Snake-bite victim socked with $55K bill

[FlintyV]

But ultimately it is not free, though. Just seems that way because you don't pay when you use it.

 

Hence why he's saying at the point of use... :rolleyes:

[threetonesun]

It IS free, at point of use. Unlike in the US where as well as paying your insurance every month, you also get a bill after a hospital or doctor visit, we don't.

We pay our national insurance automatically from our pay checks, and that's it. There is no bill after a visit.

You need to work on your English comprehension a bit. :p

 

No, in the US, if you work, you pay for Medicaid / Medicare, Insurance, and your hospital bills. :D

 

We could cut out the whole paying hospital bills part by just giving the M/M and insurance payments straight to the government, but then we'd be Communists, or something.

[FloatingFatMan]

Hence why he's saying at the point of use... :rolleyes:

 

I swear, certain people in here are either being intentionally obtuse, or are just gormless.

[FloatingFatMan]

No, in the US, if you work, you pay for Medicaid / Medicare, Insurance, and your hospital bills. :D

 

We could cut out the whole paying hospital bills part by just giving the M/M and insurance payments straight to the government, but then we'd be Communists, or something.

 

Social healthcare is not communism.  You guys REALLY need to learn the difference...

[Lexcyn]

Except it's not. You pay into it, the same as people pay for insurance out of pocket or from their paychecks.

 

Really, no difference, except in other countries, you HAVE to pay into it with taxes, and in the USA, well, until recently when a new law was passed, you had a real choice on whether you wanted to gamble with your health and savings accounts by not carrying insurance. Either way, you pay - slicing it this way and that really makes little difference, except ease of use on one end, and more work on the other.

 

There is actually a big difference because it can be life/death, living a normal life or living with a crippling disease.

 

I don't understand how people could want a private care system that only seems to work when people are paying obscene amounts of money. I would rather have a bit higher taxes and see everyone get universal access, because to me, health care *should* be a basic human right.

[NinjaGinger]

In the UK the NHS works out at 10p per pound as its  taken in tax. It would have cost zero. So much for a private health system. Long live our nanny version of the health service. USA could learn. LOL

[Growled Member]

I swear, certain people in here are either being intentionally obtuse, or are just gormless.

Maybe not you, but I have heard many people talk about their free healthcare on here. You know better but apparently some people don't. I was just pointing that out. Sorry if I was in the wrong.

[SirEvan]

It's because the hospital wants the insurance company to pay as much as possible, the insurance company wants to pay as little as possible. In some cases the hospital and insurance have pre-negotiated rates, in other cases they argue.

Its always good fun to read the statements your insurance company sends you every month. For example, my wife had to take 5 physical therapy sessions and I was looking over the bill the other day.

Every session was exactly 1 hour long, did the same thing, no additional things, and here's what the place charged her insurance:

1. $390

2. $222

3. $405

4. $275

5. $350

It's seriously like they just dumped their hand into a bag and pulled out a number and were like "Aha! This is a good amount to charge"

 

 

Tell me about it.   I had to have a colonoscopy and edoscopy performed about 2 months ago (to determine I had IBS).  I got the bill, and found out that I got charged twice for "Room rental" (basically a charge from the hospital for the operating room I was in)  Why the hell did I get charged twice for the room?  It wasn't like I was in one room, then moved to another... Same room...two proceedures....but billed twice for the one room.  ugh

[threetonesun]

Social healthcare is not communism.  You guys REALLY need to learn the difference...

 

I know the difference, I was being sarcastic. My point was that the majority of us already pay for social healthcare, but if you suggest that we should pay for social healthcare that would actually benefit all of us, the libertarians and the tea parties go all nutty.

[amorphous14]

i just find the whole idea of paying for heathcare in the way you do completely mindbending. if i got bitten in the uk or anything happen to me i would not even have to consider paying for anything even if it came to hundreds of thousands. now dont get me wrong i know our healthcare has it issues but i just cant imagine being ill and thinking oh i cant go to the doctors or hospital as i cant afford it. bonkers!! baring in mind that a person who has never worked a day ih their lives would get them same cover as some who has always worked. not fair in the sense of perpotionalism but its a nice feeling to know whatever your status you will have a good level of care.

[Skin]

There is actually a big difference because it can be life/death, living a normal life or living with a crippling disease.

 

I don't understand how people could want a private care system that only seems to work when people are paying obscene amounts of money. I would rather have a bit higher taxes and see everyone get universal access, because to me, health care *should* be a basic human right.

 This is odd, since what you said isn't true as an anaology or example.

 

You would rather pay higher taxes, but then you turn around and claim '...private care system that only seems to work when people are paying obscene amounts of money'... yet you can agree that everyone that pays taxes are footing the same dang bill. It's just hair splitting at this point.

 

Also, anyone that claims they 'would rather have a bit higher taxes', is full of crap, since people can freely give taxes to the governement, or heck, donate to chrity and have everyone they can, get access.

[FlintyV]

 This is odd, since what you said isn't true as an anaology or example.

 

You would rather pay higher taxes, but then you turn around and claim '...private care system that only seems to work when people are paying obscene amounts of money'... yet you can agree that everyone that pays taxes are footing the same dang bill. It's just hair splitting at this point.

 

Also, anyone that claims they 'would rather have a bit higher taxes', is full of crap, since people can freely give taxes to the governement, or heck, donate to chrity and have everyone they can, get access.

 

I'd rather pay higher taxes. 

[Skin]

I'd rather pay higher taxes. 

 

So you are saying you have to be forced to take care of others?

[FlintyV]

So you are saying you have to be forced to take care of others?

 

Nope. I'm saying I'd rather pay higher taxes.

 

Why would I rather pay money to a charity if it's the same result as paying for healthcare through taxes?