Is life really better in Scandinavian countries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is nice to not have to worry about health care and have work - life balance. When you are sick, you can see a doctor and stay home until you are better. When your kid is sick, you can take off work and stay home. If you end up unemployed for a while, you still have health care. It’s okay to take three weeks off to travel to Thailand or spend summer at the lake house. Enjoying nature is a way of life and relaxation a priority. Now you may live in a smaller apartment or house, and if you are a 1%er your life would probably be more luxurious in the US, but for the average middle class family, life is much more relaxed in Scandinavia (and some other European countries).

This post makes me chuckle. This is what most Northern Europeans think about America. I receive 5 weeks (plus holidays) of vacation and it’s like they don’t even believe me. They can’t understand it doesn’t come from the government or how I receive something if it isn’t mandated. They also seem to question if I can go to the doctor even though when they go to the doctor almost all of the medical equipment is from the US. Same for many of the prescription drugs and medical devices.

I’m far from wealthy and everyone I know goes to the doctor, stays home when they are sick and stays home from work with a sick child. How would America be the power house that it is if we couldn’t even see the doctor when we are sick? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m from a flyover city and I don’t know anyone with a job who doesn’t have employer based health insurance or doesn’t have sick leave. Yes, there are people in America that don’t but a large percentage of them are not even US citizens.

Many Americans cannot stay home when they are sick or when their children are sick. When I lived in Europe, one year I had the flu twice and stayed home a total of 3 weeks. My kid was sick and I stayed home another 7 days. When my co worker had a heart attack, they went to a rehab type facility and they were out for 6 weeks. In the US you would have been docked sick time. In many European countries, “sick days” are almost unlimited. Just look around on these boards to see how stressed families are, everyone is running low on PTO and using it up for when their family is sick.

And just look at how many people have large out of pocket cost on their health insurance. Medical care is extremely expensive in the US. I took my kids to the Dr for suspected RSV or Covid and ended up paying hundreds of $.

No, you took them to the ER if you paid hundreds. Ridiculous. No one has huge fees as their regular doc.

I have COVID now. I have a bad flu in terms of symptoms. Why would I call or go to the doctor? To tell me what is obvious? Have you not now learned what to take with a bad cold/flu? Yes, it is uncomfortable. Taking Advil and cold meds. Good enough.

Going to the doctor for stupid stuff is why health care is so expensive. I see so many posts here saying if you get cold symptoms or a positive COVID test to make an appointment. Why on earth? Make an appointment if you have a problem out of the ordinary, not just symptoms of a cold! Doctors aren’t wizards with a magic wand. They can tell you what to do if you are so ineffectual not to know hot to treat symptoms as adults. It’s disgusting how Americans go to the doctor for nothing. The rest of the world makes fun of us.

I thought my daughter had the flu but on the 8th day of fever, I called her pediatrician and took her in. Strep. Good thing I caught it. In the past two weeks, we’ve had 3 urgent care visits at $50 each, $25 copay at doctors office, plus the additional “facility fee” they bill us for later at the adult urgent care (so another $50), plus the copay for three rounds of antibiotics (about $75 total). And I have to call my health insurer tomorrow to figure out if I need a referral for UC or not. And then get another referral for my therapist.

But hey! I pay less in taxes! Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is nice to not have to worry about health care and have work - life balance. When you are sick, you can see a doctor and stay home until you are better. When your kid is sick, you can take off work and stay home. If you end up unemployed for a while, you still have health care. It’s okay to take three weeks off to travel to Thailand or spend summer at the lake house. Enjoying nature is a way of life and relaxation a priority. Now you may live in a smaller apartment or house, and if you are a 1%er your life would probably be more luxurious in the US, but for the average middle class family, life is much more relaxed in Scandinavia (and some other European countries).

This post makes me chuckle. This is what most Northern Europeans think about America. I receive 5 weeks (plus holidays) of vacation and it’s like they don’t even believe me. They can’t understand it doesn’t come from the government or how I receive something if it isn’t mandated. They also seem to question if I can go to the doctor even though when they go to the doctor almost all of the medical equipment is from the US. Same for many of the prescription drugs and medical devices.

