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Question for the Aus, UK, French & Canadians

I understand your countries have a socialized health care system. When I have asked UK & Canadians in the past about thier health care system thier response was simply "It Sucks". But not one would have traded thier own system for the American health care system.

So my questions are these. What do you think of your health care system & would you trade it for the American health care system?


edit: I forgot to add, this question applies to our friends of northern europe & other socialized health care countries as well.

If you are not wealthy in Australia I am told that it sucks, but I have had a very lucky run in life and am yet to experience that.

it has its faults (namely that we lose some of our doctors who get educated here a lot cheaper than in the states, only to have them leave for a private practice that pays a lot more stateside), but when you compare the actual costs in our taxes vs the deductibles and insurance costs i believe that we come out winner.

not to mention our pills are cheaper and that everyone has access to it regardless of demographic. I don't care if i wait a bit longer, if i am dying triage will assure i do not wait.

big drawback: people read swine flu on the news and all go to the clinics in droves because of a sniffle.

i do think a second tier would be useful though, allowing extra financing to the system through reduced wait times to those who pay lessening the tax burden.

also during the running of the jew we get free viagra.

Australia has a very high standard of living, and our health care system is actually pretty good. I'm sure it could be better, but I've never personally had any reason for complaints. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone I know having any complaints either.

I can go and see a doctor for free, and should I require surgery or some other kind of expensive treatment, it would be free too. I have to pay for medication, of course, but if I was poor, the cost would become partially subsidised by the govt. Personally, I have private health cover anyway (as a business owner, it's a tax deduction, so why the hell not?)

I'm aware that I pay higher taxes for this, but those taxes aren't just spent on our health care system.

No, I wouldn't trade it in for the American health care system.

said better than i could, because of delirium tremens.

just for fun, what are the tax brackets in oz?

your description sounds similar to ours.

quote:

Originally posted by elFreak said better than i could, because of delirium tremens. just for fun, what are the tax brackets in oz? your description sounds similar to ours.

Pretty high. These are for personal income tax.


$0 � $6,000 - Nil

$6,001 � $34,000 - 15c for each $1 over $6,000

$34,001 � $80,000 - $4,200 plus 30c for each $1 over $34,000

$80,001 � $180,000 - $18,000 plus 40c for each $1 over $80,000

$180,001 and over - $58,000 plus 45c for each $1 over $180,000

quote:

Originally posted by elFreak it has its faults (namely that we lose some of our doctors who get educated here a lot cheaper than in the states, only to have them leave for a private practice that pays a lot more stateside), but when you compare the actual costs in our taxes vs the deductibles and insurance costs i believe that we come out winner. not to mention our pills are cheaper and that everyone has access to it regardless of demographic. I don't care if i wait a bit longer, if i am dying triage will assure i do not wait. big drawback: people read swine flu on the news and all go to the clinics in droves because of a sniffle. i do think a second tier would be useful though, allowing extra financing to the system through reduced wait times to those who pay lessening the tax burden.

Thats similar to here in the states except for the free part.


So would you trade your system for the american system?

quote:

also during the running of the jew we get free viagra

i think im gonna trade my car for a dogsled & move to canada.

quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk Australia has a very high standard of living, and our health care system is actually pretty good. I'm sure it could be better, but I've never personally had any reason for complaints. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone I know having any complaints either. I can go and see a doctor for free, and should I require surgery or some other kind of expensive treatment, it would be free too. I have to pay for medication, of course, but if I was poor, the cost would become partially subsidised by the govt. Personally, I have private health cover anyway (as a business owner, it's a tax deduction, so why the hell not?) I'm aware that I pay higher taxes for this, but those taxes aren't just spent on our health care system. No, I wouldn't trade it in for the American health care system.

What the fuck part of Australia do you live in?

I pay $50 every time I see the doctor, and getting my wisdom teeth out a few years ago cost me $3,900.

quote:

Originally posted by Domesticated What the fuck part of Australia do you live in? I pay $50 every time I see the doctor, and getting my wisdom teeth out a few years ago cost me $3,900.

