Healthcare in the UK vs United States?

leaptocheap

As an American, I'm am interested in hearing what citizens of the UK think about the Healthcare that they receive?

• Are you satisfied with what your government provides?
• Do many people purchase private health insurance coverage in addition to what they receive from the government?
• What do you feel the quality of care is that you received from the government health coverage?
• Do you feel that you are taxed more than the benefits that you receive are worth?
• What would route would you suggest that the United States should take?

To most Americans you UK Healthcare is a mystery to them. All we receive is political hype and sound bytes. In the end it is what the citizens think that really matters.

Thanks very much in advance
- Chet Scott

esio_trot

• Are you satisfied with what your government provides?

The short answer to that would be yes, it's not perfect, far from it, but I'd hate to be stuck in the American system, that's for sure.

• Do many people purchase private health insurance coverage in addition to what they receive from the government?

No idea what percentage go private, but yeah, some certainly do.

• What do you feel the quality of care is that you received from the government health coverage?

I've been lucky with health care quality, I understand it varies significantly from area to area. I have a brilliant GP surgery where any day, Monday to Friday, I can walk in between 8.30 and 10/10.30 and be seen within half an hour, no appointment and it doesn't even need to be urgent.

Dental care, not so much - but the NHS services are discounted heavily so everyone should be able to access regular care.

Prescriptions are great, though they vary across the UK. Currently in Scotland, you can get all medications licensed for NHS use for £5 and they're looking to reduce that fee further. Much cheaper than the USA and I've never had problems getting meds I need. There are cases where NICE haven't recommended the drugs for use (i.e. the recent kidney cancer debate) and people have had to go private to get them, but for most things you'll need, £5 is all you'll pay per pack, no matter the size.

as for other areas, I haven't really experienced it - hospital and the like. I am however about to begin using the maternity services - so we'll see what they're like.

• Do you feel that you are taxed more than the benefits that you receive are worth?

yes, I'd say so, see above answers I suppose.

• What would route would you suggest that the United States should take?

Watch Michael Moore's "Sicko" and go for a similar system to the NHS - those who want what they can't have on it/have enough to pay more, well let them do it.




sorry, just realised this became a bit of an epic ramble! Forgive me, it's late!

tanith

I'd agree with a lot of the above post, its not perfect but its way better than the system in the US which leaves many with no health care to speak of..
I have more than had my moneysworth out of the NHS , including spinal surgery, gynea x2 ops, Hip-replacement surgery all for the cost of my N/I contributions... and the relevent many physio sessions, now I am over 60 also free prescriptions... I honestly do not know what state my health would be in if it weren't for the NHS and the many many dedicated staff that work in it... I did myself for over 20yrs and it sure wasn't for the wonderful pay :rotfl: I think the US could do worse than follow some sort of plan similar to ours.. those that can afford to can stay in the private sector... at least the poorest would have a chance..

LJM

we are happy with it as it provides what we need, we couldnt afford to go private but i suppose we would find a way if we had to

mountainofdebt

• Are you satisfied with what your government provides?

Generally yes......haven't - touch wood - needed to use the system much (apart from when DS was born 17 years ago) but I know of relatives that have and the care they have been given has been excellent.

• Do many people purchase private health insurance coverage in addition to what they receive from the government?

Don't really know - many have it as a perk through their jobs.

• What do you feel the quality of care is that you received from the government health coverage?

Its bound to vary becuase you've got humans involved but again my experience has been positive.

• Do you feel that you are taxed more than the benefits that you receive are worth?

At the moment yes but that's only becuase I haven't used the system - but if I need it I know its there (hopefully,lol!)

• What would route would you suggest that the United States should take?

To be honest it would worry me knowing I lived in a country where the ability to pay for treatment outweighs the need for the treatment. Also it would worry me that if I was in an accident, the hospital would be more concerned about my ability to pay for treatment than what treatment I needed.

hermanmunster_3

see my notes below

leaptocheap wrote: »

As an American, I'm am interested in hearing what citizens of the UK think about the Healthcare that they receive?

• Are you satisfied with what your government provides?

YES

• Do many people purchase private health insurance coverage in addition to what they receive from the government?

Some do - some have it provided by employers. Many are finding it prohibitively expensive now. Insurers covering fewer conditions

• What do you feel the quality of care is that you received from the government health coverage?

Excellent

• Do you feel that you are taxed more than the benefits that you receive are worth?

No - most people have no idea what health care would cost them if they had to pay. I sometimes refer people for private health care who are self paying so am aware what they have to pay. Also know what the price of all the medication we dispense is.

• What would route would you suggest that the United States should take?

Think the USA need to have a socially funded system to provide cover to all its citizens - free at the point of delivery. I find it strange that the richest economy in the world has so many people not given health care.

