While the United States has largely considered itself as the greatest country in the world for the last few decades, the statistics tell us that there are areas where things can definitely be improved.
In military might and defence spending the U.S. is undisputedly number one. But in other areas, more important aspects of human wellbeing such as education, life expectancy, happiness, gender and income equality and healthcare, there are more mixed results.
The U.S. healthcare system in particular is a continuing source of bafflement for many, who are accustomed to a degree of protection against the double disaster of poor health followed by financial ruin.
While American hospitals and medical facilities are world class, they are also incredibly expensive and available only to those able to afford them. We at Bored Panda have compiled a list of examples that highlight the inadequacies of the current healthcare system, while polarised politicians continue to argue about their vision for its future. Scroll down to check them out below, and stay healthy over there in America, y’all.
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US Healtcare System
I Had To Pay $39.35 To Hold My Baby After He Was Born
The "Radical" Idea Of Universal Healthcare
A Copy Of The Bill We Got When Our Daughter Was Born In Canada
Medical Treatment Is A Privelege
Because their constitution is outdated. The second amendment made sense when America didn't had an army to defend their country against foreign aggressors, in this case, the British. In some states it was mandatory to have gun, because there was no army...now it's a nonsense, in my opinion.
No, That’s Unamerican
That's nice. You haven't free healthcare system, you haven't, a real and full-paid 20-30 days holiday (evey year) at work. What else?
All You Need To Know About American Healthcare System Is That There's A Popular TV Series Where A Man Turns To Cooking Industrial Quantities Of Crystal Meth In Order To Pay For His Hospital Bills
Almost A Dystopian World Where People Wear Tags Like That
At Least We’re First In Something
Here in Finland every citizen have health insurace because it is paid from the taxes. And because of that insurance also the poor people can afford healthcare. It is funny to see when some Finnish people complain that a prescription drug is 'too expensive' if it costs over 30 euros per month when in USA the exactly same drug is usually 3 to 10 times more expensive.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of Americans don't want to pay for the healthcare of others... through taxes or otherwise. My fellow Americans are adamant that what is theirs is theirs and they desperately want to keep it that way.
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This is why America is the land of possibilities. The possibility to go bankrupt. XD
only time i paid for doctor in my life it was 4 euro for dental cleaning. i'm 32. born in lithuania, working in czech republic.
A doctor friend worked for a while in America. He kept getting thrown out of partnetships cos if someone needed care he used to say 'Don;t worry pay me when you can.' He'd been back in England for six years when he got a letter from America with a cheque and a note saying ''Sorry it took os long. Couldn't find where you were and I was going to give the money to those B********.
You're first in infant deaths too. "About 11,300 newborns die within 24 hours of their birth in the U.S. each year, 50 percent more first-day deaths than all other industrialized countries combined, the report's authors stated" http://www.cbsnews.com/…/us-has-highest-first-day-infant-m…/ Also 54th in the world (that's close to bottom of countries in the developed world) for number of deaths per 1000 of live-born babies that don't make it to their first birthday. (5.8 per 1000 live births in 2017). The figures are from the CIA so I think you can believe them. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2091rank.html. Now wouldn't you just think the country with the best healthcare facilities and the biggest spend per capita on healthcare would come in at No1 not a lamentable 54th. What's the CDC and FDA doing about it? Nothing that I can discern.
Deducing conclusions from such aggregate statistics is typically complicated. Many factors could contribute to these statistics- poor prenatal care or poor adherence to prenatal care, high rates of drug abuse, cultural biases, etc. America is a very large, diverse country. You have millions of poor, many living in desolate areas without access to doctors (Appalachian mountains), overly religious who do not trust medical care, you have many illegal immigrants who fear pre-natal care even if they will not be deported to seeking it. Do these statistics include home deliveries, where there is no medical intervention? I wouldn’t be so quick to automatically place all of the blame only the healthcare system. There are social, political, geographical factors at play, as well. Reality is more complex than a bunch of numbers.
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I lost a girl I very much loved as a daughter. Almost 3 years ago. She would have been 30 yesterday. There hasn't been a day since I lost her that I haven't fallen asleep crying and woken up the same way. I hate to sleep because all I see is her making me promise she wasn't going to die. If we had money, she never would have lost her kidney and she damn sure wouldn't be dead now. I loved this country once. Now I find myself hoping someone nukes this shithole of a nation straight to hell. We don't give a f**k about anybody without money, we deserve to die. My hesitation at actually rooting for this countries brutal end is Canada. They give a damn about people, it be a shame to lose them. The world needs their imperfect but ever improving example.
French medical care is the best on earth and certainly far better than Canada's. And their beer is much better, not to mention their fabulous wine and cheese and terrific food. They also have the world's best roads ... all seem to have been created yesterday. Also the world's best child care system and fine schools too. The people are quite nice as long as you say "Bonjour!" (or "Bonsoir!") each time you enter or leave ANY establishment or home and every time you meet someone or leave someone. The only real problem is the language.
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This makes me think of those poor souls still in hospital after Vegas. Getting shot was probably the least painful thing :(
I'm Australian. I have a chronic medical condition for which I have to get blood tests every few months, have to see a specialist a few times a year and have a procedure once every couple of years. I also have to see my doctor every few months for a script. It costs me nothing. I only have to pay for my medication. If I need an ambulance to take me to hospital, it's free. I would be bankrupt or very ill if I lived in the US!
This is so wrong it goes to show you how greedy the hospitals, pharmacuetical companies and health insures are they put PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE.
I will never understand some Americans who will not embrace a national health system. they call them selves christians and yet they don't want poor people to get free health care. They a bunch of hypocrites and omit the fact that christ healed the sick and raised the dead without asking for money. Also many of these so called christians also believe in god and not science, but you can bet your last dollar if they get ill they don't pray to get better they go to the doctors/hospital (which has uses science to heal them chemistry, human biology etc).
holly downs 1 second ago Let me be clear ...I did not want Hillary and am thankful she ia not president .It is hard to understand how anyone sees Trump as a great leader. Both are 1% greed monsters ! Trump is pure evil and so is Hillary . Trump was a traiter to his own family ! He cheated on Ivana and then divorced her for a tart ! Trump was born with a gold spoon sticking out of his mouth . The first thing he did to prove himself a traiter to the working people was to give GIANT tax cuts to the 1% and then to utter those sickening words "trickle down theory " . I hope this is not an Anonymous official standing to hail this moron as a SAVIOUR ! He is as opposed to freedom for the people as Hillary is. What do you think he has done to rid you of your economic slavery ? The trillions added to the deficit ? He is no 2nd coming . Are all republicans blinded by their belief that is is an accomplishment to be born white in the ONLY FREE NATION ? We are not free ! We are so bound by eco
That is a damn disgrace! The prices here for health care are way out of whack. Nowhere else is it so costly to have to go to the dr. or have diagnostic testing done. I paid for someone in The Gambia to go to the hospital when he was very sick. They did bloodwork, x-rays and a bunch of other tests and it cost me around $100. He even got medicine & recovered. Here, you couldn't get any of those tests done for that price. This is what happens when gov't is under the control of the medical association & drug companies. They don't care about us, they just want to profit from our miseries & misfortunes. There isn't enough money to be made by 'curing' diseases. They would rather we just keep taking their drugs, which cause other problems and lead to the prescribing of other drugs. My friend from The Gambia says that people in his country that are diagnosed with diabetes go to a local herbalist to be cured! Now, if this 3rd world country can do this, why can't we? GREED kills!
Bankruptcy laws are different a d in most cases the hospital will work with you even if you owe 10s of thousands of dollars. So stay on top of it and you likely won't have to go bankrupt. Even if you do. You can still keep your house and car In most cases.
It's ridiculous since one time I went to pick up my prescription drug and I saw the bill was $10 but I saw it was deducted from the insurance I had. Originally it would be 95$ for such a tiny eye-drop bottle .
Here in denmark health care is also payed through taxes, and that’s part of the reason it was voted the happiest country a couple of years ago!
You mean Denmark doesn't have a huge military sucking 30% right off the top of your taxes each year? Shocking!
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This isn't even remotely true. People in countries with free healthcare can easily go bankrupt due to countless other medical costs that are not included in the government plans, such as prescription drugs, medical devices, etc. The grass is always greener on the other side.
