American Woman Finds A Lump While In Iceland, Shares How Awesome Their Healthcare Is Compared To The US
There are plenty of horror stories about the U.S. healthcare system; for a supposedly advanced nation, the inability to provide basic, affordable care to ordinary Americans is baffling to Europeans, especially.
Sometimes U.S. citizens need to travel abroad to see exactly what they are missing; a visit to the emergency room is traumatic enough, it seems ridiculously unfair to saddle someone with years of debt too.
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Back in 2006, Nashville, Tennessee-based author Mary Robinette Kowal was in Iceland working as a puppeteer on a children’s television show called Lazytown. One day, while doing a regular check, she found a lump. “This wasn’t the first time I’d found a lump, but there’s always a sense of dread, Mary Robinette told Bored Panda. “Even though I knew it was probably nothing, because there’s no history of breast cancer in my family, there’s still a chance that it is going to be a problem.”
“I was dreading the process of having to navigate a healthcare system in a foreign language. I assumed that it would be as complicated as it was here, with the added challenge of not speaking much Icelandic.”
So began Mary Robinette’s (amazingly short) journey through the Icelandic healthcare system. She couldn’t speak highly enough of the professional, efficient and astonishingly cheap service, as well as the country as a whole. “I love it and would move back in a heartbeat,” she told us. “The landscape is stunningly gorgeous!”
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Image credits: MaryRobinette
Image credits: MaryRobinette
The post sparked a discussion about the merits of various healthcare systems around the world, with people sharing their own eye-opening experiences.
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Image credits: MaryRobinette
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Image credits: KellyLGregory
Image credits: KellyLGregory
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Expanding on her thoughts about the situation at home, Mary Robinette believes that more exposure to other nation’s experiences could benefit many American’s attitudes toward their own healthcare. “I think that we tend to see the environment that we’re in as normal, so most Americans have no idea that there are other ways of doing things,” she said.
“My normal experience, here, in the US, is one of frustration every time I interact with the insurance industry. I wrote that Twitter thread as I was in the midst of arguing with health insurance for a vital medication for a family member. In fact, I’m still fighting with them. It’s a medication that they covered last month and this month they aren’t. The contrast is frustrating.”
“At every turn, it’s clear that choices are being made from the accounting office, not for the patient’s best interests. I’ve told this story over the years to other Americans and they all have the same complete shock at how easy the experience was.”
What do you think? What are your experiences with healthcare in your country, and in countries around the world? Share your stories in the comments!
I'm just completely bewildered by the american health care industry/system. I can't fathom it and I can't understand why people aren't even angrier about it. Where I'm from people are complaining about waiting times and some extra costs that aren't covered by the insurance company. Like when you want the nicer material for your filling at the dentist's. I think if any party seriously advocated for abolishing the public health care system and took steps to ensuring this goal, there would be mayhem. Probably burning cars on the streets, may day style. And the party would very likely get wiped out in the next elections.
Revolutions have typically started with collectively immediate crises. We're not up in arms because our bellies are full and rooves are over our heads, pacified by the entertainment industry. We are indoctrinated via various mediums that all this is the norm, and that being willing to die for a cause is maladaptive, much less willingness to do it together. Yes, pockets of protestors exist but nowhere near on the scale needed.
Why are you down-voted, Alice? You’re correct. Here, have an up-vote.
We need to recognize this indoctrination for what it is--cult brainwashing--and start a massive de-programming campaign.
Obviously, too many people are making too much money from it...
Too many people are making money from letting citizens die at 25 from treatable diseases?
not too many people so much, just the rich people. they get richer, the poor...well, they just die
Reginald Joseph: "Too many" means the number of people it takes to make the amount of money ("too much") required to influence legislation in their own favor. America.
It's because we've been conditioned to think we've got it good. And I mean that seriously. All my life I've been told how the USA has the best health care, all the best doctors come to us to get rich. That nations with socialized medicine have to wait months or years for doctors appointments because everyone is just using the "Free" health care left and right. That 50% of their income is taxed to pay for all the freeloaders. This has been drilled into our heads for decade after decade. Because of that, even when presented evidence to the contrary, they continue to believe it. It also doesn't help that older people actually have/had decent insurance/salary and they are the largest voting block. Meanwhile I'm sitting over here in America nervously hoping my surgery I've been trying to get for 3 years, actually gets approved this October. And still wondering how I'm going to pay $5000 for it.
I needed a relatively basic routine surgery (inguinal hernia repair) and after it was all over, I was presented with bills totaling over $7000. After getting the run around from the hospital, the insurance company told me they wouldn't pay any more. The total amount was due. I was slightly delayed in making my first installment payment and I immediately started getting threatening phone calls from debt collectors. I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.
