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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Ozdharma · 61-69, M

In Australia I went to emergency department of the local hospital with serious lung problems spent 10 days there had full body scans, angiogram, bone density scan, lung scans, pet scan and 8 week rehabilitation program and it cost me $50.

USA system is a disgrace.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@Ozdharma but, where do physicians around the globe want to train in?

newjaninev2 · 56-60, F

@samueltyler2 not America

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@newjaninev2 you guessed wrong. Every year there are thousands of physicians in various training programs in the US.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@samueltyler2 When you start digging into who is going to America for training and who supports the training programs it can get interesting. Privilege coming in and connections and relationships being formed.😷

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@whowasthatmaskedman i am not sure where you are headed, I just stated the fact that many more physicians in training come to the US then leave the US.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@samueltyler2 Yes. Now its not just medicine. A lot of smaller nations send their well connected families to study in certain prestige hub nations. They come to Oxford or Travel to the US. Australia (my country) picks up a lot from the Asian region. Now the children (usually males) are taught and they are bright (mostly, although I could tell you a couple of stories) But they form relationships with classmates and connections with research that is happening and funded by corporates who also watch these people. Maybe he we advocate for our business later, or even work for us. Or become a person of influence in time. Its all about soft influence for the host nation.😷

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@whowasthatmaskedman you seem to be using other areas where physicians go to be trained to prove the same thing as i do about the US.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@samueltyler2 Educating the people of influence is a global thing. The British did it in Indian in the nineteenth century. What I an saying is that there are layers of meaning under the training. Benefits for the host nation. Not to mention some of the best and brightest stay and add to the research in America in your case.😷

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@whowasthatmaskedman i agree. It is sad that we end up keeping many of the best brains from other countries.

Ozdharma · 61-69, M

@samueltyler2 maybe they come from other countries but have no intention of staying in the USA it is just buying a product and of course they pay a high price for it.

newjaninev2 · 56-60, F

@Ozdharma Whenever I have travelled to the US I have always been heavily insured for everything, because their system is designed for the enrichment of insurers and doctors.

There is no social contract in the US.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@Ozdharma it would be better for their countries if they did return to their native countries, if the technology they learned is even available there.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@newjaninev2 it is always a good idea, i do the same whenever I travel, since Medicare dies not pay for care outside of the US.

Ozdharma · 61-69, M

@samueltyler2 they start their basic training at home it is only high end specialists that go overseas to learn about the newest in things like hip replacement etc it seems like you have little knowledge of other countries. And even after learning from overseas they offer the same under private insurance which is not out of reach for a lot of people. I know people who had knee replacements free from our public system.

Ozdharma · 61-69, M

@samueltyler2 the technology is available in all developed countries

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@Ozdharma some is, but not all. You cannot really believe that the technology is equally available in every country? In my immediate area, about a radius of 15 mules, there are over a dozen places I can get an MRI done. That shortens the time delay between ordering and having it done.

22Michelle · 70-79, T

@newjaninev2 Isn't it around 500,000 people per year going bankrupt due to medical bills?