Say No to Socialism

[tacky]

It just enrages me when people complain about Obama Care or basically state that they believe sick people don't deserve help or decent medical care. Brent was perfectly healthy, didn't smoke, rarely drank, ran five miles a day. It was just bad luck that he got cancer, and these people who are against socialized medicine obviously have no idea what it's like to be on the other side.

[StarrieEyedKat]

these people who are against socialized medicine obviously have no idea what it's like to be on the other side.

This is pretty much it, exactly. The lack of empathy astounds me.

[Maggie Mae]

I hate that this country has gotten to a place where the loudest voices are the most ignorant. I'm sorry, but if you oppose the Affordable Health Care Act, you are stupid. Is it as great as it could be? No. Because the "other side" didn't want to let a black president get a thing accomplished. It's so stupid. We are talking about people's lives.

I don't understand the conservative position at all though. I think that if we have people who make so much money that their money makes money, then something is wrong. No one should be starving or dying from treatable health conditions in the US. No one. But they are, and while people are dying, the middle class (who should be just as affected by this) are screeching about "values" and how they "should have worked harder" or "why didn't they buy insurance?" My dad has been in and out of hospitals as long as I can remember (I'm 30). My mom is at retirement age but can't retire because she doesn't want to lose that tiny bit of income. It's stupid. Because the co-pays on prescription medication are so much that there were times (when I was living at home in my 20s) when he wouldn't get his medicine because it was food or medicine. We weren't poor my whole life, either. Things happen. And you know what the church did? One time they paid our electric bill. Which was nice, because we didn't have running water for 3 weeks. It all came down to health care. Make too much money for medicare/medicaid, too much money for food assistance, but it all went straight to bills, food, medicine.

The worst part? My parents can't even see past what Fox News. There is no reasoning with people who are hit with right wing propoganda day in and day out. It's horrifying and I'm really sick of the people who are calling it "socialism" in a tone that "socialism is bad" when I know that they don't know the first thing about what it actually is. If my parents (who are actually sometimes intelligent) can fall for it, what about people who don't have any college education, or don't ever read anything? Yet they are still posting regurgitated fox news talking points on facebook.

:(

[freejoytoo]

Tacky, I am so, so sorry. I don't know what to say. It just makes me appreciate the system I have more and more every day. It pisses me off when people complain about the NHS. They should try living in the states and not being able to afford operations.

I argued with some americans about this years ago. Their arguments included long waiting lists, overcrowded hospitals and the like but it mostly boiled down to 'why should I have to pay for someone else? It's not MY problem they're sick.' The selfishness just astounded and appalled me.

[Lainey]

It just enrages me when people complain about Obama Care or basically state that they believe sick people don't deserve help or decent medical care. Brent was perfectly healthy, didn't smoke, rarely drank, ran five miles a day. It was just bad luck that he got cancer, and these people who are against socialized medicine obviously have no idea what it's like to be on the other side.

I'm so sorry, tacky. That's awful. :(

I can't understand the American (well, the conservative one, I guess) mindset about socialism. I think it's awesome. I live in Alberta, too *waves at Burris*, and I wish that dental and eye care WOULD be covered! I swear I remember a time when eye care was covered...

[ElphabaGalinda]

I'm so sorry, tacky. That's awful. :(

I can't understand the American (well, the conservative one, I guess) mindset about socialism. I think it's awesome. I live in Alberta, too *waves at Burris*, and I wish that dental and eye care WOULD be covered! I swear I remember a time when eye care was covered...

Eye care (in Ontario anyways) was covered for everyone until I was in my teens, then they changed it to being only covered for under 18s. I can't understand that mindset about socialism. Tacky that's awful and that shouldn't be happening in a developed country, or anywnhere really. I wish dental and eye care were covered. But whenever I want to complain how expensive it is to go to the dentist I think compared to Americans, I have it easy.

[Austin]

This is pretty much it, exactly. The lack of empathy astounds me.

Pretty much, and as long as their elderly parents got their social security check this month, screw everybody else. That's what conservatism has come to: "I've got mine".

[tacky]

Pretty much, and as long as their elderly parents got their social security check this month, screw everybody else. That's what conservatism has come to: "I've got mine".

That's exactly what it is, the "I've got mine" mentality. Thank you all for your kind expressions of sympathy and for listening to me bitch about medical bills. I appreciate it.

[Sola]

Such total BS. I can choose to see a huge number of different doctors, get second opinions if I want them and most importantly get fast treatment if and when I need to FOR FREE. And they can't force a route of action on you at all.

I can't imagine my access to healthcare and contraception being limited on my finances. I just find it sick. I don't know what kind of propaganda about the horrors of social healthcare North America hears comes from but it's all bogus. My mum recently had two scans in very quick succession and she only had to wait a few weeks.

