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In many countries there is some element of private healthcare, but it only provides luxurious services that are in no way needed to treat health conditions (1-b

by dx034 10y ago

In many countries there is some element of private healthcare, but it only provides luxurious services that are in no way needed to treat health conditions (1-bed rooms in hospitals, choosing any doctor you like, shorter wait times for non-urgent treatments). Good examples here are UK and Germany. In both countries you'll get full coverage of any medical condition with public insurance. The reason that private elements exist at all are NOT because they are more cost efficient. They exist just because some people like to have more comfort and are willing to pay for it. Not sharing a room in a hospital doesn't make you healthier (and is certainly not more efficient), it's just nicer. I'd agree with your parent-comment that most states have actually figured out that public health care is the most efficient option. Private health-care providing necessary treatments is the more expensive option for society.

ameister14 10y ago
The UK is not a good example - it has a fairly unique nationalized system. Germany, on the other hand, has a regional and national market system with compulsive health insurance, much like the ACA attempted. It's not a public only system by any means. It's not about sharing a room, actually. It's about reducing the burden on the state, providing more efficient service for cost for everyone. Further, the main issue with public-only systems is wait times. In Canada now the wait times are extremely long - in the area of 20+ weeks. http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/healthcare-wait-times-hit-20-weeks-in-2016-report-1.3171718 http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/healthcare-wait-times-hit-20-we... That's not about comfort, it's about getting treatment.
- dx034 10y ago
  In Germany, it is about comfort. The public insurance is achieved via competing entities, but those are not-for-profit organizations. It's safe to say that there's no health benefit whatsoever of having private insurance in Germany. It's just nice and you can feel good getting quick appointments with any doctor you like. Necessary treatments are free for anyone else as well.
  - ameister14 10y ago
    Hospitals in the US are also non-profits. Many insurers used to be as well. The difference really is in who negotiates. In the US, it is usually individuals organizations or companies - in Germany it is mostly the state, though people still have choice. It's not administrated by the state, though - it's administrated through public/private partnership. Personally, I think it's a great system, and I wish the US would have implemented a version of it more successfully.

by dx034 10y ago

ameister14 10y ago

The UK is not a good example - it has a fairly unique nationalized system. Germany, on the other hand, has a regional and national market system with compulsive health insurance, much like the ACA attempted. It's not a public only system by any means. It's not about sharing a room, actually. It's about reducing the burden on the state, providing more efficient service for cost for everyone. Further, the main issue with public-only systems is wait times. In Canada now the wait times are extremely long - in the area of 20+ weeks. http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/healthcare-wait-times-hit-20-weeks-in-2016-report-1.3171718 http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/healthcare-wait-times-hit-20-we... That's not about comfort, it's about getting treatment.

dx034 10y ago
In Germany, it is about comfort. The public insurance is achieved via competing entities, but those are not-for-profit organizations. It's safe to say that there's no health benefit whatsoever of having private insurance in Germany. It's just nice and you can feel good getting quick appointments with any doctor you like. Necessary treatments are free for anyone else as well.
- ameister14 10y ago
  Hospitals in the US are also non-profits. Many insurers used to be as well. The difference really is in who negotiates. In the US, it is usually individuals organizations or companies - in Germany it is mostly the state, though people still have choice. It's not administrated by the state, though - it's administrated through public/private partnership. Personally, I think it's a great system, and I wish the US would have implemented a version of it more successfully.