US Health Care System compared with British Health Care

[Kabluey]

As an outsider to the US, it seems kind of funny that Obamacare is at all controversial.

Over here there is universal healthcare. And if you want better service again and less waiting, you can choose to pay for private insurance, which is pretty unbeatable, and pretty cheap really. It's not like that option is off the table.

And drug prices seem crazy in the US - especially when so many are developed (and then patent rights undersold) by universities, not the drug companies.

 

[quasar]

As a Type 1 diabetic, I have to say that my treatment here in the UK has been faultless. I receive insulin, needles, test-kits, test strips, lancets, sharps bin, and statins. I see my Consultant every 6months, my Diabetic Nurse Specialist every 6 months (she also rings once a month), my surgery's Diabetic Nurse/Well Man Clinic every 3 months, I have a yearly retina scan, neuropathy checks twice a year and full blood work twice a year.

The other week I kept going tachycardic even though my blood sugar levels were fine. Paramedics/ambulance, overnight stay in hospital, tests resulted in it being put down to a 'viral episode'.

None of this has cost me a penny. (other than what we pay towards the NHS via our Income Tax).

 

[Benvolio]

As an outsider to the US, it seems kind of funny that Obamacare is at all controversial.

Over here there is universal healthcare. And if you want better service again and less waiting, you can choose to pay for private insurance, which is pretty unbeatable, and pretty cheap really. It's not like that option is off the table.

And drug prices seem crazy in the US - especially when so many are developed (and then patent rights undersold) by universities, not the drug companies.

After the basic research for a drug, it costs hundreds of millions of dollars to test a new drug and get FDA approval. The reason drugs are more expensive here than other countries is that other countries control the price at a level which does not contribute much to the cost of research and development. So R and D is paid by US patients, since we generally do not control prices. Even research by foreign countries is done with the expectation of selling in the US without price controls. Obama care will "fix" those prices and research and development will die on the vine.

 

[kallipolis]

After the basic research for a drug, it costs hundreds of millions of dollars to test a new drug and get FDA approval. The reason drugs are more expensive here than other countries is that other countries control the price at a level which does not contribute much to the cost of research and development. So R and D is paid by US patients, since we generally do not control prices. Even research by foreign countries is done with the expectation of selling in the US without price controls. Obama care will "fix" those prices and research and development will die on the vine.

Would you care to cite a credible source to support your assertion?

 

[Kulindahr]

And as everybody knows, yearly physicals are really only perfunctory. They check your blood pressure, listen to your heart and your breathing, and ask you if anything's wrong.

Wow. My last "annual physical" took nearly three-quarters of an hour of poking, prodding, listening, and all, with interspersed questions. He coded the blood tests and such as preventative, and I only had to pay 20% on those costs -- I think my plan trusts the doctors, and if they say it's preventative, that's how it's treated.

 

[Justabitcurious]

As a Brit if I can be proud of anything it's our NHS, it had a bad time a few years ago but now it's probably one of the UK's greatest achievements over the past 60 years.

The slander it get's in the US is atrocious, I broke my leg snowboarding in the US two years ago, and despite having the best insurance cover the standard of care was that impressive.

 

[Kabluey]

After the basic research for a drug, it costs hundreds of millions of dollars to test a new drug and get FDA approval. The reason drugs are more expensive here than other countries is that other countries control the price at a level which does not contribute much to the cost of research and development. So R and D is paid by US patients, since we generally do not control prices. Even research by foreign countries is done with the expectation of selling in the US without price controls. Obama care will "fix" those prices and research and development will die on the vine.

Many sectors pay hundreds of millions of dollars on product development, including testing. Look at tech, aero and auto industries for example. Where government grants and tax subsidies are available for research, expect research costs to be inflated. Accounting being the way it is and all.
Wonder how R&D spend compares to 'other' expenses for the big companies?

The pharmaceutical industry yields about 16-17% return on revenue based on the Fortune 500 list - don't know if any other sector compares.

I can understand them resisting price controls in the US - it would appear the costs paid in the US are inflated for maximum profitability. Rest assured big pharmaceutical companies would not sell their products at a loss anywhere in the world. Big companies are quite capable of negotiating a deal.

God knows how much is being spent trying to develop the bigger penis pill. Anyone willing to participate in that trial?

 

[birddog7]

God knows how much is being spent trying to develop the bigger penis pill. Anyone willing to participate in that trial?

I'd be glad to participate, unless there would be a dangerous health risk...

 

[Kulindahr]

I'd be glad to participate, unless there would be a dangerous health risk...

Like, it never stops growing?

 

[joshj50]

Josh, I get a little bit angry when I think somebody's not telling the truth, and your post smacked of deceit.

But I'll put that aside, and address your post.

My insurance company won't code much under "preventative care" except the yearly physical. And as everybody knows, yearly physicals are really only perfunctory. They check your blood pressure, listen to your heart and your breathing, and ask you if anything's wrong.

