Does anyone care about health care?
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
In the past I have waited several hours for treatment in an ER. I went one time with a 105 °F fever and pain in the kidney area. It took four hours and my fever broke while I sat in the ER waiting room. It is a public hospital, which means that it can't turn someone away, even if they can't pay. So, you end up with people ahead of you that have not much more wrong with them than a cold. They will move you to the front of the line if you have something life threatening. Gary Kirkham A working Program is one that has only unobserved bugs He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot Me blog, You read
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
Belongs in the soapbox...but- In an ER, your place in line is determined by the severity of your problem, (relative to others) not how long you've been there. $50 was cheap. I pay a minumum $75 copay for ER visits , even with health insurance, goes up to $100 if the visit was judged 'non-emergency' (and the bill exceeded $500 the few times used for actual emergencies). Most ER's are very overtaxed, mostly by people who should have gone to a general practitioner instead, and most of whom cannot pay. We need more clinics and nurse-practioner establishments to take this burden off of emergency rooms (they should be reserved for life-threatening issues only IMO). Most hospitals in my part of the US have available space and short waits (if any) for people with planned surgery, or other needs (and insurance or the ability to pay). The ER's on the other hand, are packed with people with minor injuries or illness that should have gone to a local doctor or clinic rather than the ER. Many have no personal doctor, and often can't pay. (Which is why your and my bills seem so high, we subsidize those who can't pay...) Power corrupts and PowerPoint corrupts absolutely. - Vint Cerf
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
Wait times are very short here; most people have no insurance coverage so only the wealthy and extremely well employed have access anyway. "My kid was Inmate of the Month at Adobe Mountain Juvenile Corrections Center" - Bumper Sticker in Bullhead City
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
I say use some of the money the rich execs in hockey have and take some money from overpaid players and use that for health care. I love Hockey and all...but jesus...something really stings when I think some goofball mother *&!%@# jock makes more than a doctor. The execs...i'd make a slight exception...they probably got rich for a good reason, so they "maybe" deserve it a little more. How do I print my voice mail?
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Wait times are very short here; most people have no insurance coverage so only the wealthy and extremely well employed have access anyway. "My kid was Inmate of the Month at Adobe Mountain Juvenile Corrections Center" - Bumper Sticker in Bullhead City
The first thing anyone tells me before going down to the US is to get medical insurance - but I did so the first time and felt a little bit the sucker for soing so given that the stay was illness free. The rest of the times I went insurance free, and the $50 bill was much less than the insurance would have been for the months that I worked. I guess it is all relative to your level of risk you are willing to take and partly age.
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
Yes, I care. It's a mess. It's a scam. It doesn't work. And Canada isn't any better than the US. Just different. Marc MyXaml Advanced Unit Testing
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
In my personal experience, US > Canada. However, you really have to be careful comparing the two. In both the US and Canada, anybody can get basic emergency care. In Canada, everyone can get care. However, depending on how your illness rates, you might wait a very long time. For example, hip replacement is considered elective and thus you can wait for a long time (1 year +) with a very painful condition. There have been cases where people have waited seven years for heart bypass surgery when they have been told they have six months to live. I have been to the emergency room three times now and wait times have been around 13 hours, 6 hours and 3 hours. If you need an MRI in Canada, the wait can easily be six months. However, I have had two cat scans (meow) in Canada without issue. In the US, if you are "in the system" you can usually get Canada level and above care quickly without issue. The real problem with the US system is that if you fall out of the system (i.e. get ill while not covered by insurance or don't have a job) then getting good quality care is a real problem. Anybody who says the U.S. system only works for the very rich or well employed people are either lying or have an axe to grind. I am not rich by a long shot and have never had any problems getting coverage either through work or via private plans. The longest wait I ever had in three visits at those evil HMOs has only been about 1 hour. Canada - Rationed health care for all. U.S. - If you are in the system you will get good quality care. If you are out of the system, you are screwed. They are both really good systems with really bad problems. I would love a Canada system augmented with the ability to get better health care if you have the money. However, I don't see how that can really be done without the system degenerating into a U.S. system. As is, you have Canadians heading to the U.S. to get care. Not only are Canadian dollars heading to the U.S. but you still have the "rich" being able to buy quality care. The question is do people hate that because the "rich" are able to get the care they need or that the "non-rich" don't have the same level of quality care. If it is the former, then you have your head up your butt and are contributing to the problem and not the solution. The goal is to get everyone access to hip replacements in a reasonable time, not to prevent the rich from getting theirs. Tim Smith I'm going to patent thought. I have yet to see any prior art.
