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 Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:21 pm
What should the U.S. do to fix health care, if it needs to be fixed? What about universal health care?
If you're not from the U.S., please describe your country's health care system. What's working for you? What needs to be fixed?
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:20 pm
I support free universal health care. It works in other countries, and can work here. As for the morality of paying taxes to help injured gang bangers, everyone deserves a second chance.
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:57 pm
There are numerous reasons why health care costs are through the ceiling.
1. The FDA has a monopoly on what drugs a doctor can recommend. A monopoly by definition eliminates competition and drives up costs. Doctors are actually not supposed to recommend, for example, chamomile for sleeplessness if something like Lunesta exists. Never mind that the Lunesta has a number of nasty side effects. We need to break the FDA monopoly. A simple way would be to automatically declare any drug with a safe usage record overseas as being safe here. (It's a little personal here-- there are several good keratoconus docs in this world but most of them live in Moscow or Milan and I am not allowed to benefit)
Also ending the war on safe alternatives. There is no reason, for example. to go after estriol and progesterone if the hormones as sold can be proven as bioidentical (and they can). Homeopathics are another one that regularly face scrutiny despite that they have had a specific protocol for manufacture for over a century. Flower essence therapy is another example that springs to mind. But all of these currently have to go through FDA trials (another way to drive up costs) and be patentable (which natural substances cannot be)
For the above example of a little insomnia-- chamomile tea is someting many of you probably know about, but there are also several homeopathics and flower essences that also cover this. An average flower essence or tube of homeopathic tabs is about eight bucks (no intrusive super discount drug plan required)
2. Restoring sanity to the health care system. Did you know that an antibiotic does nothing to help with a cold? Yet many doctors still prescribe one because they feel they must do something. Truth, colds are caused by viruses and antibiotics kill bacteria only (btw they are broad spectrum which means they kill off all the good gut bacteria too) Next time, eat some garlic. X-rays, CAT scans, and other diagnostics can also be overused. All these drive up costs. Some doctors are also wary to use an older technology when a newer (more expensive) one exists, even if the newer one isn't the right tool for the situation.
So a variety of market changes could drastically cut costs without forcing the taxpayer into a one-size-fits-some healthcare system
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:37 pm
Health care is partially subsidised by the government here. My GP charges $60 for a consult ($37 US) but once I get my Community Services Card I'll get further subsidies 'cause I'm on a low income. Accident-related injuries are covered by ACC (Accident Compensation Corperation) who pay for any hospital treatment, subsidise other treatment and pay 80% of your income should the injury make you unable to work. The system seems to work well, although it would be nice if they subsidised dentistry as well (they do for under 18s but that's not me as of today, heh). Also we have a shortage of medical professionals and the ones we do have like to go on strike but that's another issue really. Ladygaura 2. Restoring sanity to the health care system. Did you know that an antibiotic does nothing to help with a cold? Yet many doctors still prescribe one because they feel they must do something. Truth, colds are caused by viruses and antibiotics kill bacteria only (btw they are broad spectrum which means they kill off all the good gut bacteria too) Next time, eat some garlic. X-rays, CAT scans, and other diagnostics can also be overused. All these drive up costs. Some doctors are also wary to use an older technology when a newer (more expensive) one exists, even if the newer one isn't the right tool for the situation. Yeah, I knew. But if health care costs so much over there why would anyone go to the doctor for a cold anyway? confused
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:05 am
Queen, you'd be amazed, especially if they have insurance. there's a lot of fear that it might be the flu or worse.
Also, I used the antibiotics for a cold as a simple example. It gets a lot more complicated when you're on 20 different medicines like some heart patients are. Seriously, some of those medicines are just for dealing with the side effects of other of the medicines. It's outrageous. But they scare our elders into thinking that they have to swallow 20, 30 pills a day and they have no choice. They don't have a choice because the FDA DOESN"T LET THEM HAVE ONE.
Yeah, I'm screaming. You'd better believe it I'm mad as heck about the American "health care" system. I'm not screaming at you. Please know this.
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:32 am
When I think of the American health care system, it really angers me. If you have medical insurance, you're just as scared as a person who doesn't.
"What if I get sick?"
"What if I have to go to the hospital?"
"How will I pay my bills?"
