Only in America, the world's greatest country...

I've come to the conclusion that we made a huge mistake by fighting the revolutionary war to get freedom from England. Canada on the other hand gained their independence though a peaceful process. And look where we are. Canada and England both have universal healthcare and here we are stuck with this predatory for profit system. :mad:
 

DonnyO said:
Whats the wait for a hip or knee replacement in UK or Australia?
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How long is a piece of string?

In Australia, a lot depends on where you live (city v regional or rural) and whether you have medical insurance. I had 6 joint replacements during my seventies (I'm 83 now) and had top level hospital cover. My wait time in Sydney for a private hospital was minimal and I could avail myself of a 2 week stay in a post operation respite facility with the services of nurses, doctors and physios, all at no cost. I had been paying for top hospital cover plus extras and did not have to pay anything beyond about $20 for internet access. Even today I still pay for hospital cover plus extras but have dropped the level down a notch by eliminating unnecessary conditions such as joint replacements, IVF and pregnancy.

The surgeons, assistants and anaesthetists were partly covered by Medicare and insurance, but there were some out of pocket expenses.

This link is more current and gives general information about waiting times for public and private patients.

Understanding Orthopaedic Surgery Wait Times in Australia
 
WheatenLover said:
Someone could just take their profits and invest it in medicare for all, including ears, and teeth. Sure, someone would probably keep it for themselves, but on the off chance ....
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Well, Medicare for all is estimated to cost $2.5 trillion per year. If you subtract the $75 billion in insurance company profits you only have to come up with $2.425 trillion.

Our national debt is $40 trillion and we are running a deficit of about $1.5 trillion every year.

Nobody likes health insurers, but the whole system is broken and waste, fraud and abuse are rampant.
 
Being as we in the States have what we have and many are getting free care (so we hear, who knows). The abuse of it
is deep and all consuming so ; it makes me wonder if it was like Canada and UK would we still have people and powers
that be abusing the system? Would that really make a difference?
Not being snarky, I just really wonder because so many just have to find a way to skim money somehow no matter
where you are it seems.
I have a sister who lived in Canada for 25 (duel citizenship) years and when she got bad health wise, she came moving back to the States
to get health care as she wanted. Now mind you she is a con artist so maybe Canada got wise to her and cut off things she
wanted or told her no. Maybe finding shady Doctors here is easier?
 
Trade said:
I've come to the conclusion that we made a huge mistake by fighting the revolutionary war to get freedom from England. Canada on the other hand gained their independence though a peaceful process. And look where we are. Canada and England both have universal healthcare and here we are stuck with this predatory for profit system. :mad:
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The world is stuck with rampant immorality and law breaking --found today in all political philosophy, not just capitalism.
 
Trade said:
I don't ask for much do I gruntlabor? Health care. Like they have in Canada and the UK. That's all. Is that too much to ask?
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It's not perfect everywhere.

Let’s talk solutions
To stop Canadians from feeling like they have no option but to go to the U.S. for care, Canada needs to address the health access problems in the country by, for example:

Cutting down on wait times for surgeries: About 20% of Canadians are waiting over a year for elective surgery. While not life-threatening, waiting a very long time for surgery is frustrating, especially if it’s affecting your quality of life.

Increasing hospital capacity: Across the country, provincial governments (who are responsible for the health care system) are pledging to add much-needed hospital beds, build hospitals and hire professionals. More beds, hospitals and workers will mean more patients who can be seen in a timely manner. Using existing capacity during evenings and weekends can also help to reduce procedure backlogs and wait times.

Improving access to doctors and ensuring that every Canadian has a primary care provider: 6.5 million Canadians don’t have a family doctor and have to rely on visiting overcrowded emergency departments or walk-in clinics with no continuation of care and less knowledge about their health.

Implementing proven solutions for streamlining access to services, such as single-entry queues rather than allowing individual doctors to maintain their own wait lists.
Measures such as these should increase satisfaction with our own health care system and will keep Canadians seeking health care at home.

Where’d we get this information?
Travelling outside Canada to receive medical care — Government of Canada
Comparisons of Health Care Systems in the United States, Germany and Canada — Materia Socio-Medica

https://www.cma.ca/healthcare-for-real/how-many-canadians-go-us-health-care
 
hollydolly said:
just a little comment re your ''same doctors' campus''.... my doctor is 50 yeards from the hospital... I want to know why it takes 10 days for a blood test reult to get to the doctor from the hospital... or any reports to reach my GP from the hospital... none less than 10 days
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That's ridiculous, HD. Our blood results as outpatients are very quick, usually within 24 hours, and are available on the website portals. Hospital blood tests are even faster.
 
Trade said:
I don't ask for much do I gruntlabor? Health care. Like they have in Canada and the UK. That's all. Is that too much to ask?
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I understand. We've paid dearly for it. The quality and cost to the taxpayer of our health care is criminal.
But the question is, 'Is health care a human right?' As soon as government gets its fingers in the pie it's corrupted.
And now the internet is being called a 'human right'.
 
