American Vet

Seventy years after its foundation, Britain’s beloved National Health Service, which delivers free care for all, is in trouble. Hospitals were so overcrowded last month that a record 24% of patients waited for more than four hours in emergency rooms to receive medical attention, the worst monthly showing since the service began tracking that metric in 2010. Thousands of operations have been delayed or suspended, patients are being left to recover from major operations in hospital corridors, and the system is struggling with a severe shortage of doctors and nurses.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-s-national-health-service-struggles-with-chronic-shortages-1524308400?fbclid=IwAR2d5C8YApAaH2eWKEpIRQsDTQWna-Sr6JIfJNH3YeLCCFqAfhHGLuMqco0

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

As with most things, the government failed to keep up with the investment. With the US system, as healthcare prices continue to skyrocket, the insurance carriers pass on those increased costs to the insured.

We always forget that health insurance carriers are NOT in business to pay for your healthcare, they are in business to make a profit................and every penny spent on their policy holders is a penny out of the investors pocket.

The problem here isn't insurance, it's the cost of healthcare, which is what insurance pays a portion of. As an example, what cost $10,000 in 1990, now costs $35,000. The "patient" had to pay coinsurance ( typically 20% ) of $2000 in 1990, now pays $7000. Wage increases have not kept up with these costs, further eroding the ability of the average American's ability to prosper.

We need to treat healthcare like any other utility, as a "must have" component of daily living, allowing providers to make a REASONABLE profit and take insurance carriers out of the loop. Everyone every where pays the same price, no matter where or who they are.

MalG

At last, a rational response!

American Vet

There is a bit of a problem with your solution that I see.

You say everyone pays the same: I pay a certain amount for each gallon of water I use - the same as my neighbor. If I use more water - I pay more. Same for electricity.

So, basing healthcare as a 'utility' - the more you use, the more you pay. Make sense?

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

I didn't mean one price for everything, removing a brain tumor would obviously cost more than a hernia repair, I meant the same prices would apply to everyone, everywhere, at every facility.

American Vet

Sorry - I was not clear.

I go to the doctor and get treatment for respiratory infection such as pneumonia. I pay $400.

My neighbor, a smoker, goes to the doctor for pneumonia - 4 times in the same year. He pays $1600.

Is this what you mean by everyone say the same?

Wonttakeitanymore

They are feeling the bern! That was promised here with the old gieser

bggamers Loc: georgia

What needs to happen is follow the money backtrack to the suppliers who jack their prices to the individual doctor/nurse/hospital/anist/labs/pharmacies and put a cap on them. why is it HERE in this country I can get one of my meds after the insurance pays for$232.00 a month my portion but if I suck it up and go to a Canadian pharmacy I can get the same medication for $213.00 for 3 months and pay it out of pocket because insurance cant pay an out of state pharmacy. I still come out ahead but some times it takes a while to get it( personal opinion)