Insurance companies will do anything to deny you health care. They will fine-comb your file for any "pre-existing" conditions, so that they can turn you down for your heart surgery, cancer treatment, or liver transplant. It doesn't mean you can't do the procedure, it just means that you're not going to be financially covered.
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 9:16 am
rockerpixie When I think of the American health care system, it really angers me. If you have medical insurance, you're just as scared as a person who doesn't. "What if I get sick?" "What if I have to go to the hospital?" "How will I pay my bills?" Insurance companies will do anything to deny you health care. They will fine-comb your file for any "pre-existing" conditions, so that they can turn you down for your heart surgery, cancer treatment, or liver transplant. It doesn't mean you can't do the procedure, it just means that you're not going to be financially covered. That's why we need free health care, like France, the UK, and Canada. And Cuba exclaim
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 9:17 am
Roman Italy rockerpixie When I think of the American health care system, it really angers me. If you have medical insurance, you're just as scared as a person who doesn't. "What if I get sick?" "What if I have to go to the hospital?" "How will I pay my bills?" Insurance companies will do anything to deny you health care. They will fine-comb your file for any "pre-existing" conditions, so that they can turn you down for your heart surgery, cancer treatment, or liver transplant. It doesn't mean you can't do the procedure, it just means that you're not going to be financially covered. That's why we need free health care, like France, the UK, and Canada. And Cuba exclaim I agree. Universal health care FTW. 3nodding
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 9:23 am
I can't believe a country like Cuba has better healthcare than the US. It's just... WOW!
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 9:40 am
Roman Italy I can't believe a country like Cuba has better healthcare than the US. It's just... WOW! I know! It's all these countries that America gives a hard time/makes fun of that are doing waaaay better than us in health care. Cuba= The commies France= The pansies Canada= [insert insult here] rolleyes It really pisses me off.
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Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 6:58 pm
I disagree. My friend who is Canadian and whose Mom was Canadian suffered through the early death of her mother (who was still an active fellow at Drumheller Alberta) which was caused in part by the slowness of health care rationing in Canada.
The Candaian system isn't better. Women who wish to treat pre-menopausal symptoms with bioidentical hormones are screwed. It is, I believe, a crime to own a tube of bioidentical progesterone in Canada. You have two choices-- do nothing and be sick, or take synthetic HRT with its attendant cancer risks (because synthetic hormones aren't the same thing)
All that Canada does is allow for "free" rationed allopathic care. Yuck.
The Canadian system also follows the Codex which means that a bottle of vitamin C with a potency of higher than 200 mg per pill is illegal. Crap like that causes a LOT of problems.
No the Canadian system is not better.
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Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 9:53 pm
Ladygaura I disagree. My friend who is Canadian and whose Mom was Canadian suffered through the early death of her mother (who was still an active fellow at Drumheller Alberta) which was caused in part by the slowness of health care rationing in Canada. The Candaian system isn't better. Women who wish to treat pre-menopausal symptoms with bioidentical hormones are screwed. It is, I believe, a crime to own a tube of bioidentical progesterone in Canada. You have two choices-- do nothing and be sick, or take synthetic HRT with its attendant cancer risks (because synthetic hormones aren't the same thing) All that Canada does is allow for "free" rationed allopathic care. Yuck. The Canadian system also follows the Codex which means that a bottle of vitamin C with a potency of higher than 200 mg per pill is illegal. Crap like that causes a LOT of problems. No the Canadian system is not better. Use the French or the Cuban system.
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Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 10:36 am
Roman Italy Ladygaura I disagree. My friend who is Canadian and whose Mom was Canadian suffered through the early death of her mother (who was still an active fellow at Drumheller Alberta) which was caused in part by the slowness of health care rationing in Canada. The Candaian system isn't better. Women who wish to treat pre-menopausal symptoms with bioidentical hormones are screwed. It is, I believe, a crime to own a tube of bioidentical progesterone in Canada. You have two choices-- do nothing and be sick, or take synthetic HRT with its attendant cancer risks (because synthetic hormones aren't the same thing) All that Canada does is allow for "free" rationed allopathic care. Yuck. The Canadian system also follows the Codex which means that a bottle of vitamin C with a potency of higher than 200 mg per pill is illegal. Crap like that causes a LOT of problems. No the Canadian system is not better. Use the French or the Cuban system. I know the problems of the Canadian system because of my friend. I don't have any French or Cuban acquaintances to work with Fill me in as to the differenceS?
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