A question about health care for non-U.S. forum members

[Scurvy Dog]

Okay, so last night I watched the movie "Sicko", by Michael Moore. Now don't get me wrong, I consider myself a conservative and up until, well, yesterday was adamantly opposed to National Health Care. Why should I pay for insurance for someone else.

Then I saw this movie, at someone else's recommendation, and it was like the blinders came off. Our country would not collapse into Communism if we had a national health care plan in the States. Only problem is, with the corruption we have between our elected officials and the huge corporations that don't want this (insurance and drug companies), this will never happen here with the partisan government we have here.

Anyway, this question is aimed at those of you in Europe, Canada, and anywhere else with taxpayer funded health care: How do you like the quality of health care you receive in your country?

Also, if you are able to answer this - what percentage of your income goes to pay taxes? For me, it's about 25-30 percent, but that includes state, federal and social security (which will be gone by the time I retire anyway).

I just want to see if what was presented in the movie was the WHOLE truth, and that Moore didn't just talk to people who liked the national health care system.

If there are any disadvantages to this, please tell me. It's becoming more and more difficult to tell what we're being told is true or false. Our government apparently lies to us a lot. 

[GramercyRiff99]

Well, I'm a Canadian member, so I can field this. I find that our socialized health care systems, while having it's problems, is a great system. All doctor visits are covered 100%, so if I have a cough I can just call up ye olde doctor, get an appointment, and find out what's wrong at no cost. This is assuming you have a family doctor. Walk in clinics sometimes have a charge, but it's very small. I'm talking something like ten dollars for a visit, and that's more for the convenience factor.

Hospital emergency rooms are a different matter, and they are the one part of our health care that needs fixing. You can go to the ER with a minor problem, have ABSOLUTELY NOBODY ELSE WAITING, and still sit there for over two hours. I'm talking even at hospitals where there are dedicated ER personnel. The last time I was at a hospital it was when my brother broke his arm by falling off a spinny-chair (yes, spinny-chair is a word according to me). It took almost four hours to see a doctor, yet the kid with a slight cough who came in an hour after us was seen first. It's unbelievable, but it's 100% free so I really can't complain. I don't know if it's like this in the states, so the lack of any cost is the major deciding factor in the equation.

Ambulances are mostly covered, though everyone is charged $50 personally for the use of one. Still, that isn't much at all. Prescription medications are not covered, but I believe they are subsidized if you can't afford them. Dental and eye care are not covered at all, though the eye care used to be covered until a few years ago. All hospital fees are covered with the exception of using the TV in your room. Waiting lists for important surgeries are incredibly long though, and that's another major problem. However, if it is a real extreme emergency and you absolutely need an important operation or else you will die, you are usually given priority.

Overall, I'd say it's a pretty sweet system. It does have some problems with it, but when you consider a complete lack of socialized medicine in the States, it looks great by comparison.

BTW, Michael Moore is a sensationalizing idiot. Now I want to watch Sicko just to see how badly he twisted the view of things this time.

[GramercyRiff99]

The wait times for non-threatening surgery depend entirely on the complexity of the surgery. It can range from a few weeks to several years.

Not sure about optical care. I know that eye exams are anywhere from 20 to 50 dollars, don't know the exact price though. Glasses are usually cheaper than the prices you quoted, though again, not sure about the specifics.

I don't know anything about taxes, I'm not old enough to pay them yet.

[The Swan]

I just want to see if what was presented in the movie was the WHOLE truth, and that Moore didn't just talk to people who liked the national health care system.
If there are any disadvantages to this, please tell me. It's becoming more and more difficult to tell what we're being told is true or false. Our government apparently lies to us a lot. 