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
You are comparing Oranges and Apples. Based on my experience: (I stayed an year in Toronto and 7 yrs in US) Canada population has 30 around million and every citizen gets FREE Health care regardless of income due to HIGH taxes paid by Canadians. But downside is longer lines you have to wait, as patients:doctor ratio is very high. One reason is skilled doctors (even immigrants) are migrating to US. Doctors can see only certain number of patients. I have seen people driving 30 miles to see the Doctor, as nearby doctor is not taking any new patients. US population has around 300 million and basic health care is provided only to citizens under poverty (but lot of these schemes got scrapped by budget cuts). You can get health insurance if you are rich or employed by good employer. You can get private health insurance but it's costly and co-payments/deductibles are very high. For a person like me who is from 3rd world country like India, Canada's free Healthcare system sounds great. As in India the basic health care is lousy and even when you if you pay through your nose you get OK service. But for Canadians, the US Healthcare sounds great. There is a proverb in my mother tongue : "poruginti pullakura ruchi" It means, neighbours food always taste good. That's 2 cents.
Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift -that's why it's called the present
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In my personal experience, US > Canada. However, you really have to be careful comparing the two. In both the US and Canada, anybody can get basic emergency care. In Canada, everyone can get care. However, depending on how your illness rates, you might wait a very long time. For example, hip replacement is considered elective and thus you can wait for a long time (1 year +) with a very painful condition. There have been cases where people have waited seven years for heart bypass surgery when they have been told they have six months to live. I have been to the emergency room three times now and wait times have been around 13 hours, 6 hours and 3 hours. If you need an MRI in Canada, the wait can easily be six months. However, I have had two cat scans (meow) in Canada without issue. In the US, if you are "in the system" you can usually get Canada level and above care quickly without issue. The real problem with the US system is that if you fall out of the system (i.e. get ill while not covered by insurance or don't have a job) then getting good quality care is a real problem. Anybody who says the U.S. system only works for the very rich or well employed people are either lying or have an axe to grind. I am not rich by a long shot and have never had any problems getting coverage either through work or via private plans. The longest wait I ever had in three visits at those evil HMOs has only been about 1 hour. Canada - Rationed health care for all. U.S. - If you are in the system you will get good quality care. If you are out of the system, you are screwed. They are both really good systems with really bad problems. I would love a Canada system augmented with the ability to get better health care if you have the money. However, I don't see how that can really be done without the system degenerating into a U.S. system. As is, you have Canadians heading to the U.S. to get care. Not only are Canadian dollars heading to the U.S. but you still have the "rich" being able to buy quality care. The question is do people hate that because the "rich" are able to get the care they need or that the "non-rich" don't have the same level of quality care. If it is the former, then you have your head up your butt and are contributing to the problem and not the solution. The goal is to get everyone access to hip replacements in a reasonable time, not to prevent the rich from getting theirs. Tim Smith I'm going to patent thought. I have yet to see any prior art.
Tim Smith wrote: They are both really good systems with really bad problems. I would love a Canada system augmented with the ability to get better health care if you have the money. I agree... Tim Smith wrote: The goal is to get everyone access to hip replacements in a reasonable time, not to prevent the rich from getting theirs exactly... How do I print my voice mail?
