4 ms·

You know, can you just stop it with the superiority complex ? I'm European and I travel to the US on a very regular basis. European healthcare is mostly market

You know, can you just stop it with the superiority complex ? I'm European and I travel to the US on a very regular basis. European healthcare is mostly market based, and where it's not it has exactly the problem economics predict: rationing. And rationed health care is quite simply worse than expensive health care. "Markets" simply means that mostly people can take care of each other. For the most part, that's true, and has many very positive sides.

maxxxxx 8y ago
"And rationed health care is quite simply worse than expensive health care" Not true. With rationed care you can still buy additional services if you want to whereas with expensive care like in the US even the simplest problem can cost you a lot of money or bankrupt you and there is not much you can do other than hope (pray?) for the best.
- masonic 8y ago
  With rationed care you can still buy additional services if you want No, that's not truly rationed, then -- that's variable pricing. If food/fuel/etc is rationed, that's all you get without venturing into a black market, if one is available.
dbbk 8y ago
If you find the 'rationing' of the public health system an issue just buy private insurance? It's the best of both worlds.
- candiodari 8y ago
  I think you'll find in much of Europe that's not possible, or only provided on the condition that you use the (rationed) public system first. Ironically does tend to be possible if you're NOT a citizen of the EU, in many places. I guess this is similar to Obamacare (not very sure though). I hear you don't get to have an insurance independent of Obamacare. But the "integration" if you will is further along in Europe.
  - maxxxxx 8y ago
    You should add where you are coming from. In Germany for example you can spend as much as you desire but there are also affordable good quality options. BTW the word "rationing" is used in the US as a propaganda word just as "socialism". really not a good word to use lightly.
ceejayoz 8y ago
American healthcare is also rationed, just by different people. “We’re not covering that” tends to be an obstacle, whether it’s the NHS or Anthem saying so.

maxxxxx 8y ago

"And rationed health care is quite simply worse than expensive health care" Not true. With rationed care you can still buy additional services if you want to whereas with expensive care like in the US even the simplest problem can cost you a lot of money or bankrupt you and there is not much you can do other than hope (pray?) for the best.

masonic 8y ago
With rationed care you can still buy additional services if you want No, that's not truly rationed, then -- that's variable pricing. If food/fuel/etc is rationed, that's all you get without venturing into a black market, if one is available.

dbbk 8y ago

If you find the 'rationing' of the public health system an issue just buy private insurance? It's the best of both worlds.

candiodari 8y ago
I think you'll find in much of Europe that's not possible, or only provided on the condition that you use the (rationed) public system first. Ironically does tend to be possible if you're NOT a citizen of the EU, in many places. I guess this is similar to Obamacare (not very sure though). I hear you don't get to have an insurance independent of Obamacare. But the "integration" if you will is further along in Europe.
- maxxxxx 8y ago
  You should add where you are coming from. In Germany for example you can spend as much as you desire but there are also affordable good quality options. BTW the word "rationing" is used in the US as a propaganda word just as "socialism". really not a good word to use lightly.

ceejayoz 8y ago

American healthcare is also rationed, just by different people. “We’re not covering that” tends to be an obstacle, whether it’s the NHS or Anthem saying so.