Meanwhile, when American relatives visited and the discussion got underway about our horrible levels of taxes here, it ended with them wondering how it was at all possible to pay so little in order to get so much. They paid quite a lot more when they added what they had to pay for out of pocket on top of the taxes... However, health care in Europe is very much cheaper than in the US. The difference goes into very deep pockets, mainly, but not only, in the insurance business.
I have never been told that the healthcare in America is great (coming from Germany), but I believe truly that the QUALITY of care is superior to anywhere else on earth. There are problems with the system for sure, nobody is naive enough to say its perfect. BUT if I need something done at the highest level, Im doing it here even though I have dual citizenship and can go back home and get it done.
Oh trust me, MANY of us Americans hate it and we are angry about it.
It's not failing, it's doing exactly what it was meant to: make a lot of companies rich. At our expense. It wasn't created to benefit the citizens. We need to change.
My husband has been living with a hernia for the past 9 years. Why? Because we can't afford the $7500 deductible that our insurance company wants to charge him for the surgery...
Thus is so sad everyone should me entitled to free health care. Move to the UK :)
I thunk my spel checker isnt working
A few weeks ago I had my teeth evaluated for treatment. Long story short, I have bad teeth - several are very loose and I have lost some as well as having had a ton of dental work done. When I got the total, my jaw dropped and my heart broke. I knew it was going to be expensive but I didn't realize it was going to be that much; I couldn't afford it and couldn't get approved for financing. I went home and did some research. I discovered that for LESS than what the dentist wanted, I could get my passport, fly round trip to Thailand, get all the dental work done, pay for a hotel for two weeks to recover, and STILL have over $1,400 left over for meals and souvenirs. Our system in the US is so broken.
Be very careful. Do exhaustive research.
American here, and I hate our system. Even though I pay for health insurance with each paycheck, I still have a high deductible and I still have had to pay for things out of pocket for things not covered. I once got into a healthcare discussion with some friends of mine and a wealthy republican friend bashed European's health care system and declared it's all rationed. Um, no. It's rationed HERE. Pre-existing condition? Nope. Can't have coverage. Have insurance? Great! But pay this high deductible first. Also, pay for that other stuff that we won't cover.
I came across this webpage by accident, and found page 12 very interesting ... it may explain in part why the USA health system is the way it is. https://www.farandwide.com/s/amazing-world-maps-74d6186e6d0e414b
Insurance. That's why healthcare is so expensive. Hospital has to invent new ways and make everything look more expensive so that they'll at least get some money from Insurance. Usually the big $250,000 bill will wind up costing you $5000 after what insurance will pay (usually $125,000, for example)
Pretty much the same in my country as well. And we are a developing nation.
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I feel so sorry for anyone having to seek medical treatment in the US. I just cannot comprehend how a civilized nation allows people to face financial ruin because they are sick. You are always just an accident away from losing everything, on top of your health. I often hear that what works in a smaller country wouldn't scale to the big US, but that's just bull. Just imagine the benefits in productivity when everyone could treat their issues in the early stages - instead of letting it develop until it is much worse. I truly hope there will be change one day (and while we're at it, better rights for employees would be neat, too!). Worker rights and healthcare are the two major reasons why I crossed off the US from my list of potential countries to work in, which is a shame as I really loved the people when I visited and could have imagined going there for a while.
I have heard that "wouldn't work in the US" argument on many things over the years. It makes no sense at all. If it couldn't work on a nationwide scale, perhaps it should be handled at the state level. Norway has 5 million people, Wisconsin has 5 million people. Surely we can afford the same quality of care.
I hear so many people here in the UK complaining about the NHS but I believe its a wonderful institution/service. Anyone collapsing in the street or involved in a traffic accident is picked up by a 'free' ambulance service taken to an Emergency department and treated. There's no one asking for your credit card or insurance details. I would just be so scared of being American and falling ill.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
You are comparing one state to an entire population
"it wouldn't work in America" is code for "we congressmen don't want to lose our kickbacks and donations from Big Pharma and Big Insurance." The Us "healthcare" system is for-profit.
Who said we're civilized? Have you taken a look at our President lately?
@Alpha Puck, I'm sorry you were so mislead. He's got nothing done. He's spending all your money on MaraLago, he insults every world leader and is a schmuck among men.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
People didnt vote for him to be civil... they voted to him to get shit done. He is doing just that. I would rather have a president that is crass and effective than one who is perfectly well spoken and ineffective *cough Obama cough*
I got a $1600 bill just for having a x-ray and blood pressure taken.
