It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by GunzCoty
It is not free in the UK the money is made from the 50 million taxes you have (btw wtf is a TV tax? really?) and the care is not as good or should i say its better to pay for healthcare as well.
My wife is from the UK and she told me she paid for extra healthcare because she got faster and better care.
The US system is bad but only because the Insurance companies and (as seen in the op) the hospitals price gouge the hell out of everything. $200 for 2 Tylenol aspirin.
There is no such thing as FREE healthcare.
Originally posted by starchild10
Originally posted by GunzCoty
It is not free in the UK the money is made from the 50 million taxes you have (btw wtf is a TV tax? really?) and the care is not as good or should i say its better to pay for healthcare as well.
My wife is from the UK and she told me she paid for extra healthcare because she got faster and better care.
The US system is bad but only because the Insurance companies and (as seen in the op) the hospitals price gouge the hell out of everything. $200 for 2 Tylenol aspirin.
There is no such thing as FREE healthcare.
OK let's play semantics. If you want to split hairs, there is no such thing as free anything. Dohh... But it is FREE AT THE POINT OF CARE. Geddit? So yes it is paid for in the taxes but those taxes are roughly proportional to your income. You could be a vagrant on the street with no job and still get treated. But of course it's not perfect. Sometimes there are waiting lists for routine ops and if you have the cash you can pay to 'go private' and jump the queue. The point is there is no worry if you get sick. If my appendix bursts tomorrow or if I fall over on the ice and break a bone, if I get diabetes etc I don't have nightmares about a bill. I no longer pay taxes even. Frankly I know which system I would rather have.
Originally posted by Vaxar
UK citizens pay taxes for everything anyway, that includes to taxes to watch tv and listen to radios lol
Originally posted by macman
Does the bill suck? Yes?
The Hospital, Doctors and staff don't work for free. What do you expect?
I do love all the posts giving advice on how to get the Govt to pay for it, you know, from their magical money tree in garden at the White House.
Negotiate with the Hospital. If he is paying cash (No insurance) he could very likely get the bill cut in half.
Originally posted by StealthyKat
reply to post by macman
Even if they cut the bill in half, it would still be more than I can afford right now. I know they have to make a living, but it's the HOSPITAL who charges this ridiculous amount of money. Next time you get a bill after a hospital stay, look at the itemized part....see how they charge you outrageous amounts for the tiniest things. $6 for a single Tylenol. It has nothing to do with the nurses and CNAs....the hospitals have to charge that much to recoup the money for all those who skip out on their bills. The working people have to pat their bill, PLUS extra to make up for those who don't or can't.
Originally posted by macman
Oh, good lord.
You do realize that as an average, a CNA makes around $25-$30 an hour?
Doctors make around $150k a year, on the low side.
As for the Govt wasting money?
Yep, I am against Nation Building as well.
But, that does not negate the fact that Medicine, like anything else in life is provided by someone making a living as well.
Question: How much money does the US spend on its military?
Answer: 578,956,000,000
old answer according to one site on the web 730,000,000,000
Read more: wiki.answers.com...
Originally posted by boymonkey74
I just really don't understand a 1st world country which allows people to bankrupt themselves just to get medical help.
I feel sorry for the OP and you all who have to pay so much money for something we in the UK take for granted.
Oh and macman we know it isnt free, the people who work have to get payed (I work healthcare) but at least we only have to think about getting better and not the added worry of wondering how long I will have to pay for my treatment.edit on 18-12-2011 by boymonkey74 because: (no reason given)