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Step therapy is required in countries with universal healthcare, too. It can actually be harder to get access to new therapies in countries with universal heal

Step therapy is required in countries with universal healthcare, too. It can actually be harder to get access to new therapies in countries with universal healthcare because they’re more uniform and strict in what they allow. For a relatable example: The UK just raised the age of eligibility for COVID vaccines all the way up to 75 years old: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/covid-russian-roulette-millions-cant-36146965 https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/covid-russian-roulette-... Contrast this with the US where COVID vaccine coverage is a basic expectation of health insurance for all ages. And that’s for a simple, cheap medicine without step therapy! It doesn’t matter if your doctor thinks you need it, the rules are set from the top.

ch4s3 8mo ago
> Step therapy is required in countries with universal healthcare, too. This is something Americans with strong opinions about healthcare but little time spent researching it never seem to know.
sampullman 8mo ago
It can be harder, but it's specific to the country/system. Here it Taiwan you can walk into any clinic with stock and get a (NHI covered) vaccine any time. There are other things to complain about of course, but the rules for what's covered ate generally logical. Non-covered medication is affordable to, which helps.
noobermin 8mo ago
To be honest, given the issues with the NHS, the UK isn't the best example to use for a "universal healthcare" system these days.
arethuza 8mo ago
Worth noting that "eligibility for COVID vaccines" is for "free at the point of delivery" NHS treatment - you can still get it elsewhere at any age. Boots (a major chain of pharmacies) do it for £98: https://www.boots.com/online/pharmacy-services/covid-19-vaccination-service https://www.boots.com/online/pharmacy-services/covid-19-vacc...
KaiserPro 8mo ago
Sorry but this not actually true. THe most appropriate treatment is required, not "step therapy". For antibiotics this makes sense, as last mile, powerful antibiotics need to be used sparingly. The same with cancer, it'll be treated according to the requirements of the cancer, with guidance from nice about the most effective therapy. Is it perfect? no. Does it lead to mistakes? yes. It is better than american style insurance denying care based entirely on price? 100%
BigTTYGothGF 8mo ago
> the US where COVID vaccine coverage is a basic expectation of health insurance for all ages That wasn't a sure thing this past year and there's always a risk it won't be next year. (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/fact-checking-rfk-jr-s-claim-that-everybody-can-get-the-covid-19-vaccine https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/fact-checking-rfk-jr-s-c...)

ch4s3 8mo ago

> Step therapy is required in countries with universal healthcare, too. This is something Americans with strong opinions about healthcare but little time spent researching it never seem to know.

sampullman 8mo ago

It can be harder, but it's specific to the country/system. Here it Taiwan you can walk into any clinic with stock and get a (NHI covered) vaccine any time. There are other things to complain about of course, but the rules for what's covered ate generally logical. Non-covered medication is affordable to, which helps.

noobermin 8mo ago

To be honest, given the issues with the NHS, the UK isn't the best example to use for a "universal healthcare" system these days.

arethuza 8mo ago

Worth noting that "eligibility for COVID vaccines" is for "free at the point of delivery" NHS treatment - you can still get it elsewhere at any age. Boots (a major chain of pharmacies) do it for £98: https://www.boots.com/online/pharmacy-services/covid-19-vaccination-service https://www.boots.com/online/pharmacy-services/covid-19-vacc...

KaiserPro 8mo ago

Sorry but this not actually true. THe most appropriate treatment is required, not "step therapy". For antibiotics this makes sense, as last mile, powerful antibiotics need to be used sparingly. The same with cancer, it'll be treated according to the requirements of the cancer, with guidance from nice about the most effective therapy. Is it perfect? no. Does it lead to mistakes? yes. It is better than american style insurance denying care based entirely on price? 100%

BigTTYGothGF 8mo ago

> the US where COVID vaccine coverage is a basic expectation of health insurance for all ages That wasn't a sure thing this past year and there's always a risk it won't be next year. (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/fact-checking-rfk-jr-s-claim-that-everybody-can-get-the-covid-19-vaccine https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/fact-checking-rfk-jr-s-c...)