In Finland we get medical devices for free also or we can rent them cheap if they are critical. Drugs are paid thru the healthcaresystem also, if they are crotical (you have to pay 50€/year your self, thats about 50$). The medicalbills you have to pay here for full are operations that don’t have anything to do with health like breastimplants or nosejobs, but if you get this kind of surgery, your painkiller pills are still payd by the healthcaresystem...
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we also subsidise many drugs that go to other countries . So they pay pennies, we pay $$$ for the same meds in the US
That doesn't actually subsidize anything. The drugs get sold at a profit everywhere, its just different profit margins.
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Here in Canada, unless you have medical insurance, your durable medical equipment is out of pocket, as is meds, doctor's notes/forms, and other medical expenses. Diagnostics and hospital stays are paid by the taxpayers.
US Govermment should do something with it! Seriously you haven't medical insurance?
They do but a commercial one. Which is a completely different thing from the ones that the rest of the countries have.
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I'm waiting for your parents to get critically ill Michal. Let's see how they will hold up.
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We Dressed Up As Universal Healthcare For Halloween. In America, This Is Terrifying To Half Of Our Population!
If "Breaking Bad" Had Been Set In Anywhere But America
American Healthcare
Healthcare Tip
Why Americans Are So Friendly
American Health Care System
Abortion Is Murder And Every Life Is Precious But You Should Definitely Get A 3rd Job If Your Baby Is Sick
You forgot, "you shouldn't have had children if you can't afford them!"
Universal Health Care Disasters
I'm most impressed by the fact that Germany started theirs in the middle of freakin' World War II
The American Healthcare System Be Like
Come on, now! Who WOULDN'T pay 4 grand for a kiss from that cutie?
American Healthcare Reality
Future Of Healthcare
Guess I'll Die
Important Questions
Come on, now... "If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears, does it make a sound" is sooo 2016
As A Brit, This Is How I Plan To Dress When I Visit The US After Reading About The Cost Of Simple Healthcare
Pro-Life
Serious question to citizens of USA, do you really believe your nation is the greatest? And if so why? This isn't a dig or anything but most of us in the rest of the world really don't see why. I would like to understand.
Universal Healthcare
Why does this not have any comments this was one of the few that actually made me lol
Crowdfunding For Health Care
Dystopia is definitely the right word. It's a sick society that makes people choose between paying and dying.
We Would Like Healthcare Too
American Healthcare
HELLO people, the picture is meant to be dry humour, but its gone whoooosh way over some heads here.
Healthcare...
I Work In A Hospital Laboratory. I Ordered A Pack Of These Cheap Plastic Rulers From Ebay For About $6. Our Medical Supplier Charges More Than $80 For The Exact Same Rulers. This Is Why Health Care Costs Are Out Of Control
This is so true and also applies to our federal government. The ridiculous prices they'll pay for a chair, a stapler or whoknowswhat is appalling
Reproductive Health App
Everyone Will Be Covered
Nice Hat, Though
People Are Calling Uber To Be Taken To The Emergency Room Instead Of Ambulances
Paul Ryan Gives Presentation On Trumpcare
Maybe trumpcare should be renamed to "weapons of mass destruction" lol. Europe should intervene the same way as the US is doing in the middle east for killing tons of their innocent citizens.
The Only Insurance I Can Afford In America
I wish you no major health concerns like No fractures, cancer, heart attacks, etc.
This Is The Cost Of A Rattlesnake Bite In America
This makes it seem like it's easier to survive medical issues in a developing continent like africa than it is in a western "developed" continent like america... Maybe america is the real developing continent...
American Healthcare In A Nutshell
Everything Would Be Well Funded And Work Perfectly
Paid By Taxes
Welcome To The Usa
And watch them on tv grinning as they high-five each other over voting for legislation that kills us.
I Forgot My Meds And Had An Anxiety Attack At Work. My Boss Freaked Out And Called 911. Just Got The Bill Today, For Less Than 2 Hours Of Care And A Xanax. F*ck American Healthcare
Affordable Healthcare
Just start binge watching Grey’s Anatomy. I’ve learned a ton of surgeries on that tv show haha.
Insert Almost Every Flag On Earth Instead Sweden
My Cousins Child Birth Bill From The Hospital In The USA. Never Seen Anything This High
Even tne mist expensive penthouses, villas, etc are not that expensive.... I'm assuming you gave birth in a palace (from a fairy tale by the price of it)
When You Can't Afford To Get Shot In A Mass Shooting
1.5 Bottles Of Insulin Costs About The Same Amount As A New Iphone
American Health Care
You're Doing It Wrong
Naloxone kits and training for how to use them in case of emergency are given away, no charge, in Canadian pharmacies.
My Dad Celebrating Because He Finally Has Health Insurance And Is Able To Afford His Heart Medications
My Buddies Medical Bill For A Month-Long Stay In The Hospital After Being Hit By A Driver High On Heroin
GOP Stance On Healthcare
This Is How I Imagine The USA Health System Works
Ha! That's a picture from the UK, where we get babies delivered for free AND get a handshake from an unemployed ex prime minister every single time.
In The United States, This Is What $14,714.49 Of Medication Looks Like
It is sick that they put such enormous prices on things that are produced for a tiny fraction of that.
American Healthcare, Explained
My Buddy's Son Ate A Penny, This Is How Much The Hospital Charged For A 5 Minute Procedure To Get It Out
This is just a plain crime. How come people don't go protesting on the streets? This is ridiculous. How can a continent claiming to want to be the most innovative in almost every area be this ancient in the most important area. This is as if america is still in the medival age. 2/3 will soon go extinct due to the plague...
Healthcare Level: USA
The Reality
Obamacare And Trumpcare
The price issues are with the insurance companies, not the ACA. What we need is Universal single-payer. Congress should not have better care than we have.
Another Picture From The American Healthcare Twilight Zone
$27.99 for a flu shot? In Canada, flu shots are free, and available at the doctor, the flu clinics, the pharmacies, and the grocery stores with pharmacies in them. Like right by the front door, right next to the produce.
I Work In A Hospital. We Use These Simple Metal Baskets To Process Tissue Specimens. Our Hospital-Mandated Supplier Charges Us $700 Apiece For These. Seven. Hundred. Dollars. This Is Why Healthcare Costs Are So F*cked Up
The USA Provides Free Health Care
Trust me, the medical care in prison is substandard, too. They aren't putting any money into the incarcerated.
Award Winning American-Canadian Science Fiction Author, William Gibson On Canada’s Universal Healthcare System
Good Healthcare
If this were a scene from a soap opera, the next scene would be them kissing
Universal Healthcare - I Think This Supports The Argument, Why It Is Good For The People
greek here. i love that greece's arrow is pointing backwards. that's because we spend less on healthcare lately...sometimes hospitals don't even have bandages ,people say. personally, whenever i've been in a public hospital i was very happy with the service. been in surgery twice.
“This Is About Profits, Not People”
I'm also reminded of the U.S. prison system, which thanks to being run by private companies rather than the government (you know, like it MAKES SENSE TO) keeping people in prison is very often much more important than helping people punished for minor crimes to be reintroduced into society.
GOP Health Care Plan
this is hilarious! I cannot believe there is no comments on this. One of the few comments that made me LOL and not sob inside at the state of America.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia On Health Care In America
Injured?
Well, now, that's just offensive...his pocket square should match his tie
I'm An American, I'm Awake So Here's My Medical Bill. The Occupational Therapy Is Particularly Amusing. She Handed Me A Toothbrush
Not to make light of your situation...but I misread "Eeg" as "Egg", and now I'm laughing that you paid nine hundred dollars for an egg
Peter Parker Had No Health Insurance
Choose Your Own Healthcare Adventure
I was haemorrhaging from a miscarriage and was asked to take a seat (I refused) while they manually wrote down my info and then had to walk myself to my room in the ER where I eventually collapsed and then got hit with a huge bill 2 months later.
Drug Prices In Canada's Health Care System Vs Prices In America
As of January 2018 anyone under 25 gets prescriptions covered by our healthcare (in Ontario) no matter their financial standings or if they have health insurance.
Same
That's why I look at the really far-right-wingers, like those in the U.S. government and just think "I can see other perspectives that I don't agree with, but that is just plainly evil on a universal scale".
Who Knew
When You Don't Have Health Insurance
OMG! Brooklyn Nine Nine is the best show. Hilarious too, I might add!