"I just cannot comprehend how a civilized nation allows people to face financial ruin because they are sick" but at this point, is the nation really civilized, considering how things are going? Barely.
BP STOP GLITCHING PLEASE
Iceland has 341,000 people with 91% of the population being native-born Icelanders. To compare a tiny, homogenous country’s healthcare to that of our nation of nearly 400 million along with hundreds of different nationalities is not realistic. Even state-run medical would be too large. To compare to Iceland we would have to run the medical system by counties and cities. We would also need to remove any foreign nationals and immigrants until we become a 91% homogenous country. I don’t see that happening any time soon.
As long as I have discussions on various forums with Americans that say healthcare isn't a human right and they're not going to pay for someone else's hospital bills, America will be stuck with a very expensive and very inefficient healtcare system that's based on greed from the pharmaceutical industry and the hospitals.
I'm willing to bet any money that most of these people will claim to be Christian. WWJD.
Right-wing American Christianity has little to do with Christ. Note that Banner got kicked out of his Italian Palace.
Christian here. A concept shouldn't be measured by its ability to be abused. People are people, and asses are everywhere who identify as lots of different things.
and they would claim wrongly. Many of my most Chrisitan friends are actually joining "Healthshare" programs where everyone helps everyone else in the plan with their bills. .
Jesus wouldn't whine, Simon.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
What an ignorant comment, And I'll take any bet you have
The irony is that with health symptoms, as with most problems, dealing with them promptly and efficiently saves a ton of money.
Being intelligent,informed and motivated helps a lot also.
Bingo. Unregulated capitalism has reached dystopian levels and crowned itself with its inevitable leader. Humans can't have nice things.
AlphaPuck. You say that "Iceland has 2 things which makes their healthcare efficient. Stupid high income taxes (45%) and a small population. A system like that cant work in America. Its fiscally impossible." The European Union has a population of 513 million people compared to the population of the US of A which is 327 million people. Neither taxes nor the health care systems are all the same in different EU countries, but they are similar.
Humans can have nice things if they don’t allow laissez-faire capitalism to rule their societies.
AlphaPuck.... ok, ...lets say you are right. Please explain why it works in Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy.... and all the other Countries. I am very curious about your opinion on that.
@Vicky Zar It absolutely does not work in Germany. I am from Germany. My personal experience was limited as we moved here to the states when I was 19, but when I had my wisdom teeth removed, all they were allowed to give me was OTC Ibuprofen. Also, it took 4 months to schedule the remove of the teeth. Germany has a system similar to Universal care, but they are also required by law to buy INS. Doctors dont make much money there and they choose to move to countries like USA because of more income with less taxes so quality of care is hard to find. BUT i will say that lately they have opened more "for-profit" hospitals which has led to a decrease in wait times, better care, and better doctors. All the things some Americans bash here, is making German healthcare better. Ironic eh?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I hope you understand that the medical system in America is far from Capitalistic. If you read the very definition of capitalism you know right away that the American healthcare system is not capitalism. Iceland has 2 things which makes their healthcare efficient. Stupid high income taxes (45%) and a small population. A system like that cant work in America. Its fiscally impossible.
Not all of us. MANY of us Americans would love for our healthcare to be just like the rest of the world.
I hope those of you that do vote Mitch Mcconnell OUT. People go on an on about Trump, but Turtleman is the true evil person in my opinion, and he's been evil FOR DECADES. Until that man is gone, nothing will ever change. What a disgraceful human being. I'm ashamed we're of the same species.
I'm just completely bewildered by the american health care industry/system. I can't fathom it and I can't understand why people aren't even angrier about it. Where I'm from people are complaining about waiting times and some extra costs that aren't covered by the insurance company. Like when you want the nicer material for your filling at the dentist's. I think if any party seriously advocated for abolishing the public health care system and took steps to ensuring this goal, there would be mayhem. Probably burning cars on the streets, may day style. And the party would very likely get wiped out in the next elections.
Revolutions have typically started with collectively immediate crises. We're not up in arms because our bellies are full and rooves are over our heads, pacified by the entertainment industry. We are indoctrinated via various mediums that all this is the norm, and that being willing to die for a cause is maladaptive, much less willingness to do it together. Yes, pockets of protestors exist but nowhere near on the scale needed.
Why are you down-voted, Alice? You’re correct. Here, have an up-vote.
We need to recognize this indoctrination for what it is--cult brainwashing--and start a massive de-programming campaign.
Obviously, too many people are making too much money from it...