I’m far from wealthy and everyone I know goes to the doctor, stays home when they are sick and stays home from work with a sick child. How would America be the power house that it is if we couldn’t even see the doctor when we are sick? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m from a flyover city and I don’t know anyone with a job who doesn’t have employer based health insurance or doesn’t have sick leave. Yes, there are people in America that don’t but a large percentage of them are not even US citizens.

Many Americans cannot stay home when they are sick or when their children are sick. When I lived in Europe, one year I had the flu twice and stayed home a total of 3 weeks. My kid was sick and I stayed home another 7 days. When my co worker had a heart attack, they went to a rehab type facility and they were out for 6 weeks. In the US you would have been docked sick time. In many European countries, “sick days” are almost unlimited. Just look around on these boards to see how stressed families are, everyone is running low on PTO and using it up for when their family is sick.

And just look at how many people have large out of pocket cost on their health insurance. Medical care is extremely expensive in the US. I took my kids to the Dr for suspected RSV or Covid and ended up paying hundreds of $.

No, you took them to the ER if you paid hundreds. Ridiculous. No one has huge fees as their regular doc.

I have COVID now. I have a bad flu in terms of symptoms. Why would I call or go to the doctor? To tell me what is obvious? Have you not now learned what to take with a bad cold/flu? Yes, it is uncomfortable. Taking Advil and cold meds. Good enough.

Going to the doctor for stupid stuff is why health care is so expensive. I see so many posts here saying if you get cold symptoms or a positive COVID test to make an appointment. Why on earth? Make an appointment if you have a problem out of the ordinary, not just symptoms of a cold! Doctors aren’t wizards with a magic wand. They can tell you what to do if you are so ineffectual not to know hot to treat symptoms as adults. It’s disgusting how Americans go to the doctor for nothing. The rest of the world makes fun of us.

I thought my daughter had the flu but on the 8th day of fever, I called her pediatrician and took her in. Strep. Good thing I caught it. In the past two weeks, we’ve had 3 urgent care visits at $50 each, $25 copay at doctors office, plus the additional “facility fee” they bill us for later at the adult urgent care (so another $50), plus the copay for three rounds of antibiotics (about $75 total). And I have to call my health insurer tomorrow to figure out if I need a referral for UC or not. And then get another referral for my therapist.

But hey! I pay less in taxes! Lol

That’s… a lot cheaper than the difference in your taxes, almost certainly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is nice to not have to worry about health care and have work - life balance. When you are sick, you can see a doctor and stay home until you are better. When your kid is sick, you can take off work and stay home. If you end up unemployed for a while, you still have health care. It’s okay to take three weeks off to travel to Thailand or spend summer at the lake house. Enjoying nature is a way of life and relaxation a priority. Now you may live in a smaller apartment or house, and if you are a 1%er your life would probably be more luxurious in the US, but for the average middle class family, life is much more relaxed in Scandinavia (and some other European countries).

This post makes me chuckle. This is what most Northern Europeans think about America. I receive 5 weeks (plus holidays) of vacation and it’s like they don’t even believe me. They can’t understand it doesn’t come from the government or how I receive something if it isn’t mandated. They also seem to question if I can go to the doctor even though when they go to the doctor almost all of the medical equipment is from the US. Same for many of the prescription drugs and medical devices.

I’m far from wealthy and everyone I know goes to the doctor, stays home when they are sick and stays home from work with a sick child. How would America be the power house that it is if we couldn’t even see the doctor when we are sick? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m from a flyover city and I don’t know anyone with a job who doesn’t have employer based health insurance or doesn’t have sick leave. Yes, there are people in America that don’t but a large percentage of them are not even US citizens.

Many Americans cannot stay home when they are sick or when their children are sick. When I lived in Europe, one year I had the flu twice and stayed home a total of 3 weeks. My kid was sick and I stayed home another 7 days. When my co worker had a heart attack, they went to a rehab type facility and they were out for 6 weeks. In the US you would have been docked sick time. In many European countries, “sick days” are almost unlimited. Just look around on these boards to see how stressed families are, everyone is running low on PTO and using it up for when their family is sick.