Mindset Of Americans
OOH is that why so many people think that universal healthcare is unaffordable for the country? They think the treatments actually cost anything close to what they pay?
Preparing In Advance
Free in Portugal, and you don't need to go to hospital. A van with the equipment, radiologist, nurse and doctor comes every year to your neighborhood
Insurance Agent Discovers Client Has Pre-Existing Condition (2017, Colorized)
The American Healthcare System Is A Eugenics Program
I have an american collegue with a kidney disease. His mother is german and so he has also the german citizenship...so he came to Germany what saved his life....
Complete Disregard For Human Life
its not that all americans have a disregard for human life. Only those who are rich enough to afford the "Healthcare". We're still paying my brothers hospital bills from last year. He was in there a week at one hospital but it's still overpriced. What pissed me off is that he went to Urgent care and paid $100 just to be told it was 'seasonal allergies' and less than a week later he was in the hospital unable to eat or drink anything and hooked up to a bunch of IVs and stuff.... Another thing that pissed me off was the hospital that charged us HUNDREDS for a 40 min stay where he waited for 40 min. only for the doctor to say "Oh its a viral infection nothing we can do" and the doctor didnt even come all the way into the room!!!!! Just stood at the door to tell him that!!!!! Our economy is messed up for the poor folks. Kids havin to get jobs in highschool causing them to be distracted from their education...If your not filthy rich...you're screwed basically...
I Never Truly Understood How Much Healthcare In The US Costs Until I Got Appendicitis In October. I'm A 20 Year Old Guy. Thought Other People Should See This To Get A Real Idea Of How Much An Unpreventable Illness Costs In The US
In 2003, my appendectomy was over $90,000 that included an 8 day stay on IV antibiotics for gangrene.
Trumpcare
The sad thing is that all the "Obama Haters" don't realise that this is what is about to happen!
Republicans Reveal The Heart Of Their Health Care Plan
US Healthcare
Got Just A CT Scan. F*ck American Health Care
Americans Spent 2.5 Times As Much On Healthcare As Citizens Of Other Rich Countries - But They Die 1.7 Years Earlier
The ironic thing is that if you split the money spent in private spending and government spending, the US government spends more money than almost all other nations on health care. After adjusting for population. Most developed nations spend less tax money, covers everyone and get better results.
This Bill Is For Someone Who Was Hospitalized For About Four Weeks
Senator John Mccain, Everyone
My Brother Fell While Rock Climbing And Broke His Neck, Back, And Ankle. This Is What The Bill Looks Like For Two Surgeries, A Week Hospital Stay, The Neck/Back Braces, And Ankle Cast
really how do they expect anyone to be able to pay that without a problem, its not like everyone is Bill Gates
Six Months Ago, At Age 25, My Wife Was Diagnosed With Cancer. Her Last Chemotherapy Treatment Was Yesterday (She's Now Cancer-Free). Cost Of Healthcare: $97,247.56. This Is Why You Need Insurance
1yo daughter had brain tumor size of an avocado. (jups 1/3 of her brain) 60 Days of Intensive care, 4 brain surgeries, 2 chemo treatments, 1 radio treatment all this during one year. total kost: €50 . Now she's tumor free and has to have a scan twice a year till she's 15yo. kost: €0. Both my wife and me stoped working for a year to take care of our daughter and spend time with her since her life could have ended anytime: totally possible with social security in Belgium. Trump: " Belgium is a hell hole".
This Is The Actual, Official Name Of The Republican's New Healthcare Bill
The Tests Show
That's the good news. "What's the bad news." Your insurance doesn't cover ulcers.
Good Thing My Dad Had Insurance
US Healthcare Bill
The State Of American Health Care These Days
Insurance, You're The Greatest
That math is not even correct. Should use some of that money to send bill coder to elementary school.
The Republican Health Plan
I’m Going To The Hospital For A Minor Procedure. It’s Called It A “Wallet-Ectomy.”
I Finally Figured Out The Logic Behind The American Healthcare System...
My Father In Law's Hospital Bill After 2 1/2 Days In The Hospital For Observation
"We've completed an audit of our own charges...trust us, this is correct. We use the same auditing techniques the police use when they shoot black people."
I Want That Universal Healthcare, Morty! It's My Season Arc!
They should do a whole arc on something completely different and then accidentally end up giving America universal healthcare.
Bottle Of Eyedrops, $20 After Insurance. 'Murica
That is actually a great price. It would be $165 without insurance.
How I Feel With Strep Throat And No Health Insurance
American Health Care System
So sad that this sums it up for Americans'. Why is your country so against universal health care? From the UK and can assure you we are not communists and have had free healthcare for decades; we really do not understand the mindset that there's something untoward about free healthcare for all.
The "Affordable" Care Act
No they are not being fined because they cannot afford healthcare, they are being fined because they refuse to buy insurance. Health insurance under the ACA is subsidized and therefore relatively affordable. People who think they don't need health insurance are the problem. Just let them get sick or be injured, then they'll understand.
For me, this is one of the biggest (and saddest) paradoxes in the world. That a country that tends to claim how wonderful and great is, can't take a proper care of its citizens and considers this the way to do things. This to be right. It's ridiculous, cruel, unfair, heartbreaking.
It's also a country that says you have no freedom the bear arms. It's also the county that tries to take away your freedom of information and of the press, just so that multi-billion dollar companies make more money. It's also a country where, if you learn one of its secrets, sues the s**t out of you until you go quiet. After moving from Russia to America to Germany, I can say that Germany is better, along with many other foreign countries. Don't get me wrong, we have the right idea, but we and our government are not enforcing it.
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This is so depressing. I still can't understand why my brother insists on living in the states with his wife and three small children when they can live in Canada and avoid the ever looming massive debt from a random slip and fall.
Well the ankle surgery from a slip and fall cost my friend $2,000 with the now destroyed Affordable Health Care act. As a blue collar worker who makes around $25-27,000 per year she has to pay almost 10% of her income for ONE ACCIDENT. That is WITH COVERAGE. She paid monthly to have access to the care, she fell, the surgery cost over $20,000 and was sent home with no instructions and no assistance. No rehab. Thank goodness I'm an OT and I could set her up to take a shower without falling again, and buy her own equipment so she could get around. It's appalling. Oh- and with her blue collar job guess what her 6 months of income was due to being out because she could not walk? $0. No paid sick days, no paid vacation days. She serves food to the 1-2% and the rest of us. Tip well people.
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The actual problem is that Americans still believe they have to exist according to a constitution written on a piece of paper over 200 years ago, and instead of modernizing it or adopting a new one (like any normal country) in the world they literally rape it with ridiculous mendments thinking everything's fine.
Not all of us believe in it. Don’t treat us as though we’re all the same. MILLIONS of us Americans would LOVE universal health care and we’ve been fighting to have what every other country has.
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Reading this, I am thinking on setting a health-travel agency for americans. "Come to Spain, you can get surgery for 10 times less price and after eat a paella"
And after that squat over a hole in the floor. No thanks.
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I had a Liver transplant done in Sweden August 2017. The total cost for the operation , the new liver , 7 days at the hospital with food , medication well everything you need after a big surgery like this was: 103 US dollars. Then the medication i need to eat for the rest of my life will only cost me 270 US dollars per year , due to a High cost insurance that every swede has the right to. So even if the medicin cost 10000 US dollars per year i only pay 270 US dollars. And all of this is payed through taxes and that gives all of the people in Sweden good healthcare. This is real democracy were everyone is helping to get the society to be a good place for everyone (not communism :) )
Once again, what percent of your taxes goes to your military? 1%? 2%? In the USA it's over 30%. Why? Because SOMEONE must keep YOU safe (and many others).
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Wow! Australian here. Those bills for treatments are photoshoped yeah? That just can't be... It doesn't make sense! Could somebody please point me in the direction of an explanation of the reasoning behind why all Americans don't have health care. This post has blown my mind! I am truly sorry that you guys have to endure such hardships over what should be a basic right for all people. You guys should move down here to Australia, there's plenty of room and we've got all the good stuff :) I'll even pick you up from the airport!