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
Here in Austaralia this has been a big issue over the last year or so. Our hospitals get so busy they refuse to take ambulances. The Drivers have to wait with the patient in the car park sometimes for hours or ring around other hospitals, sometimes 2 hours drive away to try and unload the patient. I once broke an arm and the emergancy dept at the local hospital was not able to take xrays at night so I had to wait 6hrs for an Xray. They did give me some good drugs though There have been cases of people left on a gurney in emergancy, being forgotten about and dying in the hospital. I know My English relatives complain about the National Health Service over there and that the US has had similar problems. I wonder if any country has sorted this out.
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
I've never had to wait very long to be seen by a doctor. The couple times I've been to the emergency room I've always been seem pretty quickly. Then again, I haven't tried to go in any place like los angeles where I hear there are very long waits due to illegals with no insurance. Having said that though I am extremely worried about health care here in the US. Premiums are skyrocketing so much that many employers can't afford to give their employees health care anymore. I have really good health insurance through my employer but almost %15 of the population in this country doesn't have any insurance at all. final note, people who say that only rich in the US have health insurance have either never been here or are just making things up. We were never rich growing up but we always had insurance and so did my (mostly poor) friends.
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Up in Canada we are having this huge debate on health care (and hockey). Personally I am tuning alot of it out, but I have learned in that we have long waiting lists and lines in hospitals. This true because I have seen the lines in emergency wards. But I also remember that in the United States when I was living there in 1999 there were long lines - I had to wait 2 hours to see a physician in an ER (and they charged me $50) Does anyone else have long wait times in hospitals in the US?
And in the UK we think the NHS is bad... If you ever have to go to ER try and avoid Friday or Saturday evenings when it's full of drunks. Elaine :rose: The tigress is here :-D
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The first thing anyone tells me before going down to the US is to get medical insurance - but I did so the first time and felt a little bit the sucker for soing so given that the stay was illness free. The rest of the times I went insurance free, and the $50 bill was much less than the insurance would have been for the months that I worked. I guess it is all relative to your level of risk you are willing to take and partly age.
If the place where you work offers insurance take it. If you get a job offer from a place that doesn't offer insurance you should get quite a bit more money. For most people in the US, they would be best off with a high deductable insurance policy to covery emergencies. A plan where you pay the first $1000 is cheap, and it covers what you really need insurance for. (in the long run this would be better than the current plans most people are on - but most people disagree with my reasoning on that) Many young people in the US do not have insurance because they do feel like suckers for taking it. When they get older and their health declines they take it. Some people worry about insurance, some do not. Same as everything else.
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In the past I have waited several hours for treatment in an ER. I went one time with a 105 °F fever and pain in the kidney area. It took four hours and my fever broke while I sat in the ER waiting room. It is a public hospital, which means that it can't turn someone away, even if they can't pay. So, you end up with people ahead of you that have not much more wrong with them than a cold. They will move you to the front of the line if you have something life threatening. Gary Kirkham A working Program is one that has only unobserved bugs He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot Me blog, You read
Unfortunately, I've have quite a few trips to the ER here in the US because of severe food allergies.... from what I've seen and experienced, the severity of condition determines how long you wait. My "ohmigosh-i-can't-breathe" allergy experience got me past everyone, past the paperwork desk, and into care immediately... my "oopsIcan't-tell-if-it's-a-reaction-or-not" time got me a place at the end of the line, and I was able to leave without care, because the reaction never blew up past something treatable with allergy medicine. Also, in my area, there are two hospitals within 5 miles of each other. One is always crowded, and the other has been pretty empty. The crowded one has an affiliation with a big HMO, is a not-for-profit hospital. The emptier one is a private "Saint something or other" hospital... Not sure what this has to do with anything, but the difference is noticable. I don't want to fan any war about which health care system is better, but I truly appreciate the care I have received here in the US. I've seen some not so great things, but by far, my life has literally been saved by fast thinking and acting doctors here. :rose:blueSprite