First off, let me clarify. This thread is not about whether the US should or shouldn't have it. So please don't talk about that.
So, I have been doing a little reading (and some watching) about health systems around the world, and I wonder, what are some things that the US can take to implement in our system to create a universal healthcare system that either rivals, or exceeds, the quality elsewhere?
BTG
if you pay your doctors the same, you'll be able to keep them.
if you dont pay them the same as what they get now, a lot of canadian doctors will move back home.
also..
free lolly pops is a must.
Silky Johnson
Sushipunk
quote:
Originally posted by jennypie
Krypton
quote:
Originally posted by gehzumteufel
First off, let me clarify. This thread is not about whether the US should or shouldn't have it. So please don't talk about that.
So, I have been doing a little reading (and some watching) about health systems around the world, and I wonder, what are some things that the US can take to implement in our system to create a universal healthcare system that either rivals, or exceeds, the quality elsewhere?
Make health insurance mandatory. A national health insurance company should be created. Businesses should be required to pay into the national health insurance company for all their employees. Self-employed persons would also be able to apply for coverage.
gehzumteufel
quote:
Originally posted by BTG
if you pay your doctors the same, you'll be able to keep them.
if you dont pay them the same as what they get now, a lot of canadian doctors will move back home.
also..
free lolly pops is a must.
Can you clarify th epaying them the same? As in don't decrease their salary that they are collecting currently? Or do you mean that all doctors in a given specialty should be paid the same?
gehzumteufel
quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
Make health insurance mandatory. A national health insurance company should be created. Businesses should be required to pay into the national health insurance company for all their employees. Self-employed persons would also be able to apply for coverage.
Do companies not pay into it as it is outside the US?
BTG
quote:
Originally posted by gehzumteufel
Can you clarify th epaying them the same? As in don't decrease their salary that they are collecting currently? Or do you mean that all doctors in a given specialty should be paid the same?
keep same pas as they're getting today.
in canada we have shortage of doctors because the money isn't as good (it's still 6 figures), so they leave and go to the states.
Krypton
quote:
Originally posted by gehzumteufel
Do companies not pay into it as it is outside the US?
59% of American receive healthcare through their employer but that number is fast dwindling because the cost of insuring employees is rising so rapidly.
xiad
In order to reduce costs for the overall population, the population in it's entire must buy into the public health insurance option. This reduces what the experts cause 'moral hazard' (the tendency to act wrecklessly since someone else is footing the bill), which becomes a serious problem when people who choose to opt out of insurance are guaranteed treatment under EMTALA, thus increasing the price people pay for medical services overall. If the buy-in mandate was established, everyone would be covered, and therefore would pay the same price.
The second (and equally important) problem is that there is a shortage of general practitioners in the U.S. The huge costs associated with obtaining a medical degree serves as an incentive for doctors to pursue medicine with high rates of return (larger paychecks), not for the sole purpose of greed or wealth accumulation, but for the simple fact that newly graduated doctors finish with an average student loan bill of over $150,000. With the average GP making between 150-200k/year, paying off such an astronomical loan takes years, thus 'forcing' doctors to specialize. The problem also lies within the American Medical Association for literally placing a quota on the number of students it will accept into med school each year, limiting the number of doctors.
Basic supply demand theory will show you that a shortage in the supply of a 'product' (in this case doctors) will lead to higher prices paid for that product (treatment/medical care).
I'm afraid this entire thing is a mess. Don't believe the political ads you hear on TV going either way. The only way to solve the healthcare problem in the U.S is to address the core problems within the system itself, which unfortunately is a pandora's box of policy, corruption, self interest, and greed (as cynical and conspiracy theory-ish it seems)
gehzumteufel
quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
59% of American receive healthcare through their employer but that number is fast dwindling because the cost of insuring employees is rising so rapidly.
Did you miss what I was asking? This is for things we can learn from systems OUTSIDE the US. Not talking about what it currently is. The End.
The17sss
I think we can learn a lot about what NOT to do by looking at other countries. As far as I know, as much as we need to make changes in the system, nobody leaves this country to get health care... people come here to get it, especially the wealthiest people from all over the world when they really need something. I don't see Ted Kennedy or Chris Dodd flying to Denmark or London to have their treatments. From 20/20 the other night on this very issue:
