splitpeach wrote:
I think it's an intense debate because of the disparity. You have some of the best healthcare in the world and most of the best surgeons and doctors but such insecurity and restricted access.
I can't think of another country with such excellent treatment options with such harsh consequences if you've not absolutely succeeded in life.
You can argue that people don't deserve a car, a decent home or clean and safe to live, maybe even decent food to eat unless they can afford it, but healthcare should be something everyone has access to without having to deal with the stress of bills as well as making sure their colostomy bag doesn't get caught up in the chemo machine.
Our poor are generally well taken care of in terms of health care because they don't have to deal with private insurance companies. They're on our equivalent of your NHS but unlike you they don't have to wait for specialist care. They're only limited by their state borders. For example, I live in Boston, and if I'd be poor and decided to implant I'd be limited to Drs. Kramer and Munarriz. Oh my God, what a tragedy, eh?
If you're a military veteran you have a universal health care for life but only through the VA system, which, unless you live in the middle of nowhere, is usually limited to the severely limited VA health care system, but it's adequate. I, for example, usually use the VA system but probably not for penile implantation ...although, as of last week, if I decide to go with CX who knows.
If you're well off, well, then you're well off.
If you're a member of so called "middle class" however (i.e. the silent majority), that's when it can get complex. If you work for a large to mid-size company you still should be ok, again depending on what plan you chose when you start working for them. If you decided to save some money when you were selecting your company benefits package, well, then who knows right? If you entered into a good plan however you should be ok.
Now, if you own a pizza place or a flower shop on the corner or you're self-employed, etc. that's when things might get interesting. You got to get yourself health insurance through sliding scale choices on Obamacare exchange. The more you pay the more health care options you get. If you decided to save money and shit hits the fan... hm.
To summarize: if you want to have carefree access to the US health care you either got to be rich or poor. If you're neither than health care coverage anxiety could possibly make you a health care dependent.
Oh yea, almost forgot, if you're over 65 then you can get yourself on the senior care, called Medicare, which, while not free, is generally manageable. Unless you need to go to the nursing home. Then after you spent all you money and assets the government would begin treating you as "the poor" and you'd qualify for a free nursing home care of varied quality.
I think that about sums it up. If anybody wants to add anything...
