Hey America! Health care anyone?

So its Wednesday morning as I write..After 7am Monday I reported to a local hospital, having been booked in for a bone fusion in my foot under the public system. Its a very long and tedious story I will spare you. But I was previously booked for the same operation in a private hospital using my private health insurance, but that had to be cancelled and I couldnt rebook until next year.
So 10 days ago I get a phone call offering me this booking under the public scheme, I was way down the list, but no one above me was ready and willing to go that quickly this close to Christmas. So I took it.. Same Surgeon. Different Hospital. No Private room. But best care anywhere. (I think every hospital I have been in has the BEST staff, working under trying conditions.) But anyway.
7.30 Monada. Booked in.. Fasted already.. 11am. into theatre.. 2.30 through recovery and back on the ward. (2 person room) Bad night sleeping (I never sleep in hospitals, every noise, and the beds are too narrow)Tuesday. Surgeons see me, pharmacy sees me, physio sees me. Pharmacy sees me again , Physio comes back to make sure I have all I need to cope at home and checks I can use crutches and walking frame. (old hand at both.) and signs me out. Daughter picks me up before 2pm Tuesday and spends half an hour placing everything where I can use and reach.. And I slept the sleep of the dead until my customary time.
Free Cami boot. Free meds and antibiotics to cover me(apart from $7.70 for some Oxi in case I have strong pain. But I dont) Free Toilet seat with arms to push off and stand. I already had A walking frame, Crutches and a shower seat. Follow up appointments already booked for a week ahead. and I will get a couple of drop in visits from people to make sure I am coping on my own (which I am)
Total I expected to pay for this with Private insurance next year. About $1800 was my copay, for Hospital, surgeon and team and post care.
Total I paid to have it done sooner under the public system with the SAME SURGEON. $7.70 and only because I opted for the extra meds.
Gotta love our Medicare.😷

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dancingtongue · 80-89, M

In other words, a system focused on providing efficient, cost-effective, total health care on a timely basis, which also happens to turn out to be the cheapest way to do it if you avoid all the gotcha for-profit games between insurers, providers, and the government.

Fortunately, I have that here in the U.S. through an integrated, non-profit, prepaid health care delivery system IN SPITE of our government.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

BTW, glad to hear all went well and you're on your way to full recovery.

I've told the story before, about our experience with the Aussie health care system. My wife was have some balance issues with an ear and we were scheduled for a 17-hour flight home. The hotel said we will call our house physician. He came, determined it was ear wax, syringed it out. Being foreigners we got hit with something like $14 -- I forget Aussie, or US -- for the house call. I was almost too embarrassed to submit the world-wide out-of-area claim. They paid and enjoyed a hearty laugh.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@dancingtongue Just a note. My private health Insurance is with a not for profit. It evolved from an original "Friendly Society". So no shareholders to pay..That happens a lot here..😷

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@whowasthatmaskedman And that, basically, is what I worked for here in the U.S. for 40 years, and have been cared for as a member/patient for 60 years. No shareholders, member-owned. Started out being for employees of an industrialist doing work in remote areas without health care, and then during WWII at defense plants where medical services were stretched thin. Endowed by the industrialist, when the doctors -- pressed by labor unions and their members when the wartime workers disbursed -- decided to offer it to the general public.

A fully integrated health care system -- doctors, hospitals, clinics working together within the same budgetary constraints for a monthly premium. Emphasis on preventive care, health maintenance, early intervention when it is cheaper as well as more effective in producing lower morbidity and mortality rates. Fully integrated, because the different providers are not pitted against each other to make a buck, have to look at the big picture and continually innovate better ways to provide cost-effective rates--while being competitive on quality, accessibility, and service--rather than gaming the system by profiteering on piece-rate gouging. No $30 bandaids, or $10 aspirins. No need for the insurance arm to play "mother-may-I" gatekeeper, approving each and every doctor's decision because the doctors were at the table in the budgeting process.

When I started working for them they were unique in practically all aspects in the U.S.: most doctors were still fee-for-service, solo practitioners, even making house calls. Consequently we must be Socialized Medicine, run by a bunch of Commies in California. The county and state medical societies even succeeded in getting the founder's medical license lifted for "being employed by others". When I retired we were being criticized for being too capitalistic, because we were making money -- never mind that it was being re-invested into upgrading and expanding services rather than going in profits to investors -- while for-profit providers were losing market share to us.

Today they serve 13 million members in 8 states.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@dancingtongue I am happy to hear it is alive and well. I confess I wasnt aware it was there. More power to you..😷

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@whowasthatmaskedman There are other, smaller, examples around the U.S. as well. Some of which we actually helped set up and modeled after us. Others similar, but slightly different models but the same basic principles: providers and the "insurance" arm working together, the providers organized in integrated networks, the focus on early primary care, affordability, quality, accessibility, and service. But it has been hard for them -- or us -- to gain traction in the Midwest and Deep South where the myths of Marcus Welby type rugged, individual solo practitioners and the rampant ills of "Socialized Medicine" hold sway and in most case have have had the political clout to make it nearly impossible to function in states.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@dancingtongue Agreed. But as observed from a distance, it seems that the bigger corporate models are given every advantage, which the smaller start ups or local models have the cards stacked against them.. Renewable energy being a case in point. Here renewables are supported to some extent and predictions are for a 5% price FALL in the next year. Compare and contrast to your situation. (Just an easy apples and apples comparison to make)😷