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This is such an American take. If you're unhappy with the wait time then get private insurance and go to a private doctor, just like you would in the US. But i
by KayEss 24d ago
This is such an American take.
If you're unhappy with the wait time then get private insurance and go to a private doctor, just like you would in the US. But if you're too poor for that, at least you get something in six to twelve months instead of nothing or bankruptcy. And your insurance will be much much less because you're getting most of what you need publicly. Your US insurance is in the order of three to five times as much as private insurance in the EU, so your taxes are lower, but your costs are too.
The real problem always seems to be that universal health care would leave rich Americans worse off (higher taxes), would likely be about a wash for most middle earners (higher taxes, but none/less health care costs), but would leave the poor significantly better off (who are totally stiffed in the US at the moment).
So, by saying you don't want universal health care you're effectively saying that you're rich enough that you don't care about it, and you don't want poor people to be able to get health care at all, and if some die early or go bankrupt at least it isn't your problem.
- defrost 24d ago> But if you're too poor for that, at least you get something in six to twelve months instead of nothing or bankruptcy. Depends on the country, Australia triages so that routine, mundane, non life threatening procedures might take six months (or less) - but even a flat broke unemployed person needing an emergency stent placement in their heart gets that damn near over night with follow up hospital watch and after therapy at no cost (might get a $500 ambulance bill, but that's another can of worms - St John's Ambulance coverage is cheap, supports a worthy cause, and prevents that surprise charge).
- KayEss 24d agoI think every national health service does something similar (minus the ambulance fee generally), but that might be too incredible for the Americans to believe?
- defrost 24d agoHard to believe or tainted with the stench of socialist communist welfare grifters as I read it. From my PoV it reduces stress on society, increases a sense of well being, results in lesser serious crime and anti social behaviour, etc. and means I'm likely getting better value for my tax dollars than I might in the US.
- WarmWash 24d agoAbout 8% of Americans don't have health insurance, and of those 2% willingly. So 6% want it but cannot afford it. The poor in the US get total coverage for free.