US healthcare the best?

[DreamStalker]

Was just reading this poll article on US healthcare system -

http://in.reuters.com/article/health/id ... 7020080320

... and thought we could have a little fun with our own poll

[NightHawkeye]

A quick reality check is often useful. Based strictly on postings made to this forum:
- Physicians are often clueless about simple, but vitally important matters of apnea therapy.
- DME's, with rare exceptions, are totally clueless about how to achieve effective apnea therapy.
- CPAP therapy in US attains less than 50% compliance, whereas some places attain better than 90% compliance.
- Horror stories abound for equipment charges multiple times what the equipment's worth.
- Insurance and Medicare horror stories abound.

It's also worth noting that the cost of medical care in the US has gone into hyper-inflation mode, having been much greater than inflation for decades.

Hmm . . ., draw your own conclusions, but my experience in other medical matters, sad to say, is that other medical fields fare no better than the apnea field.

Regards,
Bill

[NightHawkeye]

BTW, I didn't vote in the poll. I couldn't find the right party affiliation and reaction combination.

[Guest]

From the subject line, I thought you were taking a poll on Aetna US Healthcare.

[Captain_Midnight]

Great? Perhaps not “great”. But “good”, at least in most respects.

I understand that many here have had significant healthcare problems due to lack of insurance coverage, high cost of diagnosis studies, and poor physician relations or non-current physicians.

I can easily see why this would lead one to suspect that the US healthcare system is pretty poor.

And, in truth, there is much room for improvement.

My own experience is quite positive. My physician and pulmonologist are assiduous diagosticians and thoughtful physicians who care for their patients. My insurance, HMO, and even DME have also been fine. I have few complaints, and, I know that this is not the experience that most posters here share.

I’ll tell you my worry.

I worry that instead of finding market-based solutions for the problems, some folks think that government control is the solution.

Well, I worked for the “government” for thirty years, as a scientist.

I can tell you that you do not want government in charge of controlling your access to health care. If we ever get, what some call “socialized” medicine, you will see looooong lines, vast shortages, and people who care less about you than a lab rat.

I’ve seen it. I lived a year and a half in England, and I was truly stunned about how serious conditions requiring surgery (appendicitis in one case) were delayed for … many months.

I’ve also read with interest posts from OSA patients in England and Canada, and how many of them had phenomenally long waits for diagnoses, and very limited choices and options.

Now, I anticipate disagreement; and that’s fine. My point is that sometimes what might appear to be a “solution” to this problem, is really just a plan that would make the problems worse.

Stalker, interesting (and timely) poll.

Regards all -- Tom

[Slinky]

I have to agree w/the Captain. I couldn't vote in this Poll 'cause on accounta I can't say that US Health Care is great. But ... as far as I am concerned it is the BEST. As it is now. I do agree w/the slight majority in that poll who believe U.S. patients receive better quality of care than those in other nations and that waiting times are shorter for U.S. patients to see specialists or be admitted to the hospital than elsewhere.

No way in h*ll or anywhere else do I want our government involved in our health care any more than it is now. NONE of the fixes these stupid politicians consider do one single thing to HOLD DOWN health care costs.

They should be giving consideration to the obscene profits that insurance companies, health care organizations and big business are reaping, they should be looking at restricting the strangle hold that Wall Street has on this country, they should be looking at better regulating the financial market, they should be looking at the obscene salaries, benefits and perks paid to upper level management (like CEOs) of companies that are struggling to survive or even failing. If these folks don't like the cut backs and restrictions on their rape of these companies, let them do this country a favor and go overseas and find a better paying job over there - if they can find anyone who wants them.

We need better wages and benefits for those directly involved in patient care and one h*ll of a whole lot less salary and benefits for those further removed from direct patient care - like HMO organizations and hospital administrators.

[deerslayer]

i'm just DAM greatful to get any ,medical care that is! + the fact i can gleen input from the internet ,this forum besides other sources. ...also i would like to say this about that"ask not what your wife can do for you ,but what your wife can do for you ![/b].....don't even try to read my lips (DISCLAIMER) NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HANGING CHADS

[Sideswiper]

The problem is that if America socializes medicine, then nobody will be doing expensive research that sometimes gets no results, and there will be less innovation in medicine that other countries can copy.

I want to see universal healthcare but I also want research to be funded and competitive. It's a hard subject!

[deerslayer]

well right now i'm cocked back in the lazyboy,pecking on the craptop , ice bag on top of bloody big toes after having surgery to remove both big ingrown nails. sometimes you get appreciated & the paybacks are good ...+ it sure is nice folks lately saying "thanks for your service to our country"

[Snoredog]

I think Politics SUCK as bad as the US Healthcare system and hiding it under the guise of a healthcare poll doesn't make it any better.

[dieselgal]

I think the poll is skewed. It might be fair if the title said better than most other countries but I think GREAT is not realistic these days.
I would also have listed as an" American I think it's better than most regardless of the fact that all of our politicians in all parties are eventually bought and sold by the pharmaceutical and insurance giants."

[MrGrumpy]

This post made me snort my coffee all over my computer screen. American healthcare is horrible if you have health insurance or medicare/medicaid. American healthcare is the best in the world if you can afford to pay for what you need directly out of your own pocket.

I agree with the others who do not want to see the government involved in healthcare. Socialized medicine would be worse than the managed care system we have now.

My basic attitude is...if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. That means at times, you might have to just bypass your insurance and shell out the cash yourself. That might sound hard and cruel, but its reality.

I also think the health insurance industry needs a major attitude adjustment and ditto for many doctors and hospital administrators.

But ultimately, people have to take matters into their own hands. Relying on politicians to solve our healthcare problems wont work in the real world.

Eric

[deerslayer]

quote by MrGrumpy" But ultimately, people have to take matters into their own hands. Relying on politicians to solve our healthcare problems wont work in the real world. " it is not fair and equatable by far, especially when you see immigrants from all over the globe putting a major strain on the system. politicians aren't going to address it ,they don't have a clue. same with medicare ....and how bout the doctors being run out of practice because of th cost of mal practice insure. ...is that fair , thats reality too ! ain't nothin funny bout it

[roster]

John Stossel points out the biggest root cause of problems in our health care system:

Most important, six out of seven health-care dollars are spent by third parties, which means that most consumers exercise no cost-consciousness. As Milton Friedman always pointed out, no one spends other people’s money as carefully as he spends his own.

It's very basic economics.

[roster]

BTW, I didn't vote in the poll. I couldn't find the right party affiliation and reaction combination.

Hello NightHawkeye,

Where were you between November 15, 2007 and March 12, 2008?

A hearty welcome back to you.