If the answer is "yes", then followup visits, any kind of labwork, any diagnostic tests, or any visits to any specialists, fall under that ugly deductible. Even for one person, it's punitive, but if there's more than one person under the plan it's downright painful.

It is true that after that deductible is met, the fee's only 20% of whatever, but even that 20% can add up to a lot of money.

I merely suggest that your situation is wildly atypical for an American.

I suggest you switch insurance carriers, I will repeat myself again, I do not have a deductible unless I am hospitalized. Doctor visits have a $20 co pay, lab work, diagnostic tests (X rays, MRIs) do not have a co pay and I have NO deductible to meet, none, zero. The ONLY time I would have a deductible would be if I was admitted to a hospital and that is $500 per day, 5 days max so after $2500 the carrier covers everything. As you know a 5 day stay at a hospital would far surpass $2500.00

I am not sure why you view your annual exam as basic and not comprehensive. MY last annual done in January took close to one hour, 3 vials of blood were taken, urine sample was taken, extensive poking and prodding from my doc, blood pressure taken in both arms (currently recommended for a more accurate blood pressure reading) and for the first time ever at my physical an EKG was wheeled in and I was given a 12 lead EKG. I was then prescribed a chest x ray which was done in the office next door. I was called with the chest x ray results the following day and the blood/urine results the day after that, the only problem was that my triglycerides were slightly elevated. All of the tests and visit cost me a mere $20 co pay. I must return in 3 months to redo my lipid panel blood work to monitor my triglycerides.

Am I just lucky or blessed to have such a plan, I assume that all people with health insurance receives such care, maybe I am wrong. The above is fact with no deceit or exaggerations contained within.

I talked to two friends who are decidedly American as am I, both have similar benefits to me, the only difference is premium differences due to our ages.

 

[joshj50]

It's atypical, Josh.

I'm pleased for you that you could find such an insurance plan, but I have to ask you—is it affordable? To be honest, it sounds too good to be true unless one's already rich.

The company for which I work only offers one choice of insurance providers, btw. That's quite the norm for corporate America.

I am far from rich, I make certain things a priority and funding my health insurance and retirement account are sacred to me. I know some people who use the ER as their PCP and don't give a damn about what will happen at 65, Irresponsible sods!

My plan costs me a little under $300 a month, I am male, non smoker, mid 30s living in Florida. The company is Coventry Health Care, on March 1st my policy adjusts itself to an open access plan which will allow me to self refer myself to a specialist. Although I assume I would prefer to spend the $20 to see my PCP first and get his opinion on the specialist I need.

I love my doctor, he is the third one I have had as my PCP, I have been with him 7 or 8 years now, have often mentioned to him that I don't know what I will do when he retires. He coddles me and told me that he will continue to see a select few patients part time and I am on that list.

 

[Beachguyj]

She was in LA where all the nurses are want to be actors what did she expect?

 

[Kulindahr]

I am far from rich, I make certain things a priority and funding my health insurance and retirement account are sacred to me. I know some people who use the ER as their PCP and don't give a damn about what will happen at 65, Irresponsible sods!

My plan costs me a little under $300 a month, I am male, non smoker, mid 30s living in Florida. The company is Coventry Health Care, on March 1st my policy adjusts itself to an open access plan which will allow me to self refer myself to a specialist. Although I assume I would prefer to spend the $20 to see my PCP first and get his opinion on the specialist I need.

I love my doctor, he is the third one I have had as my PCP, I have been with him 7 or 8 years now, have often mentioned to him that I don't know what I will do when he retires. He coddles me and told me that he will continue to see a select few patients part time and I am on that list.

You said earlier your plan is through your employer. Employers cover part of the cost, often half, sometimes 2/3. So your plan would actually be about a $7k to $11k plan. For a single person, that's hefty coverage. Even if you're paying the whole thing, your $2600 annual plan is still well above the average.

 

[RaKroma]

It's difficult to compare healthcare systems and personal accounts of individual experiences are not really a great way to measure the hows and whys. Two things to point out is that no other country on earth pumps out medical research and innovation like the U.S. 52% of all medical research comes out of U.S. That is billions and billions of dollars in investment. And those costs are passed on to American consumer as they are not equally spread to other countries that depend on American innovation to bring that next drug on the market.
And the U.S. leads in specialized medicine but the costs for that are high. We need other countries to invest more in medical research and improve competition to U.S. drug companies, maybe that will help reduce costs here.

 

[bankside]

I've had surgery in Canada, cardiology work-ups, nutritionist referrals, audiologists, x-rays, broken bones, dermatologists. I've seen elderly relatives and younger relatives in successful and unsuccessful struggles with cancer. I've had relatives with fertility issues managed. I've never had any reason to question the care, and never paid a penny.

Orthodontics, we were charged for, but I assure you I cannot imagine racing to see a relative in hospital and being asked about "co-pay."

I can't imagine a bigger or more cruel scam.