911 said:
First surgery was over $300,000, which includes the surgeon’s fees.
Second second surgery, I was under anesthesia longer, about 4 1/2 hours the final costs were just shy of $500,000. I don’t know how they justify these costs. I don’t pay anything because of my insurances, but come on, these costs are ridiculous.
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American hospital's billing numbers are meaningless. Medicare and insurance companies pay a small fraction of those numbers, as do cash patients.

Nevertheless, it's true that costs for good medical care has skyrocketed, as has the amount of medical waste.

So much of what is used in medical care, including scissors for cutting bandages, is used once and sent to a landfill.

Humans are very slow learners.
 
Meanwhile in Britain --

24/01 2026. Injury sustained
25/01. = Off to A+E (In and out appx. 8 hrs) X-Ray/scan, 'Still' Boot fitted - and back home.
31/01 = Injury checked anddiagnosed - Op. arranged
04/02 = Op, - (In and out appx. 12 hrs) 'Flexible' Boot fitted - and back home.
28/02 (Approx). Feedback from Consultant 2 week review date set .

= No cost outlay required
(One of the reason I don't mind paying contribution through Tax)
 
WOLF ANGEL said:
Meanwhile in Britain --

24/01 2026. Injury sustained
25/01. = Off to A+E (In and out appx. 8 hrs) X-Ray/scan, 'Still' Boot fitted - and back home.
31/01 = Injury checked anddiagnosed - Op. arranged
04/02 = Op, - (In and out appx. 12 hrs) 'Flexible' Boot fitted - and back home.
28/02 (Approx). Feedback from Consultant 2 week review date set .

= No cost outlay required
(One of the reason I don't mind paying contribution through Tax)
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Seems like a system that works. Can you explain how that paying through tax works?

Is it taxes on wages?
If on wages does everyone pay the same regardless of the how much they are paid? Is there a sliding scale to assure everyone pays equally to get equal treatment?

If on wages what about those that don't work/ never earned a wage due to mental or physical disability?

Then there probably is no earned wage due illegal status unemployed due to that & unable to present proper documentation. Do those with medical needs like you experienced receive that kind of care?

Is the system well funded or failing financially?
 
@Knight
In Australia it's about 1.5 - 2% of personal taxable income that goes into the healthcare budget. It covers all urgent and critical care as well as some elective surgery.
Recently I presented at the ED at 1.30 AM, I waited until 10.30 AM when I received excellent care for pneumonia. A nurse attended to me several times while I waited. There were no out of pocket expenses incurred, other than vehicle parking fees.
 
Thanks for the input on percent of wage to fund the Australian system.

The other questions I had still as the Pennsylvania Dutch would say "It wonders me?

Kind of goes along with what I just asked on Microsoft Bing search.

A few of the bull dots from that search

Current State of the Healthcare System
Overall Performance: Australia’s healthcare system is often regarded as one of the best globally, with high life expectancy and a majority of citizens rating their health positively. However, it is increasingly burdened by long wait times for procedures and access to care, particularly in aged care.
1
Chronic Underfunding: Reports indicate that the healthcare system is suffering from chronic underfunding, which has led to critical shortages in workforce and medical supplies. For instance, by 2025, Australia is projected to face a shortfall of 100,000 nurses and over 10,000 general practitioners (GPs) by 2031-32. This shortage is exacerbated by overwhelming demand in emergency departments, leading to prolonged wait times for patients.

is the australian health care system failing - Bing

The reason I ask those questions is because I am trying to think of an equitable way to transition from what takes place now & to a system that provides equitable treatment for all. I'm not envisioning any way for that to happen here in America.
 
Last edited:
Responded to Wolf Angels post with some questions. No reply.:( Can anyone in the UK read this and let me know how that system works

Quote
"Seems like a system that works. Can you explain how that paying through tax works?

Is it taxes on wages?
If on wages does everyone pay the same regardless of the how much they are paid? Is there a sliding scale to assure everyone pays equally to get equal treatment?

If on wages what about those that don't work/ never earned a wage due to mental or physical disability?"

I thanked Rakia for the input but that was for Australia not the UK that Wolf Angel posted about

Then there probably is no earned wage due illegal status unemployed due to that & unable to present proper documentation. Do those with medical needs like you experienced receive that kind of care?

Is the system well funded or failing financially?
 
Knight said:
Responded to Wolf Angels post with some questions. No reply.:( Can anyone in the UK read this and let me know how that system works

Quote
"Seems like a system that works. Can you explain how that paying through tax works?

Is it taxes on wages?
If on wages does everyone pay the same regardless of the how much they are paid? Is there a sliding scale to assure everyone pays equally to get equal treatment?

If on wages what about those that don't work/ never earned a wage due to mental or physical disability?"

I thanked Rakia for the input but that was for Australia not the UK that Wolf Angel posted about

Then there probably is no earned wage due illegal status unemployed due to that & unable to present proper documentation. Do those with medical needs like you experienced receive that kind of care?

Is the system well funded or failing financially?
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Good questions- I'd like to know, too..
 

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