Definitely true. I have a 3 thousand dollar bill for vommiting in a bag and a single Tylenol by doctors who didn't do their job right (got my back patted was told my fever and sudden crippling pain was because I'm fat)
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This is absolutely heartbreaking Hayley. Truly disgusting! I feel so ignorant to not know that it is this bad in America. I have been in hospital 5 times in the last 2 years ranging from a hernia repair to treatment for high blood pressure and have not paid a cent. I thought I was having a bad day today but this post has given me perspective. Whats that saying... I used to cry because I had no shoes, until I met a man with no feet.
With the obesity in the US being the highest in the world many people don't even have legs from the effects of diabetes. So be glad you have legs as well!
Load More Replies... And things won’t get any better soon, especially since some random idiot took office. I love a lot of American things, but to say they are the greatest nation in the world? Hahaha, don’t think so :D
As a US Citizen, we don't all say that. The problem is WE DON'T ALL VOTE! And then there are posts like this because people do not use their voice to get the proper people into office to help change these problems.
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The biggest problem is in the US we have a population of over 350 million people and only 99 million taxpaying units. Those 99 million taxpaying units cannot support everything. The ACA came about and was a failure, in order to provide free care for low income individuals the middle income wage earners medical insurance went through the roof. A coworker with a wife and child went from $200 a month for full coverage including medicine to $1400 a month for emergency coverage only and was set to increase by 20% this year. There are a number of issues at play including overpriced healthcare, a large amount of the population that abuses ER visits and never pays and an overall large population. Everyone would love to see a comprehensive system that provides coverage for all, but the US is not a small population like most other countries.
Well. A taxpaying unit is ten a family and that only refers to federal taxes. There are 140 million people paying federal taxes in the US. Then there are state taxes, duties, surcharges etc.
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I think it's completely INSANE. I'm from Italy, we have many problems I admit, but our healthcare works and we don't die because we can't afford the costs of hospitalization.
My family and I have great health insurance. And it only costs us approximately 18,000 a year for a family of 4. Counting monthly premiums, co-pays, medications, and deductions. If we had Universal Health Care my taxes would go up but I would save a small fortune from not paying my insurance fees. Our system blows.
I can't put up a picture for some reason but this entire thing made me think of that Spongebob episode where Mr Krabs charged his employees for breathing, chewing, lolly gagging, talking, standing and existing
The situation is worst in India. We don't have proper health insurance here. The government hospitals are a gateway to hell.
All that needs to happen in the states is to redirect some of the military funding to health care from existing taxes. No need for special taxes or insurance to cover the cost. The military budget is huge. But then again, the US is full of greedy people who feel they shouldn't have to contribute to 'health care for all'. Sad, really.
I don't think that is a practical solution, even if I agree with the sentiment. People underestimate how much money healthcare costs in the The US military budget is roughly 600 billion dollars. Healthcare in the US is 3,2 trillion dollars. 3 200 billion. 10 000 per person, by far the most in the world per person. About double the average in the developed world. If the US healthcare costs were average, it'd be 1 600 billion per year. So the waste is 2,5 times more than the whole military budget. And hey, the entire planets medical research budget is around 300 billion.
Load More Replies... I'm very thankful I'm Australian, we have a great healthcare system. I'm happy to pay tax and be able to see a doctor, get an ambulance and be treated at hospital without having to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars.
While I agree with many points expressed here, this is an extremely biased piece... At times seems more about politics than the healthcare here.
I agree it's biased but then....let's face it, it's on Bored Panda. If you're looking for insightful, balanced analysis, is this really where you expect to find it? That's like going to McD's and saying, "The food doesn't seem to provide balanced nutrition." Further, how is health care NOT political, even in countries like Canada where we have tax-funded systems. Taxes are set by political parties with political agendas. Governments collect taxes and distribute them according to their political priorities. Anything funded via taxes is inherently political.
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how about the downsides to canada's health care system? dead last in wait times. 29 percent of adult canadians who fell ill and needed to see a specialist waited two months or longer, and 18 percent waited four months or longer, compared with 6 percent and 7 percent of america's system. canadians like to think that health care is “free” in canada, when in fact, canadian taxpayers pay, on average, $10,500 per year for all their health-care needs. So cite the negatives please, there is no utopia. sorry to inject some truth.
Pay more for taxes or for our health care needs? I agree that we live in no utopia, but it's inaccurate the way people on this thread are equating taxes paid to health care costs. Taxes go towards far more than just health care. Is the system perfect? Absolutely not. Is is better than having to pay out of pocket for all of the things we can access that are funded by taxes, yes, I believe so. That doesn't mean it's paradisical, it means it's better than several alternative models.
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But how much does it cost in the states to have health insurrance? In my country, I pay about 120 euro per month and with that the basic health care is free. The more expensive stuff, I have to pay 385 euro per year and the rest is free.
By the way, it's illegal not to have health insurrance...
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Any Canadian will tell you the healthcare system there is far from perfect. First of all, the "free" healthcare is paid for in higher taxes. Residents in some provinces are taxed up to three times. Next, it's difficult to get a "spot in line." Once you get in for care, it's great, but you could wait a year for a simple procedure. Not the bed of roses it's cut out to be.
I don't know where you get this information... as a Canadian, I am glad to pay higher taxes if it means that I don't have to pay $700K US for a month's stay in the hospital if something serious happens, or if it allows another person getting the transplant that is needed. And there are no real waits for necessary procedures. Only thing you may have to wait for is elective surgeries. To hear Americans degrade other countries' healthcare system is sad and comical!
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Wow! Come to think of it, in my country we sort of pay for each other. It is possible that I've paid more monthly in a year than the health insurrance cost that I actually needed that year. But because of that, someone else had more health issues and also had to pay the same amount I did. But next year I may be the one who needs surgery or breaks my arm or whatever. That's the thing, you never know when and how much of health insurrance you need.
I had great insurance, employer sponsored, $175 a month, $1,200 deductible for me & 2 kids. Then OBAMAcare happened. The first year, it went up to $375 a month and $5,000 deductible. I dropped it the second year, when it went up to $1,600 a month and a $6,000 deductible PER PERSON. I tried the exchange. My husband is a veteran. Veterans and their families are NOT ALLOWED to purchase O-care. I did the only thing I could do. I moved to a state where healthcare costs are about half what they are where I lived before. I've had 4 urgent care visits (urgent care didn't exist where I lived before) this year with injuries (including broken bones), and total cost was about $1,000.
I pay my heath care insurance premiums every month, and pay nothing extra for my medical needs as they occur, except for around $5 a month for the five medications that I take. I couldn't pay a huge bill at one time, so it makes sense for me to pay for insurance.
I met my prescription drug insurance deductible of $350/year on January 2nd. It would have been the 1st, but the pharmacy wasn't open. That's part of the cost of being diabetic in America. That's for 29 days' worth of insulin. I am on Medicare and this is with a Medicare part D prescription drug benefit(premium $89/month). Medical insurance coverage is not our only problem. I am all for the proposed "Medicare for all", but it's just a place to start.
WHY do people come here from ALL over the world to get treatment here?! In Cleveland Clinic, near the elevators and such, they have signs even in Arabic! Also, I have friends that live ALL over the world. Their wait times are SO long to see a doctor, most would be dead! They come here! People are ROUTINELY here from Canada! I was just talking to a friend from England, and her sister BADLY needs to see a psychiatrist! NOT UNTIL SHE ATTEMPTS SUICIDE!!
People from the US go ALL OVER the world for medical treatments, too. And nobody ever said the quality of healthcare isn't great in the US. We all said it's far too expensive, and its disgusting that medical bills make people go bankrupt.
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Hi, I am actually doing research on health care costs in the USA for my exam assignment, anyone willing to help me out by filling out this survey I made? Note: you must be a US resident. https://www.survio.com/survey/d/C5E9E6L6H5C8Q5K9G Thanks in advance!
Hi, I am actually doing research on the health care costs in the USA for my exam assignment, anyone willing to help me out by filling out this survey I made? Note: you must be a US resident. Thanks in advance! https://www.survio.com/survey/d/C5E9E6L6H5C8Q5K9G
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I'm an Indian(not so proud) but one thing to be proud of is the healthcare system because in Indian government hospitals, EVERYGODDAMNTHING is absolutely free. From medicines and bandages to dressings and plasters, everything is MFing free. The only thing you pay for is dialysis and surgeries and stuff(which are also free for people living below poverty line). The only expensive thing is organ transplant, which is not provided at government hospitals. F**k YEAH!
