Sometimes I think that actually, I quite like America and might even be able to make it my home; at other times I am utterly baffled by it and realise how far from thinking like an American I really am.
One of the subjects that perenially raises this reaction is the issue of healthcare. The majority of Americans where we live think that 'socialised medicine' is a bad thing: that if you work, you can afford to pay healthcare, but why should you pay for anyone else's care? I had a long debate on the subject with it today with an acquaintance (a friendly debate, I hasten to add).
And yet every time I come across another example of the utter ludicrousness of the US medical system, I am flummoxed as to why anyone thinks the existing system is a good idea. A colleague of mine recently received a quote for health insurance. Not only would the deal include a $1,500 deductible (meaning that she would have to pay the first $1,500 of any treatment she received), but the insurance itself would cost her $600 a month AND she would have to then pay 20% of the cost of any treatment that the insurance would deign to 'cover'. Plus the cost of any prescription fees, of course. There were cheaper options - she could have opted to pay $110 a month - but that would have meant she would be liable for the first TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS of any treatment. I mean, what is the point of having health insurance in that instance?
As the Major pointed out, the problem with healthcare here is that the providers have a monopoly, which means prices go up and up and up. And the actual costs are by no means cheap. Recently, I had some pain and went to hospital where I received a scan, a blood test, a urine test and eventually two Tylenol (self-administered). The cost? TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS!!! It's absolutely outrageous. Personally, I don't care if every Tom Dick and Harry who doesn't have a job gets free healthcare thanks to my taxes, as long as it means I myself can walk into a doctor's office and get seen and treated for free. After all, in this climate we could all lose our jobs tomorrow.
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Wow.
ReplyDeleteIt is mad isn't it?
I just don't get the mentality on healthcare here. Where to start?
Just last night, I was with fellow school mums for a volleyball team picnic for our girls. Pretty much most of the women were republicans I think, and Catholic.
A tragic take of a mother at another school being hit by a speeding car driven by a teen , all in front of this woman's young son, was shared.
A collection for donations has been circulated among the schools.
The woman is a teacher and recently lost her job in the latest round of lay-offs in the Des Moines public school system. SHe is single.
With it, she lost her health insurance according to the narrator.
An hour and a half later, I began to overhear this same group of women mocking what they term 'obamacare.'
Hello.
Did it not occur to these women that if we had an NHS here, the injured mother would not have a financial nightmare as well as the one she finds herself in?
Where is the compassion?
I'm a kind of live and let live gal, but isn't do unto to others sort of supposed to be religion 101?
Even my self- labelled politically- minded, leftist neighbour, has some trouble with healthcare for all.
Also, maybe, and I may be wrong, but if that teen had a parent at home (instead of working any job to get any healthcare they could) , they might not speed around in a car endangering others. A leap I know, perhaps just a tragic accident, but it is a thought.
We are on the cusp of deciding whether to return to Cornwall, and in no small way , this lack of compassion in some Americans today (with particular regard to their thoughts on healthcare) will play a part in my/our decision.
Marilyn
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
ReplyDeleteThomas Jefferson