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

The actual size of the population doesn't make a difference .

You seem intent on making this about immigration rather than health systems.

My posts have been in answer to questions about health system in Australia and I answered OP question with a definite No.
I sure don't want to switch systems.
I don't think any non Americans answered yes.
 

CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
Saw that announcement and just went :unsure::rolleyes:.
Am rather praying RFK Jr is NOT confirmed.
Makes me worry about who the heck is advising the President elect: Mr. Magoo??

Really? I've never noticed, I can't tell a Jew from anyone else. In fact, as a child my mother said something about "those Jews" over there. I looked at the group of people and didn't understand, because they looked just like us!
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I live in a city in Canada with a fairly large Jewish population. The Ultra Orthodox Jewish men are easily recognized by their black clothing, and distinctive hats and long beards and ear locks. JIM.
 

CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
Population size not contributing to the tax base available for health care costs makes a very large difference when the non-contributing begin to outweigh the contributing portion.

Money does not grow on trees in America, either.
As America goes, so goes the world.
So we are all going to be in for longer and longer waits for less and less services funded.

Well, maybe not: no one else allows so many illegal immigrants into their system as America does. 😭
And we are accused by many in the world of being SELFISH or ISOLATIONISTS if we simply try to save ourselves from being over run by enforcing our own immigration laws.
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"As America goes, so goes the world ". I sure hope not. Many other countries are aghast at what your country is going to become. JIM.
 
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Am rather surprised, as well as disappointed to see such negativity about the American health care system and America in general; as if our health care system is a bad one and as our the US is dangerous to visit!

I don't know if I would want to change health systems or not. I would love to be in a position to be on a health system policy board, for sure. Hate to waste all this education and experiences I've undertaken for so long.

If I did change or move for health care reasons, it would be to a system where people who wanted to be insured - or have national health care, had to watch their health habits, waistline, not smoke, etc, or at least be of a common mindset about what it means to moderate bad living habits in order to not tax the health care system and lead a healthy life as much as possible. Countries like Finland, Denmark, Japan are this way. They take pride in healthy living and exercise, trimness; good hygiene habits for health.

I do not yet know if the AUS system is that way or not as I've not studied the AUS system at all. That does spike my interests of course. If the AUS general population has a healthy lifestyle that keeps the health system 'healthy' - not overburdened, I may enjoy living and using the system of health care in AUS.

Am actually scheduling a visit to AUS in Apr/May or Aug/Sep '25 or '26. Am truly looking forward to the visit. I have many questions about where to go and what to see, recommended things by any of you from there or who have been.

I certainly want to go so I can see all the flowers and plants I see posted on the flower page! Amazing!
 
CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
Am rather surprised, as well as disappointed to see such negativity about the American health care system and America in general; as if our health care system is a bad one and as our the US is dangerous to visit!
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I'm sure the Americal health care system is excellent but it is horrendously expensive. Hubby and I visited US in late Summer of 1987 (?). We had health advisory warnings about rabies and plague, neither of which in endemic in Australia. For 5 weeks we drove ourselves around the western states in a rental and also spent a few days in New York city. We could have been sitting ducks for disease, accident or crime but nothing like that occurred. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful and we managed to adapt to driving on the LH side of the car.

What we were most concerned about was getting very sick or having an accident. The cost of hospitalisation, even for just a few days was horrendously expensive so we paid for travel insurance at the highest level to make sure that in the event of mishap we could both be flown home for treatment in the Australian system without risking bankruptcy or having to sell our house.
CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
I do not yet know if the AUS system is that way or not as I've not studied the AUS system at all. That does spike my interests of course. If the AUS general population has a healthy lifestyle that keeps the health system 'healthy' - not overburdened, I may enjoy living and using the system of health care in AUS.

Am actually scheduling a visit to AUS in Apr/May or Aug/Sep '25 or '26. Am truly looking forward to the visit. I have many questions about where to go and what to see, recommended things by any of you from there or who have been.

I certainly want to go so I can see all the flowers and plants I see posted on the flower page! Amazing!
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I'm planning to take a wildflower tour in Western Australia next year. The timing is tricky. We don't have well defined seasons like those of the northern hemisphere. The flowers don't all bloom at the same time of the month. Some like the golden wattle bloom mid Winter and I am always happy to see it because it tells me that the back of Winter is broken.