Hi Scurvy Dog, I've just watched the movie... so I can now tell you my point of view.
European-Italian member.
The problem is the employment, I mean if people doesn't work, how could they pay medical attention?
So who is "known" by the govern, I repeat known, pays 4 someone else.
Anyway it could also be ok, I mean I pay but if I need: NO PROBLEM! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!... when you need 4 istance the E.R., you can wait and wait and wait and wait, well only if you're hardly hurt you immediately go in!!!
So maybe that movie attacks US health-care system too much, ok, and praises European (ye but I'm only speaking about Italian) too much... but we know M.Moore... philosophized taunt!!!!!!!!!
By the way Italian system is not a good one, and about other European countries systems... I wouln't know very well.
American could seem ruthless, if you don't pay you can die/suffer, but sometime I think it's better than ours.
In the middle there should be the right answer to all these different countries "medical" problems... but I've always thought there isn't any Govern in the World, REALLYREALLYREALLY wanting to resolve his/its people problems... whichever kind!!!!!!!!
But you know what in Italy, after paying taxes in percentage is 23-25%, and if they invent some new sub-tax, also 30%? If I need an important medical opinion, this time not ER typology, I have to pay again a private doctor (it's legal). Who cannot do it, follows the ordinary praxis, so you can also wait 6 months-1 year 4 istance, 4 a cervical check!!! So even if the system is different, if I can and if I want to know something immediately... I pay, like in the US.

So your question... whole truth? I simply think neither American nor European are good systems.
Moore is wrong when he says a system is better than another!!!! 8)

[Ninth Delegate]

Over here in ye olde England, we pay 17.5% tax.  The biggest problem with the national health service is the beurocrats cost cutting measures.  At its worst, theres not enough beds for patients and non emergency operation lists can be long.  the hospitals can be under staffed as well.  There is the option to go private and pay for better medical care.  In my area, E.R on the weekend is always full of rowdy drunks that have glassed each other.

[Lion]

Well I have never had health insurance and probably never will, at least not by choice.  If I could get away with not having car insurance I would do that too.  I don't believe in it.  The whole fact about you paying or having so much money take away from your paycheck for insurance and then the idiots from the health ins. no covering for most of your illnesses has never cut it for me.  Once a friend of mine needed Lamisil for his feet and for 15 tiny pills (one for each day) he had to pay $800.00 cause the insurance didn't cover it.  Well on his second set that he had to buy, he decided to go to Mexico, same medicine approved by the Mexican Health Asso., he paid $10.00, which included a doctors visit, and the only reason he paid was because he wasn't Mexican.

[Lion]

Michael Moore is the same person that did Roger and Me right?

[Lion]

I think this is the same cat that did Ferenheit 911.  I really don't follow his work, nonetheless his new movie SiCKO sounds interesting.

[Lion]

I just want to know how he found that group of Americans and that french guy who had the tumor?  Those scenes were a bit rehearsed.

[The Swan]

Hey Lion and Scurvy Dog, if you haven't already found out it... yeah sure, also "Roger and Me" is by M. Moore!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_&_Me It's about Gen.Mot. and how this company wrecked the Michigan!!??!!

Moore profile http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Moore

I've just watched it, well I'm not american, but even if (like other his movies I've watched) it seems he is 100% right, I don't just think he always is!!! You know like in "Sicko".
So what can you (being american and knowing really and very well your society, you know I could know USA but only like a good tourist and anyway I don't live there!) tell me about his way of describing the States? 8)

[KissTheRain]

The only thing the made me little  :doubt: about the film was the slightly rosy picture he was painting of the NHS. Don't get me wrong, our NHS is one of the best things to happen in the country but it would be even better if our government gave it a bit of TLC so that it could do its job.

The only things we still have to pay for is dentistry and Opticians. Prescriptions are provided if you are under 18/ in full time education.

On the plus side though the Scottish government are planning to scrap prescriptions fees for everyone. That'll really help my Mum who pays around £100 a month for her medication.

[KissTheRain]

believe me, we have people who take the mick too. I went to the Doctors just last week because I felt tired all the time but I fought hard against doing that because I kept brushing it off, assuming I was just lacking sleep and I didn't want to be one of those people who was wasting the doctors time. It turns out i'm a bit Anemic so the trip was justified but the ammount of people who turn up just because they have a small cough is stupid, simply to get a £2.50 cough bottle for free.