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Jul
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Posted by maureen
July 15, 2007 |
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Like it or not we are going to hear a lot about health care from our presidential candidates over the coming months leading up to the election. The topic of a national health system has been and will continue to be part of those speeches. Having lived in both England and the US I have experienced both systems first hand.
The English National Health system (NHS) was set up in 1948 to provide free health care for all residents of the UK. This means that every time you go to the doctor or receive treatment at hospital, it is provided free of charge. The NHS is funded through general taxation (national insurance contributions are automatically deducted from your salary) and is run by the Department of Health. I doubt that anyone would argue the ideals or positives of a system that aspires to provided health care to everyone, rich or poor, The arguments aren’t aimed at the vision but at the “nuts and bolts†of how you fund “free health care†and whether or not it provides the best and most efficiency health care to the individual.
One of the most frustrating and well documented issues with the British national health system is the amount of time it takes to get care even for serious health problems (there can be lengthy waits across the whole spectrum of care from consultations to test and results to surgical procedures). The declining quality of the system coupled with the often unresponsive and uncaring attitude leave much to be desired and would be totally unacceptable to most Americans.
Two very English attributes make the situation far more acceptable to them than it would be to others. The English “stiff upper lip “is epitomized by their wiliness to wait in line without complaining. Waiting, rather than the quality of care is what the NHS has become known for. Another English trait is the remarkable degree of trust they give to all the professionals in the medical field. Consequently, people do not question and readily accept long waiting list for necessary treatments. I know for certain that this would not sit well with American
To compensate for these inadequacies in this system, private health care providers have become more popular over the years; you can get private health care treatment for any condition provided you pay for it. Of course, this means you pay twice for your health care.
The American free enterprise system brings with its own set of issues and problems; health insurance in the U.S. is expensive, and rapidly rising costs are affecting employers and consumers as well as the government. We pay a much higher cost for prescription drugs and medicines than our Canadian neighbors. But I know one thing for sure; if I am going to be sick than this is where I want to be treated and cared for.
So what’s the answer? I am anxious to hear the options are offered up over the coming months . Here are a couple of speeches just to get the ball rolling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LeHSRiUb...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNpIKHSzp...
Comments
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here’s a crazy idea. why not collaborate with Canada and give people of both countries the option of choosing. I’m not sure the social system could sustain it but an interesting idea.
I’ve also heard recently that some American doctors are organizing to provide their own insurance to patients in an effort to release the strangle hold the insurance companies currently have on doctors and patients.
I love how everyone says American’s just wouldn’t be willing to “wait” for even necessary services. Well in America we don’t have waiting lines because we artificaially shorten the lines by not providing healthcare for 47 million Americans. I learned this the hard way just 2 weeks ago (and thankfully it was only a temperary situation). My younger brother is in college near where I live, and found himself in the hospital. Upon discharge we were instructed to see 2 specialist. Our parents were out of the country and temperarily not contactable. My young and ill informed younger brother didn’t even know the name of his insurance company let alone what an insurance card was. After calling dozens of doctors NOT ONE would make an appointment without any insurance information. Even after explainng we’d have it before we showed up. In America if you have insurance your taken care of. If you don’t have any insurance you don’t even get a spot in line. Well, once we were able to obtain the insurance information and get an appointment we learned that my brother would be needing surgery. I’d rather wait in line anyday and get an answer verses never knowing!!!!
Maureen,
You would rather be treated in the US than in the UK because you can afford it, it’s that simple.
The US health system is superior to any other health system in the world, but only to those who have access to it. And millions of Americans don’t, as tragically illustrated recently by the death of a teenager waiting for a liver transplant.
I think if you asked any of the uninsured or under-insured Americans if they would rather be treated in the US or UK, their answer would be different than yours.