And just look at how many people have large out of pocket cost on their health insurance. Medical care is extremely expensive in the US. I took my kids to the Dr for suspected RSV or Covid and ended up paying hundreds of $.

No, you took them to the ER if you paid hundreds. Ridiculous. No one has huge fees as their regular doc.

I have COVID now. I have a bad flu in terms of symptoms. Why would I call or go to the doctor? To tell me what is obvious? Have you not now learned what to take with a bad cold/flu? Yes, it is uncomfortable. Taking Advil and cold meds. Good enough.

Going to the doctor for stupid stuff is why health care is so expensive. I see so many posts here saying if you get cold symptoms or a positive COVID test to make an appointment. Why on earth? Make an appointment if you have a problem out of the ordinary, not just symptoms of a cold! Doctors aren’t wizards with a magic wand. They can tell you what to do if you are so ineffectual not to know hot to treat symptoms as adults. It’s disgusting how Americans go to the doctor for nothing. The rest of the world makes fun of us.

I thought my daughter had the flu but on the 8th day of fever, I called her pediatrician and took her in. Strep. Good thing I caught it. In the past two weeks, we’ve had 3 urgent care visits at $50 each, $25 copay at doctors office, plus the additional “facility fee” they bill us for later at the adult urgent care (so another $50), plus the copay for three rounds of antibiotics (about $75 total). And I have to call my health insurer tomorrow to figure out if I need a referral for UC or not. And then get another referral for my therapist.

But hey! I pay less in taxes! Lol

That’s… a lot cheaper than the difference in your taxes, almost certainly.

+1000000 And the lower wages you’d earn in a Scandinavian country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is nice to not have to worry about health care and have work - life balance. When you are sick, you can see a doctor and stay home until you are better. When your kid is sick, you can take off work and stay home. If you end up unemployed for a while, you still have health care. It’s okay to take three weeks off to travel to Thailand or spend summer at the lake house. Enjoying nature is a way of life and relaxation a priority. Now you may live in a smaller apartment or house, and if you are a 1%er your life would probably be more luxurious in the US, but for the average middle class family, life is much more relaxed in Scandinavia (and some other European countries).

This post makes me chuckle. This is what most Northern Europeans think about America. I receive 5 weeks (plus holidays) of vacation and it’s like they don’t even believe me. They can’t understand it doesn’t come from the government or how I receive something if it isn’t mandated. They also seem to question if I can go to the doctor even though when they go to the doctor almost all of the medical equipment is from the US. Same for many of the prescription drugs and medical devices.

I’m far from wealthy and everyone I know goes to the doctor, stays home when they are sick and stays home from work with a sick child. How would America be the power house that it is if we couldn’t even see the doctor when we are sick? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m from a flyover city and I don’t know anyone with a job who doesn’t have employer based health insurance or doesn’t have sick leave. Yes, there are people in America that don’t but a large percentage of them are not even US citizens.

Many Americans cannot stay home when they are sick or when their children are sick. When I lived in Europe, one year I had the flu twice and stayed home a total of 3 weeks. My kid was sick and I stayed home another 7 days. When my co worker had a heart attack, they went to a rehab type facility and they were out for 6 weeks. In the US you would have been docked sick time. In many European countries, “sick days” are almost unlimited. Just look around on these boards to see how stressed families are, everyone is running low on PTO and using it up for when their family is sick.

And just look at how many people have large out of pocket cost on their health insurance. Medical care is extremely expensive in the US. I took my kids to the Dr for suspected RSV or Covid and ended up paying hundreds of $.

No, you took them to the ER if you paid hundreds. Ridiculous. No one has huge fees as their regular doc.

I have COVID now. I have a bad flu in terms of symptoms. Why would I call or go to the doctor? To tell me what is obvious? Have you not now learned what to take with a bad cold/flu? Yes, it is uncomfortable. Taking Advil and cold meds. Good enough.