This is truly disturbing. It is absolutely crazy this is just accepted by the majority and those who are poor just accept that they will have to go without while the rich expect them to. Sad. Sad. Sad.
Man this always reminds me of this trippy animation I saw on Youtube once called Deloused. It's mostly weird, much ado about bug demons and headless cultists, but the thing was the demon kept repeating "You Pay For Life!" because the guy had to keep feeding it heads or it would kill him. Man, American Healthcare in a nutshell. "You pay...for life...you pay...for life..."
Man, this controversy always reminds me of this one weird, trippy animation I saw on Youtube called "Deloused". It's LSD animation, but this guy has to feed this weird bug demon a bunch of heads or else it will turn him into charcoal or something, BUT, the demon kept repeating "You pay for life." Wow...American Healthcare in a nutshell. "You pay...for life..."
I feel so sad for Americans, and relieved I am not living there.
My meds that help me grow (which i cannot. With out the meds i would be only 4' 6") cost 5,000 dollers a month without heath care. With it the meds cost 500 dollerst a month.
I am not from the US. I used to be so confused when people would try to raise funds for a medical bill or for a certain surgery. But now that I went through this post I have a little understanding. In South Africa we are lucky I guess. We have public hospitals where there is free health care. The condition of others is not good, which shows poor of management. But we are lucky none the less as anyone can go to a public hospital and get the help they need. We pay taxes (which is something I don't like as I feel like the tax money is not all utilized properly, but that is a story for another day). IS tax not paid in the US?
The biggest problem, with health care in the US is cost. However, just throwing more money at the problem does not solve it. Any health care plan needs to ask one thing. Why does health care cost so much more in the U.S.? Answer that and you can start solving the problem. The problem is the many true answers to that question and the new questions that will arise.
Since WWII America's medical doctors have climbed the ladder to become elites. As such they expect to be paid well enough to afford a large and wonderful house in a great neighborhood, at least two expensive cars, numerous luxury trips and cruises to famous places, and generally, a life of pure luxury. Strangely enough, in France, where doctors are on salary and live like everyone else, the medical care is not only far cheaper, it is far better. Actually, it's not strange at all ... it's to be expected.
Load More Replies... I've experienced the closest thing to socialized medicine that this country has - military medicine. When I was in, I didn't always have choice of which doctor I would see. I had to take the luck of the draw. Time and again I was told that I could not have a test or procedure because I was not an officer or an officer's wife and that I was just going to have to deal with the pain and the problem. I spent my first years out of service having to undergo several surgeries by civilian doctors because I didn't rate them under military medicine. Without the surgeries, I would have been on pain killers and God knows what else just to survive because it sure would not have been living. People only look at the cost of our medical system. What they need to examine is what really happens under socialized medicine. Talk to someone with a serious illness who is being denied what they need because the state deems it too expensive or whatever (remember little Charlie?).
I've worked in health care in several countries for about 20 years? What is "Socialized medicine"? It is a term I only see on right-wing sites and it is never defined. Is it a Bismarck system, a Beveridge, NI or what?
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And yet we still have about 100,000 people a year to travel to the United States for our incredible health care. Makes you think, doesn’t it? I have lived under both US and British health care systems as an adult, and happily choose the better US way of doing things, even though it may cost a bit more.
I had pneumonia in England in 1974 and all I got from the doctor was aspirin. I'm sure there are worse medical systems around the world, but for a supposed 1st world nation, England has GOT to be the worst.
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I find it particularly ironic that the US Declaration of Independence says that life is an "unalienable right".
I didnt quite realise how awful the American healthcare system seems. It just seems so unreal that you'd have to pay to have a baby, and no matter how ill you are you can only get treatment if you can afford it. The whole system seems to scream that poor people or just simply those who aren't stupidly rich don't deserve to have a baby or be treated when they need it most. I hope you guys get universal healthcare soon, but with the current president and government, i somewhat doubt it...
Our laws state that NOBODY can be denied medical treatment. Why is the USA broke? Because over 50 million Mexicans and others from south of our border are filling our emergency rooms 24/7. And our black population is now about equal in number but even poorer, so they get their medical care free too. Thus the enormous cost for medical care and insurance for WORKING Americans ... we have to pay for all those poor folks, even the illegal ones.
Load More Replies... In Bolivia, people have to go at 3 AM to get a number for a doctor that would only see 15 patients a day. So it is very probable you have to go many days to get a number. Hospitals are falling apart, cancer patients, kidney-condition patients block the streets every day just asking for a proper machine to help them save their lives. But yes! our president is building another palace for him with sauna, gym, etc. He doesn't walk anywhere, he just rides the helicopter, and he is supporting the DAKAR competition.
Here is a great article discussing why we don't go to the Canadian model in the US. Very well written and insightful. http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/lessons-can-u-s-learn-canadian-health-care-system/
I think the majority of actual health care economics specialists favour the German system as a model for the US. Canada with is hostility to private provision is in many ways an outlier itself, and in the opposite direction form the US. Going for the exact opposite of what you got is probably not a path to success either. An advantage of a nation deciding to setup UHC at this time is being able to study half a hundred other systems, their weak and strong points and how they have developed over half a century. And find the best fit.
Load More Replies... I'm curious, if you have a bill for $20k or $700k, what happens if you don't or can't pay it (if you have no insurance)? Will they treat you if you have no insurance?
The first thing they do when you get to a hospital in America (After waiting in the ER for usually hours) is go over your insurance before they do any treatments. If you don't have insurance they will still give you basic treatments, however they usually won't do as many tests, or will try to cut back to save you money. If you don't have insurance they do the bare minimum so that you don't die. Later you get a bill. As long as you pay at least the minimum it shouldn't go to collection. However, these bills can be quite large. If it goes to collection expect to be harassed muliple times a day by calls and letters. They could even dock your pay or take you to court. They can definitely ruin your credit and make it so that you cannot buy a new car or house later in life.
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I was considering switching jobs recently, but the field I wanted to go into was mostly start ups who wouldn't be able to offer insurance for a while. I have a chronic condition that even with insurance costs roughly $300 for treatment every 3 months. Decided to stay at my crappy job after all. Also, the emergency treatment for it usually is a $400+ visit, so I usually just deal with severe pain for weeks since I can't afford that even when my doctor says I should go to the ER.
The problem is the people who go to the hospital for NOTHING. And are required to be seen for free. Have a talk with them. They dont have that c**p in the rest of the world either. They dont have a large population of people who think they should be allowed to sit at home and not work when there isnt a damn thing wrong with them.
Who is telling you that pile of hogwash? And you actually believe them? Man...you need to do some research of your own and stop believing lies. In any given population, about 10% of adults between 18 and 65 are unable to work due to disability; another 12% are temporarily without a job. That makes about an average of 24% of the entire population of a country's workforce that is not working at any given time. One whole quarter of adult population under 65 and over 18. That is not a huge number and 12% are only temporarily out of work.
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I think the graph in 68 would have been better if the X and Y values changed positions
This shirt on Amazon for the "Chili Feed Insurance Co." https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9QDBMH
I live in Quebec and had vto pay n$280 for the ambulance after suffering a stroke nand spending a month in hospital.The above infos in this article are incorrect.
Recall that health care in Canada is delivered provincially/territorially. Costs can vary from province to province / territory to territory/ province to territory and even within a province or territory in areas with particularly high costs. Some places, the province takes on more of the cost for ambulance transport, in some it is less.
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Please tell me the numbers on all those bills are made up or severely exaggerated. If not, that is criminal on an absolutely disgusting level. It was truly saddening to read all these posts.
Yeah, let's do another program where less than half the population pays for while all enjoy. Maybe they should list the 5 Billion times that American health care was the savior of the world.
Let's do what we can to reduce taxes. I do not want a socialist/Marxist society. I do not want to be forced to wait for critical health care like they have to do in these other countries.
That is a misconception. If you live in one of the countries with health care provided through taxes you would see it is. Also our insurance premiums and taxes in the US already pay for the medical debt of everyone.
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Is that true? In House MD it seemed that there is no issue at all for anyone to get treated.
Did you really just question this information on the basis of a fictional tv show? Please, please let this have been tongue in cheek....
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If you think the health "care" system os so great in Canada, come live here for a while and discover the damming truth.
If you think the health "Care" system is so real in Canada, come live here and find out the truth!
