What do Aussies & Brits think of the US health care system?

When I was considering moving to another country before covid hit, healthcare was important. It's not that I don't trust other countries healthcare, I would need to live in a country close to a U.S. Military base so I can easily access healthcare I'm familiar with and they can easily pull my records.
 
Lilac said:
Husband waited less than a month for his hip. His knee surgeries were about the same wait time.
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I waited for all of my joint replacements for roughly that time but I went private because of my medical insurance. It covered all private hospital costs, including 2 weeks in a rehab facility. The federal government covered part of the costs of surgery and I paid the gap.

I could have elected to be treated in a public hospital as a public patient and paid nothing at all, but the wait time was unacceptable to me. It would have been months, possibly even longer.

For my cataract replacements my only out of pocket expense was $20 for the taxi pick up and later delivery home to my front door.
 
On either side: you get what you pay for in either place. And if it is govt subsidized it won't be with frills, no matter where you go. I was treated in a German hospital in summer. I nearly died of heat stroke as they had no A/C!!

A/C is a human right in America. ;)
So is heat.;):ROFLMAO:
 
In the States, if you are on Medicare and cannot afford some supplemental or to pay for private insurance plans, and you need a lung transplant, and you are over the age of 60 you are SOL. My mother was not allowed to be put on a lung transplant list because of her age; statistically she didn't warrant more life. She shouldn't have smoked. :cry: That's what happens when you have only "govt sponsored" aka "universal" aka taxpayer paid group healthcare.
 
Warrigal said:
I waited for all of my joint replacements for roughly that time but I went private because of my medical insurance. It covered all private hospital costs, including 2 weeks in a rehab facility. The federal government covered part of the costs of surgery and I paid the gap.

I could have elected to be treated in a public hospital as a public patient and paid nothing at all, but the wait time was unacceptable to me. It would have been months, possibly even longer.

For my cataract replacements my only out of pocket expense was $20 for the taxi pick up and later delivery home to my front door.
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His replacements were primarily covered by Medicare & anything they didn't cover was paid for by his secondary insurance. We didn't have any out of pocket for those surgeries. His hip was done in 2022.
 
The time to get procedures is greatly dependent on what insurance you have. Some doctors do not take Medicare at all and only accept private health care insurance in the US.
 
As a Brit, I get the impression that many, or even most of the world's best hospitals and specialists are based in the U.S. If I'm not mistaken, it's also the most expensive. But if you want the best, you have to pay for it. It seems though that many in the US aren't able to pay for it.

Earlier this year I went to my GP with a medical complaint. I was examined by the doctor in her surgery office. She couldn't find anything wrong, but due to me being over 50, and due to my family history, she contacted the hospital and made me a hospital appointment. In less than two weeks I received a letter from the hospital for an appointment with an MRI scan.

After the scan, I received a letter saying everything is fine, or words to that effect. Then soon after I received another letter from the hospital for a follow-up appointment with a specialist, who went through the results in more detail, including something quite minor that they did find. The specialist made some recommendations & suggested medication. I declined the medication due to potential side effects. The specialist was fine with that. It wasn't as though I needed the medication.

During all that time I filled in no forms; didn't have to make any phone calls myself; I didn't have to call an insurance company; an insurance company didn't have to say the policy doesn't cover that; or that I have to pay a percentage; no money changed hands.

Has it happens, I've used the UK's National Health Service and UK private health as provided by my employer of 31 years. In my own experience, I can't say one was particularly faster than the other. I suppose it depends on the local NHS Trust? Even when using private health through my employer, there were no documents to fill in that I can remember -- the Occupational Heath Centre at work dealt with it all. There was nothing extra to pay.
 
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CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
In the States, if you are on Medicare and cannot afford some supplemental or to pay for private insurance plans, and you need a lung transplant, and you are over the age of 60 you are SOL. My mother was not allowed to be put on a lung transplant list because of her age; statistically she didn't warrant more life. She shouldn't have smoked. :cry: That's what happens when you have only "govt sponsored" aka "universal" aka taxpayer paid group healthcare.
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If patients with lung cancer are heavy smokers, and therefore very unlikely to give it up, I don't think they have much chance of receiving donor lungs. These things don't grow on trees. They are a very scarce resource reserved for the patients with the best chance of a good income.

On the other hand, if the cancer is not too advanced, and it is only a matter of cutting out one lobe, or even one whole lung, then surgery is possible for the purpose of extending life. Even then the patient must commit to giving up all tobacco products to be given the surgery.

I know this because of my (younger) sister in law's experience.
 
I do not know a lot about it. All I have heard is that health care is not available to those who can not afford it.
Can't afford it, then one is left to perish. There is no free health care?
Australia has free health care for low income people, though waiting lists to see a specialist can be long.
Low income elective surgery times can be a year or more.
Emergency cases are always dealt with expeditiously and free for low income citizens.
 
Bretrick said:
I do not know a lot about it. All I have heard is that health care is not available to those who can not afford it.
Can't afford it, then one is left to perish. There is no free health care?
Australia has free health care for low income people, though waiting lists to see a specialist can be long.
Low income elective surgery times can be a year or more.
Emergency cases are always dealt with expeditiously and free for low income citizens.
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Correct.
Essentially health issues are dealt with by health professionals on an as needed basis.
If you have money you can by pass the public system.
 

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