UK and Canada Prove That Government Medicine Kills

[luckytxn 2,265]

Won't be long till we start whining about this two tier system and I can hear it now when the Socialists start demanding no more private insurance scheme and all must use public insurance to be "fair" to all

Private funds creating

'two-tier' health system

by David Uren

November 3, 2004 The Australian

PRIVATE health insurance is leading to the creation of a two-tier health system, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has warned.

A study of private health insurance by the Paris-based OECD found it creates marked differences in access to care.

"Private health insurance, which is predominantly purchased by higher-income groups, encourages a pro-rich distribution of physician use," it says.

The study found private health insurance in Australia gives people access to doctors and services that cannot be financed by Medicare. "Policy-makers have encouraged private health insurance as a means to offer a level of care or choice above that of the public system to those willing to pay."

The OECD says private insurance cuts waiting times for fund members by financing elective surgery in private hospitals.

The findings do not support claims made by the Melbourne Business School's Ian Harper, on behalf of the private health funds, that private insurance frees up resources in the public system.

"The cost-shifting potential of private health insurance is limited because the privately insured often continue to use publicly financed health services, even when these same services are covered by private health insurance," Professor Harper said.

This was partly because of differences between public and private hospitals, with public hospitals handling the more complex cases and emergency services.

The report says private health insurance in Australia has increased total demand for medical services, limiting the reduction in waiting times overall.

The study says it is not clear how much of the additional use of health services created by private insurance is the result of latent need, perhaps because of the ageing population, and how much is the result of "moral hazard".

Moral hazard is an insurance term meaning people are more likely to take risks and incur costs if they know they do not have to pay for them because they are covered.

The study says this is a particular issue in Australia because of "gap insurance" covering the difference between the scheduled fees met by Medicare and the fees charged by doctors in hospitals.

It notes that this type of cover has had an inflationary effect since being introduced in 2000.

[Tahoma 2,298]

That has all to do with the government taking over health care and yes they are planning on eventually taking over ALL health care.

That's an unsubstantiated claim that doesn't even rise close to the level of fact. But keep telling yourself that.

It must be true because it is the Domino Theory!

[luckytxn 2,265]

Now from what I have read. Australians was about where we were now when we get this public financing option coming up. Many stopped paying for private insurance and jumped to the public financing as it was cheaper like many are warning of happening here. It created a huge bureaucracy that is straining the system and has become very costly and unwieldly.

This is our future people we have coming. Stop gulping the Koolaid and sip it.

Edited August 9, 2009 by luckytxn

[luckytxn 2,265]

Must also ask ourselves why so many come from Canada and indeed the world to use our health care.

[MrsCat 6]

Must also ask ourselves why so many come from Canada and indeed the world to use our health care.

Yup, that's why I moved here! For that matter, why I held out to marry an American. I just couldn't stand being healthy in Canada, knowing that for $400/month I can get an MRI within 24 hours, just on a whim.

[Tahoma 2,298]

I guess we should start posting articles about horror stories in the US healthcare system. Whoever posts the most "wins"

Have you noticed that there aren't many Canadians nor Brits who would trade their health care system for ours.? They like the system they've got and realize that it needs improvement.

For example, just have a look at any health care thread on VJ's Canadian forum. Just like those in luckytxn's postings, virtually nobody in Canada nor the UK wants to replace their health care system with ours.

[Tahoma 2,298]

Must also ask ourselves why so many come from Canada and indeed the world to use our health care.

Yup, that's why I moved here! For that matter, why I held out to marry an American. I just couldn't stand being healthy in Canada, knowing that for $400/month I can get an MRI within 24 hours, just on a whim.

[Ban Hammer 14,619]

luckytxn, you might wish to include a link to the original article so you're not accused of making this up.

the hospital food I have eaten in the US is pretty gross and tasteless too

the hospital food nessa had while she was in having the baby, nessa ranked it as very good.

yeah I am sure there are hospitals in both the US and Canada that have good food... I have had hospital stays in two different hospitals and both of them didn't have very good food...

maybe just a good example of the differences between kansas and cali

[Danno 1,228]

the hospital food I have eaten in the US is pretty gross and tasteless too

the hospital food nessa had while she was in having the baby, nessa ranked it as very good.

yeah I am sure there are hospitals in both the US and Canada that have good food... I have had hospital stays in two different hospitals and both of them didn't have very good food...

MAybe some people are too picky. When I visit someone in the hospital, I am always the one mooching the left-overs on the tray.

[Marilyn. 340]

well, I am not really a picky eater.. the food wasn't all bad.. there was the occasional thing that tasted ok...

but I was in the hospital for over a week and you just get tired of it after awhile... and it didn't help that most every dinner I kept getting the same thing even though I would pick something else

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I guess we should start posting articles about horror stories in the US healthcare system. Whoever posts the most "wins"

Have you noticed that there aren't many Canadians nor Brits who would trade their health care system for ours.? They like the system they've got and realize that it needs improvement.

For example, just have a look at any health care thread on VJ's Canadian forum. Just like those in luckytxn's postings, virtually nobody in Canada nor the UK wants to replace their health care system with ours.

I wouldn't. You really miss it when you don't have it, especially when you get landed with big out of pocket bills on top of the co pays and monthly premiums

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Have you noticed that there aren't many Canadians nor Brits who would trade their health care system for ours.?

That just about says it all.

[natty bumppo 297]

Have you noticed that there aren't many Canadians nor Brits who would trade their health care system for ours.?

That just about says it all.

I know a few Brits that seriously complained when they were told to use the national system after a corporate edict was enforced to make those with a national health care option ... use the option.

[DIARD 1]

You know what, there is problems with any system. No one is perfect therefore no system will be perfect. BUt to throw out a few articles about the Canadian and UK systems and think that should "show us" how bad they have it is ridiculous. You want articles? Should I start throwing them up about the mess that we have right here in the USA? We have plenty , from people getting the wrong limb amputated to ladies dying on the ER floor, to patients taxied to skid row wearing iv's and hospital gowns, to people BANKRUPT from the cost of medical care, to others being turned down by insurance companies for medication and life saving procedures because the Insurance companies don't want to pay out. The list is endless. Our system in the US is broken and it needs to be repaired.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You know what, there is problems with any system. No one is perfect therefore no system will be perfect. BUt to throw out a few articles about the Canadian and UK systems and think that should "show us" how bad they have it is ridiculous. You want articles? Should I start throwing them up about the mess that we have right here in the USA? We have plenty , from people getting the wrong limb amputated to ladies dying on the ER floor, to patients taxied to skid row wearing iv's and hospital gowns, to people BANKRUPT from the cost of medical care, to others being turned down by insurance companies for medication and life saving procedures because the Insurance companies don't want to pay out. The list is endless. Our system in the US is broken and it needs to be repaired.

Indeed.

Interesting comparison in terms of Health Care Satification and Helth Index among OECD nations. The US ranks median despite not only having one of the highest GDP's in that group but also expedning the largest share of that GDP on health care. Bang for the buck? I think not.