The wildflower season in Western Australia typically occurs between June and November12345. The best time to see wildflowers varies by region:
  • June to August: Northern parts of WA
  • August to September: South of Perth
  • September to November: South West of WA and Esperance
  • September: Peak wildflower season in Perth.
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https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=d291...pdG9yY2VudHJlLmNvbS5hdS93aWxkZmxvd2Vycw&ntb=1

Canberra has a wonderful botanical garden that specialises in native species, and there is also a Spring festival every year known as Floriade, with garden beds full of colourful blooms of tulips and other flowering bulbs. They are not native to Australia but it is a delightful spectacle.

Floriade 2025 | VisitCanberra

Just remember, the distance between Canberra and Perth WA is 1919 miles or 3088 kilometres, and air fares are expensive.
 
CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
Am rather surprised, as well as disappointed to see such negativity about the American health care system and America in general; as if our health care system is a bad one and as our the US is dangerous to visit!
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People were asked their opinion and they gave it - you seem upset that everyone didnt think America had the greatest system or was the greatest place.

IMO a basic universal health care system is a much better one and I would not want to switch to a system like USA's - I don't think any non americans answered saying they would.

I guess you can interpret that as negativity - or positivity about our system. Whichever way you want to look at it.
 
So little story….I worked at a small hospital in a high tourist area emergency room . Young woman from france suffered from a spontaneous pneumothorax which we placed a chest tube for. This means one side of her lung collapsed. France sent a plane complete with doctor and nurse to fly her and her husband home.
 
CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
Am rather surprised, as well as disappointed to see such negativity about the American health care system and America in general; as if our health care system is a bad one and as our the US is dangerous to visit!

I don't know if I would want to change health systems or not. I would love to be in a position to be on a health system policy board, for sure. Hate to waste all this education and experiences I've undertaken for so long.

If I did change or move for health care reasons, it would be to a system where people who wanted to be insured - or have national health care, had to watch their health habits, waistline, not smoke, etc, or at least be of a common mindset about what it means to moderate bad living habits in order to not tax the health care system and lead a healthy life as much as possible. Countries like Finland, Denmark, Japan are this way. They take pride in healthy living and exercise, trimness; good hygiene habits for health.

I do not yet know if the AUS system is that way or not as I've not studied the AUS system at all. That does spike my interests of course. If the AUS general population has a healthy lifestyle that keeps the health system 'healthy' - not overburdened, I may enjoy living and using the system of health care in AUS.

Am actually scheduling a visit to AUS in Apr/May or Aug/Sep '25 or '26. Am truly looking forward to the visit. I have many questions about where to go and what to see, recommended things by any of you from there or who have been.

I certainly want to go so I can see all the flowers and plants I see posted on the flower page! Amazing!
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How familiar are you with the German health care system as patient or caretaker?
 
Muskrat said:
So little story….I worked at a small hospital in a high tourist area emergency room . Young woman from france suffered from a spontaneous pneumothorax which we placed a chest tube for. This means one side of her lung collapsed. France sent a plane complete with doctor and nurse to fly her and her husband home.
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Sounds like she had travel insurance. And she likely paid for it herself?
 
MarkD said:
I’m in the US and heck yeah I’d switch healthcare systems. Barring that I’m in a pretty comprehensive system here that is decent within the parameters of what living in a rapacious capitalist state will allow.
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Capitalism is not a deadly sin.
There is no "rapacious" capitalist "state" in the US that I know of.
Capitalism in the US, which is laden with taxes gives away money in the world, like it grows on trees; saving many people in one way or the other.
Faustianism is a deadly sin.
Sadly, some people often confuse the two.
Sadly some slam the Western propensity that uses capitalism to create innovation.

The reward of a Capitalist state is personal achievement and freedom to earn a comfortable life; being able to have the control to succeed and survive in the world.

There are positives and negatives to any state of government and monetary policy.

Be careful what you wish for.
 
Trade said:
Many of us in this country are also aghast at the direction we are going.
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Yes we are.
Hence the silent majority voted due to the MORAL outrage of the audacity to defund the police in America and accuse the whole population of racist as a culture.

