Very opinionated stuff....you've been warned. And secondly, you can probably guess where I'm from, but does it really matter?
As the parent of a munchkin with health issues that require long term maintenance (rheumatoid arthritis), I am deeply familiar with the cost of health care.
Let me quote you some cost comparisons. I am going to do this in US dollars since I think more folks are familiar with the $'s exchange rates.
This is a comparison of cost between tip top quality private health care we have experienced in the Middle East (by US or European trained/licensed doctors) and health care in the United States. I am doing some minimal rounding, so please use this for discussion/thoughtfulness only. Ready?
Visit to pediatrician for very bad cold/flu with a throat swab test:
Middle East: $80 US: $200
MRI (top quality images) of a major joint (like a wrist or a knee):
Middle East: $390 US: $3,300
X-rays of a major joint (like a wrist or a knee):
Middle East: $150 [but need to make certain lead apron is used on patient] US: $350
10mg/week of Methotrexate tablets for one month:
Middle East: $24 (no insurance) US: $20 (that's the insurance co-pay)
Hmmmm.....really? Yes. Wow. Is health care here the most perfect in the world? Certainly not. But, the 'maintenance' kind of stuff is reasonable.
So, here's what I think are the major reasons for the cost difference. First, the US has very high medical malpractice insurance rates because doctors get sued so very much. Second, many people in the States can't afford these types of health care rates. But they go get health care anyway. I can't imagine not being able to get help for my child. They then either don't pay their bill or only pay a small piece at a time thus putting hospitals/clinics into a cash pinch creating a vicious circle that keeps getting bigger and bigger. If it's your life or the life of your child, wouldn't you go into that clinic?
I am flabbergasted how many Americans whine about how they don't want socialized medicine. I understand that. But, if there was REAL and GOOD paid for health care for low and moderate income folks, AND if there was tort reform, the US wouldn't be in this mess.
Suck it up folks. Only a compassionate government with big deep pockets can fix this. Smaller government with shallow pockets is going to make the average American bankrupt and dirt poor as soon as sickness strikes. It's time to start taxing the rich and pass tort reform. Years ago, I had to have a c-section. The total cost was $20,000. I was in-network everything. Should have been a bill of about $2000 give or take as my portion, or so I thought. I ended up paying over $8000 - even after fighting with the insurance company -and the constant phoning from the hospital creditors made me feel almost like someone was going to come repossess my son. It took a long time, but the bill was paid. But, it financially set my family back years.
Do I want to move back to my home country? Yes. I am ready to give up lower cost health care yet? No.
Peace.
As the parent of a munchkin with health issues that require long term maintenance (rheumatoid arthritis), I am deeply familiar with the cost of health care.
Let me quote you some cost comparisons. I am going to do this in US dollars since I think more folks are familiar with the $'s exchange rates.
This is a comparison of cost between tip top quality private health care we have experienced in the Middle East (by US or European trained/licensed doctors) and health care in the United States. I am doing some minimal rounding, so please use this for discussion/thoughtfulness only. Ready?
Visit to pediatrician for very bad cold/flu with a throat swab test:
Middle East: $80 US: $200
MRI (top quality images) of a major joint (like a wrist or a knee):
Middle East: $390 US: $3,300
X-rays of a major joint (like a wrist or a knee):
Middle East: $150 [but need to make certain lead apron is used on patient] US: $350
10mg/week of Methotrexate tablets for one month:
Middle East: $24 (no insurance) US: $20 (that's the insurance co-pay)
Hmmmm.....really? Yes. Wow. Is health care here the most perfect in the world? Certainly not. But, the 'maintenance' kind of stuff is reasonable.
So, here's what I think are the major reasons for the cost difference. First, the US has very high medical malpractice insurance rates because doctors get sued so very much. Second, many people in the States can't afford these types of health care rates. But they go get health care anyway. I can't imagine not being able to get help for my child. They then either don't pay their bill or only pay a small piece at a time thus putting hospitals/clinics into a cash pinch creating a vicious circle that keeps getting bigger and bigger. If it's your life or the life of your child, wouldn't you go into that clinic?
I am flabbergasted how many Americans whine about how they don't want socialized medicine. I understand that. But, if there was REAL and GOOD paid for health care for low and moderate income folks, AND if there was tort reform, the US wouldn't be in this mess.
Suck it up folks. Only a compassionate government with big deep pockets can fix this. Smaller government with shallow pockets is going to make the average American bankrupt and dirt poor as soon as sickness strikes. It's time to start taxing the rich and pass tort reform. Years ago, I had to have a c-section. The total cost was $20,000. I was in-network everything. Should have been a bill of about $2000 give or take as my portion, or so I thought. I ended up paying over $8000 - even after fighting with the insurance company -and the constant phoning from the hospital creditors made me feel almost like someone was going to come repossess my son. It took a long time, but the bill was paid. But, it financially set my family back years.
Do I want to move back to my home country? Yes. I am ready to give up lower cost health care yet? No.
Peace.
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