I Have Diabetes

@firefall That's a huge amount for anyone to pay to have to keep their health in order to work and stay alive which benefits everyone.

What i've heard of the US private health insurance system sounds like it's really tough on those on lower incomes, especially that the insurance company gets a say in your medication which seems incredible. Here the doctor tells you what you are getting and how much and as long as its covered in your policy the insurance company will just pay. However i have heard that the Government and insurance companies want a more US-style system here. But to do that they have to get rid of Medicare and the PBS as that is keeping private health insurance prices low.

@SW-User you are correct, in all of that. I cant imagine a government in Oz introducing the US system and not being comprehensively crushed at the next election.

@firefall You are correct in that too. The good thing about democracy is that everyone gets one vote, whether they are healthy and rich, or poor with diabetes etc. Then add to that that voting is compulsory here so we get about a 90% voter turn out and most of the poor people or sick people vote too, so there's huge support for Medicare and the PBS. But my guess is that they wouldn't end the PBS overnight, they'd just slowly make cuts to it until it was phased out.. so all done by stealth.

@firefall I have insurance and it still isn't covered ...it goes towards the deductible

@SW-User Then maybe it’s time to move back

@Dlrannie it's not as simple as that

@SW-User It never is I’m afraid

@SStarfish it really does

@SW-User the medical systems here are really out of hand with their insane fees