Comment by xtracto | Hacker News Reader

Comment by xtracto | Hacker News Reader

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Wow, your comments make me have two thoughts:

1. When did you experienced the UK health system?

2. US health system should be REALLY good then.

I had to use the UK NHS between 2004 and 2008 kind of "extensively": Started with GPs (which I think is the weakest link, as they only give you 15 minutes for appointment and appointments are difficult to get). But once I got into a hospital; attention was so amazing, and all the studies were free and I was pretty well treated (blood work, ultrasound, colonoscopy, among others).

All in all, my experience with the NHS was hugely positive the 4 years I lived there. I feel it was even better than the one I had in Germany (where I also lived 4 years and also had some touch with its health system).

If I understand correctly, In the US I would have to earn some good money and jump hoops and loops through the insurance process to get something barely similar no? and those horror stories I read about the premiums payment, or that I need to be working to have insurance, but if I get in some accident and cannot work but have to use the health system then, I'm screwed?

TBH when I had the chance, I choose to go live in the UK instead of the US partly due to the fear of its health system.

The horror stories are overblown by people who are either trying to spin a lie or some other farcical story to claim "America bad".

If you have insurance, which you would because you'd have a job and not be a bum, your insurance would cover mostly everything. You have out of pocket maximum which dictate how much you are limited to pay for which is marginal at best.

The people who get $50k medical bills are lying and if they call the billing departments, they apply 80% self pay discounts which bring the fees in line with having insurance. More so, every state has low/no income programs which cover everything.

The nice thing about America is you don't need to go to a GP who will refer you. If you want to visit a urologist for a problem, you call a urologist, schedule an appointment and show up. You can be seen as early as that week of an appointment is open or most of the time as soon as the following week.

Going in network with your insurance provides the best cost/benefit ratio and of all of the insurance coverages I get, even with shit high deductible ones I still get access to research and specialty hospitals.

Consequently , nurses and doctors are better paid and have far better attitudes towards care in America. Every nurse and doctor I met in thE UK and Canada were truly miserable and over worked.

Private care in the UK is cheaper compared to the US but the US subsidizes the vast majority of medical advancements through it's over priced medical system that if it didn't exist, the advancements European countries take advantage of would disappear. Personally, I'd love to American companies get panelized tax wise in America when they are told by foreign country regulators what they can sell X drug for on their countries when the price isnt in line with the free market. They should walk or be taxed for selling at a discount but that's a different argument.

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