Posted 6/25/2012 5:40 PM (GMT -5)
Billy, you said:
" here in Australia for instance, all are entitled to medical care"
I personaly believe it should be that way here too, in the States. Those that have good insurance, typically through their employers, and those that have money are covered pretty well, and those without a cent, aren't going to get turned away at any public Emergency Room, but their are millions of working people here in the States, that simply can't afford health insurance premiums, or have been denied for pre-existing conditions, and aren't "poor enough" for free care - that have fallen through the cracks in our system. And we are talking about a lot of people in that situation.
I know the systems aren't perfect, no one has that, but I have always admired the systems in place in Canada, the U.K., and Australia. And I agree, Billy, there is a lot of "misinformation" here in the States - about how those systems really work. There is a lot of "scare" talk being promoted for political reasons, which doesn't help while trying to come up with a better way.
I was fortunate in my personal situation, to be continously covered by private insurance (my former boss even paid my premiums for 6 months after my dx, after I was laid-off, so that I wouldn't have a gap in my coverage), and then once I was put on Social Security Disability, I was immediately put on Medicare. For most of my adult life, I had heard stories about how terrible Medicare was, I can tell you first hand, after being on it a year, I am getting as good, or better service and coverage than I ever did when I was on private insurances, like Blue Cross-Blue Shield in my case. I have no complaints, as I am seeing the best of doctors, never have to wait for appointments, get instant approvals for tests, and in the case of my upcoming exploratory surgery - was approved on the spot.
But I feel, as a human being, good health care should be a right, and the "haves" should be willing to help the "have nots".
David in S.C.