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Well, obviously there are exceptions, but I wouldn't measure or defend a system based on the best case, but the average and standard deviation. Unfortunately, a

Well, obviously there are exceptions, but I wouldn't measure or defend a system based on the best case, but the average and standard deviation. Unfortunately, a huge amount of people are falling through the cracks. Sweden's system might be worse for rich/upper middle class people, but the average case is more than acceptable and the deviation is small. For instance, if you come in with a non life threatening condition, you will have to wait. That could mean waiting months for a specific surgery that you might get instantly in the US if you had good insurance. That kinda sucks when you have to wait and you're in pain, but is understandable unless you want to spend 50% of GDP on health care, or prioritize people based on how much they earn.

philwelch 14y ago
Historically, rich people from countries with socialized medicine would fly to the United States for medical treatment. We could stand to improve the quality of care for the poor in the US, but there's lots of room to do that in the existing system. For people who have health insurance benefits from their work, I think having a little bit more paperwork is better than waiting for months for surgery.
- purplelobster 14y ago
  Again, it's completely irrelevant what amazing treatment rich people get. And please, find me any evidence that American health care is in any way better or that anyone is flying there to get treatment. I can only find evidence of the contrary. If I ever get seriously sick, I'll be on the first plane out of here.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - philwelch 14y ago
    Look, your hobbyhorse is obviously this notion that there are absolutely no redeeming characteristics to the US health care system, so there's obviously no point getting into a nuanced conversation with you. It's rather off topic anyway. I regret ever thinking you were capable of a reasonable conversation.

philwelch 14y ago

Historically, rich people from countries with socialized medicine would fly to the United States for medical treatment. We could stand to improve the quality of care for the poor in the US, but there's lots of room to do that in the existing system. For people who have health insurance benefits from their work, I think having a little bit more paperwork is better than waiting for months for surgery.

purplelobster 14y ago
Again, it's completely irrelevant what amazing treatment rich people get. And please, find me any evidence that American health care is in any way better or that anyone is flying there to get treatment. I can only find evidence of the contrary. If I ever get seriously sick, I'll be on the first plane out of here.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- philwelch 14y ago
  Look, your hobbyhorse is obviously this notion that there are absolutely no redeeming characteristics to the US health care system, so there's obviously no point getting into a nuanced conversation with you. It's rather off topic anyway. I regret ever thinking you were capable of a reasonable conversation.