Does it work? I know all systems have flaws, but for the most part are you content with it? Or is it overrated? I'd like to know what it TRULY is like to be in a country with socialized healthcare.
2007-12-10 14:37:09 · 11 answers · asked by High Fructose Corn Syrup 2 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Other - Europe
When you say "here" can you be specific please? My question was left open ended....
2007-12-10 14:47:10 · update #1
The National Health System is the British system, other European countries have very different systems. The British NHS is not good but still better than in the US in the sense that everyone has access to primary care and health care is completely free. The major drawbacks of their system are 1) you can't choose your doctor, 2) long waiting lists for surgery.
France has a completely different system which ranks # 1 in the world according to the WHO and in which you are free to go to any doctor or facility you want anywhere in the country. It is easy to get an appointment the same day and surgery as soon as needed. It is not a socialized system, it's mostly private practices. What is socialized is the health insurance system. Everyone is covered by a national health insurance which covers about 80% of medical costs on average (100% for cancer and other long diseases). Then people may choose to buy a private insurance or not to cover the rest, considering that it is only 10 € to 50 € a month and that medical costs are much lower than in America. The poorest get a 100% coverage. No one is left out from high quality care. From a patient's point of view, it works great.
I don't know the Spanish system very well but on vacation there once I was able to see a doctor of my choice easily without notice and it was very affordable so I know that access to primary care is good.
Someone from Greece told me that their system was very poor and is trying to bring her family to the US. Otherwise, most European countries, especially the richer, western ones usually have far better systems than in the US. America does not have a health care system, only a health business system.
In any case, Europe is not a country, it is a continent with different nations, each nation having its own health care system, with a lot of differences from one system to another, but on the whole good universal coverage and good quality (with the exception of at least the UK and Greece).
2007-12-10 16:23:03 · answer #1 · answered by Millie 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
In Europe Britain has the NHS - National Health Service.
In Germany every employee has to buy healt insurance - there is no national health system. The government spends less on health than the US government since all employees have health insurance. Some self employed people do not have health insurance. So the US system is more socialist than the German one. They face the same problems as we do: rising costs.
2007-12-11 02:52:39 · answer #2 · answered by ShlomoNYC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi
Im from Spain and yes the national health system works. The Spanish one i would say is not and example but its not that bad i guess.
Systems like Noriega's,Swiss, work pretty good. About being overrated the answer ( for what i know ) is YES, but thats cos of the in migrants, that suture all the medical systems with-out paying etc.. Its a problem to solve. But in general it those work.
2007-12-10 14:44:02 · answer #3 · answered by alex 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My opinion is that it works (I'm Swedish). As you say, there are always some flaws in every system - but compared to the US, we get better health at roughly half the cost, and people aren't burdened with worrying about what would happen if they got seriously ill.
2007-12-10 18:49:39 · answer #4 · answered by tessan_bc 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
watch "sicko". i think the movie makes a good point. but you are right, every system has problems of some kind. we will never know what socialized health care is like in America. there are too many people that would not give up the hold they have on money and power. ( doctors, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, ........)
2007-12-10 14:44:16 · answer #5 · answered by kia 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would think most European countries have a better healthcare system than the United States, our healthcare system is garbage.
2007-12-10 14:40:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
It works, It is not perfect, and it certainly is not anything like what the industrial medical complex in the U.S. wants Americans to believe.
The problem is you have been told the untruths for so long, you now do not even question it for the most part.
2007-12-10 14:41:12 · answer #7 · answered by bgee2001ca 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Americans don't say socialized medicine is bad; the AMA and the drug cos do. And the insurance companies charge what they want, unless you're sick; in which case, they don't insure you at all.
2007-12-10 14:55:03 · answer #8 · answered by Bob H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I can afford to die but I can't afford to get sick.
Does that answer your question?
2007-12-10 14:40:14 · answer #9 · answered by hating the imprints & the girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, it's without a doubt better of here
2007-12-10 14:39:46 · answer #10 · answered by Unbekümmert 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