Too many people are making money from letting citizens die at 25 from treatable diseases?
not too many people so much, just the rich people. they get richer, the poor...well, they just die
Reginald Joseph: "Too many" means the number of people it takes to make the amount of money ("too much") required to influence legislation in their own favor. America.
It's because we've been conditioned to think we've got it good. And I mean that seriously. All my life I've been told how the USA has the best health care, all the best doctors come to us to get rich. That nations with socialized medicine have to wait months or years for doctors appointments because everyone is just using the "Free" health care left and right. That 50% of their income is taxed to pay for all the freeloaders. This has been drilled into our heads for decade after decade. Because of that, even when presented evidence to the contrary, they continue to believe it. It also doesn't help that older people actually have/had decent insurance/salary and they are the largest voting block. Meanwhile I'm sitting over here in America nervously hoping my surgery I've been trying to get for 3 years, actually gets approved this October. And still wondering how I'm going to pay $5000 for it.
I needed a relatively basic routine surgery (inguinal hernia repair) and after it was all over, I was presented with bills totaling over $7000. After getting the run around from the hospital, the insurance company told me they wouldn't pay any more. The total amount was due. I was slightly delayed in making my first installment payment and I immediately started getting threatening phone calls from debt collectors. I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.
Meanwhile, when American relatives visited and the discussion got underway about our horrible levels of taxes here, it ended with them wondering how it was at all possible to pay so little in order to get so much. They paid quite a lot more when they added what they had to pay for out of pocket on top of the taxes... However, health care in Europe is very much cheaper than in the US. The difference goes into very deep pockets, mainly, but not only, in the insurance business.
I have never been told that the healthcare in America is great (coming from Germany), but I believe truly that the QUALITY of care is superior to anywhere else on earth. There are problems with the system for sure, nobody is naive enough to say its perfect. BUT if I need something done at the highest level, Im doing it here even though I have dual citizenship and can go back home and get it done.
Oh trust me, MANY of us Americans hate it and we are angry about it.
It's not failing, it's doing exactly what it was meant to: make a lot of companies rich. At our expense. It wasn't created to benefit the citizens. We need to change.
My husband has been living with a hernia for the past 9 years. Why? Because we can't afford the $7500 deductible that our insurance company wants to charge him for the surgery...
Thus is so sad everyone should me entitled to free health care. Move to the UK :)
I thunk my spel checker isnt working
A few weeks ago I had my teeth evaluated for treatment. Long story short, I have bad teeth - several are very loose and I have lost some as well as having had a ton of dental work done. When I got the total, my jaw dropped and my heart broke. I knew it was going to be expensive but I didn't realize it was going to be that much; I couldn't afford it and couldn't get approved for financing. I went home and did some research. I discovered that for LESS than what the dentist wanted, I could get my passport, fly round trip to Thailand, get all the dental work done, pay for a hotel for two weeks to recover, and STILL have over $1,400 left over for meals and souvenirs. Our system in the US is so broken.
Be very careful. Do exhaustive research.
American here, and I hate our system. Even though I pay for health insurance with each paycheck, I still have a high deductible and I still have had to pay for things out of pocket for things not covered. I once got into a healthcare discussion with some friends of mine and a wealthy republican friend bashed European's health care system and declared it's all rationed. Um, no. It's rationed HERE. Pre-existing condition? Nope. Can't have coverage. Have insurance? Great! But pay this high deductible first. Also, pay for that other stuff that we won't cover.
I came across this webpage by accident, and found page 12 very interesting ... it may explain in part why the USA health system is the way it is. https://www.farandwide.com/s/amazing-world-maps-74d6186e6d0e414b
Insurance. That's why healthcare is so expensive. Hospital has to invent new ways and make everything look more expensive so that they'll at least get some money from Insurance. Usually the big $250,000 bill will wind up costing you $5000 after what insurance will pay (usually $125,000, for example)
Pretty much the same in my country as well. And we are a developing nation.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
This comment has been deleted.
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I feel so sorry for anyone having to seek medical treatment in the US. I just cannot comprehend how a civilized nation allows people to face financial ruin because they are sick. You are always just an accident away from losing everything, on top of your health. I often hear that what works in a smaller country wouldn't scale to the big US, but that's just bull. Just imagine the benefits in productivity when everyone could treat their issues in the early stages - instead of letting it develop until it is much worse. I truly hope there will be change one day (and while we're at it, better rights for employees would be neat, too!). Worker rights and healthcare are the two major reasons why I crossed off the US from my list of potential countries to work in, which is a shame as I really loved the people when I visited and could have imagined going there for a while.