Going to the doctor for stupid stuff is why health care is so expensive. I see so many posts here saying if you get cold symptoms or a positive COVID test to make an appointment. Why on earth? Make an appointment if you have a problem out of the ordinary, not just symptoms of a cold! Doctors aren’t wizards with a magic wand. They can tell you what to do if you are so ineffectual not to know hot to treat symptoms as adults. It’s disgusting how Americans go to the doctor for nothing. The rest of the world makes fun of us.

I thought my daughter had the flu but on the 8th day of fever, I called her pediatrician and took her in. Strep. Good thing I caught it. In the past two weeks, we’ve had 3 urgent care visits at $50 each, $25 copay at doctors office, plus the additional “facility fee” they bill us for later at the adult urgent care (so another $50), plus the copay for three rounds of antibiotics (about $75 total). And I have to call my health insurer tomorrow to figure out if I need a referral for UC or not. And then get another referral for my therapist.

But hey! I pay less in taxes! Lol

Might I suggest some remedial budgeting and accounting so that you can understand how much cheaper the US was for you in your circumstances?

When people are talking about the cost of healthcare, they are taking about catastrophic illness or disease, not your kid having the sniffles. Common sense and math skills go far in actually understanding this issue. Suggest you work on those.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why my post about immigration statistics was deleted. Statistics for USA localities that are 95% white are similar to Nordic countries

[Anonymous]

Pp here - I made a mistake. Nothing was deleted

[Anonymous]

You have to realize that healthcare needs to be considered in the context of the WHOLE society benefitting as many citizens as possible. From that perspective, the US truly S U C K S! It's our insurance industry and there's just no 2 ways about it. Logically, you cannot make a case that American healthcare beats many other countries' systems esp Norway or Sweden or Denmark. Hell, it probably doesn't even hold a candle to Cuba or Mexico. Because if you get sick in the USA and you do not have excellent employer sponsored insurance (and really even if you do have), you are screwed. The way you are charged for hospital stays and having a baby and any tests run is to help insurance companies make as much money as possible.

So in consideration of this, just on healthcare, your ability to have a better life in Scandinavian is 100%.

And no, I don't agree that all the global polls are consistently wrong because they have been polling at top 5 in happiness for like the last 10 years at least.

I do however agree, what you value as a society is based on culture. So, their way of life may just be happier and easier for them rather than for us. From that perspective, we may not think they could be happy but you know, they sure are so good for them!!!!! On the other hand, a lot of Americans are not happy even from our American cultural perspective while other countries are mortified from their perspective so consider that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why my post about immigration statistics was deleted. Statistics for USA localities that are 95% white are similar to Nordic countries

Have you read anything about how they full throatedly defend Danish people moving to other Scandy countries as immigration bona fides? Anyway me and my brown family will stay out thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is nice to not have to worry about health care and have work - life balance. When you are sick, you can see a doctor and stay home until you are better. When your kid is sick, you can take off work and stay home. If you end up unemployed for a while, you still have health care. It’s okay to take three weeks off to travel to Thailand or spend summer at the lake house. Enjoying nature is a way of life and relaxation a priority. Now you may live in a smaller apartment or house, and if you are a 1%er your life would probably be more luxurious in the US, but for the average middle class family, life is much more relaxed in Scandinavia (and some other European countries).

This post makes me chuckle. This is what most Northern Europeans think about America. I receive 5 weeks (plus holidays) of vacation and it’s like they don’t even believe me. They can’t understand it doesn’t come from the government or how I receive something if it isn’t mandated. They also seem to question if I can go to the doctor even though when they go to the doctor almost all of the medical equipment is from the US. Same for many of the prescription drugs and medical devices.

I’m far from wealthy and everyone I know goes to the doctor, stays home when they are sick and stays home from work with a sick child. How would America be the power house that it is if we couldn’t even see the doctor when we are sick? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m from a flyover city and I don’t know anyone with a job who doesn’t have employer based health insurance or doesn’t have sick leave. Yes, there are people in America that don’t but a large percentage of them are not even US citizens.