My bad, my private health care covers that. It covers dental work too

Edit: Correction, it's not my private cover, the doctor I go to bulk bills, and I get the rebate from Medicare later. I haven't been to a doc in 4 years though

i would not trade this ever.

we have a health card, and when you present it you are entitled to free service. (i believe (someone correct me if i am wrong) that a consult costs the government 46$ per visit)

dental is not free here and should not be. The pricing on procedures is regulated by the government and most jobs offer cheap and good insurance plans. I will add that children under 14 go to the dentist for free, and those on welfare have it subsidized but have to go to student clinics. It gives students mouths to learn on, and poor people extra teeth.

i pay 37% of my salary to the gov (including both provincial and federal tax), not all of this is spent on health care and i have no qualms paying this as my standard of living is high and comfortable.

quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk My bad, my private health care covers that. It covers dental work too Dental plan.

How much does private health care run over there & is that basically to cover dental? And is that extra health care purchased as a "just incase" you get your ass beat by a kangaroo?

we still pay salary insurance

i get sick, i get paid, it works for me.

quote:

Originally posted by jonSun How much does private health care run over there & is that basically to cover dental? And is that extra health care purchased as a "just incase" you get your ass beat by a kangaroo?

Lol Private health care here means that if you need treatment, you can go to a private hospital, with far shorter wait times than the regular public hospitals have. I have a dental plan (lisa needs braces!) on my health care because I run a business, and can deduct it from my tax, so I figured I might as well.

I pay about $400 a month which covers my fiance and myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Domesticated What the fuck part of Australia do you live in? I pay $50 every time I see the doctor, and getting my wisdom teeth out a few years ago cost me $3,900.

Sounds pretty similar to what I had to pay. Luckily insurance at the time was able to reinburse me most of it. But if I had to have them removed as of now under my new health insurace I would be covered only up to the first $1000. After that my dental is used up.

So would you trade your deal for the deal in the US of A?

quote:

Originally posted by jonSun i think im gonna trade my car for a dogsled & move to canada.

We just built our first road though. So you can drive car!

quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk I pay about $400 a month which covers my fiance and myself.

I pay about the same but my dental only covers the first $1000. And yes it does help at the end of the year with taxes.

GP's can charge whatever they like, and government will refund up to their scheduled rate. Some doctors charge only that rate and so you pay nothing, they just bulk bill directly to the government.
heaps of medications, but not all, are heavily subsidised, I cannot think of ever getting a script that I needed to pay full price for.

Private health cover gives you more options but doesn't necessarily save you money. if you go public system you generally won't pay but you could be on a long waiting list, not get your choice of doctor etc.
private the fund will decide what they will pay for a given procedure and level of cover, and you pay the rest. Like GP's though, funds will have some doctors who agree to charge the exact rate the fund is willing to pay.

all up it's a pretty fair system but it still starting to creak under the strain. Aging population, more and more expensive procedures and medications and it starts to get very expensive. Sure we pay higher taxes to cove rit, but it's still a massive improvement on the US model.

quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk My bad, my private health care covers that. It covers dental work too Edit: Correction, it's not my private cover, the doctor I go to bulk bills, and I get the rebate from Medicare later. I haven't been to a doc in 4 years though

I have private health insurance too, I think it just sucks.

I wouldn't stay in a public hospital if I could afford not to.

DENTAL PLAN.

quote:

Originally posted by Domesticated DENTAL PLAN.

Lisa needs braces.

DENTAL PLAN.

all hospitals are public here, but the private insurance through work (same as salary insurance and dental) gives you the right to a room alone.

another problem with our health system is that it has become harder for people (mostly immigrants and the poor) to find family doctors. By family doctors, I mean doctors who take patients and follow them for all of their needs. I have one, so it does not bother me. This can be attributed to the "brain drain" of doctors leaving, but there are bills on the table that will force those studying in medicine to have to stay in canada upon graduation.

The quality of the education is great, but the cost compared to studying for the same position in the united states is a lot (no specific number here) cheaper here due to post secondary education also being subsidized by our gov.

the cost of an ivy league school in the states for one year tuition (bachelors) last time i saw was 35 k a year. In canada the "ivy league" is about 4k a year.

btw stu i'm drinking koobunga hill shiraz, are you proud?

fuck work, i feel sick

quote:

Originally posted by elFreak btw stu i'm drinking koobunga hill shiraz, are you proud?

Koonunga, I think?

It's a good region for wine, actually.

this.

it is not bad.

my girlfriend steals it from her 2nd job (to pay for our health care of course) to make up for leaving me alone with 4 fucking cats for a night

quote:

Originally posted by elFreak this. it is not bad. my girlfriend steals it from her 2nd job (to pay for our health care of course) to make up for leaving me alone with 4 fucking cats for a night

Ah, Penfolds. They make some REALLY nice wines. Good call

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