WeeblesWobbles
Well-Known Member
Totally agree. We're paying enough--right now--for everyone in the US to get gold-plated care. The money needs to be rationally applied.I'm comfortable with the direction the conversation is going; people need to be dragged into the nuts and bolts to understand just how badly they're bring screwed by Big Medicine.
That said, the US consumer deserves a full share of blame. We over consume. We demand spurious treatments. We want flat screens and private rooms in our hospitals.
I'm a US citizen and I've lived in the UK and Singapore. If I was seriously ill I'd want to be in Singapore. Their system is variously ranked #1 or #2 in the world. Check out the piece on Singapore Health Care on Wikipedia, it's a good summary. Nothing is free, even for the poorest and most subsidized individual, but no one is bankrupted by health care costs unless they're complete idiots. Poor folks are heavily subsidized, rich folk get essentially no subsidy and purchase private insurance. Health savings accounts are mandated and most people have hefty accounts built up. It's fair, people don't over consume because there is still a charge, and everyone is covered.
A blend of government sponsorship and private care is pretty much the common theme with great programs. I'm looking at you France, Gemany, Japan. The Rs and Ds will each hate different parts of such a plan and love others. That's the hallmark of a good compromise.
Something has to be done because what we have now is nucking futs.