GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - View Single Post - Which is better: UK/Canada healthcare system or USA's Healthcare System?

jayeff · 05-14-2004, 05:05 AM

Any health care system can be criticized, but according to the World Health Organisation and the World Bank, the US ranks lower than most of Europe, Canada and Japan: all countries with some form of universal health provision. Further, the real cost of health care in the US is more than double that of the next most expensive country: Switzerland.

In the UK, for my ongoing heart condition, I would have blood/liver tests every 6 months at zero direct cost and I would be in and out of the surgery in less than 30 minutes. Here in the US, I haven't been tested once in 7 years, but to re-issue my prescription, my doctor insists on seeing me every 3 months. I wait anything from 60 to 90 minutes to have him spend less than 5 minutes with me and take my blood pressure. And for that he charges me $65.

In the UK, a prescription certificate used to cost me (directly) about $250 a year. In the US I pay almost $150 a month.

For almost 4 years my step-daughter and I have been to specialists for consultations, we have had tests and operations. I haven't been aware of our treatment being poorer than it would have been in the UK (which like Canada, has far from the highest ranked health service in the world). But nor has it seemed better, nor have we been handled more efficiently. However, I shall be paying off medical bills for many years to come, whereas in the UK I wouldn't have owed a cent.

05-14-2004, 05:05 AM
jayeff Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 2,944	Any health care system can be criticized, but according to the World Health Organisation and the World Bank, the US ranks lower than most of Europe, Canada and Japan: all countries with some form of universal health provision. Further, the real cost of health care in the US is more than double that of the next most expensive country: Switzerland. In the UK, for my ongoing heart condition, I would have blood/liver tests every 6 months at zero direct cost and I would be in and out of the surgery in less than 30 minutes. Here in the US, I haven't been tested once in 7 years, but to re-issue my prescription, my doctor insists on seeing me every 3 months. I wait anything from 60 to 90 minutes to have him spend less than 5 minutes with me and take my blood pressure. And for that he charges me $65. In the UK, a prescription certificate used to cost me (directly) about $250 a year. In the US I pay almost $150 a month. For almost 4 years my step-daughter and I have been to specialists for consultations, we have had tests and operations. I haven't been aware of our treatment being poorer than it would have been in the UK (which like Canada, has far from the highest ranked health service in the world). But nor has it seemed better, nor have we been handled more efficiently. However, I shall be paying off medical bills for many years to come, whereas in the UK I wouldn't have owed a cent.