Based on its health care- or lack thereof - I consider the USA to be a savage and uncivilized society, on the whole.
mmmmmmmmmm........death panels. Numerous unnecessary deaths occur under the NHS. A study conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine concluded that around 750 patients a month – one in 28 – pass away due to subpar quality of care, which includes "inattentive monitoring of the patient’s condition, doctors making the wrong diagnosis, or patients being prescribed the wrong medicine." In other words, patients needlessly die as a result of the incompetence of the NHS.
Patient privacy is at the crux of the US health care system. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, was enacted to ensure patient privacy. U.S. citizens can feel comfortable knowing that their health information will be protected. Emergency rooms cannot turn people away even if they are uninsured.
Which rather leaves them out in the cold for things like heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, etc, etc. Emergency care is not the same as health care. And its not like those emergency rooms don't bill people.
Load More Replies... The U.S. has some of the most cutting-edge medical treatment techniques in the world. We owe this in part to high scientific research standards. People come to America from all over the world to get some of the best care available anywhere. Government institutions such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the National Institutes of Health help ensure that patients are given quality care, treatment and safe medications. The FDA can pull a drug off the pharmacy shelves if it is deemed unsafe. The NIH sets high qulaity standards for biomedical research. The mission of AHRQ is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. Another benefit of the U.S. health care system is that if you have the financial means, you can choose the type of health insurance you want. You also have the option to choose your own doctor.
First off, how the heck is getting to choose our own doctor something remarkable? Doesn't everyone? Unless they live in a remote area with one doc in range, I mean. Second, the US spends more money on research, but does not actually get more results than other large countries. Much like the rest of US health care. The Uk is in fact the leader of research results per head, with one of the cheapest systems in the first world. Lastly, on medical tourism, you do know stats are kept on these things, right? 80 000 people come to the US for treatment each year, mostly from the third world. 1,5 million Americans go abroad for treatment each year. Massive economic system rejection. Economically, why would people go to America with its titanic out-of-pocket prices and poor hospital error rates rather than just go private in their own nations?
Load More Replies... For me, this is one of the biggest (and saddest) paradoxes in the world. That a country that tends to claim how wonderful and great is, can't take a proper care of its citizens and considers this the way to do things. This to be right. It's ridiculous, cruel, unfair, heartbreaking.
It's also a country that says you have no freedom the bear arms. It's also the county that tries to take away your freedom of information and of the press, just so that multi-billion dollar companies make more money. It's also a country where, if you learn one of its secrets, sues the s**t out of you until you go quiet. After moving from Russia to America to Germany, I can say that Germany is better, along with many other foreign countries. Don't get me wrong, we have the right idea, but we and our government are not enforcing it.
Load More Replies... This is so depressing. I still can't understand why my brother insists on living in the states with his wife and three small children when they can live in Canada and avoid the ever looming massive debt from a random slip and fall.
Well the ankle surgery from a slip and fall cost my friend $2,000 with the now destroyed Affordable Health Care act. As a blue collar worker who makes around $25-27,000 per year she has to pay almost 10% of her income for ONE ACCIDENT. That is WITH COVERAGE. She paid monthly to have access to the care, she fell, the surgery cost over $20,000 and was sent home with no instructions and no assistance. No rehab. Thank goodness I'm an OT and I could set her up to take a shower without falling again, and buy her own equipment so she could get around. It's appalling. Oh- and with her blue collar job guess what her 6 months of income was due to being out because she could not walk? $0. No paid sick days, no paid vacation days. She serves food to the 1-2% and the rest of us. Tip well people.
Load More Replies... The actual problem is that Americans still believe they have to exist according to a constitution written on a piece of paper over 200 years ago, and instead of modernizing it or adopting a new one (like any normal country) in the world they literally rape it with ridiculous mendments thinking everything's fine.
Not all of us believe in it. Don’t treat us as though we’re all the same. MILLIONS of us Americans would LOVE universal health care and we’ve been fighting to have what every other country has.
Load More Replies... Reading this, I am thinking on setting a health-travel agency for americans. "Come to Spain, you can get surgery for 10 times less price and after eat a paella"
And after that squat over a hole in the floor. No thanks.
Load More Replies... I had a Liver transplant done in Sweden August 2017. The total cost for the operation , the new liver , 7 days at the hospital with food , medication well everything you need after a big surgery like this was: 103 US dollars. Then the medication i need to eat for the rest of my life will only cost me 270 US dollars per year , due to a High cost insurance that every swede has the right to. So even if the medicin cost 10000 US dollars per year i only pay 270 US dollars. And all of this is payed through taxes and that gives all of the people in Sweden good healthcare. This is real democracy were everyone is helping to get the society to be a good place for everyone (not communism :) )
Once again, what percent of your taxes goes to your military? 1%? 2%? In the USA it's over 30%. Why? Because SOMEONE must keep YOU safe (and many others).
Load More Replies... Wow! Australian here. Those bills for treatments are photoshoped yeah? That just can't be... It doesn't make sense! Could somebody please point me in the direction of an explanation of the reasoning behind why all Americans don't have health care. This post has blown my mind! I am truly sorry that you guys have to endure such hardships over what should be a basic right for all people. You guys should move down here to Australia, there's plenty of room and we've got all the good stuff :) I'll even pick you up from the airport!
Definitely true. I have a 3 thousand dollar bill for vommiting in a bag and a single Tylenol by doctors who didn't do their job right (got my back patted was told my fever and sudden crippling pain was because I'm fat)
Load More Replies... This is absolutely heartbreaking Hayley. Truly disgusting! I feel so ignorant to not know that it is this bad in America. I have been in hospital 5 times in the last 2 years ranging from a hernia repair to treatment for high blood pressure and have not paid a cent. I thought I was having a bad day today but this post has given me perspective. Whats that saying... I used to cry because I had no shoes, until I met a man with no feet.
With the obesity in the US being the highest in the world many people don't even have legs from the effects of diabetes. So be glad you have legs as well!
Load More Replies... And things won’t get any better soon, especially since some random idiot took office. I love a lot of American things, but to say they are the greatest nation in the world? Hahaha, don’t think so :D
As a US Citizen, we don't all say that. The problem is WE DON'T ALL VOTE! And then there are posts like this because people do not use their voice to get the proper people into office to help change these problems.
Load More Replies... The biggest problem is in the US we have a population of over 350 million people and only 99 million taxpaying units. Those 99 million taxpaying units cannot support everything. The ACA came about and was a failure, in order to provide free care for low income individuals the middle income wage earners medical insurance went through the roof. A coworker with a wife and child went from $200 a month for full coverage including medicine to $1400 a month for emergency coverage only and was set to increase by 20% this year. There are a number of issues at play including overpriced healthcare, a large amount of the population that abuses ER visits and never pays and an overall large population. Everyone would love to see a comprehensive system that provides coverage for all, but the US is not a small population like most other countries.
Well. A taxpaying unit is ten a family and that only refers to federal taxes. There are 140 million people paying federal taxes in the US. Then there are state taxes, duties, surcharges etc.
Load More Replies... I think it's completely INSANE. I'm from Italy, we have many problems I admit, but our healthcare works and we don't die because we can't afford the costs of hospitalization.
My family and I have great health insurance. And it only costs us approximately 18,000 a year for a family of 4. Counting monthly premiums, co-pays, medications, and deductions. If we had Universal Health Care my taxes would go up but I would save a small fortune from not paying my insurance fees. Our system blows.
I can't put up a picture for some reason but this entire thing made me think of that Spongebob episode where Mr Krabs charged his employees for breathing, chewing, lolly gagging, talking, standing and existing
The situation is worst in India. We don't have proper health insurance here. The government hospitals are a gateway to hell.
All that needs to happen in the states is to redirect some of the military funding to health care from existing taxes. No need for special taxes or insurance to cover the cost. The military budget is huge. But then again, the US is full of greedy people who feel they shouldn't have to contribute to 'health care for all'. Sad, really.
I don't think that is a practical solution, even if I agree with the sentiment. People underestimate how much money healthcare costs in the The US military budget is roughly 600 billion dollars. Healthcare in the US is 3,2 trillion dollars. 3 200 billion. 10 000 per person, by far the most in the world per person. About double the average in the developed world. If the US healthcare costs were average, it'd be 1 600 billion per year. So the waste is 2,5 times more than the whole military budget. And hey, the entire planets medical research budget is around 300 billion.
