort of meeting all moring) and couldn't get me in till wends morn. well, with the ear cracking & popping + the echoing crap i couldn't take it anymore, had to go to the ER, which we have to fill out papers to see how much asst. we can get there. but he gave me a prescription for an anti-biotic (that was $31 & change for 6 PILLS) + another $10 or so for the over-the-counter allergy medicine he said to get (10 TINY pills)... so it was $40-some by the time it was all over. he was with min for aout 5-8 min. and seemed like he was trying to rush, too.

it's pathetic. i'm so sick of people being stupid and not realizing what the deffinition of "option" in "the public option" means. they act like they'll be forced to get the public version.. no, it'll just force the insurance companies to provide better, more afforable plans... and if they do go under, i won't shed a tear for those money grubbing bastards. it's bad enough some corperations are money grubbing... but these people are selling peaple's health & well being... it's just wrong... which is wy i'm so sick of hearing crap like "this is a christian counry" or "a moral country" what's so christian or moral about making tons of money off of people's pan & suffering? especially defending these people now that the whole healthcare debate has been brought up a while ago. they're really no better than those laywers back in the day who would follow ambulances and hand the person their card...

[Ben]

I have to say I love and respect USA. ONE thing I do not like is their healthcare system it is just so wrong imo.

I love the NHS we have in the UK , has problems but to know you can get good health care free is a blessing.

[Jackerias]

I agree with Ben, the NHS here is a blessing. I don't think some Americans realise that it's actually a really good idea. When you're in a near death situation, the last thing you want to be worrying about it paying for the treatment they do to save your life.

[Ben]

Ya unfortunately I think the idea of money equalling THE BEST has been engraved on many Americans minds...so to introduce a health system which does not require you to reach for your wallet in some Americans minds equals a lesser service.

I do not mean to offend any of my fellow buddies in American but a GREAT DEAL of Americans are very closed to other systems, ways of life, practises etc. It is AMERICAS WAY or NO WAY.

America is one of the greatest counties on earth do not get me wrong but it is NOT the only country to have the answer for everything.

Many countries included my own look to America for answers but the USA does not often look outside its own for answers - I believe that's a social issues tbh USA has always had this strong, fighting, number 1 nation image and to look for answers elsewhere would demoralise that image maybe.

I like Obama because he is a different type of president. He has a wealth of knowledge that does not just lie in America. Take Bush, Cliton, Bush, Reagan etc they all have the American ways about them STRONG, TRUE and somewhat stereotypical Americans who believe in the American way. Obama understands that there lies a world beyond the USA and he is opening up America a little more and making people see that just because you are not in America does not mean you are backwards.

There are people that are sooooo American that begin the believe that places like the UK are behind them and that hurts us Brits. WHY? ... well not only have we stood by the USA's side for many years we are actually fighting with them in a WAR... we are they only country in the world to commit thousands of troops - we have lost many. Obama has respected and made several speeches in which he has recognised the UK troops I think that is a good move for our relationship.

Anyway I digress but my point is the USA is opening up more and ya many people moan and complain now and you get the scare stories about how the British health system is awful ...but in reality it is not. If you have money you can still go get "BETTER" health care but to give everybody health care from cradle to grave FREE is something we should all have the right too. Just like education.

Even I am prepared to take my hat off and salute Germany for its handling of the recession and its system which took it out of one :) our PM said we would be out first ....WE ARE STILL NOT ... We look to our former enemies for the answers now ...that is TRUE progress. Our country respects Germany so much now.

Ben

[DragonOfEarth]

Ya unfortunately I think the idea of money equalling THE BEST has been engraved on many Americans minds...so to introduce a health system which does not require you to reach for your wallet in some Americans minds equals a lesser service.

being an American.. i couldn't agree more, most of that is the republican propaganda machine's fault, though. and more-lately the demecrats are turning into something not-so-pleasent as well. people don't get that when these politicans recieves hundreds of thousands to millions of $$$ from these people to finance their campeighns, they really aren't donations per-say... they want favors of some kind. which usually means the rich get the benefits and the poor & middle-class get the shaft (without lube, as well sometimes)

people are so stupid... they seem to think he (or she) who talks the loudest and the most has the best point. i cannot believe that a lot of people believed palin when she said "end of life counsoling" met "death panels" where people sit around a table and basically decide who's gonna live or die... and what kills me is them saying "the government will decide who gets health coverage if they take over" as opposed to the insurance companies deciding what they'll pay for and what they won't, like it is in the US now. and some insurance companies increase your monthly payments by an X amount just for using it. if they can do that, then WTF do we pay them for? not to use it? what pisses me off is people don't seem to know the definition of the word OPTION in "the public option" you can keep your over-priced private insurance if ya want... the private insurance industry needs someone to compete with them... that's supposed to be the best part of capitalism, people competeing for your buisness via giving you the best deals/service.. now you may get good deals, but good luck finding good service. those 2 things don't go togetehr much anymore. people are all worried about the government controlling buisnesses, but it's pretty much the other way around, has been for a while. and we're getting the shaft. people are still so niave to think that if you just work hard you'll get your raises & promotions, what matters most is who you know/who likes you not what you know or can do... and working your ass off for months just to get 25 cent/hr raise (if your lucky) is bull shit as well.

