Harleyman Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I am not familiar with the American system apart from what we hear on the media. We get so much about this and the impression is that American system is neglecting the very poor. Those on the poverty boundaries may may not be able to afford a health plan, so what happens to them, are they still looked after as they are in Britain? In the state I live in each county have hospitals that are supported by the taxpayers. Any poor uninsured person without the means to pay for treatment can walk in and get cared for. They may have to wait all day long if their illness is not life threatening but they will eventually be seen by a doctor and treated accordingly. Illegal aliens can also get treated in these facilities. Hospital authorities do not question a person's resident status. The other hospitals are not public subsidised. They make their money by billing and receiving payment from the patients medical insurance plans and also from public donations. Every employee has to pay into Social Security by a payroll deduction from each paycheck and and another deduction to cover the cost of their individual health plan. The employer usually pays part of the health coverage fee also When a worker retires at 65 he or she automatically gets a Social Security check every month, the amount is based on their annual earned income averaged out over the years they worked. From that check Medicare deduct about 100 dollars which is paid directly to their individual health insurance agency and covers doctors visits, exams, prescriptions and hospital stays including surgery but the patient is also required to make a co-payment at time of receiving treatment. I pay a co-payment 5 dollars for a doctor's visit, 13 dollars per prescription if I need one and if I need a hospital stay 125 dollars per day for the first 9 days After that it's free. I highly recommend anyone visiting the US to obtain travelers insurance before leaving. If a visitor is injured in an accident they will of course get the necessary treatment but also get a hefty great bill afterwards if they have no travel insurance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleyman Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Actually it's called national insurance... I used to have a card that the employer kept and they put stamps on it. Is that still in existence? When people got fired they used to tell them "Go and get your card" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radar Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 In the state I live in each county have hospitals that are supported by the taxpayers. Any poor uninsured person without the means to pay for treatment can walk in and get cared for. They may have to wait all day long if their illness is not life threatening but they will eventually be seen by a doctor and treated accordingly. Illegal aliens can also get treated in these facilities. Hospital authorities do not question a person's resident status. The other hospitals are not public subsidised. They make their money by billing and receiving payment from the patients medical insurance plans and also from public donations. Every employee has to pay into Social Security by a payroll deduction from each paycheck and and another deduction to cover the cost of their individual health plan. The employer usually pays part of the health coverage fee also When a worker retires at 65 he or she automatically gets a Social Security check every month, the amount is based on their annual earned income averaged out over the years they worked. From that check Medicare deduct about 100 dollars which is paid directly to their individual health insurance agency and covers doctors visits, exams, prescriptions and hospital stays including surgery but the patient is also required to make a co-payment at time of receiving treatment. I pay a co-payment 5 dollars for a doctor's visit, 13 dollars per prescription if I need one and if I need a hospital stay 125 dollars per day for the first 9 days After that it's free. I highly recommend anyone visiting the US to obtain travelers insurance before leaving. If a visitor is injured in an accident they will of course get the necessary treatment but also get a hefty great bill afterwards if they have no travel insurance Thank you sir it makes me feel we have something to be proud of here in the UK, with fewer complications and not being pushed to the back of the queue for being financially challenged:). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glamrocker Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Your right, we were down in St. Ives last year for the music festival, folk and poetry in nearly all the pubs, what a fantastic week. Yes I'm proud to be english and proud of all our wonderful music and traditions , folk, punk , rock you name it. I'm not proud though of the two scrotes on another thread who mugged a guy near Bramall Lane. Bit hypocritical that..The Cornish dont consider themselves English..they're Cornish and for christ sakes dont try to tell them any different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glamrocker Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I used to have a card that the employer kept and they put stamps on it. Is that still in existence? When people got fired they used to tell them "Go and get your card" Cards..in the plural..and no they finished with them years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleyman Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Thank you sir it makes me feel we have something to be proud of here in the UK, with fewer complications and not being pushed to the back of the queue for being financially challenged:). When I lived in the UK everything was free. My sister needed glasses and that was covered by the NHS, also dental work, extractions, fillings etc. and prescriptions. Now I hear the patient has to pay something towards it I also have dental insurance but it doesnt cover cosmetic work. I needed a crown on one of my teeth and it cost me about 485 dollars. The insurance company paid another 395 dollars. No wonder dentists in this part of the world drive around in Mercs and Porches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radar Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 When I lived in the UK everything was free. My sister needed glasses and that was covered by the NHS, also dental work, extractions, fillings etc. and prescriptions. Now I hear the patient has to pay something