The American health care system

[ivonne]

GRIN... I have little to say about this topic, except that from what I've seen it is not doing a very good job of promoting HEALTH among the American people...

Hence my poll question...

Ivonne
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We don’t see things as they are,
we see them as we are.
–-Anaîs Nin

[tboy85]

I went to the U.S a few years ago with my family to visit relatives and my little sister got sick, next we know we get this massive bill from the hospital of like 1700 dollars, I was like wtf? Canada's heath care system has its issues I am well aware of that but the U.S system has some chronically fatal flaws.

[Heretic_Ang3L]

I say failing miserably. I'm most fed up with the personal treatment patients recieve from doctors.

[COOLMAMA]

I have lived in the U. S. my entire life, and can honestly say that our healthcare system sucks!!!! I work for the Department of Mental Health, it sucks. Americans need to take more personal responsibility for managing there healthcare. Over here we are so busy that everything needs to be done quickly, including fixing ailments. We just want a quick fix, never mind tring to solve the underling problems. Very few of care to dig deeper and take time to know what is going on with us.

[Rosie]

are you seriously asking this question ivonne? lol. jeesh.

IT IS A GIANT FAILURE!
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Almost scary isn't it?

[COOLMAMA]

In reality can you really even call it a healthcare system? no two people have the same plan. It really is an embarrassment:oops:

[iwasfour]

American Health Care? System? MMMMM?
is'nt this an oxymoron? or would that be a Paradox?
Well considering that an oz of protection is worth a pound of cure? than everyone in this sytem must have their heads shoved firmly between their nether regions if they actually thinkthis will work. mental health leads to physical health. this is not a country to become sick in.
teh system has failed everyone who doesn't have money.
'FAILURE'

[Publius]

Don't want to link anything per forum rules but there are a ton of studies out there (use google) to support the assertion that the whole system is broken. Around 40% of citizens have no insurance because employers aren't required by the federal government to offer it and personal coverage is prohibitively expensive for many middle class families in the US. My wife and I are lucky to have health, dental, optical, through her job. However, you can't just GO to a doctor. You have to go to your plan doctor, which is usually an incompetent boob. Hospitals actually re-route patients based on whether they have insurance, and what kind. Federal assistance consists of paying partial costs for prescriptions, and only if you live WELL below the poverty line and are also permanently disabled. Various programs are offered by individual states, but most focus on low-income single-parent families with young kids. Mental health is a joke. They throw pills at you and cross their fingers. If you attempt suicide you get 3 days tied up in solitary confinement, not counseling. Depressed? If you have insurance you're lucky if the policy covers even basic counseling. Funny, though - it usually covers 100% for depression meds. A staggering amount of tax dollars go into medicaire, medicaide, and social security, which for the most part only benefit the elderly - and these programs can't begin to provide adequate care for that minority segment of the population. Finally, every politician can tell you the system is broken but they all squabble over who to fork over more cash to - drug or insurance companies. All this while many parents work two jobs, 80+ hours a week, just to pay for daycare. Their children go uninsured and live with sniffles and coughs 9 months out of the year because they can barely afford food, gas, and other bills, let alone junior's $90 doctor visit down at the "Urgent Care" where no actual doctor works - just nurses. YARG! I QUIT!