Many Americans cannot stay home when they are sick or when their children are sick. When I lived in Europe, one year I had the flu twice and stayed home a total of 3 weeks. My kid was sick and I stayed home another 7 days. When my co worker had a heart attack, they went to a rehab type facility and they were out for 6 weeks. In the US you would have been docked sick time. In many European countries, “sick days” are almost unlimited. Just look around on these boards to see how stressed families are, everyone is running low on PTO and using it up for when their family is sick.

And just look at how many people have large out of pocket cost on their health insurance. Medical care is extremely expensive in the US. I took my kids to the Dr for suspected RSV or Covid and ended up paying hundreds of $.

No, you took them to the ER if you paid hundreds. Ridiculous. No one has huge fees as their regular doc.

I have COVID now. I have a bad flu in terms of symptoms. Why would I call or go to the doctor? To tell me what is obvious? Have you not now learned what to take with a bad cold/flu? Yes, it is uncomfortable. Taking Advil and cold meds. Good enough.

Going to the doctor for stupid stuff is why health care is so expensive. I see so many posts here saying if you get cold symptoms or a positive COVID test to make an appointment. Why on earth? Make an appointment if you have a problem out of the ordinary, not just symptoms of a cold! Doctors aren’t wizards with a magic wand. They can tell you what to do if you are so ineffectual not to know hot to treat symptoms as adults. It’s disgusting how Americans go to the doctor for nothing. The rest of the world makes fun of us.

I thought my daughter had the flu but on the 8th day of fever, I called her pediatrician and took her in. Strep. Good thing I caught it. In the past two weeks, we’ve had 3 urgent care visits at $50 each, $25 copay at doctors office, plus the additional “facility fee” they bill us for later at the adult urgent care (so another $50), plus the copay for three rounds of antibiotics (about $75 total). And I have to call my health insurer tomorrow to figure out if I need a referral for UC or not. And then get another referral for my therapist.

But hey! I pay less in taxes! Lol

1. What is wrong with you that you didn’t take her to her ped with a lasting fever and bad sore throat? For $25 this was all solved quickly! Insert over prescribing ABX!

2. You are a troll. Well done. Your therapist, lololol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is nice to not have to worry about health care and have work - life balance. When you are sick, you can see a doctor and stay home until you are better. When your kid is sick, you can take off work and stay home. If you end up unemployed for a while, you still have health care. It’s okay to take three weeks off to travel to Thailand or spend summer at the lake house. Enjoying nature is a way of life and relaxation a priority. Now you may live in a smaller apartment or house, and if you are a 1%er your life would probably be more luxurious in the US, but for the average middle class family, life is much more relaxed in Scandinavia (and some other European countries).

The average middle class American can absolutely take sick leave and doesn’t have to worry about health care. 60 percent of Americans have healthcare through their employer and this is excluding kids, retirees etc. They also have vacation.

They cannot take 3 weeks off to travel but I only have one friend in a Scandinavian country who can do this and it’s because she is a HS teacher.

That sounds great! Now tell us what percentage of Americans actually fit this profile? Note, too, that having healthcare is not always the same thing as having adequate healthcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is nice to not have to worry about health care and have work - life balance. When you are sick, you can see a doctor and stay home until you are better. When your kid is sick, you can take off work and stay home. If you end up unemployed for a while, you still have health care. It’s okay to take three weeks off to travel to Thailand or spend summer at the lake house. Enjoying nature is a way of life and relaxation a priority. Now you may live in a smaller apartment or house, and if you are a 1%er your life would probably be more luxurious in the US, but for the average middle class family, life is much more relaxed in Scandinavia (and some other European countries).

This post makes me chuckle. This is what most Northern Europeans think about America. I receive 5 weeks (plus holidays) of vacation and it’s like they don’t even believe me. They can’t understand it doesn’t come from the government or how I receive something if it isn’t mandated. They also seem to question if I can go to the doctor even though when they go to the doctor almost all of the medical equipment is from the US. Same for many of the prescription drugs and medical devices.