This. This, and This.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I choose the center of excellence fetal medicine and maternity hospital in the next city to us. I had a bit of a crap time with my son so I wanted to be in the best place. And it is, it is THE best fetal medicine hospital in the UK. Good job I did too as that pregnancy also went tits up. But nobody told me I couldn't. Nobody said I had to have X doctor at X hospital.

With my surgery last year, once again I got to choose. Same with the two surgeries my daughter has had. If I want a second opinion, I just ask. Before my hysterectomy, had I wanted contraception, all I had to do was ask and it was given, no questions asked, free of charge. Heck, you can even get 12 free condoms a month from the family planning clinic.

Fourteen years ago I found a lump in breast. I saw my GP the next day who referred me to the breast clinic. I saw an oncologist 5 days after my GP appointment due to the NHS rule which states any suspected cancer, no matter how slim the chance, must be seen by a consultant within 2 weeks. Three weeks after seeing the oncologist I had a lumpectomy and then got the all clear a few days later. So within 4 weeks I found a lump, saw two doctors and had the surgery to remove it, had the lump tested for cancer and got the all clear. All for free. I wonder how long that would have taken in the USA and how much it would have cost. Oh and I got to choose which hospital I went to as well. I choose my local one as it was easier.

[Coconut Flan]

I wonder how long that would have taken in the USA and how much it would have cost.

I have to say not everyone in the US has lousy medical insurance or experiences. I went less than seven days from a gallbladder attack to scheduled surgery with my choice of hospital and surgeon. I had one doctor copay and a hospital admittance fee. A friend in the UK had to wait nine months through repeated gallbladder attacks to have hers removed and had no choice in surgeon or hospital. I don't know why.

A family member is having a skin cancer removed in less than a week after discovery.

Sometimes a system works and sometimes it doesn't.

[ElphabaGalinda]

I have to say not everyone in the US has lousy medical insurance or experiences. I went less than seven days from a gallbladder attack to scheduled surgery with my choice of hospital and surgeon. I had one doctor copay and a hospital admittance fee. A friend in the UK had to wait nine months through repeated gallbladder attacks to have hers removed and had no choice in surgeon or hospital. I don't know why.

A family member is having a skin cancer removed in less than a week after discovery.

Sometimes a system works and sometimes it doesn't.

When anyone has to worry about going bankrupt because of medical issue, or worry about how to pay for it, then the system doesn't work. People who do have great insurance should still think what people with no insurance go through is unacceptable. Anecdote, but I'm a Canadian who knows no one who didn't have a choice of doctor, surgeon or hospital. Also here there would be no co pay and no hospital admittance fee. I don't understand the idea that just because SOME people have it okay in the American system that it's okay just to forget about everyone else. My friends and family and I generally look at the US healthcare system with pity, and it's the reason none of us would ever move there.

[emmiedahl]

I had gall bladder issues and could not afford to go to the hospital. I had to outwait several hours of excruciating pain and then change my diet which is working--for now. I am in massive debt from a medical emergency, I have an untreated pituitary disorder, and if I needed birth control I would be screwed.

I am a pretty typical American.

[dairyfreelife]

I have to say not everyone in the US has lousy medical insurance or experiences. I went less than seven days from a gallbladder attack to scheduled surgery with my choice of hospital and surgeon. I had one doctor copay and a hospital admittance fee. A friend in the UK had to wait nine months through repeated gallbladder attacks to have hers removed and had no choice in surgeon or hospital. I don't know why.

A family member is having a skin cancer removed in less than a week after discovery.

Sometimes a system works and sometimes it doesn't.

Well, that's normal. If there's an emergency, I've never known any doctor to force a wait for something serious. Cancer/tumor/signs of danger or something rupturing will be treated ASAP. But for non-emergencies, waits for appointments are insane. Example: My dad can't see a neurologist until the end of September and my uncle can't see a doctor for his back until mid-October. When I want to get an appointment with my ob/gyn or anything else, it takes a month or more to get in unless it's an emergency. And that's with decent insurance. I have spent hours at a doctor's office. Once for over three hours...but the doctor had to do an emergency gallbladder surgery. The other time was for two solid hours...and he did not have to run to surgery.

[LadyBlue]

I'm so sorry, tacky. That's awful. :(

I can't understand the American (well, the conservative one, I guess) mindset about socialism. I think it's awesome. I live in Alberta, too *waves at Burris*, and I wish that dental and eye care WOULD be covered! I swear I remember a time when eye care was covered...

Yeah, eye care did used to be covered. I think some dental did, too. I know you can get coverage for kids under 18 if you're low income though. Eye care & dental are still covered for people on assistance and I know there are Blue Cross plans that cover them for those who can afford extra coverage.

