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Post by glenn_uk on Sept 11, 2006 14:24:27 GMT -5
Comrades, Please feel free to discuss/ dispute a subject of monumental importance - health care. In this week's article I've attempted to give an overview of the British NHS, a very popular and increasingly successful British institution. www.powersandmorrison.com/Blogs-MainPages/Blogs-Glenn.htmlWe found US health care to be unbelievably cumbersome with lengthy administrative procedures, form-filling and so on - but we were lucky. Many friends had no cover at all, which struck us as scarcely believable in a civilised country. Anyway - fire away with any follow-up questions. Thanks! -GB
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wyldberi
P&M Regular Contributor
Posts: 93
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Post by wyldberi on Sept 11, 2006 16:24:53 GMT -5
The health care system in America is sick; "Code Blue".
There has been a scam running since the 1970's where unscrupulous health care providers have been overcharging for services, and crooked insurance companies and politicians with dubious moral standards have looked the other way. Everyone is pocketing handfuls of unearned cash from the scam.
It's become so lucrative that there are "professionals" dreaming up complicated billing schemes that require other administrative specialists to cope with. This is all excess overhead put into place to help cover the facts of the scam.
Our healthcare system was bought and paid for by the American taxpayer in the past. Now, the average American is being priced out of the system so that health care is a "luxury" item that only the elite members of society can afford.
"Wellness" appears to be a rareified, esoteric term. Instead of protecting our population's health, our healthcare system has been converted into a machine that treats symptoms with expensive drugs, therapy, and surgical procedures. The goal: usher the average citizen along to their death bed where their financial resources can be drained off into the healthcare scam, and then charge the federal government (the average taxpayer) for outrageous fees associated with end-of-life care.
As I said, our healthcare system is sick. But what can you expect when sick individuals like Bill Frist are prime examples of those advocating for the advancement of our present system.
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Post by whiterabbit76 on Sept 11, 2006 16:33:58 GMT -5
There is no question, our health care "system" (better stated, health care INDUSTRY) is very near the point of total collapse. I work in the so - called system and it is disgusting!
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Post by PHILIP RACUEL on Sept 11, 2006 18:44:16 GMT -5
I agree with the other respondants- just let me ad that I loved your piece today- very informative...I am sure a question will come to me ...in the meantime- thumbs up for writing a good piece.
Cheers
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Post by glenn_uk on Sept 11, 2006 19:37:01 GMT -5
Comrades,
Thanks for your responses - wasn't sure if anyone was reading the articles! It really struck me when watching "30 Days - Minimum Wage" by Morgan Spurlock (The "Supersize me!" guy), when his wife got ill and they had to - without medical insurance - attend the emergency room.
They walked out owing something like $600-odd for a 5-minute consultation and a prescription for anti-biotics. Unbelievable.
So the HMO's have Americans over a barrel. Either you pay ludicrously hefty insurance premiums, or pay even more when you get sick. If you don't have the money, a loan (at unfavourable terms, naturally!) is offered - and what are you going to do? Die of a an easily treatable disease or take a loan?
When I lived in America an Indian friend said soon after he arrived, he got concerned over chest pains. The hospital took him in, gave him loads of tests, but after a week he got really worried about the costs.
They told him don't be stupid, he needs to stay a month, but he discharged himself. Hasn't had health problems since - but he does have a significant financial problem.
For that one week stay, he owes the hospital $25,000 with interest accruing. As a chef/ waiter, the chances of paying that back any time soon are slim.
Scandalous.
-GB
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Post by PHILIP RACUEL on Sept 11, 2006 20:36:58 GMT -5
$25,000 is normal for a week and in some hospitals it is a bargain!
Yes, people read you posts...I am beginning to wonder if I should bother writing mine anymore...people have nothing to say and to me writing is an interactive art especially when you are writing about politics. Whether I continue writing or not I will still stay tuned to your page- I really like the way you write and the material you present.
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Post by trouble97018 on Sept 12, 2006 22:27:42 GMT -5
I have one question and a comment.
Comment:
The "failed" NHS in the UK as compared to the US. I have a life threatening health issue, no insurance and no ability to get any. I have been told by everyone I contacted for help, "sorry we can't help you" In other words GO HOME AND DIE.
