The public health system sucks

[fatman]

Went for a ct scan today to make sure the gallbladder surgery was all good guess what i didnt even have to get my wallet out

[Barfly]

How can you validate the quality of the system if you don't know what the costs of the procedure is??

[callmeslick]

you're joking, right, Barfly? If not, I dare you to break down the 'cost' inherent in any complex medical procedure. I defy you, in fact, to give me the actual costs inherent in getting a routine blood test panel, say a lipid panel, with enzymes. Just because Fatman didn't have to shell out a dime(he pays taxes, so he does pay into the program) at the point of service doesn't mean a damn thing, other than that Fats gets to go through his entire life without ever having to decide whether he gets needed healthcare, or pays for food instead. And, of course, he could tell you that is but one salient example of WHY every American ought to rise up and demand universal healthcare. But, they won't, and I suspect he knows that, too.

[Barfly]

He can answer for himself, thanks.

[fatman]

How can you validate the quality of the system if you don't know what the costs of the procedure is??

What does cost have to do with the quality of the service? A ct scan is the same here as there, and as Slick pointed out we dont have to worry aboot bankruptcy to go get one. And what boggles my mind is how much you guys pay for health care per capita already going universal there would be a fair chance of total costs decreasing.
Oh and we have reciprical rights to a few countries as well New Zealand is a given but we can throw in the Uk, Holland, Italy, Finland plus a few more

[callmeslick]

He can answer for himself, thanks.

and he did. Your point was, in a nutshell, laughable.

[Barfly]

How can you validate the quality of the system if you don't know what the costs of the procedure is??

What does cost have to do with the quality of the service? A ct scan is the same here as there, and as Slick pointed out we dont have to worry aboot bankruptcy to go get one. And what boggles my mind is how much you guys pay for health care per capita already going universal there would be a fair chance of total costs decreasing.
Oh and we have reciprical rights to a few countries as well New Zealand is a given but we can throw in the Uk, Holland, Italy, Finland plus a few more

Are you saying the opportunity to receive service, and quantity of procedures are better in your situation? That's not included in your calculation is it. Not saying your system is bad, but you can't give any evidence that it is a better provider and more cost efficient than the still somewhat free market system in the US.

Without market pressure, overall there is less of what people want when they want, not guarantees of more for all and better efficiency. We don't have any shortage of anything here right now, but will when user choice is eliminated and government based rationing more greatly affects the overall system.

And BTW, no one goes without emergency medical care in the US regardless of ability to pay, and it's been that way long before the current Federal health care bill.