Note : I am writing this at 2200 on a sunday evening working as a GP - it has gone quiet now - I have seen lots of people today - reassured most I hope and helped a few. I have admitted 2. Money was never mentioned.



To most Americans you UK Healthcare is a mystery to them. All we receive is political hype and sound bytes. In the end it is what the citizens think that really matters.

Thanks very much in advance
- Chet Scott

scotsgirl_3

I've recently experienced the US health system for myself (hospitalised on holiday), and although I did have full travel insurance, I'm still having hassled getting all the bills sorted, and my treatment was held up for a couple of hours because of admin problems. Whilst the treatment was eventually good, it certainly wasn't perfect although I appreciate this was only a snapshot. From comments I've seen on various articles I think you guys only get to hear the worst points.

I have an aunt who is now in a hospice sadly due to ovarian cancer. Her treatment on the NHS has been amazing, I've done a fair bit of research into her condition and she seems to have had every type of chemotherapy/radiotherapy/surgery that could possibly have been tried, over a 5 year period.

Our NHS isn't perfect, like many government bodies it's become bloated with managers and admin staff however I will say that it is good enough that I have yet to make use of the free private medical cover I get with my job!

We are heavily taxed but this is for a lot more than just the NHS so it's hard to say really. Overall, I'd rather pay the taxes I pay and know my health is covered as it is, rather than worry about a private company trying to find ways to deny me the treatment I needed. Like a poster above, I'm pregnant, so beginning to get a feel for the maternity services and so far they have been excellent - I currently see my GP almost every week due to excessive sickness, my prescriptions are free because I'm pregnant, I've already had one ultrasound and have a second, along with full blood tests, in a weeks time, so the treatment is perfectly adequate although maybe not as comprehensive as those with GOOD medical cover get in the states.

Waffling a bit, but basically I'd rather have our system, maybe slimmed down a bit, than a private system like the USA has.

mpet

Our health service is by no means perfect, but at least treatment is not restricted to those that can pay.

My MIL's treatment when she was in hospital (sadly she passed away) left a lot to be desired IMO. However, my husband was immediately admitted to the cardiac unit when he had some abnormal test results. He was there for a week and the treatment could not be faulted - heaven knows how much a weeks stay in the cardiac unit would have cost in the US.

I think I have paid in more than I have used, but DH has certainly had his moneys worth;)

I think the US would benefit from a system similar to ours - whilst we pay through National Insurance (tax) it's money you don't really miss as you never had it in the first place (if that makes sense).

LondonDiva

leaptocheap wrote: »

• Do you feel that you are taxed more than the benefits that you receive are worth?

• Apparently the NHS costs each working adult about £3-4000 per year.

If I was insured in a US setting, I'd be paying about the same (or even more) per year and then in addition would have the nightmare scenario of not being covered for pre-existing or certain conditions, etc while then paying an excess on top of that:mad:

There's also an issue with differing expectations of medical care in both countries.. In the US, they will scan every way till Sunday due to the very litigious environment healthcare is practised in. You can sue for a missed cancer diagnosis, but if you're developing x because of a lifetime of unneccessary scans, x-rays etc, who do you point the finger to?

Here there is a history of medicine by exclusion "if you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras" which makes it seem as though the US system is more 'responsive' than the UK one.

Oldernotwiser

One enormous benefit the UK system has over that in the States is that we still have home visits here. I appreciate that there are some practices who limit this to the elderly and the disabled but I was shocked to learn that this just isn't possible in the US.

LondonDiva

scotsgirl wrote: »

Our NHS isn't perfect, like many government bodies it's become bloated with managers and admin staff however I will say that it is good enough that I have yet to make use of the free private medical cover I get with my job!

I have to take issue with this 'too many managers and admin' carp that gets trotted out each time there's a discussion about the NHS.

There was a study I need to find now that showed that the NHS had comapratively LESS admin and managerial staff than comparable organisations in the states and a number of other western countries.

You cannot run a hospital or health body with doctors alone. The NHS actually has less administrative staff than is needed to make things better. When people talk about too manay managers, yes at the DoH but within organisations they are the most vulnerable to cuts and attack and the least understood in how important their rol eis. When the patient transport or appoitnment needs to be sorted out or nursing training booked, tracked or monitored, is this best doen by a 'doctor' or 'admin'?

An exmaple outside health is a friend of mine working in social services. They are giving vulnearble people access to the funds usually spent on themselves to use as they see fit. In some cases, people are using the money in bette ways than local authority 'managers'. However, they've had to employ more admin to assist with processing the payments, as they didn't take into account the extra time/input/support needed to monitor the way the money was spent (social workers were expected to take this on top of everything else). So you have additional admin systems and teams to make sure NI and other taxes are paid when the money is used to employ someone directly, to prepare clients to use the money etc. Then what do you do when someone spends the money inappropriately and then needs topping up? Surely that's the job of an admin person to sort out??

/rant