I do not mean to offend any of my fellow buddies in American but a GREAT DEAL of Americans are very closed to other systems, ways of life, practises etc. It is AMERICAS WAY or NO WAY.

you didn't offend me (if it's any consolation) lol... you're speaking the truth, which is a sad thing to say (given what the truth is) :( but yeah, people are very close-minded over here. and as far as getting information, most are lazy. they don't wanna search for it (especially when it comes to learning why people believe/think differently on a given situation) they rely on a news agency on TV to do so, and usually stick with the one that agrees the most with their point of view (most people seem to watch fox news & take people like glen beck's word like it's the fucking gospel) and fox news is soooooooo biased to the right it's not even funny. really it seems every news station is biased to one side of thinking or another in the US. instead of just reporting the damn facts on all sides of the arguement and let people decide for themselves. no they tell people what to think & it seems most people are happy with that, 'cause it's less effort. they (the news stations) choose which side they wanna represent the most. news is another thing that has gone down hill since it became for profit (much like the medical industry)

and the thing we hold value the most here (first ammendment) namely free speech really isn't 100% "free" so to speak. you may have free speech as far as the government is concerned, but as far as the people are concerned you really don't have free speech unless they agree with you. trust me, i've encounted this problem a lot. especially after 9/11 (i disagreed with going into the middle east period) especially for revenge, but i was more against going into iraq.. and while everyone was voicing their opinions (pretty much spouting what they heard on the news word for word) i voiced mine & was told i should be shot because i didn't support the troops, when the way i see it is i supported them by not wanting them in harms way for no-reason. let-a-lone in a no-win situation. yeah i remember those days when speaking out against the war met you were against the troops, taking the side of the terrorists, anti-american, etc. hell when france said they weren't gonna back us the anti-france meter went so far off the scale it fucking broke. it was so bad people were talking about changing the name of "french fries" to "freedom fries" PATHETIC. like you said ben, people over here aren't really open to anything different that much (and they wonder why nothing works all that well) einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" the only time people will support something different (it seems) is if their told it'll cut taxes is the only thing i'd add. then you could be putting babies on spikes (a little nod to Eddie Izzard) and they'd be all for it just to save some money.

America is one of the greatest counties on earth do not get me wrong but it is NOT the only country to have the answer for everything.

no country is really great, imo. and since this isn't the 50's the US really isn't as great as it used to be. it's pretty sad that it seems like in order to add any critisism about the US everyone (whether from the US or not) has to stroke the masses of the US populations junk by adding "the us is still the greatest country on earth" in there somewhere. and people who don't add that after critising the US usually get ripped apart.. it's sad, really.

Many countries included my own look to America for answers but the USA does not often look outside its own for answers - I believe that's a social issues tbh USA has always had this strong, fighting, number 1 nation image and to look for answers elsewhere would demoralise that image maybe.

it may be that, but it's probably the ego of "we can think up something better, from scratch" like if we use another country's method of doing anything(even with some things changed around) that we will somehow become that country, it's happened with health care where people have said if we go to some form of national health care we'll turn communist... people had signs of obama with a hitlier stash painted on & saying that obama's plans for healthcare were similar to hitliers, blah blah. and it seems to mostly be the people who have some health coverage who are against a national healthcare plan.. like they don't want other people who are sick to be able to go to the doctor?

I like Obama because he is a different type of president. He has a wealth of knowledge that does not just lie in America. Take Bush, Cliton, Bush, Reagan etc they all have the American ways about them STRONG, TRUE and somewhat stereotypical Americans who believe in the American way. Obama understands that there lies a world beyond the USA and he is opening up America a little more and making people see that just because you are not in America does not mean you are backwards.

i agree 100%

There are people that are sooooo American that begin the believe that places like the UK are behind them and that hurts us Brits. WHY? ... well not only have we stood by the USA's side for many years we are actually fighting with them in a WAR... we are they only country in the world to commit thousands of troops - we have lost many. Obama has respected and made several speeches in which he has recognised the UK troops I think that is a good move for our relationship.

i agree there too. it's one of those "all high and mighty" type deals with a lot of people over here it seems... like we're 1 step short of gods or some crap.

Anyway I digress but my point is the USA is opening up more and ya many people moan and complain now and you get the scare stories about how the British health system is awful ...but in reality it is not. If you have money you can still go get "BETTER" health care but to give everybody health care from cradle to grave FREE is something we should all have the right too. Just like education.

i agree 100% man.. about the health care & education, as well. but like i said, it's that propaganda machine for ya.. the republicans are experts at that stuff.

[Ben]

So I talk truth? lol woo ! :)
ha

woopy