NHS Love Letter
NS August 11th, 2008
After watching Michael Moore’s film on the crisis in US healthcare, Sicko, a couple nights ago, I feel the need to write a bit of a love letter to the NHS. It’s not perfect but it’s there, and that’s what matters. As someone who watched her parents struggle to pay medical bills after losing a child to cancer and as someone who went without insurance for three years as an adult, words cannot describe the peace of mind a national system of health care brings me. The thought of reentering the American system is probably the single biggest reason that I don’t move back. Being held hostage by insurance companies, HMOs, deductibles, denials, preexisting conditions, big pharma and hospitals that care more about making money than healing humans does not sound appealing in the least. So, because I don’t say it enough, here are the reasons I love the NHS:
Like I said, it certainly has problems. It’s an imperfect system, like any. But it’s there and it’s mine as much as those who were born here, like my husband and daughter and her soon-to-be sibling. C’mere and give me a big wet one, NHS, I think I’m in love!
- Britishisms , Health and Fitness
- Comments(8)
how great to not have to worry about co-pays, deductibles, cap rates and appealing insurance claims. our country is facing a healthcare epidemic – the uninsured population is somewhere in the range of 46 – 47 million people, diagnoses of cancer, heart disease and other life-threatening illnesses are being discovered at later stages because people cannot afford the preventative care they need and the number of uninsured children is growing. access to care is an issue we cannot continue to ignore. this link provides some interesting quick facts: http://www.cancer.org/downloads/accesstocare/AccessToCare_Fact_Sheet_Eng.pdf
now, if we eventually get a national health system, will you move back to the US??
I agree with you. I had heard many bad stories about the NHS and have also seen Sicko. But I have recently had to deal with the NHS a couple of times and must say that I am very satisfied with the service I have received. So indeed – stop moaning about the NHS, it can be much worse (as you could see in Sicko).
I agree, the NHS saved my life with both my pregnancies. I doubt very much that we would be able to afford insurance, so that would’ve made life interesting.
As you say they have their faults, and cash flow problems but Britain would be a poorer place without it. And not to forget the hard-working, dedicated people who work within. So smooch to the NHS!
I agree that the US needs to have a national health plan. What is your average income tax rate over there? I am assuming it is much higher than ours here in order to provide the healthcare you are describing for every citizen. Are there any measures to control excessive use and abuse of the NHS? And are there laws to cap malpractice awards when things go awry in patient outcome? In the states no emergency room can refuse to treat a patient. There are clinics all across the country who provide care either free or on a sliding scale based on income. Our health departments provide immunizations free or for a small fee. Hospitals and other health organizations offer many health fairs with assorted free or low cost screenings. Pharmaceutical companies have programs to provide many free medications to low income citizens. Most big chain pharmacies now offer free or $4.00 anitibiotics. But most of the services above do nothing to help the working class who earn above the income guidelines to qualify for most of this care yet not enough to either afford insurance or its copays, deductibles, etc. The burden always falls on the back of the lower middle class citizens.
Andrea — I will consider it when a national health care system is in place. You get right on that, ok?
Emms — Do you think the NHS wants our kisses? What if we give it MRSA? Hee hee!
Lyn — The average income tax rate is about 30%, give or take 5-7 percentage points based on level of income. There are definitely some problems with overuse and abuse of the system but I don’t think that it’s a MAJOR issue. I do think they could make it a bit more difficult for people to get appointments for a runny nose or other minor ailments that don’t need treatment but the doctors sort of make up for that by being less interventionist and taking a more hands-off approach to care than some in the US seem inclined to do. They won’t order a blood draw or a diagnostic test for every little thing, if they think it’s something that will blow over they will just wait and see what happens before taking any further action. I think maybe patients in the US tend to expect more to be ‘done’ when they are seen because they are paying for it out of pocket and if a doctor doesn’t order some kind of med or test they are more likely to be accused of ‘not doing anything’ and that’s how so many of them get sued, I’m guessing. The result is that they OVER medicate, OVER test, OVER intervene in some cases, which just makes insurance rates go up further, making it less accessible and affordable to those who really need it.
my husband had a hip replaced. Just the surgeon’s fee alone was $22,468.00. My insurance paid $1975.00 and made the surgeon “write off” the rest ($20,493.00).
I just don’t get it! Surgeon overcharging, insurance underpaying. what would it cost us if we didn’t have insurance?
Hear hear! Having recently made the jump from the UK to Oz, I’ve realized just how outstanding the NHS is. Oz, like almost every Western nation, has government health care but not to the NHS standard. One of the things that I miss a lot about Britain.
Of course both are far better than the nightmare in the States.
I concur! I love the NHS.
Hope you’re feeling better btw! Been sending you good e-thoughts.