I’m far from wealthy and everyone I know goes to the doctor, stays home when they are sick and stays home from work with a sick child. How would America be the power house that it is if we couldn’t even see the doctor when we are sick? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m from a flyover city and I don’t know anyone with a job who doesn’t have employer based health insurance or doesn’t have sick leave. Yes, there are people in America that don’t but a large percentage of them are not even US citizens.

Many Americans cannot stay home when they are sick or when their children are sick. When I lived in Europe, one year I had the flu twice and stayed home a total of 3 weeks. My kid was sick and I stayed home another 7 days. When my co worker had a heart attack, they went to a rehab type facility and they were out for 6 weeks. In the US you would have been docked sick time. In many European countries, “sick days” are almost unlimited. Just look around on these boards to see how stressed families are, everyone is running low on PTO and using it up for when their family is sick.

And just look at how many people have large out of pocket cost on their health insurance. Medical care is extremely expensive in the US. I took my kids to the Dr for suspected RSV or Covid and ended up paying hundreds of $.

No, you took them to the ER if you paid hundreds. Ridiculous. No one has huge fees as their regular doc.

I have COVID now. I have a bad flu in terms of symptoms. Why would I call or go to the doctor? To tell me what is obvious? Have you not now learned what to take with a bad cold/flu? Yes, it is uncomfortable. Taking Advil and cold meds. Good enough.

Going to the doctor for stupid stuff is why health care is so expensive. I see so many posts here saying if you get cold symptoms or a positive COVID test to make an appointment. Why on earth? Make an appointment if you have a problem out of the ordinary, not just symptoms of a cold! Doctors aren’t wizards with a magic wand. They can tell you what to do if you are so ineffectual not to know hot to treat symptoms as adults. It’s disgusting how Americans go to the doctor for nothing. The rest of the world makes fun of us.

I thought my daughter had the flu but on the 8th day of fever, I called her pediatrician and took her in. Strep. Good thing I caught it. In the past two weeks, we’ve had 3 urgent care visits at $50 each, $25 copay at doctors office, plus the additional “facility fee” they bill us for later at the adult urgent care (so another $50), plus the copay for three rounds of antibiotics (about $75 total). And I have to call my health insurer tomorrow to figure out if I need a referral for UC or not. And then get another referral for my therapist.

But hey! I pay less in taxes! Lol

OMG -people like you are part of the problem with our system. Eight days of fever, and the overuse of antibiotics…so now big pharma gets to spend $$$ developing new drugs because doctors overprescribe to get hysterical parents (who can’t handle strep without a breakdown) off their backs…there go everyone else’s copays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is nice to not have to worry about health care and have work - life balance. When you are sick, you can see a doctor and stay home until you are better. When your kid is sick, you can take off work and stay home. If you end up unemployed for a while, you still have health care. It’s okay to take three weeks off to travel to Thailand or spend summer at the lake house. Enjoying nature is a way of life and relaxation a priority. Now you may live in a smaller apartment or house, and if you are a 1%er your life would probably be more luxurious in the US, but for the average middle class family, life is much more relaxed in Scandinavia (and some other European countries).

The average middle class American can absolutely take sick leave and doesn’t have to worry about health care. 60 percent of Americans have healthcare through their employer and this is excluding kids, retirees etc. They also have vacation.

They cannot take 3 weeks off to travel but I only have one friend in a Scandinavian country who can do this and it’s because she is a HS teacher.

That sounds great! Now tell us what percentage of Americans actually fit this profile? Note, too, that having healthcare is not always the same thing as having adequate healthcare.

Around 90% of Americans have health insurance from either their employer or through a public marketplace.

You’re obviously uninformed about the limitations of healthcare in Scandinavian countries. There isn’t a country in the world where healthcare isn’t limited in some form or fashion. Unfortunately you’ve been brainwashed by anti-American propaganda and truly believe that most Americans don’t have access to quality healthcare.

[Anonymous]

The central undeniable theme here is European superiority.