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Universal healthcare is great if you are part of the elite that gets to skip the inevitable lines. Canada and the UK systems require interminable waits in cert

Universal healthcare is great if you are part of the elite that gets to skip the inevitable lines. Canada and the UK systems require interminable waits in certain areas and for certain specialties.

KptMarchewa 2y ago
It's, of course, better when the poors don't clog the system with their irrelevant health problems, right?
markovs_gun 2y ago
I got news for you- there are still long lines to get into the doctor's office in the US, especially in rural areas.
- llamaimperative 2y ago
  It's crazy how often people overlook this fact. Not only are there lines in the US (terminating with an obscene and totally opaque bill), but the lines in most of the UK/EU-like systems can be avoided if you're willing to pay yourself.
- CharlieDigital 2y ago
  Even in non-rural areas, you first have to narrow down providers that are in-network for your insurance and then it's still typically 4-8 weeks for the first appointment in any non-emergency scenario. US healthcare system is not some exception to long wait times for access.
dom3k 2y ago
So you can stay in line or go private to skip it. From my European POV, both paths are viable, but when you have "free" options, paid ones don't have exorbitant prices.
- doix 2y ago
  > but when you have "free" options, paid ones don't have exorbitant prices. This is not my experience. Paid options in the UK are exorbitant, because there is almost no market for them. In my experience, it's cheaper to just fly somewhere with good medical tourism for the issue you are having than get it treated privately in the UK. For the record, I still much prefer the UK system to the US system.
  - llamaimperative 2y ago
    No one is comparing UK private insurance to Turkey or Vietnam. They're comparing US to UK, and yes, even private care to skip the lines in the UK is way cheaper than similar care in the US.
  - Twirrim 2y ago
    I'm an expat Brit, been living in the States for a decade and a half. I've been through the NHS for various more significant health things, and had family that have opted for private. I don't think you grasp just how expensive private healthcare is in the US, even with an insurance policy. Private health care is so much cheaper in the UK. If you're saying it's much more expensive than Europe, maybe that'll give an idea how expensive it is to get sick in the US! The US system is messed up beyond belief. One of the notable improvements recently has been the transparent pricing rule signed in to law a few years ago. So now I can see what things cost a bit more in advance, but I can't ever predict how much my insurance will actually choose to pay. Oh, and if it's inpatient, and I don't like the cost, well tough. I've really only got a couple of hospitals to choose from, and their prices are pretty much in sync, and only one of them is "in-network" for most procedures (meaning insurance wouldn't cover much at the other one)
- loveangus 2y ago
  I went public and private routes for a surgery last year, ended up with the NHS as the process was faster, additionally ended up getting a payment from my private insurance for going the public route.
netsharc 2y ago
[flagged]
drawkward 2y ago
I guess my 4 month wait for my annual physical (booked in June; first availability was October) in a city center didn't actually happen? Or is that normal for this paid healthcare system?
Justsignedup 2y ago
Here in New York it's about as bad too. Except a big chunk of people can't even get Healthcare. The rich always get what they want.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

Universal healthcare is great if you are part of the elite that gets to skip the inevitable lines. Canada and the UK systems require interminable waits in certain areas and for certain specialties.

KptMarchewa 2y ago

It's, of course, better when the poors don't clog the system with their irrelevant health problems, right?

markovs_gun 2y ago

I got news for you- there are still long lines to get into the doctor's office in the US, especially in rural areas.

llamaimperative 2y ago
It's crazy how often people overlook this fact. Not only are there lines in the US (terminating with an obscene and totally opaque bill), but the lines in most of the UK/EU-like systems can be avoided if you're willing to pay yourself.
CharlieDigital 2y ago
Even in non-rural areas, you first have to narrow down providers that are in-network for your insurance and then it's still typically 4-8 weeks for the first appointment in any non-emergency scenario. US healthcare system is not some exception to long wait times for access.

dom3k 2y ago

So you can stay in line or go private to skip it. From my European POV, both paths are viable, but when you have "free" options, paid ones don't have exorbitant prices.

doix 2y ago
> but when you have "free" options, paid ones don't have exorbitant prices. This is not my experience. Paid options in the UK are exorbitant, because there is almost no market for them. In my experience, it's cheaper to just fly somewhere with good medical tourism for the issue you are having than get it treated privately in the UK. For the record, I still much prefer the UK system to the US system.
- llamaimperative 2y ago
  No one is comparing UK private insurance to Turkey or Vietnam. They're comparing US to UK, and yes, even private care to skip the lines in the UK is way cheaper than similar care in the US.
- Twirrim 2y ago
  I'm an expat Brit, been living in the States for a decade and a half. I've been through the NHS for various more significant health things, and had family that have opted for private. I don't think you grasp just how expensive private healthcare is in the US, even with an insurance policy. Private health care is so much cheaper in the UK. If you're saying it's much more expensive than Europe, maybe that'll give an idea how expensive it is to get sick in the US! The US system is messed up beyond belief. One of the notable improvements recently has been the transparent pricing rule signed in to law a few years ago. So now I can see what things cost a bit more in advance, but I can't ever predict how much my insurance will actually choose to pay. Oh, and if it's inpatient, and I don't like the cost, well tough. I've really only got a couple of hospitals to choose from, and their prices are pretty much in sync, and only one of them is "in-network" for most procedures (meaning insurance wouldn't cover much at the other one)
loveangus 2y ago
I went public and private routes for a surgery last year, ended up with the NHS as the process was faster, additionally ended up getting a payment from my private insurance for going the public route.

netsharc 2y ago

[flagged]

drawkward 2y ago

I guess my 4 month wait for my annual physical (booked in June; first availability was October) in a city center didn't actually happen? Or is that normal for this paid healthcare system?

Justsignedup 2y ago

Here in New York it's about as bad too. Except a big chunk of people can't even get Healthcare. The rich always get what they want.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]