Happy Birthday To Great Britain's Increasingly Scandalous National Health Service

[Pooky 3,343]

Wrong, as usual. We may pay the most, but we also get the most.

No, we don't.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

You may disagree with me, but as a person who has actually experienced both systems, I am perfectly content to say f^ck the US health care system. It needs to be replaced. It is not fit for purpose.

I said I agree. It was the F word the USA I did not like, the health care system is different

[Sousuke 1,214]

I experienced both - I found the NHS superior.

[Póg mo 1,749]

I now have awesome insurance through my employer that I don't pay for. I am thankful for this. But how frickin' pathetic is it that I have to be grateful for health care? I'm sorry, f^ck the US and its BS "system" that lines the pockets of companies at the expense of the people. As someone who's used both systems, I know which one I prefer, and it ain't this one.

The sad thing is that you are paying for it. Your employer gets a tax deduction and your salary is less because your employer isn't going absorb your health costs out of the goodness of his/her heart.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Wrong, as usual. We may pay the most, but we also get the most.

You really fall for that story hook, line and sinker, don't you?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If you knew even the first thing about medicine you would understand that these numbers are meaningless. Junk science. How do they determine "effective" care? "Safe" care? And "Equity"??? Give me a break. It is subjective nonsense, not based on anything scientific. The only thing useful in that table is health care expenditures per capita. Real quality of care is extremely difficult to measure by any standards, even by so-called experts.

Junk science. Of course. That is the only retort right wing nutters have when they are presented with real world facts and can't make a cohesive argument against them. Health care outcomes are very measurable and comparable. And when one measures and compares, the US loses because the health care system here is focused on anything and everything but actual health care. That's the very problem at the core of this rotten system - that people and their health are not front and center as they should be.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

I too have used both, and I agree that I would MUCH rather the NHS than our overpriced system. It was nice not having to worry about taking my daughter to the doctor and then to A&E without having to worry about how much it was going to cost. Does the NHS have its problems? Of course it does...but again, it is far better than our system. We pay 160.00 A WEEK for our health insurance and we have a VERY high deductible. Supposedly its all good under Obama Care....but it sure seems like an awful lot of money to pay. And our system isn't so quick either. I have to go to certain doctors due to our insurance and need to see a specialist. The one I can go to has a two month wait...meanwhile I am in extraordinary pain every day and struggle to get up out of bed to go to work to pay for this insurance! Our system is so broken....the NHS has issues, but no where near as bad as ours!

[Teddy B 17,251]

I too have used both, and I agree that I would MUCH rather the NHS than our overpriced system. It was nice not having to worry about taking my daughter to the doctor and then to A&E without having to worry about how much it was going to cost. Does the NHS have its problems? Of course it does...but again, it is far better than our system. We pay 160.00 A WEEK for our health insurance and we have a VERY high deductible. Supposedly its all good under Obama Care....but it sure seems like an awful lot of money to pay. And our system isn't so quick either. I have to go to certain doctors due to our insurance and need to see a specialist. The one I can go to has a two month wait...meanwhile I am in extraordinary pain every day and struggle to get up out of bed to go to work to pay for this insurance! Our system is so broken....the NHS has issues, but no where near as bad as ours!

Does your employer pick up any of the tab for your health insurance?

My Canadian wife can't stand the US system, she is always complaining about how nuts it is with all of the different plans and deductibles, etc.

[JohnR! 5,495]

So, you're saying that Canada has the best health care in the universe, correct? or So, you're saying that Murkha has the worstest health care in the universe, correct?

(I know you'll get it...)

My Canadian wife can't stand the US system, she is always complaining about how nuts it is with all of the different plans and deductibles, etc.

Edited October 29, 2014 by JohnR!

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

Yeah, not sure how much of it they pay(its actually through my hubby but if I don't work we wouldn't be able to afford it). My work's health plan is even worse...$600+ every two weeks, which is positively ridiculous. When you have any chronic condition, which I do, it is very easy to go broke here. I have medications that are very pricey, require blood work every month, x-rays, MRI's (forget those...I just tell them I can't afford it) and specialist visits regularly.

[Teddy B 17,251]

So, you're saying that Canada has the best health care in the universe, correct? or So, you're saying that Murkha has the worstest health care in the universe, correct?

(I know you'll get it...)

Well, it's pretty self explanatory, no?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Does your employer pick up any of the tab for your health insurance?

My Canadian wife can't stand the US system, she is always complaining about how nuts it is with all of the different plans and deductibles, etc.

My Pinay wife same thing. My doctor talks to my insurance company more than he does me. Something wrong with that .

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Yeah, not sure how much of it they pay(its actually through my hubby but if I don't work we wouldn't be able to afford it). My work's health plan is even worse...$600+ every two weeks, which is positively ridiculous. When you have any chronic condition, which I do, it is very easy to go broke here. I have medications that are very pricey, require blood work every month, x-rays, MRI's (forget those...I just tell them I can't afford it) and specialist visits regularly.

If your companies health plan is more than 7% of your gross play , you can apply for insurance on the exchanges and open enrollment is right around the corner

[JohnR! 5,495]

Absolutely. I just wanted to make 125% sure!!!

Well, it's pretty self explanatory, no?

[unsmiley 111]

Junk science. Of course. That is the only retort right wing nutters have when they are presented with real world facts and can't make a cohesive argument against them. Health care outcomes are very measurable and comparable. And when one measures and compares, the US loses because the health care system here is focused on anything and everything but actual health care. That's the very problem at the core of this rotten system - that people and their health are not front and center as they should be.

Your pretty chart is almost completely devoid of facts. If you really think healthcare outcomes are "very measurable and comparable", and that those compiling these so-called statistics (on either side of the debate) do not have a political agenda, you know even less about healthcare than I thought.