towards it I also have dental insurance but it doesnt cover cosmetic work. I needed a crown on one of my teeth and it cost me about 485 dollars. The insurance company paid another 395 dollars. No wonder dentists in this part of the world drive around in Mercs and Porches Defo in the wrong job here:confused: Dentists are getting a little costly for cosmetic work but I think the NHS is still looking after the majority of the 'can't afford it' types. You can still get a free pair of specs on NHS but not many would want to wear them out on the street though Normal specs do have a premium mark up that can set you back anything up to £300 but that is your choice, especially as you could buy the same frame or very similar for £50 on the net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert_Baehr Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Thank you sir it makes me feel we have something to be proud of here in the UK, with fewer complications and not being pushed to the back of the queue for being financially challenged:). You think so? The system Harleyman detailed involves going into the equivalent of the Emergency Room in an NHS hospital. As in the UK, you are seen by a triage nurse who assesses and prioritises your care. In a US hospital you could wait for 5 hours if you had a minor ailment. In an NHS hospital you could wait that long if there is something more serious (abeit not life-threatening.) If you need a hip replacement in the UK you go on a waiting list. If, however you are not 'financially challenged' you can elect to have the surgery done privately and you don't have to wait very long. You're not pushed to the back of the queue in the UK . - There are 2 queues. A short queue for people with money, a longer queue for the rest. Just like in the US. If a NHS hospital (or a Primary Care Trust) runs out of money, it starts cancelling appointments and operations. I've never heard of a US hospital turning people away because it doesn't have the money to treat them. Many people are very happy with the NHS. I'm glad they are satisfied, but if you search 'General Discussions' and 'Sheffield Discussions' sections of SF using the word 'Hospital' you might wonder whether Sheffield had NHS hospitals. There are very many people in the US who want to see US healthcare improved. I doubt you'd find many who would like to see a system like the NHS introduced, however. Whenever I've heard an NHS-style system suggested, the usual response is: "Thanks - but No, thanks." It's hardly uncommon to read - on this forum and elsewhere - appeals for money to send a sick person for treatment in the US. I've never seen an appeal in the US for money to send a sick person for treatment in England. A couple of years ago, NHS patients were going to France for treatment because the waiting times in England were so long. Do many French people come to the UK for treatment because the waiting times in France are long? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radar Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 You think so? ........................... Now look at you, trampling all over my pride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleyman Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 You think so? The system Harleyman detailed involves going into the equivalent of the Emergency Room in an NHS hospital. As in the UK, you are seen by a triage nurse who assesses and prioritises your care. In a US hospital you could wait for 5 hours if you had a minor ailment. In an NHS hospital you could wait that long if there is something more serious (abeit not life-threatening.) If you need a hip replacement in the UK you go on a waiting list. If, however you are not 'financially challenged' you can elect to have the surgery done privately and you don't have to wait very long. You're not pushed to the back of the queue in the UK . - There are 2 queues. A short queue for people with money, a longer queue for the rest. Just like in the US. If a NHS hospital (or a Primary Care Trust) runs out of money, it starts cancelling appointments and operations. I've never heard of a US hospital turning people away because it doesn't have the money to treat them. Many people are very happy with the NHS. I'm glad they are satisfied, but if you search 'General Discussions' and 'Sheffield Discussions' sections of SF using the word 'Hospital' you might wonder whether Sheffield had NHS hospitals. There are very many people in the US who want to see US healthcare improved. I doubt you'd find many who would like to see a system like the NHS introduced, however. Whenever I've heard an NHS-style system suggested, the usual response is: "Thanks - but No, thanks." It's hardly uncommon to read - on this forum and elsewhere - appeals for money to send a sick person for treatment in the US. I've never seen an appeal in the US for money to send a sick person for treatment in England. A couple of years ago, NHS patients were going to France for treatment because the waiting times in England were so long. Do many French people come to the UK for treatment because the waiting times in France are long? I have no complaints about the system in the US but I have a pretty good insurance coverage and my health plan have their own hospitals and clinics. If I need a doctors appointment I call a toll free number, punch in my health plan number and get an automatic voice reponse which gives me three or four appointment dates to choose from. When I've selected one I go to the clinic on that date and never have had to wait more than ten minutes to see my doctor. After having a physical and all the blood tests done for different things I get all the results E-mailed to me from their website within five days. If I had a medical emergency I can go to any hospital outside of my health plan for treatment or if it is a real life or death case call the paras. The Fire Department Paramedic services bill my health insurance for the cost. There's no waiting period for non-emergency surgery either. After seeing the specialist for a foot problem I had the surgery done within two weeks. My dad in the UK waited about 5 years for knee surgery. When I had to have intestinal surgery for a blockage three years ago I had a room to myself. I was still working at that time and my health plan covered the lot even though I was in hospital for about 8 days. The hospital also let my wife stay with me as long as she wanted even fixing up a fold out bed for her next to mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.