Load More Replies... I'm very thankful I'm Australian, we have a great healthcare system. I'm happy to pay tax and be able to see a doctor, get an ambulance and be treated at hospital without having to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars.
While I agree with many points expressed here, this is an extremely biased piece... At times seems more about politics than the healthcare here.
I agree it's biased but then....let's face it, it's on Bored Panda. If you're looking for insightful, balanced analysis, is this really where you expect to find it? That's like going to McD's and saying, "The food doesn't seem to provide balanced nutrition." Further, how is health care NOT political, even in countries like Canada where we have tax-funded systems. Taxes are set by political parties with political agendas. Governments collect taxes and distribute them according to their political priorities. Anything funded via taxes is inherently political.
Load More Replies... how about the downsides to canada's health care system? dead last in wait times. 29 percent of adult canadians who fell ill and needed to see a specialist waited two months or longer, and 18 percent waited four months or longer, compared with 6 percent and 7 percent of america's system. canadians like to think that health care is “free” in canada, when in fact, canadian taxpayers pay, on average, $10,500 per year for all their health-care needs. So cite the negatives please, there is no utopia. sorry to inject some truth.
Pay more for taxes or for our health care needs? I agree that we live in no utopia, but it's inaccurate the way people on this thread are equating taxes paid to health care costs. Taxes go towards far more than just health care. Is the system perfect? Absolutely not. Is is better than having to pay out of pocket for all of the things we can access that are funded by taxes, yes, I believe so. That doesn't mean it's paradisical, it means it's better than several alternative models.
Load More Replies... But how much does it cost in the states to have health insurrance? In my country, I pay about 120 euro per month and with that the basic health care is free. The more expensive stuff, I have to pay 385 euro per year and the rest is free.
By the way, it's illegal not to have health insurrance...
Load More Replies... Any Canadian will tell you the healthcare system there is far from perfect. First of all, the "free" healthcare is paid for in higher taxes. Residents in some provinces are taxed up to three times. Next, it's difficult to get a "spot in line." Once you get in for care, it's great, but you could wait a year for a simple procedure. Not the bed of roses it's cut out to be.
I don't know where you get this information... as a Canadian, I am glad to pay higher taxes if it means that I don't have to pay $700K US for a month's stay in the hospital if something serious happens, or if it allows another person getting the transplant that is needed. And there are no real waits for necessary procedures. Only thing you may have to wait for is elective surgeries. To hear Americans degrade other countries' healthcare system is sad and comical!
Load More Replies... Wow! Come to think of it, in my country we sort of pay for each other. It is possible that I've paid more monthly in a year than the health insurrance cost that I actually needed that year. But because of that, someone else had more health issues and also had to pay the same amount I did. But next year I may be the one who needs surgery or breaks my arm or whatever. That's the thing, you never know when and how much of health insurrance you need.
I had great insurance, employer sponsored, $175 a month, $1,200 deductible for me & 2 kids. Then OBAMAcare happened. The first year, it went up to $375 a month and $5,000 deductible. I dropped it the second year, when it went up to $1,600 a month and a $6,000 deductible PER PERSON. I tried the exchange. My husband is a veteran. Veterans and their families are NOT ALLOWED to purchase O-care. I did the only thing I could do. I moved to a state where healthcare costs are about half what they are where I lived before. I've had 4 urgent care visits (urgent care didn't exist where I lived before) this year with injuries (including broken bones), and total cost was about $1,000.
I pay my heath care insurance premiums every month, and pay nothing extra for my medical needs as they occur, except for around $5 a month for the five medications that I take. I couldn't pay a huge bill at one time, so it makes sense for me to pay for insurance.
I met my prescription drug insurance deductible of $350/year on January 2nd. It would have been the 1st, but the pharmacy wasn't open. That's part of the cost of being diabetic in America. That's for 29 days' worth of insulin. I am on Medicare and this is with a Medicare part D prescription drug benefit(premium $89/month). Medical insurance coverage is not our only problem. I am all for the proposed "Medicare for all", but it's just a place to start.
WHY do people come here from ALL over the world to get treatment here?! In Cleveland Clinic, near the elevators and such, they have signs even in Arabic! Also, I have friends that live ALL over the world. Their wait times are SO long to see a doctor, most would be dead! They come here! People are ROUTINELY here from Canada! I was just talking to a friend from England, and her sister BADLY needs to see a psychiatrist! NOT UNTIL SHE ATTEMPTS SUICIDE!!
People from the US go ALL OVER the world for medical treatments, too. And nobody ever said the quality of healthcare isn't great in the US. We all said it's far too expensive, and its disgusting that medical bills make people go bankrupt.
Load More Replies... Hi, I am actually doing research on health care costs in the USA for my exam assignment, anyone willing to help me out by filling out this survey I made? Note: you must be a US resident. https://www.survio.com/survey/d/C5E9E6L6H5C8Q5K9G Thanks in advance!
Hi, I am actually doing research on the health care costs in the USA for my exam assignment, anyone willing to help me out by filling out this survey I made? Note: you must be a US resident. Thanks in advance! https://www.survio.com/survey/d/C5E9E6L6H5C8Q5K9G
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REAL CURE ON HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS AND HIV some times we just need to give a try to herbal Medicine to see for our self. I am very happy today that i do not listen to what people say if not i would have been a dead man by now. I was infected with HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS in 2014, i went to many hospitals for cure but there was no solution, so I was thinking how can I get a solution out so that my body can be okay. One day I was in the office thinking where I can go to get solution. so a lady walked to me telling me why am I so sad and i open up all to her telling her my problem, she told me that she can help me out, she introduce me to a doctor who uses herbal medication to cure HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS, HIV, HPV and many more disease and she gave me his email, so i mail him. He told me all the things I need to do and send me the herbal medicine through courier delivering service and also give me instructions to take, which I followed properly. Before I knew what is happening after 3 weeks t herbal-med...e6343f.jpg
I'm an Indian(not so proud) but one thing to be proud of is the healthcare system because in Indian government hospitals, EVERYGODDAMNTHING is absolutely free. From medicines and bandages to dressings and plasters, everything is MFing free. The only thing you pay for is dialysis and surgeries and stuff(which are also free for people living below poverty line). The only expensive thing is organ transplant, which is not provided at government hospitals. F**k YEAH!
This is truly disturbing. It is absolutely crazy this is just accepted by the majority and those who are poor just accept that they will have to go without while the rich expect them to. Sad. Sad. Sad.
Man this always reminds me of this trippy animation I saw on Youtube once called Deloused. It's mostly weird, much ado about bug demons and headless cultists, but the thing was the demon kept repeating "You Pay For Life!" because the guy had to keep feeding it heads or it would kill him. Man, American Healthcare in a nutshell. "You pay...for life...you pay...for life..."
Man, this controversy always reminds me of this one weird, trippy animation I saw on Youtube called "Deloused". It's LSD animation, but this guy has to feed this weird bug demon a bunch of heads or else it will turn him into charcoal or something, BUT, the demon kept repeating "You pay for life." Wow...American Healthcare in a nutshell. "You pay...for life..."
I feel so sad for Americans, and relieved I am not living there.
My meds that help me grow (which i cannot. With out the meds i would be only 4' 6") cost 5,000 dollers a month without heath care. With it the meds cost 500 dollerst a month.
I am not from the US. I used to be so confused when people would try to raise funds for a medical bill or for a certain surgery. But now that I went through this post I have a little understanding. In South Africa we are lucky I guess. We have public hospitals where there is free health care. The condition of others is not good, which shows poor of management. But we are lucky none the less as anyone can go to a public hospital and get the help they need. We pay taxes (which is something I don't like as I feel like the tax money is not all utilized properly, but that is a story for another day). IS tax not paid in the US?
The biggest problem, with health care in the US is cost. However, just throwing more money at the problem does not solve it. Any health care plan needs to ask one thing. Why does health care cost so much more in the U.S.? Answer that and you can start solving the problem. The problem is the many true answers to that question and the new questions that will arise.
Since WWII America's medical doctors have climbed the ladder to become elites. As such they expect to be paid well enough to afford a large and wonderful house in a great neighborhood, at least two expensive cars, numerous luxury trips and cruises to famous places, and generally, a life of pure luxury. Strangely enough, in France, where doctors are on salary and live like everyone else, the medical care is not only far cheaper, it is far better. Actually, it's not strange at all ... it's to be expected.
