The sad part of all of this is the good doctors are going to go where the money is and there is not a darn thing that we can do about it! And don't even get me started about prescriptions! OMG! There was a mix up with my insurance here lately because when I was awarded SSD supervisor processed that I was resigning from the company because SHE didn't think I could be still be legally employeed and get SSD! I'm on STD, which will go to LTD, as long as I am deemed disabled my company will pay my insurance. As a result of her screw up I went to get ONE of my scripts filled...$325 w/o insurance, w/insurance my co-pay $60! I was so mad. It a CRAZY world! If the good ole' USA can bail out the banks, car industry and big business then we should be able to help the tax payers with medical care and prescriptions!! Trust me I had never been put in that position in my life and it truly made me stop and think about all the people that have to make life decisions about choosing a presciption or paying a bill or buying groceries, I know it happens everyday!

Melissa

I live in Australia and have experience of the private and public system here. I was well served by both. However, my biggest whinge about the private system is the expense. While paying for 100 percent cover with super extras, I was still paying hundreds of dollars in gap payments. The scheduled fee and the doctor's/specialist fee in the private sector are poles apart.

I dropped my cover (after my kids were born and I got divorced) and threw myself on the mercy of the public system. I have no complaints...I chose my own doctor and specialists and the public system pays for the majority I pay a small gap...but I am happy with that. The Medicare Levy is collected via the Taxation Dept.

Many years ago I worked in the insurance industry...in a management support area. I left after 2 years...I was utterly disgusted about the way fear and pressure is used to sell a product. A product that when you eventually claim against, can take sometimes years to pay out...That is if they accept the claim.

Just recently a boatload of refugees landed near our coast. Anyway, somehow, for whatever reason someone set it alight. Several people were killed and others badly burnt. All the burns victims were flown to the nearest specialist burns hospitals and are being treated totally free of charge.

We have some very good doctors and hospitals here. I have lived overseas and been shocked by what was on offer and I have read with horror some of the hoops you guys have to go through to get help....and some get no help at all. I am truly lucky to be an Aussie citizen and live in this country. I have always thought If I was going to get sick or be hard up...this would be the best place to be.

I hope you can get your Government to put into place a good system that will work for the common good. Your country is rich and very advanced in so many ways. I am always surprised at the new things I learn about the way your convoluted systems work. Thanks for raising this and I hope the power of the people can bring some positive change.

Because of this topic and the fact that half my family is Canadian (living there) I would like to chime in on their experiences....My cousin died of cancer 3 years ago because it took 5 years for her to get the proper testing and diagnosis. My aunt had to wait 6 months to have an MRI when she was so sick that she couldnt even stand up. My family would give anything to be in the USA and be able to have regular Health Insurance when they have been faced with a serious illness. As a matter of fact, after my cousin was finally diagnosed with cancer, she came to the states to get some of her treatments. I think that socialized medicine may be fine for people who are primarily healthy but I would never ever want to be faced with it if I had a serious heath problem. It can take months to get testing done, months to see the proper doctors, more time than some people have.....It may depend on where in Canada you live. My family is in Toronto, where millions of people live and need health care. I FEAR socialized medicine taking over USA.

The USA medical & insurance system has been broken by people who abuse it.......I dont want to start a cyber fight. There is just so much more to this subject and the reasons why our health care system is broken....The remedy will not be Socialized medicine though. That will be a complete disaster and I pray that it never happens....
Melissa

Unfortunately, patients with lupus who haven't been diagnosed often fall through the cracks in a socialized system. They don't need URGENT care and don't get passed on to the necessary specialists. Although I live in the US, my sister has Kaiser insurance and has been messing around with getting diagnosed for YEARS, each visit is a different doc, each doc doesn't see what the last one did and chalks up her problems to viruses,etc.

Lupus is a difficult disease to get diagnosed until a socialized or HMO plan, and needs to have consistent follow-up and lab work. It's not like a trip to the ER for stitches or setting a bone. And just like anything else, people CAN make the systems work for them, but they have to put in effort and know how to push forward. Patients without the energy to be aggressive about getting treatment fall through the cracks often (sadly).

Some good points were brought up here, if you all will read all of them closely there is one key we all agree on throughout all the posts, that is if you are sick, but not near death you will ulimately have to wait a long time for care with socialized medicine. Correct? I'm sorry, but I don't want to be a victim to that, call me spoiled, call me whatever you want, I like having the perks of my American way of life that provides me the right to have my affordable private policy. When I hurt or am really sick and need help because my lupus is flaring, I don't want to have to wait months upon months for care. As it is I already travel 3 hours, gas and lodging (if I stay over) are out of my pocket) because I cannot get decent care from a rheumy where I live here in the states. I fear what I would endure with socialized medicine.

Could our the U.S. medical system be better? Yes, I think we all agree to that, but I am also a very strong perponnent of paying your own way when you are able as well, so here I am torn, because many times I believe some people (not all) take advantage to the system and has caused the insurance and government assistance issues we have today.

Thank you all for your input on this topic. We all know the problems with health care is not limited to the U.S. and we should all be able to agree that the problems took a long time to break down and it will take even longer to fix.

Melissaa

I guess it's a matter of dividing those who can pay and those who can't. For instance, many of you have what you consider to be "affordable" private insurance, or insurance through your employers. I don't have that luxury. I'm an adjunct professor, so my income is barely adequate and I have no benefits. For many people, it's a matter of do I get to live or do I have to die because I'm poor. Our health care system is a class system. Those who have money get care ranging from adequate to great; those with no money get little or nothing. I'm an intelligent, hardworking, educated woman who is sick (not to death - yet) of getting nothing. I do totally understand the concerns many of you express about socialized medicine - but the truth is, it saves thousands of lives and would be a God-send to those of us who can't afford to buy our health. I hope that does not sound more harsh than I intend; I truly have no ill will toward anyone and am happy so many of you have great coverage so that you don't have the added stress of worrying about such things. I wish everyone could have that. I wish my aunt who is disabled due to an injury at work, and being denied any compensation, could have that. But for now, she gets by on ice packs and prayer because she can't afford pain meds. For every story of someone dying waiting for socialized medicine, there is one just like it in the US system. Perhaps I'm being selfish in looking at what would benefit me and my family. For me, waiting to see a doctor is better than never seeing one because I have to choose between health care and paying the rent.
I'll also mention this - if you live in Canada and need to be treated in the US - it's still free.
I think it's great though that this has inspired so much thoughtful discussion - thank you, SleepyT, for starting such a great topic!

Hi Lindy. I feel people are not informed well on our health care system here in canada. Not trying to be rude so please don't take it that way. Its bascially a good system we have. I have to drive 7 hours each way or fly because I am in a remote community but we are reimbursed for travel and a nights stay in hotel or motel.Yes the US definately works on a class system. I have two good friends on here from the states with no income or medicare and waiting for disability. It is so sad that theyy suffer the way they do and I know others do too. The american people and I love you guys are being told it would cost so much more in taxes. It really isn't true you would barely notice the extra taxes. These long waiting lists that where spoken of just are not true. I can get into my dr in one or two days and er is there for after hours. No charge either. We don't pay for tests blood or exrays or mri's surgeries nothing. It is true we have a shortage of mri,s but that is improving quickly now. Theres no wait if its an emergency. I just pray you find some kind of system there that helps everyone. hugs to all.