I recently broke my wrist while skateboarding, I'm 34 so that is my first mistake
I had two X-rays and anaesthetic and need my hand pulled out of my forearm and the bones manipulated back inline with eachother. I've got an appointment next week, if my bones have moved I'll need surgery to have my bones wired together
That is all free on the NHS, I did a little look in America what I've had done would of cost me $6-7000 if I had no insurance. If I need surgery it would be an extra $10,000+ more on top.
What's your views on American healthcare?
Is insurance cheaper than what I pay in taxes?
Do the insurance companies try to screw you out of care?
How much do the premium costs rise after having surgery or care?
I know Trump cut out the middleman on medication, how corrupt is the system with so many people making money in between the gaps?
I'm completely ignorant on American healthcare system but I personally like free healthcare, I know such leftie talk is not welcome here but I'm happy to hear your opinions.
Edit: I'm asking how the American system works, most people want to just talk about the NHS and it's failures which there is many. What are the pros and cons of American private as I have no idea about it
The US “system” is a bit like foreign aid to Ukraine.
It’s bureaucratic looting, with the beneficiaries the insurance companies and health systems — a third of the economy. It’s important to realize that before coming to any conclusions about our “free-market.”
Your situation here would depend on what State you lived in. If you don’t have insurance, the hospital would likely help get you enrolled in whatever government plan you qualify for — most public aid is State run. Those options would be exhausted before you were handed a bill, and bills can be negotiated.
Obamacare significantly reduced the number of providers taking public aid though. So the claim they expanded healthcare coverage is ruse; more people got government insurance, but there are far fewer doctors to treat them for general care. A shell game.
‘Free-market’ Insurance premiums per individual might cost between $1,500-$9,000 annually. The lower cost premiums cover less and have higher copays and deductibles. Is it more than NIH? Our State and Federal taxes depend on income, but most working people are paying 30%-50%.
The tangible benefit of ‘market incentives’ is in innovation and access — at least if you’re near a major metropolitan area. The difference in Emergency Care is striking.
Princess Diana is a tragic example, even though it was the French system. In any major city in the US she would have been in surgery in a Level 1 Trauma Center within 60 minutes. I can’t say that would have saved her, but I can say that the 3-hour delay to get her into surgery was fatal.
And for you — bones need to be set with 24 hours. Major hospitals will have Ortho consult in the ER, and at bare minimum would set and mold (a half cast to immobilize the joint, but not circumferential). The bones shouldn’t “move” once their immobilized.
Hope you heal well and fast. Cheers.
Thank you, I'm sure both our systems could be better.
I like the privatised way but weary on the scams the elites have plumaged and pilfered it away as you explained with Obama. They must of corrupted it like they do with everything. Our NHS is backed by taxes and national insurance payments. It depends on how much you earn, we have tax brackets so you don't pay tax on the first £12k you earn and then pay 20% of what you earn above that to £37k. This is the majority of people that pay that. I reckon about £1000 of my taxes go to the NHS
I didn't know that Diana waited 3hrs, that's insane and supports the theory someone wanted her dead as if you go to A&E with something serious you get immediate care. It's chosen by how severe the patients condition is, they get priority.
I had the half cast the night I went in, it was a bit of a long wait but not too bad. Then went back and got the new cast straight away.
glad you got good care, hope you don't need the surgery.
before Obamacare, it's long been calculated at least 500 billion (with a b) in Medicare-Medicaid fraud per year. it's also known hospitals "pad" bills in the tens of billions a year. the endemic fraud that we know of is at least one quarter of government spending on healthcare. our hybrid private-public system could work quite well if we dismantle Nancy Pelosi-Obama crime syndicate.
the tragedy with Diana wasn't delays due to 'wait time' but the design of their emergency management system. I'm an old paramedic, and also had an encounter in a French ER due to an injury while I lived there in the 90s. I thought I went back in time to the 1970s. the standard of care was at least 20 years behind the US. at the time, I predicted that it would not change until a famous person died, but I don't know if Diana's death brought the necessary changes. the French attitude and work ethic lack a 'sense of urgency,' which is in part cultural, part lack of any incentives to achieve -- let alone hyper-achieve, a blessing and curse in the American psyche.
but in spite of that, the way Diana was treated is still inexplicable if you are trying to save a life.
Thank you I'm getting good care, they were really good. There was the usual few in there complaining as always but you could see they were working hard.
I can't speak for the French system back then as I was a child but as far as I can remember Britain has like a colour code system, bleeding/serious head trauma/organs failure was red the other side of the scale broken bones, cuts needing stitches etc were yellow.
America is an exceptional country I love what the founding fathers envisioned but it looks like the old money of Europe didn't like it and waged war on you to bring you back to being a subject not a citizen.
I'd need to look more into Diana's life and death more as I do feel it was a bit of a ritual killing. I think what did she know.