[Lainey]

When anyone has to worry about going bankrupt because of medical issue, or worry about how to pay for it, then the system doesn't work. People who do have great insurance should still think what people with no insurance go through is unacceptable. Anecdote, but I'm a Canadian who knows no one who didn't have a choice of doctor, surgeon or hospital. Also here there would be no co pay and no hospital admittance fee. I don't understand the idea that just because SOME people have it okay in the American system that it's okay just to forget about everyone else. My friends and family and I generally look at the US healthcare system with pity, and it's the reason none of us would ever move there.

Um, yeah. Pretty much all of this. :?

Yeah, eye care did used to be covered. I think some dental did, too. I know you can get coverage for kids under 18 if you're low income though. Eye care & dental are still covered for people on assistance and I know there are Blue Cross plans that cover them for those who can afford extra coverage.

Thanks! So I wasn't just imagining things! Why did they take that away? Ralphie? Yeah, I know people on assistance are covered, and that you can buy extra coverage, but frankly I think the more socialism, the better. Dental issues can kill you if they get bad enough. They're a medical issue, so why not cover them? Same with eyes--they're a medical issue.

[emmiedahl]

Thanks! So I wasn't just imagining things! Why did they take that away? Ralphie? Yeah, I know people on assistance are covered, and that you can buy extra coverage, but frankly I think the more socialism, the better. Dental issues can kill you if they get bad enough. They're a medical issue, so why not cover them? Same with eyes--they're a medical issue.

I think eyes, teeth and brain are all medical issues. I had to memorize various things about all of them in pre-med classes so, yeah. Medical.

For some reason many people see mental health, optical health and dental health as being separate from "Health" and they are not. They are all part of your body and need routine maintenance plus occasional special care.

[Lainey]

I was thinking maybe it was because they require a specialist, but that can't be it, because other specialists (gastroenterologists, psychiatrists, dermatologists, internists, etc.) are covered here if a doctor refers you.

[emmiedahl]

I suspect it is because the doctors in question go to different schools. A psychologist does not go to medical school, dentists have their own schools, and I think eye doctors do as well. So you are not seeing a traditional physician, thus it is not a medical problem. According to some people, at least.

[Lainey]

Timely thread...my husband called me about half an hour ago to tell me he's in the hospital (accident). I'm freaked out enough, but at least I don't have to worry about medical bills.

[emmiedahl]

Timely thread...my husband called me about half an hour ago to tell me he's in the hospital (accident). I'm freaked out enough, but at least I don't have to worry about medical bills.

I am so sorry. I hope he is okay.

[tacky]

Timely thread...my husband called me about half an hour ago to tell me he's in the hospital (accident). I'm freaked out enough, but at least I don't have to worry about medical bills.

That's awful. Is he okay?

[Coconut Flan]

I hope it isn't serious and he recovers quickly.

[Lainey]

Yeah, he's okay, thanks. He's home now; I just picked him up. He broke some bones in his face. A tailgate hit him (I am not clear on that part). He'll need surgery, but it could have been so much worse.

[JesusFightClub]

Lainey, I'm sorry to hear that! I hope he feels better quickly. That sounds like it could have been scary for him.

NHS experiences - too many to count but 99% positive (and none like tacky's sad one - tacky, I am sorry for your loss!)

I have an issue with the platlets in my blood. They're buggering about. I have no clue what the fuck they're up to, but I've always had trouble with them. It's partly genetic, my mum does too. Anyway, my count of them has gone from "low" to "extremely low" to "get yourself to the hospital." So I am, tomorrow.

They'll sort me out. The consultant I saw was like "Holy fuck, that's a degeneration. Are you eating right, drinking right, exercising right?" Turns out the answer is "None of the above". So I am going to hospital and they'll lecture me in suitable ways (as well as sticking IVs in me and giving me pills).

My hands look like I went a few rounds with Amir Khan. And I doubt you would want to see my arse at the best of times but you definitely wouldn't now. It is NOT a pretty sight.Talk about bruising - and it wasn't 50 Shades Of Grey, it was me tripping over and falling into a sofa. A SOFA.

Time between diagnosis and being booked into hospital? About a week or so (because I'm not on the verge of death). Direct cost to me, nil.

I love the NHS.

[Lainey]

Lainey, I'm sorry to hear that! I hope he feels better quickly. That sounds like it could have been scary for him.

Thanks, JFC. He said he didn't even realize what happened at first. It was a dump truck that they were lifting up with a crane (not clear on why, but he was at work), and they didn't realize it was half full, so the crane couldn't hold it, and the tailgate swung down and whacked him in the face. He said he thought he was okay until his ears started ringing and his teeth went numb, and then he thought he better lie down for a little bit. But he still had no plans to leave work, because he's a boy, and boys are silly. He sounded surprised that the ambulance took him to the hospital.