Or imagine a society committed to providing access to health and wellbeing for everyone, rich and poor, rather than playing childish semantic games about “death panels” and “socialism.” The cost of calls to my insurance company to get permission to see an NHS doctor who didn’t charge me a penny will be six times what I paid for the medicine that cured my infection.
But that, I suppose, is the cost of living in a free country.
--Steve Silberman, investigative reporter for Wired Magazine
Read the rest of the article HERE.
What are we so afraid of? What an amazing article. I read another recently by
ReplyDeleteI an American woman transplanted to Canada and how deeply suspicious she was about the healthcare there until she received it.
And now, she is completely in love with it.
Sometimes I just really am ashamed of my country and besides that, I am angry. So very, very angry.
Why do we waste so much time and money fighting that which has been proven to work so well?
Or at least, so much better than what we have now.
It is mindboggling.
Jack Layton, the leader of the New Democratic Party wrote a long letter to Canadian before he died at the age of 61 while in office. I won't share the whole letter but he firmly beleived in Universal Health Care and looking after the most vulnerable in society. Like him, I know the money is there but we are mismanaging it. For instance, Canada spent billions on the Olympics but does not have money to care for our seniors.
ReplyDelete"And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come,..."
Unfortunately, the NDP is not running our country right now but I keep hoping.
I haven't spoken to anyone in England who isn't a believer in the NHS and free medical care for all. I'm sure there are some -- but most people definitely support the system and believe in the quality of care they receive.
ReplyDeleteI live in England and I cannot understand the American health system. I love the NHS and was so pleased Danny Boyle included it in the Olympic opening ceremony as something we are proud of. I am happy to be paying 20% tax knowing that it is funding health care and education and transport. When we get a better government they will be better managed but I am still happy to have them.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, isn't it, that everyone from a country with universal health care seems to say the same thing - it's not perfect, but it sure is better than the alternative. I don't understand the fear in the US that universal health care means a lack of choice in health care provider. In Australia, at least, if you don't like your doctor, you just go to another one. There is no one telling you who you can and cannot see. At least some US health insurance policies with which I am familiar require members to see only approved doctors. How does our system (Medicare) offer less choice than the US?
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience in Australia. My insurance would reimburse me and I needed to see a doctor for an ear infection. They were very apologetic that I may have to wait up to an hour without an appointment. The wait was under the 60 minutes in a very pleasant waiting room, I saw a specialist, was prescribed two prescriptions and had to pay the whole thing in cash. $97.00. It would have cost me more at home with co-pays, out-of-network fees, deductibles, and time and paperwork so I didn't even turn it in.
ReplyDeleteI think I would much rather have healthcare in the Bill of Rights such as Australia does that stock up on my guns and ammo. At some point I think we will be taking to the streets to demand this "healthcare" I hope it is soon.