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I live in the UK, and I love that there are no Rx TV commercials here. Then again, I live in Scotland, and I get my prescriptions for free. The NHS is an incr

I live in the UK, and I love that there are no Rx TV commercials here. Then again, I live in Scotland, and I get my prescriptions for free. The NHS is an incredible service, and it surprises me that most Americans don't want publicly funded healthcare. Even those darn Canadian guys north of your boarder have a good public healthcare system. BTW, the UK economy spends almost half in, relative terms, at 9.6% of the UK GDP vs the Americans spend of 17.9% of GDP, on healthcare. In real terms (2012 dollars), the UK spends $3480 per person vs the US spending $8362 per person. And we have a health care system free at the point of delivery.

duderific 11y ago
We're 'MURICANS! We don't need no stinking gubmint telling us what doctor we can see! Now let me get down to Walmart on my Medicare provided scooter because I'm too obese to walk... https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11046.pdf https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11046.pdf
- hackbinary 11y ago
  Just so we're absolutely clear, I can choose my own doctors. GP's, specialists, dentists, and even a Homeopath!; if I don't like 'em, I can find another, and all on the NHS. I think, in fact, I have more choice than Americans--don't you have to go to whomever your HMO tells you to use? Also, your Canadian neighbours to the north get to choose their doctors.
  - hackbinary 11y ago
    Also, the NHS funds our transport. http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Travelcosts.aspx http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Travelcosts.a... And scooters: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/pages/mobility-equipment-wheelchairs-scooters.aspx http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/p... And we subsidise cars for the disabled: http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-and-wavs/ http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-and-wavs/
  - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
    Most medical plans create doctor pools and aggressively recruit doctors for those pools. I've never found a doctor that didn't accept my insurance.
    - hackbinary 11y ago
      I am saying three things: 1.) There is a very common assumptions in the USA that because a State funds healthcare, the individual is not allowed choice of doctor, which is incorrect in every public healthcare system I have used. 2.) That public or state run health care system is not substandard or less efficient to the American private system, but actually generally better for just about everyone. 3.) That if every American paid a flat 18% tax for healthcare (instead of any healthcare insurance premiums, whether paid directly by you, or by your employer), then the American government nationalised all American healthcare, every American should then receive at least a $4000 tax rebate. Then again your government could use that money fund better schools and universities. [EDIT] And by-the-way, the UK Government still spends less than the American Government on every citizen, on healthcare. The American government spends $4437 per every single American citizen every year on healthcare. By contrast, the UK spends $2919 per person, every year. You tell me which tax payer is getting better value for money. http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/jun/30/healthcare-spending-world-country http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/jun/30/healthc...
      - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
        I'm suspicious of govt-run healthcare. Look at Canada - their system is in collapse.
        hackbinary 11y ago
        Is it? BTW, provision of healthcare in Canada is a provincial matter, so there are 13 separate healthcare systems in Canada. Which one is in collapse? Or are all the provinces facing severe budgetary constraints imposed by the previous Conservative, let's not tax the rich, government. There are some very powerful, vested interests, namely the insurance and drug companies, that do not want public healthcare. I am completely suspicious of private, for profit healthcare. Are you seriously telling me that private healthcare is better? (Okay, private healthcare is better for the maybe the top 1% who can pay for their healthcare out of pocket, but if that is not you, the public system is better.) If I change employer, and therefore insurance policy and/or provider, I will never have to think about previous conditions that may not be covered with my new employer, for instance.

duderific 11y ago

We're 'MURICANS! We don't need no stinking gubmint telling us what doctor we can see! Now let me get down to Walmart on my Medicare provided scooter because I'm too obese to walk... https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11046.pdf https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11046.pdf

hackbinary 11y ago
Just so we're absolutely clear, I can choose my own doctors. GP's, specialists, dentists, and even a Homeopath!; if I don't like 'em, I can find another, and all on the NHS. I think, in fact, I have more choice than Americans--don't you have to go to whomever your HMO tells you to use? Also, your Canadian neighbours to the north get to choose their doctors.
- hackbinary 11y ago
  Also, the NHS funds our transport. http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Travelcosts.aspx http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Travelcosts.a... And scooters: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/pages/mobility-equipment-wheelchairs-scooters.aspx http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/p... And we subsidise cars for the disabled: http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-and-wavs/ http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-and-wavs/
- JoeAltmaier 11y ago
  Most medical plans create doctor pools and aggressively recruit doctors for those pools. I've never found a doctor that didn't accept my insurance.
  - hackbinary 11y ago
    I am saying three things: 1.) There is a very common assumptions in the USA that because a State funds healthcare, the individual is not allowed choice of doctor, which is incorrect in every public healthcare system I have used. 2.) That public or state run health care system is not substandard or less efficient to the American private system, but actually generally better for just about everyone. 3.) That if every American paid a flat 18% tax for healthcare (instead of any healthcare insurance premiums, whether paid directly by you, or by your employer), then the American government nationalised all American healthcare, every American should then receive at least a $4000 tax rebate. Then again your government could use that money fund better schools and universities. [EDIT] And by-the-way, the UK Government still spends less than the American Government on every citizen, on healthcare. The American government spends $4437 per every single American citizen every year on healthcare. By contrast, the UK spends $2919 per person, every year. You tell me which tax payer is getting better value for money. http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/jun/30/healthcare-spending-world-country http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/jun/30/healthc...
    - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
      I'm suspicious of govt-run healthcare. Look at Canada - their system is in collapse.
      - hackbinary 11y ago
        Is it? BTW, provision of healthcare in Canada is a provincial matter, so there are 13 separate healthcare systems in Canada. Which one is in collapse? Or are all the provinces facing severe budgetary constraints imposed by the previous Conservative, let's not tax the rich, government. There are some very powerful, vested interests, namely the insurance and drug companies, that do not want public healthcare. I am completely suspicious of private, for profit healthcare. Are you seriously telling me that private healthcare is better? (Okay, private healthcare is better for the maybe the top 1% who can pay for their healthcare out of pocket, but if that is not you, the public system is better.) If I change employer, and therefore insurance policy and/or provider, I will never have to think about previous conditions that may not be covered with my new employer, for instance.