The American system isn't exactly responsive to consumers, either. We also have many people here who are unable to find a family doctor. Something like 57 million Americans have no health insurance, and good luck finding ANY doctor who will take you without insurance unless you can wave a wad of cash under their noses.
I WISH we had more checks and balances in place to prevent frivolous medical lawsuits in the USA. It's gotten out of control. Severely out of control. It's a big part of what drives up our costs.
American ER waits are about the same as Canadian ones. I follow this stuff because I work at a hospital - a recent study found that the average ER wait time in the USA was 4 hours and 27 minutes. No joke. You think that's GOOD?
Also, I understand economics very well. However, standard economics DO NOT APPLY to health care, as any real economist can attest. It's kinda ridiculous to try to drive costs down in health care by raising prices. It's not "can I get the cheaper version of chemo?" or "well, do I REALLY need this appendectomy?" or "can I wait until hip replacement goes on sale?" You either NEED the health care or your don't. And if you can't afford it, you wait until the symptoms become acute. People die in America every day because they're more afraid of being in insurmountable debt than getting their potentially life-threatening ailments treated.
Oh, and if you don't have health insurance, they can turn you away unless you're in emergency-critical condition. I had to wait TWO YEARS after finding a breast lump before I could get someone to remove it... when I FINALLY started working at my current job, which supplies excellent health insurance. My insurance that I had before maxed out almost immediately, and the doctors decided that I was a financial risk, so they wouldn't treat me. TWO YEARS to get a breast lump removed. I'm lucky it was benign.
So, yes, you have freedom of choice in the USA... if you're lucky enough to have an employer who provides an amazing health insurance plan, or you're filthy rich.
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Date: 23/3/10 22:56 (UTC)I WISH we had more checks and balances in place to prevent frivolous medical lawsuits in the USA. It's gotten out of control. Severely out of control. It's a big part of what drives up our costs.
American ER waits are about the same as Canadian ones. I follow this stuff because I work at a hospital - a recent study found that the average ER wait time in the USA was 4 hours and 27 minutes. No joke. You think that's GOOD?
Also, I understand economics very well. However, standard economics DO NOT APPLY to health care, as any real economist can attest. It's kinda ridiculous to try to drive costs down in health care by raising prices. It's not "can I get the cheaper version of chemo?" or "well, do I REALLY need this appendectomy?" or "can I wait until hip replacement goes on sale?" You either NEED the health care or your don't. And if you can't afford it, you wait until the symptoms become acute. People die in America every day because they're more afraid of being in insurmountable debt than getting their potentially life-threatening ailments treated.
Oh, and if you don't have health insurance, they can turn you away unless you're in emergency-critical condition. I had to wait TWO YEARS after finding a breast lump before I could get someone to remove it... when I FINALLY started working at my current job, which supplies excellent health insurance. My insurance that I had before maxed out almost immediately, and the doctors decided that I was a financial risk, so they wouldn't treat me. TWO YEARS to get a breast lump removed. I'm lucky it was benign.
So, yes, you have freedom of choice in the USA... if you're lucky enough to have an employer who provides an amazing health insurance plan, or you're filthy rich.