Your one small experience means nothing in the context of the larger picture and the situation is far worse than it is made out to be by Republicans.PNGMK wrote:There's a lot of whoo hah about the US medical system and while some of it is justified it's not as bad as it is made out.
+1. I have been relying on my company's group policy, and know it is going to be inadequate in a serious case, but have Aus citizenship/passport as a final backstop. If not for that, I would definitely be taking my own policy here too.zzm9980 wrote:I'm not completely convinced in the greatness of Singapore's system though. It never did me wrong, but I was never seriously ill. I always had this strange thought a long term illness would be financial ruin there as the limits on my insurance always seemed way too low. That could just be conditioning from life in the US though.
I absolutely agree with the cough and cold comments. I always end up with four different medications when all I really want is the antibiotics if it includes a chest infection and something to reduce the fever. The rest are just waste of time potions for trying to alleviate something that has no cure, the common cold!AngMoG wrote:Well, Singapore is trying to catch up with the US when it comes to private higher-end healthcare cost...
Going to a local doctor always was relatively cheap for me - rarely spent more than S$30, but then again, those doctors don't know jack squat. If you have a cold with fever, blocked nose and cough, they will give you a pill for each symptom - one for fever, another to relieve clogged nose, and a separate one for cough.![]()
The cost of private hospitals though, is mind-boggling (though not as expensive as the US yet). We had to go only once, when my wife had appendicitis. She had an operation and stayed in the hospital one night to recover. Total bill? S$10,000 ! Another time, we had to go to an nose & ear specialist to remove an insect from her ear... took 10 mins, cost S$800 (no pills or anasthesia, btw)!
Single payer, whatever the model is the way to go.Steve1960 wrote:Oh, am I being naive? Surely the UK National Health Service is the model health care system?
Free health care for the masses funded by central taxation. I know the beast has many flaws but still it should be the envy of the world I would have thought.
I'm surprised you haven't had waits in the US. I've been turned away for being 15 minutes late one time to an appt yet have waited over an hour past appt time for the doctor many, many times there. With no appointment in US, it's always been a 4 hour wait minimum. Here I've walked in with no appointment and been seen immediately.zzm9980 wrote:I personally haven't had trouble with waits, almost ever, but agree costs are ridiculous. Wife had a blood and urine test as a part of a check-up, there were four or five separate tests billed at hundred of dollars each (I guess one for each thing they checked for inside those samples?). Now I'm lucky and have amazing insurance so I paid nothing except a $20 co-pay when I visit the doctor, but it's still mind-boggling when I look at the bills I would have paid if i didn't have insurance (or shittier insurance).
I'm not completely convinced in the greatness of Singapore's system though. It never did me wrong, but I was never seriously ill. I always had this strange thought a long term illness would be financial ruin there as the limits on my insurance always seemed way too low. That could just be conditioning from life in the US though.
Yes - friends here have been telling me horrific stories all day. It seems my RX refill is about the only thing I could have done cheaply.Strong Eagle wrote:Your one small experience means nothing in the context of the larger picture and the situation is far worse than it is made out to be by Republicans.PNGMK wrote:There's a lot of whoo hah about the US medical system and while some of it is justified it's not as bad as it is made out.
SNIP
m is seriously broken, far too expensive, and the waits too long.
Considering how bad I've heard the US healthcare system is, most other systems would be an improvement, Singapore's as flawed as it is.zzm9980 wrote:Singapore has suddenly popped up a few times recently now in the US as a "model" healthcare system.
The video is quite interesting to watch having been there and used this healthcare system.
http://www.vox.com/2014/6/17/5815468/si ... an-the-u-s
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