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Wow, being used to Belgian healthcare... This article really makes America look primitive. We pay a lot of taxes, but at least I don't have to worry about mone

Wow, being used to Belgian healthcare... This article really makes America look primitive. We pay a lot of taxes, but at least I don't have to worry about money, if i would get severely sick. Eg. - A checkup at the doctor ( blood) costs 2€, results within 24 hours. - Additional costs are required upfront by law. If I'm not mistaken, you can't even get an estimate on the US.

yodsanklai 8y ago
My European point of view is that on many social issues America is primitive, not only healthcare. I didn't realize it before I lived there. Although some people would argue that it's a feature and not a bug, in the sense that Americans pay lower taxes and are free not to spend on healthcare if they don't want too.
- josho 8y ago
  > free not to spend on healthcare if they don't want too At an individual level that is correct. But at the macro level it is wrong because when a person gets sick those costs are realized in the economy (eg. instead of cheap preventive care up front avoidance of early treatment means some percent will end up in much more expensive ER services that will cost more than if all those individuals saw a family physician).
devereaux 8y ago
What's the cost of a checkup at the doctor for a foreign tourist? (who I assume will get results also within 24h, and be informed about upfront costs if it's the law) What's the medican income in Belgium? In the US? I just don't understand how people in HN of all place complain about the costs of healthcare. I believe America has a better system, especially if you are in the hacker mindset (and with IT salaries!). Just fly to wherever, and get treated for a great price and quality. And that's not specific to the US. I've heard Eastern Europe provides great dentistry services and that even Western Europeans fly there to get treated. Medecine is a business just like any other. If your local shop tries to screw you, take your business elsewhere
- NicoJuicy 8y ago
  Read the article, family situation and not profession related. The amount of narcism you seem to have is astonishing. I'm not sure if you are very young or just don't know many people outside IT. I'm happy that my non IT-friends are also able to afford healthcare when it goes wrong. Not everyone does IT and only cares about their own situation. You mention that the wages are a lot more, but here we don't need a scholarship to send your children to a good school. I'm wondering where your children will go to school if you travel around everywhere. Ps. You need to be a Belgian to get the government to repay you. So you can't get it at the same price of us. So, that's another place where your "logic" fails. What if your mother, brother and dad get sick within the year and they "don't do IT". Here the OCMW will help you. They won't help other nationalities. Ps 2. I hate to categorize my "non IT friends", for me everyone is the same. I'm not handy and someone else can't work with a computer. Tomayto, tomahto
  - devereaux 8y ago
    > You need to be a Belgian to get the government to repay you I don't expect to pay the same price as you. I will pay more. If it is still less than the US price, so I will buy from your country. And yes, there are private for-profit insurance in some countries aimed at non nationals.
    - NicoJuicy 8y ago
      The entire article is about payable health care and the unpayable US health insurance. We have a social system for healthcare for Belgians. You are not Belgian. If you can travel to here and pay the additional cost, you are not a discussed group of people in the article. Coming to here won't solve the problems for the people that can't afford US health insurance, which is what the article is writing about. Your argument doesn't make any sense. You don't grasp the concept of a affordable health insurance, where everyone can afford it, everyone is insured and only a small percentage needs it. Thanks to the government. Edit: Old comment adjusted, summarized: Mentioned travelling abroad and going to eg. India for everything is delusional. What about family, does your wife come along, what if you need to stay for 9 months therapy, ... Many variables haven't been taken into account.
fpalmans 8y ago
I am Belgian and I lived in the US for about 8 years. Taking everything into account, taxes are not that much lower in the US (ignoring sales tax or VAT). While I was working for a multinational, I enjoyed excellent health insurance (including dental). Still, filling a cavity in Belgium without insurance was cheaper than in the US with insurance.

yodsanklai 8y ago

My European point of view is that on many social issues America is primitive, not only healthcare. I didn't realize it before I lived there. Although some people would argue that it's a feature and not a bug, in the sense that Americans pay lower taxes and are free not to spend on healthcare if they don't want too.

josho 8y ago
> free not to spend on healthcare if they don't want too At an individual level that is correct. But at the macro level it is wrong because when a person gets sick those costs are realized in the economy (eg. instead of cheap preventive care up front avoidance of early treatment means some percent will end up in much more expensive ER services that will cost more than if all those individuals saw a family physician).

devereaux 8y ago

What's the cost of a checkup at the doctor for a foreign tourist? (who I assume will get results also within 24h, and be informed about upfront costs if it's the law) What's the medican income in Belgium? In the US? I just don't understand how people in HN of all place complain about the costs of healthcare. I believe America has a better system, especially if you are in the hacker mindset (and with IT salaries!). Just fly to wherever, and get treated for a great price and quality. And that's not specific to the US. I've heard Eastern Europe provides great dentistry services and that even Western Europeans fly there to get treated. Medecine is a business just like any other. If your local shop tries to screw you, take your business elsewhere

NicoJuicy 8y ago
Read the article, family situation and not profession related. The amount of narcism you seem to have is astonishing. I'm not sure if you are very young or just don't know many people outside IT. I'm happy that my non IT-friends are also able to afford healthcare when it goes wrong. Not everyone does IT and only cares about their own situation. You mention that the wages are a lot more, but here we don't need a scholarship to send your children to a good school. I'm wondering where your children will go to school if you travel around everywhere. Ps. You need to be a Belgian to get the government to repay you. So you can't get it at the same price of us. So, that's another place where your "logic" fails. What if your mother, brother and dad get sick within the year and they "don't do IT". Here the OCMW will help you. They won't help other nationalities. Ps 2. I hate to categorize my "non IT friends", for me everyone is the same. I'm not handy and someone else can't work with a computer. Tomayto, tomahto
- devereaux 8y ago
  > You need to be a Belgian to get the government to repay you I don't expect to pay the same price as you. I will pay more. If it is still less than the US price, so I will buy from your country. And yes, there are private for-profit insurance in some countries aimed at non nationals.
  - NicoJuicy 8y ago
    The entire article is about payable health care and the unpayable US health insurance. We have a social system for healthcare for Belgians. You are not Belgian. If you can travel to here and pay the additional cost, you are not a discussed group of people in the article. Coming to here won't solve the problems for the people that can't afford US health insurance, which is what the article is writing about. Your argument doesn't make any sense. You don't grasp the concept of a affordable health insurance, where everyone can afford it, everyone is insured and only a small percentage needs it. Thanks to the government. Edit: Old comment adjusted, summarized: Mentioned travelling abroad and going to eg. India for everything is delusional. What about family, does your wife come along, what if you need to stay for 9 months therapy, ... Many variables haven't been taken into account.

fpalmans 8y ago

I am Belgian and I lived in the US for about 8 years. Taking everything into account, taxes are not that much lower in the US (ignoring sales tax or VAT). While I was working for a multinational, I enjoyed excellent health insurance (including dental). Still, filling a cavity in Belgium without insurance was cheaper than in the US with insurance.