Question:
Glenn, can I move to the UK?
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wyldberi
P&M Regular Contributor
Posts: 93
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Post by wyldberi on Sept 13, 2006 14:03:05 GMT -5
trouble's comment reminds me of a bar tender named Steve I once knew. He was from Britain and working in this little dive while he was working on a biography of Winston Churchill. His visa had expired, he had no health care insurance at the time, and was having problems with his legs (something about the blood supply). He was in a considerable amount of pain, couldn't afford to get treatment here, and couldn't return to Britain because of the visa issue. (If he went back he was afraid he wouldn't be able to return.)
His comment that even the poorest person in Britain would never be left to suffer with an ailment that was easily treatable because they couldn't afford to pay for the treatment struck me as a sad commentary on the state of affairs in this country at the time (1993).
trouble's comment also reminds me to say that the stories about America having the best health care system in the world are nothing but propaganda. At its best, America does do pretty well. But given the growing number of people priced out of the health insurance pool (myself included) our health care system has failed, entirely.
As with most things in this nation, our health care system was built on the sweat and backs of the common man. The taxes paid by the middle class put our doctors through medical school, and paid for the development of most drugs that have been developed since the 1940's through grants to the National Institutes of Health and other research institutions. This healthcare system was intended to benefit all Americans.
The descendants of the robber barons have decided to recover the losses to the middle and working classes they were forced to endure from the 1940's onwards. For years the poor and indigent have been forced to live without any health care until they become sick. Then it's emergency room treatment. Now, by pricing proper health care out of the range of the average American family, they are stripping the wealth of the middle class, and using the inability to afford insurance to try to create a sense of inferiority within this group comprising the vast majority of Americans.
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Post by glenn_uk on Sept 14, 2006 17:22:16 GMT -5
trouble97018 - sure you can come to the UK - we take all sorts these days, just review the right-wing press wyldberi - I also lived in SF for a few years. There, and elsewhere in the US, it was astounding to meet so many people who had no health insurance. They passed it off as no biggie, they kept healthy and so on - but it was pretty clear they were frightened about their situation, as any rational person would be. Note that Blair is keen to privitise every last little piece of it he can before he goes. This week, it was medical supply deliveries which have come up for this treatment. This is because Blair and his cronies cannot imagine a service as being motivated by anything except money. Wanting to be a part of the health profession team for its own sake is something they simply cannot understand. Truely was it said about Conservatives - they know the price of everything, and the value of nothing. -GB
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Post by Nathan Morrison on Sept 14, 2006 18:08:39 GMT -5
I'm not sure if anyone has invited Udokier here. I am banned from the MMMB, but extend him my personal invitation if any of you are in contact with him still. He currently resides in Japan, and has good info on their healthcare system that is relevant to this conversation. I will summarize by saying according to Udokier, whom I have no reason to doubt, Japan's system is also entirely less expensive and actually healthcare oriented similar to the UK program and opposing our US pay everyone lots program.
Thank you for this article Glenn, keep up the fine work.
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Post by glenn_uk on Sept 18, 2006 9:56:29 GMT -5
Quoted from the Cuba Solidarity website: ---------------------------------------------------- BBC Newsnight: Cuba, the best health services in the World Over the last few months, Newsnight has been searching for the best public services in the world to see how we measure up and what we can learn. We invited guest reporters to argue the case for the most interesting, innovative and thought provoking examples of public service provision. John Harris of the Guardian travelled to Cuba to examine a health system which, despite very obvious caveats with the way the country is run, has achieved extremely impressive healthcare indicators, primarily, as John discovered, by focusing on prevention and establishing doctor and nurse teams at the heart of the local community. Even if you've got a clean bill of health, your local GP will still pay you a visit once a year to check on your wider lifestyle and home environment. Cuban leader Fidel Castro is said to be recovering after illness forced him to temporarily relinquish power. As John Harris reports, he is lucky to be able to count upon some of the best healthcare in the world. Watch the 12min. film online at: news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news_web/video/9012da68004cb68/nb/09012da68004cd74_16x9_nb.asxSee also: www.cuba-solidarity.org/news.asp?ItemID=859
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