Load More Replies... I've experienced the closest thing to socialized medicine that this country has - military medicine. When I was in, I didn't always have choice of which doctor I would see. I had to take the luck of the draw. Time and again I was told that I could not have a test or procedure because I was not an officer or an officer's wife and that I was just going to have to deal with the pain and the problem. I spent my first years out of service having to undergo several surgeries by civilian doctors because I didn't rate them under military medicine. Without the surgeries, I would have been on pain killers and God knows what else just to survive because it sure would not have been living. People only look at the cost of our medical system. What they need to examine is what really happens under socialized medicine. Talk to someone with a serious illness who is being denied what they need because the state deems it too expensive or whatever (remember little Charlie?).
I've worked in health care in several countries for about 20 years? What is "Socialized medicine"? It is a term I only see on right-wing sites and it is never defined. Is it a Bismarck system, a Beveridge, NI or what?
Load More Replies... And yet we still have about 100,000 people a year to travel to the United States for our incredible health care. Makes you think, doesn’t it? I have lived under both US and British health care systems as an adult, and happily choose the better US way of doing things, even though it may cost a bit more.
I had pneumonia in England in 1974 and all I got from the doctor was aspirin. I'm sure there are worse medical systems around the world, but for a supposed 1st world nation, England has GOT to be the worst.
Load More Replies... I find it particularly ironic that the US Declaration of Independence says that life is an "unalienable right".
I didnt quite realise how awful the American healthcare system seems. It just seems so unreal that you'd have to pay to have a baby, and no matter how ill you are you can only get treatment if you can afford it. The whole system seems to scream that poor people or just simply those who aren't stupidly rich don't deserve to have a baby or be treated when they need it most. I hope you guys get universal healthcare soon, but with the current president and government, i somewhat doubt it...
Our laws state that NOBODY can be denied medical treatment. Why is the USA broke? Because over 50 million Mexicans and others from south of our border are filling our emergency rooms 24/7. And our black population is now about equal in number but even poorer, so they get their medical care free too. Thus the enormous cost for medical care and insurance for WORKING Americans ... we have to pay for all those poor folks, even the illegal ones.
Load More Replies... In Bolivia, people have to go at 3 AM to get a number for a doctor that would only see 15 patients a day. So it is very probable you have to go many days to get a number. Hospitals are falling apart, cancer patients, kidney-condition patients block the streets every day just asking for a proper machine to help them save their lives. But yes! our president is building another palace for him with sauna, gym, etc. He doesn't walk anywhere, he just rides the helicopter, and he is supporting the DAKAR competition.
Here is a great article discussing why we don't go to the Canadian model in the US. Very well written and insightful. http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/lessons-can-u-s-learn-canadian-health-care-system/
I think the majority of actual health care economics specialists favour the German system as a model for the US. Canada with is hostility to private provision is in many ways an outlier itself, and in the opposite direction form the US. Going for the exact opposite of what you got is probably not a path to success either. An advantage of a nation deciding to setup UHC at this time is being able to study half a hundred other systems, their weak and strong points and how they have developed over half a century. And find the best fit.
Load More Replies... I'm curious, if you have a bill for $20k or $700k, what happens if you don't or can't pay it (if you have no insurance)? Will they treat you if you have no insurance?
The first thing they do when you get to a hospital in America (After waiting in the ER for usually hours) is go over your insurance before they do any treatments. If you don't have insurance they will still give you basic treatments, however they usually won't do as many tests, or will try to cut back to save you money. If you don't have insurance they do the bare minimum so that you don't die. Later you get a bill. As long as you pay at least the minimum it shouldn't go to collection. However, these bills can be quite large. If it goes to collection expect to be harassed muliple times a day by calls and letters. They could even dock your pay or take you to court. They can definitely ruin your credit and make it so that you cannot buy a new car or house later in life.
Load More Replies... I was considering switching jobs recently, but the field I wanted to go into was mostly start ups who wouldn't be able to offer insurance for a while. I have a chronic condition that even with insurance costs roughly $300 for treatment every 3 months. Decided to stay at my crappy job after all. Also, the emergency treatment for it usually is a $400+ visit, so I usually just deal with severe pain for weeks since I can't afford that even when my doctor says I should go to the ER.
The problem is the people who go to the hospital for NOTHING. And are required to be seen for free. Have a talk with them. They dont have that c**p in the rest of the world either. They dont have a large population of people who think they should be allowed to sit at home and not work when there isnt a damn thing wrong with them.
Who is telling you that pile of hogwash? And you actually believe them? Man...you need to do some research of your own and stop believing lies. In any given population, about 10% of adults between 18 and 65 are unable to work due to disability; another 12% are temporarily without a job. That makes about an average of 24% of the entire population of a country's workforce that is not working at any given time. One whole quarter of adult population under 65 and over 18. That is not a huge number and 12% are only temporarily out of work.
Load More Replies... I think the graph in 68 would have been better if the X and Y values changed positions
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I live in Quebec and had vto pay n$280 for the ambulance after suffering a stroke nand spending a month in hospital.The above infos in this article are incorrect.
Recall that health care in Canada is delivered provincially/territorially. Costs can vary from province to province / territory to territory/ province to territory and even within a province or territory in areas with particularly high costs. Some places, the province takes on more of the cost for ambulance transport, in some it is less.
Load More Replies... Please tell me the numbers on all those bills are made up or severely exaggerated. If not, that is criminal on an absolutely disgusting level. It was truly saddening to read all these posts.
Yeah, let's do another program where less than half the population pays for while all enjoy. Maybe they should list the 5 Billion times that American health care was the savior of the world.
Let's do what we can to reduce taxes. I do not want a socialist/Marxist society. I do not want to be forced to wait for critical health care like they have to do in these other countries.
That is a misconception. If you live in one of the countries with health care provided through taxes you would see it is. Also our insurance premiums and taxes in the US already pay for the medical debt of everyone.
Load More Replies... Is that true? In House MD it seemed that there is no issue at all for anyone to get treated.
Did you really just question this information on the basis of a fictional tv show? Please, please let this have been tongue in cheek....
Load More Replies... If you think the health "care" system os so great in Canada, come live here for a while and discover the damming truth.
If you think the health "Care" system is so real in Canada, come live here and find out the truth!
Based on its health care- or lack thereof - I consider the USA to be a savage and uncivilized society, on the whole.
mmmmmmmmmm........death panels. Numerous unnecessary deaths occur under the NHS. A study conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine concluded that around 750 patients a month – one in 28 – pass away due to subpar quality of care, which includes "inattentive monitoring of the patient’s condition, doctors making the wrong diagnosis, or patients being prescribed the wrong medicine." In other words, patients needlessly die as a result of the incompetence of the NHS.
Patient privacy is at the crux of the US health care system. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, was enacted to ensure patient privacy. U.S. citizens can feel comfortable knowing that their health information will be protected. Emergency rooms cannot turn people away even if they are uninsured.
Which rather leaves them out in the cold for things like heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, etc, etc. Emergency care is not the same as health care. And its not like those emergency rooms don't bill people.
Load More Replies... The U.S. has some of the most cutting-edge medical treatment techniques in the world. We owe this in part to high scientific research standards. People come to America from all over the world to get some of the best care available anywhere. Government institutions such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the National Institutes of Health help ensure that patients are given quality care, treatment and safe medications. The FDA can pull a drug off the pharmacy shelves if it is deemed unsafe. The NIH sets high qulaity standards for biomedical research. The mission of AHRQ is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. Another benefit of the U.S. health care system is that if you have the financial means, you can choose the type of health insurance you want. You also have the option to choose your own doctor.
First off, how the heck is getting to choose our own doctor something remarkable? Doesn't everyone? Unless they live in a remote area with one doc in range, I mean. Second, the US spends more money on research, but does not actually get more results than other large countries. Much like the rest of US health care. The Uk is in fact the leader of research results per head, with one of the cheapest systems in the first world. Lastly, on medical tourism, you do know stats are kept on these things, right? 80 000 people come to the US for treatment each year, mostly from the third world. 1,5 million Americans go abroad for treatment each year. Massive economic system rejection. Economically, why would people go to America with its titanic out-of-pocket prices and poor hospital error rates rather than just go private in their own nations?
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