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originally posted by: grainofsand
So you still had to pay then? What if you were homeless and didn't have two dimes to rub together, would you still have had the treatment?
originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: grainofsand
To make a long story short, The State of Washington had it's own form of umbrella to cover cases like myself. I received the needed help and my bill was far smaller than what the average person would receive that had coverage with a co-pay.
Here in the UK yes definitely, and the homeless person would receive whatever expensive drugs they needed without having to pay anything.
If that is the case in the US then I'll accept the claim of hyperbole, but if a citizen with no money is required to find money for medical care then hyperbole it ain't.
Agreed, and some are less perfect than others.
originally posted by: nwtrucker
No system is perfect.
Urm...I have a millionaire friend who gets exactly the same treatment in NHS hospitals as I do, or homeless people do for that matter. I am not a millionaire myself of course lol
originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: grainofsand
If you believe a millionaire and a homeless person is treated equally anywhere....well, I have some property is the Florida everglades I could sell you. An investment property.....
Yeah but he doesn't need to, so he doesn't, and instead takes advantage of our fantastic free local NHS services. I actually know 3 millionaires who just use the NHS, again because they have seen no need to obtain private insurance.
originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: grainofsand
If he chose, your millionaire friend could go wherever he wants for medical services....
See any royalty in that hospital you refer to?.....
Yep, maybe you heard about the UK's oldest woman getting a hip replacement a couple of weeks ago...
originally posted by: cavtrooper7
Your country apparently picks and chooses what to treat
Britain's oldest person may have entered the record books again - by having a hip operation at 112 years old.
Surgeons say Gladys Hooper is probably the oldest person in the world to have had a hip replacement.
She is now recovering in hospital on the Isle of Wight.
originally posted by: grainofsand
a reply to: nwtrucker
The most obvious thought here is if the Dane's were unhappy about their economic/social model then they would vote to change it. That does not seem to be the case so I assume as a nation they are generally happy with things as they are.
Not everyone views quality of life and affluence determined by the shiniest new car and the ability to buy it by denying their citizens free health care. That is a uniquely US thing as far as I see it.
Me, I like the NHS in the UK, been fixed many times over the years. I'd pay an extra 5% in income tax if it was dedicated to improving free heathcare for my country folk...but then I'm not a right wing person from the US.
originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: crazyewok
In the current debacle that is the ACA-I turned 65 three days ago- any major treatment expense automatically goes before what is politically labelled the "death committee" at age 67. They decide, based on the overall cost of the treatment and life-expectancy whether you merit that service.
No I do not have an option to private coverage. At my age, and I am required to use the ATA sited to prove coverage, I am sent to the Medicare site. I am not permitted private coverage options that I am aware of...believe it or not.
I would also disagree in that if I had private coverage that covered my serious illness, they'd cover that expense otherwise find themselves with a line of law-suits sitting at their doorstep.
Realize that the ACA is NOT socialized medicine. It is enforced private coverage....unless you reach senior status like myself. As each person gets to that age they are moved to Medicare with no further option.
originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: grainofsand
If he chose, your millionaire friend could go wherever he wants for medical services....
See any royalty in that hospital you refer to?.....
originally posted by: crazyewok
To be honnest I would not really hold the UK up as a system to adopt either. It might be far better than the US but it still has huge problems and would bankrupt the US. Hell its costing our nation of 70 million a fortune!
It would be better to look at France (as much as it pains me being a brit). Its ranks at the top in most categorys, provides good healthcare for all and is affordable.