Medical costs

[PILOON]

There is a downside to the Canadian system however.
Being 'free' there is much abuse.
The emergency rooms are usually full and a visit can be 10 hours (and more) since parents bring in little Johnny every time he sneezes, after all it just might be pneumonia or the flu.
To give credit they have a system of triage that sets priorities.
It is initial triage followed by 'take a number'.
Heart problems , full bladder broken limbs go first and the rest wait.
As numbers get called U sometimes get bumped down the list when an ambulance delivers real emergencies.

The biggest abuse is immigrants that fly in 9 months pregnant so that the child will become a Canadian citizen and then can sponsor the parents.
Naturally they have no money nor insurance.
Next is the immigrants that have walked the border due to Trump's recent threats.

 

[Agvg]

How does the us system handle seriouse illnes like cancer and pepole with low income?

 

[Turbys_1700]

Our health care in the US is great. How we pay for it is messed up. We don't have competition between health insurers. They can't compete across state lines. That's one issue. The other issue is pharmaceuticals, doctors, lawyers, and health care providers influence in DC via $$$.

You can do it two ways. Either the competition model or fully funded government model. We have a hybrid and bastardized system of both. I think our health care system would be fixed if the congress and senate had to have the same plans as offered to the common US citizen. Then something would get done.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Why does having a doctor spend 15 mins putting Staples in at a "er" cost 4 times more than a doctor putting in Staples at a clinic or urgent care?

Both have to pay doctor. Both have to pay to keep the lights on. Both have to occupy a room for the 15 min. Both have the same material cost. What s the difference? Other than greed just because they can?

To answer your question LD1...
Overhead...
Profit...

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Our health care in the US is great. How we pay for it is messed up. We don't have competition between health insurers. They can't compete across state lines. That's one issue. The other issue is pharmaceuticals, doctors, lawyers, and health care providers influence in DC via $$$.

You can do it two ways. Either the competition model or fully funded government model. We have a hybrid and bastardized system of both. I think our health care system would be fixed if the congress and senate had to have the same plans as offered to the common US citizen. Then something would get done.

I am a medical provider and I can tell you that our health care outcomes are certainly NOT GREAT when compared to other first world countries. Period. End of story. We also, as a country, spend about twice as much per person. It really is pretty embarrassing.

 

[Turbys_1700]

What outcomes are you talking about? I had outpatient hip surgery and was back to work in 2 weeks. To me that is a great outcome. Could I expect the same outcome in another first world country? I'm not trying to be a smart azz. Just asking for clarification.

 

[two_bit_score]

I am a medical provider and I can tell you that our health care outcomes are certainly NOT GREAT when compared to other first world countries. Period. End of story. We also, as a country, spend about twice as much per person. It really is pretty embarrassing.

Huh......”-There's NO POINT trying to educate someone who already knows everything.
-Many people don't know the difference between their opinion and fact.”

 

[ultrarunner]

Urgent care usually gets paid...

Nearby Hospital ER was 78% non reimbursement.... so less than 1/4 of those treated paid.

It got to the point where the large Hospital Chain sold the entire Hospital to the county for $1 and kicked in and paid off outstanding liens...

Even getting the entire Hospital for $1 finds the county running in the RED and continually needing bailouts...

It is not that the Hospital is under utilized is that those that use it are not paying... same in many urban areas...

 

[Agvg]

If people don't have the money to pay, should they just lay down and give up?

 

[TheMan419]

Why does having a doctor spend 15 mins putting Staples in at a "er" cost 4 times more than a doctor putting in Staples at a clinic or urgent care? Both have to pay doctor. Both have to pay to keep the lights on. Both have to occupy a room for the 15 min. Both have the same material cost. What s the difference? Other than greed just because they can?

The ER cannot turn away patients who cannot pay if the illness is life threatening. So they have to make those costs up somewhere.

The urgent care can make you pay up front so they have less accounts receivable to make up off of charging higher prices to those who can pay.