The U.S.

EU hands down, i have family there. US is great if one has some very aggressive or rare cancer, great insurance, and wants to be a guinea pig for research.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Corporate controlled pharma is killing us.
We need health care, not forever treatments.

So "forever treatments" is the new talking point? Seems to be cropping up everywhere.

Can we switch it up to, I don’t know, maybe “healing”? That’s what doctors used to focus on before big pharma took control.

Anonymous wrote:Corporate controlled pharma is killing us.
We need health care, not forever treatments.

So "forever treatments" is the new talking point? Seems to be cropping up everywhere.

Corporate controlled pharma is killing us.
We need health care, not forever treatments.

By what metric?

In the US, the people who have access to low out of pocket cost healthcare or have significant financial means have the best healthcare in the world. It’s honestly not even close. I’ve worked with health systems all over Western Europe and the only thing they have us beat on is access. Try getting cutting edge cancer care, or top of the line joint replacement, or extremely technical neurosurgery after head trauma. Some of this is available but it’s not nearly as ubiquitous as it is in the U.S.

Sure, you don’t go bankrupt over medical bills but if your metric is just overall “best” the US can’t be beat.

Our costs are higher because of 1. Consumption, 2. Doctor pay, 3. Obesity

Anonymous wrote:It’s our skyrocketing chronic diseases that’s killing us. Other countries don’t have this.

Yes they do, and increasingly so. Diabetes is a huge problem in China and other countries.

Anonymous wrote:It’s our skyrocketing chronic diseases that’s killing us. Other countries don’t have this.

Because their citizens benefit from regular, preventative medical treatment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the gazillions of dollars we have been forced to pay — only God knows how many — researchers, we are getting sicker and sicker, now the sickest in the world.

What the hell is going on?!?!??

Anyone?

Here's a different question: Which country has a healthcare industry that generates the largest number of millionaires? It the US by a mile. From the owners of a pediatric practice in Chevy Chase, to the C-suite at health insurance companies to the executives of the advertising for big Pharma, lots of folks are making big money in a way that other countries can only dream of.

True, SOME physicians make big money — but they also spend big money and take out big loans during the course of their training. Is that true — or as true — for people in other countries? Many people would be happy with lower salaries if they had more benefits and safety nets for themselves and for their children. So, while it might be nice to be a millionaire, the comparisons may be with people whose kids will pay exponentially less for education, for example.

I was specifically NOT referring to doctors and nurses who actually work with patients on a daily basis. Those folks are just labor. The doctors who make money are those who own the practice or who do plastic surgery.

The real money is made by higher ups in the healthcare industry (20% of the US economy!) who do not treat patients.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s our skyrocketing chronic diseases that’s killing us. Other countries don’t have this.

Yep. Brought on by poor lifestyles. Americans have poor work-life balance, lots of stress, lack community etc., all which impact our health.

All of this is true, and also we live in mortal bodies that are guaranteed to fail. Also people get diseases even when they do everything “right.”

Other countries have mortal people who get diseases, too, but without people going bankrupt from a cancer diagnosis, and without 1 in 4 type1 diabetics rationing insulin.

Anonymous wrote:It’s our skyrocketing chronic diseases that’s killing us. Other countries don’t have this.

Yep. Brought on by poor lifestyles. Americans have poor work-life balance, lots of stress, lack community etc., all which impact our health.

Anonymous wrote:It’s our skyrocketing chronic diseases that’s killing us. Other countries don’t have this.

Agreed. But I have to admit it's a lifestyle and culture deficit contributing to diseases killing us in the US in all likelihood don't you think? Insurance/healthcare system on top certainly makes things worse..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost a third (maybe quarter?) of Americans are on Medicaid and have a totally different experience, even having gender confirming healthcare fully covered. So we’re doing well in some ways.

I'm on Medicaid and love it. And I live where I can get the best (US) care possible. When I went to Ireland and England and got Covid, at first I couldn't even find a doctor (socialized medicine doesn't treat americans), and then when I finally did, they wouldn't give me any medicine

You’re on Medicaid but can afford international travel?

I think they must mean Medicare. It's unconscionable that people receive these insurances and have no idea what they are called, how they are funded and that they are GOVERNMENT. Medicare = Federal. Retired people. Pretty good. Medicaid = State run. It's for the very poor and for long term care (once you are impoverished). It's pretty terrible in terms of reimbursement rates, so lots of doctors won't take it and finding a dentist is nigh on impossible. All-Medicaid funding nursing homes are not ones you want to be in. Please, people. Educate yourselves. And like a PP said, it's all based on $$$. There are plenty of people who have become (fraudulent) millionaires by defrauding Medicare. Rick Scott, Senator from FL for one.

But the system IS what impoverishes seniors. If you can’t afford 10k/month to spend on a care facility (which most seniors can’t) then you have to lose everything — drain your bank accounts, sell your home, have nothing whatsoever to pass on to the next generation to get any care at all. You can have nothing leftover for your grandkid’s education, or for a down payment on a home, or just a bit of security.

The senior might not have been wealthy but they weren’t “destitute” until they encountered this system.

For the vast majority of American families, this is the real death tax.

Anonymous wrote:There have been a couple of comments asking if anyone actually knows someone who had gone bankrupt over healthcare costs.

I knew a couple (now both deceased) who had massive health care bills for the wife's cancer treatment. They were upper class and had insurance. I don't know the exact amount, but they owed something over $250,000. Due to their financial situation they were able to pay it over time without too much of an impact on their lifestyle, but for most people that would be extremely difficult or impossible.

It’s even worse now. Insurance providers now fund huge companies whose sole purpose is to deny care to policyholders.

So many people lose it all because of these insurance companies.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand these people who are also not willing to pay. If my child needed cancer treatment, yes I would be okay spending 100k or getting a second mortgage. This is an extreme example, but so many people are upset about paying 1k for services. Nothing is free in life.

I do think that hospital administration costs are out of control. Even my dentist has trouble with the administration costs of insurance.

LMAO. I work my butt off to pay 5 digit family insurance premiums every year. No, I am not “okay” with paying 100K for our child’s care On top of that. .