I have heard that "wouldn't work in the US" argument on many things over the years. It makes no sense at all. If it couldn't work on a nationwide scale, perhaps it should be handled at the state level. Norway has 5 million people, Wisconsin has 5 million people. Surely we can afford the same quality of care.
I hear so many people here in the UK complaining about the NHS but I believe its a wonderful institution/service. Anyone collapsing in the street or involved in a traffic accident is picked up by a 'free' ambulance service taken to an Emergency department and treated. There's no one asking for your credit card or insurance details. I would just be so scared of being American and falling ill.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
You are comparing one state to an entire population
"it wouldn't work in America" is code for "we congressmen don't want to lose our kickbacks and donations from Big Pharma and Big Insurance." The Us "healthcare" system is for-profit.
Who said we're civilized? Have you taken a look at our President lately?
@Alpha Puck, I'm sorry you were so mislead. He's got nothing done. He's spending all your money on MaraLago, he insults every world leader and is a schmuck among men.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
People didnt vote for him to be civil... they voted to him to get shit done. He is doing just that. I would rather have a president that is crass and effective than one who is perfectly well spoken and ineffective *cough Obama cough*
I got a $1600 bill just for having a x-ray and blood pressure taken.
"I just cannot comprehend how a civilized nation allows people to face financial ruin because they are sick" but at this point, is the nation really civilized, considering how things are going? Barely.
BP STOP GLITCHING PLEASE
Iceland has 341,000 people with 91% of the population being native-born Icelanders. To compare a tiny, homogenous country’s healthcare to that of our nation of nearly 400 million along with hundreds of different nationalities is not realistic. Even state-run medical would be too large. To compare to Iceland we would have to run the medical system by counties and cities. We would also need to remove any foreign nationals and immigrants until we become a 91% homogenous country. I don’t see that happening any time soon.
As long as I have discussions on various forums with Americans that say healthcare isn't a human right and they're not going to pay for someone else's hospital bills, America will be stuck with a very expensive and very inefficient healtcare system that's based on greed from the pharmaceutical industry and the hospitals.
I'm willing to bet any money that most of these people will claim to be Christian. WWJD.
Right-wing American Christianity has little to do with Christ. Note that Banner got kicked out of his Italian Palace.
Christian here. A concept shouldn't be measured by its ability to be abused. People are people, and asses are everywhere who identify as lots of different things.
and they would claim wrongly. Many of my most Chrisitan friends are actually joining "Healthshare" programs where everyone helps everyone else in the plan with their bills. .
Jesus wouldn't whine, Simon.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
What an ignorant comment, And I'll take any bet you have
The irony is that with health symptoms, as with most problems, dealing with them promptly and efficiently saves a ton of money.
Being intelligent,informed and motivated helps a lot also.
Bingo. Unregulated capitalism has reached dystopian levels and crowned itself with its inevitable leader. Humans can't have nice things.
AlphaPuck. You say that "Iceland has 2 things which makes their healthcare efficient. Stupid high income taxes (45%) and a small population. A system like that cant work in America. Its fiscally impossible." The European Union has a population of 513 million people compared to the population of the US of A which is 327 million people. Neither taxes nor the health care systems are all the same in different EU countries, but they are similar.
Humans can have nice things if they don’t allow laissez-faire capitalism to rule their societies.
AlphaPuck.... ok, ...lets say you are right. Please explain why it works in Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy.... and all the other Countries. I am very curious about your opinion on that.
@Vicky Zar It absolutely does not work in Germany. I am from Germany. My personal experience was limited as we moved here to the states when I was 19, but when I had my wisdom teeth removed, all they were allowed to give me was OTC Ibuprofen. Also, it took 4 months to schedule the remove of the teeth. Germany has a system similar to Universal care, but they are also required by law to buy INS. Doctors dont make much money there and they choose to move to countries like USA because of more income with less taxes so quality of care is hard to find. BUT i will say that lately they have opened more "for-profit" hospitals which has led to a decrease in wait times, better care, and better doctors. All the things some Americans bash here, is making German healthcare better. Ironic eh?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I hope you understand that the medical system in America is far from Capitalistic. If you read the very definition of capitalism you know right away that the American healthcare system is not capitalism. Iceland has 2 things which makes their healthcare efficient. Stupid high income taxes (45%) and a small population. A system like that cant work in America. Its fiscally impossible.
Not all of us. MANY of us Americans would love for our healthcare to be just like the rest of the world.
I hope those of you that do vote Mitch Mcconnell OUT. People go on an on about Trump, but Turtleman is the true evil person in my opinion, and he's been evil FOR DECADES. Until that man is gone, nothing will ever change. What a disgraceful human being. I'm ashamed we're of the same species.