Re: is this true
NHS is taken for granted by many, there are many advantages of it, but it could b better managed.
Re: is this true
It could be better, as there is always room for improvement. It may be comparatively not at par with our other European neighbours ie France, Germany, Switzerland etc. But NHS is still providing very decent services to all citizens.
Personally, I am happy with my local GP, Hospital and Emergency services.
Re: is this true
No it's not free. If you dont have an insurance, you can show up at the ER at the delivery time, they will take you in BUT after that you will be billed for all the expenses depending on how easy/complicated your delivery was. If you don't have money to pay upfront, hospitals will do the installments for you even if it lasts for 10 years- nonetheless you HAVE to pay!!
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Thank God, we dont live in Corporate America!
Re: is this true
I was just recently watching one of the numerous reports on healthcare in the US. With Healthcare reform high on Obama's list of things to do, its very much in the spotlight. Anyway, the reporter was pointing out that we expect to pay for all sorts of services - plumbers, electricians, landscaper etc etc. Why is it then that we expect health services for free?
I see healthcare as a basic human right, not just as a service in the same way as an electrician or a plumber. Same goes for education, everyone, regardless of how much they earn, should be entitled to it free of charge imo.
Living in the UK I'm really glad we have the NHS, like others have pointed it's not perfect but still provides a good level of healthcare for the vast majority of ppl who use it. I was furious Sarah Palin had the nerve to call the NHS 'evil'. And I thought Bush was simple minded..
Re: is this true
Thats true up to a point Deeba....Those in US who are poor do have access to free healthcare services. But those who have an income and/or assets are responsible for the costs they incur - either through health insurance or out of their own pocket.
As far as the public school system....its the taxpayers who foot the bill for this "free" education. Go to a great school district and you'll pay higher taxes. Ours are upward of $1000 dollars a month! So I'd not call it free.
Socialized medicine may at some point become reality in US but its a huge undertaking to revamp the entire healthcare system and I dont see it happening in the near future. But who knows, lets see what Mr Obama comes up with. But I cannot begin to imagine what the taxes would be for this!
My parents pay 40% tax (I think it's going up to 50% next yr), it's a huge amount but at the end of the day of course others are also paying it. My Dad used to work as a doctor for the NHS before switching to the private sector. Even tho as a family we go private in terms of ethics I just can't see universal healthcare that we all have to pay for as being a bad thing. I do understand there's a cultural difference between the way we see it and those in the US.
I was just recently watching one of the numerous reports on healthcare in the US. With Healthcare reform high on Obama's list of things to do, its very much in the spotlight. Anyway, the reporter was pointing out that we expect to pay for all sorts of services - plumbers, electricians, landscaper etc etc. Why is it then that we expect health services for free?
Because we wont die without landscapers or plumbers. Maybe if plumber cost $243242343 and the bills were so cryptic that it would take a doctor to understand them, there would be a plumbing insurance also.