tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23833605.post7033087968931334872..comments2023-10-28T08:49:12.718-04:00Comments on Stray Thoughts & Ruminations: A Sorry Tale about "The Best Health Care System in the World"Eviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00212038923735410573noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23833605.post-80809075169396481022007-09-03T16:30:00.000-04:002007-09-03T16:30:00.000-04:00One totally different subject: I submitted my autu...One totally different subject: I submitted my autumn challenge. PLease see my blog: http://questionsoftoday.blogspot.comErikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08731308036195016808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23833605.post-79910545646888514792007-09-03T16:28:00.000-04:002007-09-03T16:28:00.000-04:00Second thought: After having read the other commen...Second thought: After having read the other comments, I now understand that in the USA it occurs that life-saving treatment can be refused if the hospital is not sure about payment??????????Erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08731308036195016808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23833605.post-27526334382219535992007-09-03T16:22:00.000-04:002007-09-03T16:22:00.000-04:00I cannot understand why in a prosperous country su...I cannot understand why in a prosperous country such as the USA this can occur. Only the very rich can pay a heart operation or other operative treatments at cost price plus profit, insurance is simply a necessity for a nation's wellbeing. It's also illogical because hospitals are because of the medical oath binded to give medical care, no matter if one is insured or not. So who will pay? At the end of the day the taxpayer will because you cannot pick feathers from a frog as we say in Holland. But some politicians think they can. From a conservative standpoint it's better to oblige everybody to pay insurance premiums than it is to reserve part of the tax income for this purpose, that's socialist and is worse than the worst :). Mr. Bush, is this Christian? Evie I appreciate your standpoints very much and the way you climb the barricades in words.Erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08731308036195016808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23833605.post-56763086347645018512007-09-03T10:56:00.000-04:002007-09-03T10:56:00.000-04:00Jenn, while that may be so, I think I would still ...Jenn, while that may be so, I think I would still rather have it that way. We are a healthier people and our babies are born healthier because when we do get sick, we can go to the doctor right away and get it taken care of before it developes into something more severe. I know the ER is not the place to do that, but I would still rather have people who misuse the system than wonder whether or not we can pay the bill if we need to go to the doctor for an upper respiratory chest infection.<BR/><BR/>Every month when we pick up or medications for the month (both Matt's for his anxiety and mine for my thyroid) I am very thankful that I live where I doThe other day, one of Matt's meds was $100 for the month. My country picked up $90 of the tab while our drug insurance picked up the other $10. Cost to us - $0.<BR/><BR/>Yes, our taxes are higher to pay for it, but I wouldn't have it any other way!<BR/><BR/>Have you seen Sicko yet? I'd like to see it.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00680174673288007269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23833605.post-6361429766837128232007-09-03T10:55:00.000-04:002007-09-03T10:55:00.000-04:00Although the Canadian system is no where near perf...Although the Canadian system is no where near perfect (in many places it is a system of haves and have nots), I am grateful that system is in place. Without it, we would have been "hooped" when Jennifer, James and Jason were young, due to the many hospital trips and admissions as a result of their asthma etc. I believe they are as healthy as they are today due to the fact that we knew we were covered and therefore were not afraid to seek treatment.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874576244151892714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23833605.post-37235621927887662792007-09-03T02:14:00.000-04:002007-09-03T02:14:00.000-04:00on the other side of the coin - as someone who wor...on the other side of the coin - as someone who works in health care, there tends to be a lot of people who take advantage of the health care system. i don't think that people realize it costs 350$ for an er visit whether it's because you have a stuffy nose or chest pain. there is an arguement for both sides.Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14485061910044084617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23833605.post-33599667170935892332007-08-31T21:00:00.000-04:002007-08-31T21:00:00.000-04:00As a Canadian, it is easy to point a self-righteou...As a Canadian, it is easy to point a self-righteous finger at the US when it comes to comparing health care systems. I dare not do so as there are many weaknesses in our own. <BR/><BR/>In saying that, I do have to say I remain mystified that the US health care system is by and large profit driven. Health care should be a basic human right - where every citizen has access to a basic standard of health care.<BR/>As a citizen of Canada, I carry a health card that entitles me access to any hospital, medical clinic or doctor's office in the country without worry of additional bills or worrying about medical care being approved by a profit driven health care company.<BR/><BR/>My sympathy goes out to those hard working Americans who go into brankrupcy due to health bills - for medical treatment that is esential for their survival.<BR/><BR/>From personal experience, I have the greatest respect for American health care and treatment. When Gayle's father had a heart attack while on vacation in the States many years ago and had to undergo life saving surgery, the treatment and care was second to none - once they had tens of thousands of dollars in their hands up front. Even though Gayle's parents traveled to the states with an excellent travel health coverage package, the hospital that he was rushed to did not accept the insurance as it was a company they did not deal with. Gayle's mother had to fly back up to Canada to secure the upfront cash necessary. The hosptial would not do the surgery - that was necessary for his survival until they had the cash in hand.<BR/>As far as I am aware, this does not happen in Canada. Any person - no matter where they are from - receive treatment upfront before they go after the $ necessary to cover the expenses of the treatment.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11440657052901467269noreply@blogger.com