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Comment by fzeroracer | Hacker News Reader

I had the highest level of insurance from my company working for one of the big named ones. It took over six months to get a scheduled neurologist visit and that was after needing to wait four or so months to see a GP for a referral and some other things I needed done.

The fact that you immediately jumped to 'you might not have as good insurance as you think' tells me either you are fundamentally out of touch with how disastrous the system is or have had no need to engage with medical care outside of visiting a doctor once per year.

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Your insurance is almost certainly a factor here, in that they require you to see a GP before escalating the issue to a specialist (one of the most highly-paid, I might add, who might have a busy schedule also). But what you've described is not uncommon for any insurance company.

Other countries with "universal healthcare" also have times consuming referral processes and wait lists for stuff. But they have it worse because there are more people seeking service, and less providing it (because profits are capped). I've heard plenty of stories of people in those countries dying on the wait lists for things that sound urgent or mundane, like appendectomy surgery. I even heard a few where people with ordinary problems like trouble walking were offered euthanasia. You should do a bit of research before you whine too much.

So, what would solve the problem of having to wait? Ultimately more supply of service providers, less demand, or an unlimited budget to pay for the scarce ones that exist.

> I've heard plenty of stories of people in those countries dying on the wait lists for things that sound urgent or mundane, like appendectomy surgery.

Emergency procedures like this wouldn't be put on a waitlist, you can just go to ER and settle administrative stuff later.

>you can just go to ER

First of all, a problem should not have to take you to within an inch of your life to be treated.

Secondly, good luck with getting treatment in the ER! https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ont-teen-death-1.7616... Emergency rooms offer advanced first aid. They are not equipped to do specialist surgery. They have to call doctors in and stall you or even send you away until the proper care can be arranged.

That isn't even the case I was referring to. I've seen many stories and verbal accounts of people waiting for months for essential treatment in "universal healthcare" countries. Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of how supply and demand works would expect long waits.

If you complain then you may be offered euthanasia lol https://nypost.com/2022/12/03/canada-offered-to-help-euthani...

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