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Just to be clear... the "grown up" conversation you wish Americans could stomach is the one that involves socializing medicine and not the one that involves let

by mfoy_ 9y ago

Just to be clear... the "grown up" conversation you wish Americans could stomach is the one that involves socializing medicine and not the one that involves letting random people die needlessly, right?

EvanAnderson 9y ago
I am an American. When I'm particularly exasperated with the healthcare system (usually in the weeks/months following some kind of medical engagement) my answer would be "I don't give a damn which we choose. Let's just make a decision to either socialize medicine completely or let people die." (My mood is unreasonably caustic after dealing with anything medical. The stress of dealing with healthcare billing, health insurance, and the patriarchal attitudes of medical practitioners raises my blood pressure and gives me near panic attacks.) When I'm in a more calm and normal mental state my answer would lean toward socializing as much of the healthcare system as possible. Literally nothing is a bigger fear-factor in my life than medical expenses. The fact that the entirety monetary value of my life's work could be destroyed in a moment by a medical issue freaks me out. The fact that I cannot, in any financially viable manner, insure against this kind of event amplifies that fear. I feel comfortable in saying that, at least in an abstract way, I am less afraid of death than of leaving my family destitute as a result of unforeseen medical expense.
- mfoy_ 9y ago
  I am so sorry you have to live with that shadow hanging over your head. :( I know people must get sick of the "holier than thou" attitudes of the nations with universal health care, but it's stories like yours that make it all the more sad... living life only one medical emergency away from financial ruin and destitution... It's truly a tragedy. It would already be awful enough that you'd be in ER facing a life-threatening situation, but add on looking forward to the bill... holy. fucking. shit.
- arethuza 9y ago
  "fear-factor" Worth noting that the book describing the principles of the UK NHS by its founder was called "In Place of Fear": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneurin_Bevan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneurin_Bevan Medical emergencies are stressful enough when there is no money involved - I have no idea how people cope when there is a stressful financial situation added on top as well.
  - EvanAnderson 9y ago
    Thanks for that link. I'm looking forward to reading about Bevan and, in particular, finding this book.
dang 9y ago
When a topic is divisive, please don't take discussion further into flamewar when commenting here. We detached this subthread from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14736827 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14736827 and marked it off-topic.

by mfoy_ 9y ago

EvanAnderson 9y ago

I am an American. When I'm particularly exasperated with the healthcare system (usually in the weeks/months following some kind of medical engagement) my answer would be "I don't give a damn which we choose. Let's just make a decision to either socialize medicine completely or let people die." (My mood is unreasonably caustic after dealing with anything medical. The stress of dealing with healthcare billing, health insurance, and the patriarchal attitudes of medical practitioners raises my blood pressure and gives me near panic attacks.) When I'm in a more calm and normal mental state my answer would lean toward socializing as much of the healthcare system as possible. Literally nothing is a bigger fear-factor in my life than medical expenses. The fact that the entirety monetary value of my life's work could be destroyed in a moment by a medical issue freaks me out. The fact that I cannot, in any financially viable manner, insure against this kind of event amplifies that fear. I feel comfortable in saying that, at least in an abstract way, I am less afraid of death than of leaving my family destitute as a result of unforeseen medical expense.

mfoy_ 9y ago
I am so sorry you have to live with that shadow hanging over your head. :( I know people must get sick of the "holier than thou" attitudes of the nations with universal health care, but it's stories like yours that make it all the more sad... living life only one medical emergency away from financial ruin and destitution... It's truly a tragedy. It would already be awful enough that you'd be in ER facing a life-threatening situation, but add on looking forward to the bill... holy. fucking. shit.
arethuza 9y ago
"fear-factor" Worth noting that the book describing the principles of the UK NHS by its founder was called "In Place of Fear": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneurin_Bevan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneurin_Bevan Medical emergencies are stressful enough when there is no money involved - I have no idea how people cope when there is a stressful financial situation added on top as well.
- EvanAnderson 9y ago
  Thanks for that link. I'm looking forward to reading about Bevan and, in particular, finding this book.

dang 9y ago

When a topic is divisive, please don't take discussion further into flamewar when commenting here. We detached this subthread from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14736827 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14736827 and marked it off-topic.