How asinine is it to accuse the MELTING pot of the WORLD of "systemic" racism?

TRUE Americans of whatever color don't give a damn what color one is we give a damn if you can work and take care of yourself under your own steam; that you are not lazy and suck off the rest of the world.

Being a lazy, too stupid to see one is one's own problem, and needing help are two different things, and lazy/stupid comes in all colors.
 
CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
Yes we are.
Hence the silent majority voted due to the MORAL outrage of the audacity to defund the police in America and accuse the whole population of racist as a culture.

How asinine is it to accuse the MELTING pot of the WORLD of "systemic" racism?

TRUE Americans of whatever color don't give a damn what color one is we give a damn if you can work and take care of yourself under your own steam; that you are not lazy and suck off the rest of the world.

Being a lazy, too stupid to see one is one's own problem, and needing help are two different things, and lazy/stupid comes in all colors.
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You are ignoring content by this member
 
CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
Capitalism is not a deadly sin.
There is no "rapacious" capitalist "state" in the US that I know of.
Capitalism in the US, which is laden with taxes gives away money in the world, like it grows on trees; saving many people in one way or the other.
Faustianism is a deadly sin.
Sadly, some people often confuse the two.
Sadly some slam the Western propensity that uses capitalism to create innovation.

The reward of a Capitalist state is personal achievement and freedom to earn a comfortable life; being able to have the control to succeed and survive in the world.

There are positives and negatives to any state of government and monetary policy.

Be careful what you wish for.
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You don't think big Pharma represents a dark side of unchecked capitalism? You keep your opinions. I'm keeping mine.
 
@CooCooforCoCoPuffs ….no. We always called the country the person who had nationalized healthcare was from. This was to insure that we could recieve payment for services. In this case France felt they could fly and get their citizen cheaper than what care in the US was going to cost them. Simple math. As far as that concept of everyone getting care in the US whether they can afford it or not is bunk. Emtala rules you can not turn away emergency care. But it better be an emergency ir you will be medically screened and out the door. Some clinics have sliding scale payments…but not all. And programs like medicaid and the marketplace insurance have to be applied for. So you have to have the mental ability to do so.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I think we should clear up that, now, in the US, we all have ( or supposed to have) basic health insurance, which we pay for. It sounds very much what others offer in "free health" care nations".
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Here is an example of the difference between the USA and Canada, in terms of actual medical care for the lowest sector of the population. In Canada, a person may be "living on the street or in a homeless shelter " BUT they will have a Provincial health care ID card in their pocket. That means that they will get THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE in the hospital as the guy who makes 200K a year, gets. Thats what "Universal " means in our country.
 
The Medicare part B Premium will be $185 per month per person in 2025. So for my wife and I that's $370 a month. Then there's the $430 a month per person that I pay Blue Cross Blue Shield to cover what Medicare doesn't pay, plus provide us with prescription drig coverage. So that's $860 a month plus $370 = $1230 a month that we pay for our coverage. That's $14,760 a year for the two of us. Then there's the cost of Medicare per person that the government subsidizes. In 2023 that cost worked out to an average of $15,727 per person per year.

That comes to $31,454 for the two of us. So overall the bloated ticks in the Health Care Industrial complex get a grand total of $46,214 to cover both of us. Now for that I gotta say that we get pretty decent coverage although we still have some co-pays and deductables but nothing that I havn't been able to manage so far. But seriously this is a colossal rip off. And the entire Health Care Insdustrial Complex, Doctors, Hospitals, Medical Supply companies, Pharmaceutical Companies, Health Insurance Companies, etc. etc. are all in on this feeding frenzy.
 
jimintoronto said:
Here is an example of the difference between the USA and Canada, in terms of actual medical care for the lowest sector of the population. In Canada, a person may be "living on the street or in a homeless shelter " BUT they will have a Provincial health care ID card in their pocket. That means that they will get THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE in the hospital as the guy who makes 200K a year, gets. Thats what "Universal " means in our country.
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...and here is the difference between Canadian and UK care.... the same homeless guy doesn't need to carry ANY card to allow him to receive medical care for free....that's what Universal means in MY country...(y)
 

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