Socialized Medicine

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Pros and cons of socialized medicine and its comparison to private healthcare; thoughts, opinions, experiences, or whatever. It would be interesting to hear the experiences of people who have dual citizenship or who have experienced both, but any thoughts, etc., are ok.
 
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I really don't know, [MENTION=5224]Sadie[/MENTION] what is your opinion?
 
Sadie said:
I don't really have an opinion, thats why I was asking for others thoughts, experiences, etc.
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After reading your Adventures in Health Care thread I thought you must.

I would really like to hear from those who have experienced it.... I am happy with my Health Care my family, My mom (89) is on Medicare (which I guess is socialize in a way) and she is well taken care of , of course she has five adult children to help her out.
 
I've experienced it and it works absolutely fine. I truly don't understand what everyone's problem with it is.
 
Furthermore, we don't call it "socialized medicine", we call it "public healthcare", in much the same way as you would refer to "public education". I don't know, maybe I'm just splitting hairs, but I think it's a valid distinction.
 
Stu said:
After reading your Adventures in Health Care thread I thought you must.

I would really like to hear from those who have experienced it.... I am happy with my Health Care my family, My mom (89) is on Medicare (which I guess is socialize in a way) and she is well taken care of , of course she has five adult children to help her out.
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My adventures in healthcare thread - ha, ha. Yeah, one would think I would have an opinion about public healthcare (sorry) but I don't. Im actually just curious about peoples thoughts and experiences with it.
 
[MENTION=5224]Sadie[/MENTION], I'm sorry, please understand I did not mean to sound angry or express anger at you at all in my previous post on this thread. I was just expressing my thoughts about it. I realise I can be quite an icy person to interact with, I'm sorry, nothing personal was intended towards you. :hug:
 
invisible said:
[MENTION=5224]Sadie[/MENTION], I'm sorry, please understand I did not mean to sound angry or express anger at you at all in my previous post on this thread. I was just expressing my thoughts about it. I realise I can be quite an icy person to interact with, I'm sorry, nothing personal was intended towards you. :hug:
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No prob. I didn't take it that way. I actually appreciated the information as I really know very little about it. But thanks for that.
 
[MENTION=1814]invisible[/MENTION] and [MENTION=5601]ezra[/MENTION], can you be more specific about why it works so well? Im curious cause I don't know anything about it and have not experienced it.

I just want to add that I don't want this thread to turn into an argument about which is better or worse. I'm just looking to compile an objective comparison based on people's experiences.
 
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Sadie said:
[MENTION=1814]invisible[/MENTION] and [MENTION=5601]ezra[/MENTION], can you be more specific about why it works so well? Im curious cause I don't know anything about it and have not experienced it.

I just want to add that I don't want this thread to turn into an argument about which is better or worse. I'm just looking to compile an objective comparison based on people's experiences.
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Medicine is expensive. Corporations like Pfizer hold monopolies over vast amounts of drugs that are protected from cheaper knockoffs, so a lot of people end up taking loans just to treat themselves. Publicly funded health care pays for some of the costs for said drugs, making them more affordable to the general public. Furthermore, the European Union and states with publicly funded drugs are currently pushing the big companies to relinquish their monopolies, so prices are lowered for everyone. It's pretty great.
 
I dont have a problem with it and I think its probably a good idea to keep people healthy. Its pretty proven that no one can take care of themself.
 
In england we have the NHS. Its completely free. I don't know why anyone would want it any other way
 
I can only speak for my country(ex socialist).

Pros:


  • If you need an ER visit or an ambulance, it won't cost you an arm and a leg. It's completely free.
  • If you need an urgent life saving intervention or you break a limb and need a cast, it won't cost you anything.
  • Children and students are considered a protected category up to their mid 20s and are entitled to completely free healthcare (dental included) regardless of their parents' employment or financial status.
  • Pregnant women are considered a protected category and are entitled to completely free healthcare, dental included.
  • In many cases the unemployed can have a right to free healthcare.
  • Health insurance isn't very expensive for those who are ineligible for free healthcare (about 20$/month)

Cons:


  • Waiting lists for specialists, expensive diagnostics (eg. MR) and some surgeries are very long, forcing people to turn to private practice if they can afford it.
  • The equipment is ancient or lacking in plenty of places. Sometimes even basic materials are lacking.
  • Many hospitals are very rundown, have serious sanitation issues and very poor infrastructure and poor availability of basic amenities.
  • Bedside manners. Doctors and nurses can be unhelpful and unpleasant because they are poorly paid and overworked in hospitals.
  • There is corruption among medical staff and patients can be expected to provide bribes, either monetary or in the form of gifts.
  • There are some analyses that are not provided as part of health insurance and people have to pay out of their own pocket for them in private laboratories.
  • Treatment isn't offered for rare conditions and complicated surgery is typically done out of country.
  • Psychiatric healthcare isn't great.
  • Aids for the disabled are covered by insurance in theory, but hard to obtain in practice because there's so few of them to go around.


Most of the issues are due to a lack of government funding and care.
 
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Pardon my ignorance, but in public healthcare (socialized medicine) do people also have the option to buy private healthcare? Does that vary from country to country?
 
In Canada you don't have the option to buy private healthcare, you have to go out of the country to get that.

Here's how it is in Canada (Modified from Peppermint's post)

Pros:


•If you need an ER visit or an ambulance, it won't cost you an arm and a leg. It's completely free.
•If you need an urgent life saving intervention or you break a limb and need a cast, it won't cost you anything. Even severe illnesses like cancer treatments are covered. My father was treated for terminal esophageal cancer for 2 years and it didn't cost him anything out of his pocket
  • Even recent immigrants have access to healthcare
  • Drug costs, eye exams, and dental is not covered, you need to rely on private insurance for those things.


Cons:


•Waiting lists for specialists, expensive diagnostics (eg. MR) and some elective surgeries can be very long,
•If you don't live in an urban centre you may have to travel long distances to get care
•Bedside manners. Doctors and nurses can be unhelpful and unpleasant because they are sometimes overworked in hospitals and do not see the patient as a paying customer.
•Treatment isn't offered for extremely rare conditions is typically done out of country.
Diagnostic tests have to be approved by a doctor, or you have to go out of the country to get them done
•Psychiatric healthcare isn't great (I don't think its great anywhere).


Overall in agreement with @erza
 
Sadie said:
[MENTION=1814]invisible[/MENTION] and [MENTION=5601]ezra[/MENTION], can you be more specific about why it works so well? Im curious cause I don't know anything about it and have not experienced it.

I just want to add that I don't want this thread to turn into an argument about which is better or worse. I'm just looking to compile an objective comparison based on people's experiences.
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It works well because you go to a hospital and get care based on your health needs, not your ability to pay for care. If you don't need help you can get sent home. It makes a healthier society, where people aren't blocked in their efforts to contribute to society and enrich it with their personal brand of variety by their inability to resolve debilitating, distracting health impediments.

Yes, many countries have private pay on top. It means you can have extras, like your choice of doctor, a private room, or maybe alternative/experimental therapeutic options.
 
Sadie said:
Pardon my ignorance, but in public healthcare (socialized medicine) do people also have the option to buy private healthcare? Does that vary from country to country?
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I think it's available in most countries with public healthcare. And the kicker is that private healthcare here is far cheaper than in America. Despite the fact I have a quite a few pre-existing conditions, I only pay 500 euros a year for it. Is it worth it? In my experience, not really. It's handy in an emergency or if you a condition that needs quick treatment, but overall it's far from a necessity.

That's not to say there aren't problems with the system here, but (IMO) it definitely beats private healthcare.
 
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