I Don't Get It

[eumelia]

I don't get it.

Really, I don't.

I've been to the States and I didn't get it then. I've been reading up on the subject because the Interwebs are busting with the "health care" discussion.

My country has socialised medicine, we get the choice of four different HMO's, they compete with each other and have supervision and controlling rights over different hospitals.
There is a Health Basket that includes various kinds of medications that would have been unattainable for many people, but through prescription you can get your Insulin, your Xanax, your (practically) whatever you need for an affordable price.

We pay for this service along as well as for national security (so that in case we are unable to work we will still be able to afford health care) through our pay cheques or certificates if one is an independent.

Is it perfect? Hell, no. Most of the time, it is more aggravating than not.

However, this year due to an actual medical necessity I saw the health care system work and we actually got money back after the treatments my mother had to go through were done.

I understand that this sounds like luxury for some and it is. In Third World counties (not all) and in the United States.

That's really fucked up.

Also? Crazy Americans comparing Universal Healthcare to Nazi Policy, WHAT?!

Barney Frank says it better than me (via mizzpyx)

I mock.

That's what I have to say about this really, really redundant debate (it's a debate!!!).

Comments

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I just do not understand this thinking!

Granted our HMO's have gone steadily down hill over the past few years due to privatisation and many (who can afford it) have additional private insurance... but I can make an app to my GP for anything without question and not have to pay. I need to pay something like 25NIS, maybe, for a specialist to look at me.

For fuck sake, is it because of Cuba?! Who possibly have the best public health care in the world (lowest infant mortality rate) that the US doesn't want to emulate them?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yggdrasil/]

Cuba? Honey, please, concern for Cuba is so passé!

Seriously though, much of this debate is conservative kneejerking and probably inspired by racism and white nostalgia (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/17/92234/7265?detail=f), as this person's put it. I've heard a few people voice concern about the practicality of affording healthcare for a nation as huge and diverse as ours, which are fair questions to ask, but sadly those people seem to the be the minority.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Passe? I'm living in the wrong decade again, aren't I?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yggdrasil/]

I believe so!

(Currently, people are saying they're afraid of us becoming like Canada, actually. Public healthcare and all that maple syrup? A conspiracy to line the pockets of dentists! We're on to our government's wily ways!)

[lishablog.livejournal.com]

I think that it's a fair question to ask, but I think that the obvious answer is, "of course we can afford it!" All we have to do is redirect where money is going. With a national health insurance plan we could cut out the multi-million dollar bonuses of executives and people who's job it is to make sure that people DON'T get coverage. Think of how much medical care we could cover if we did that!

There will continue to be options in the US, just as there are in the UK today. There will continue to be a variety of different ways to get your health care. And that's all good.

But, you know, my daughter in law currently has medical coverage because she just gave birth. In less than a year she won't qualify for that anymore. She and my son both work full time and are full time students. They can't afford ANY type of private medical insurance in the US currently. Most of the young adults I know in the US are in the same situation.

The 50 million people in the US without health insurance number is, I'm fairly certain, way, way off.