I don't know about elsewhere, but employers in West Virginia are having a harder time finding health insurance they can afford for their employees, so people tend to go without.
Meanwhile here in Japan I know that 70% of whatever health problem I have will be covered by my National Health insurance (I can't tell you how happy that makes me, not to have to worry about health insurance!).
I don't know how substantial these would be, but I can think of a few differences that might make coverage in the US more expensive:
- pharmeceutical companies in the US are allowed to have ridiculous advertising campaigns for drugs we really don't need (like Viagra *cough cough*)
- national healthcare in countries such as Japan, in a way, "prioritize" who receives what care... Like, if you have a chronic problem that's not urgent, you might have to wait months for treatment, while something like a broken arm of course gets fixed right away.
I'd say more but I need to head to work in a bit...
Well yeah, healthcare is much more expensive in the US because it's on-demand and allows the market to decide what people need, as opposed to the foolish command system europe, japan, et al. have. I mean, that's great, 'cause people don't die all the time here after continually put-off operations. It's also great because you can get a second opinion if you want one. It's also great because you need to work in order to ensure the best quality of healthcare available, as opposed to a forced, equally-bad-across-classes system.
My real issue is not the system; like I said, it's better here, plain and simple. My problem is the lack of progress, even arguably negative progress. While everything else in our life has gotten better, and the best new stuff has slowly been trickled down to people who could not afford it a decade earlier, healthcare here has not. How can that be? What do we need to do to ensure that those benefits and advances are passed along to everyone?
I'm just gonna say ditto with Neko on this one. Just because progress is being made doesn't mean it's gonna get spread around, because usually that progress came as a result of the upperclass/haves making an investment in something, and that something can only be achieved with resources and money, which the lowerclass/have nots lack. And with this kind of situation, instead of making it easier to share the wealth instead it just makes it easier for the haves to get ahead, leaving the have nots with the leftovers/nothing at all. (Anyone ever watch Planetes? That anime brings up this subject with regards to progress in space. V. interesting
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Yeah, the malpractice deal is important. On one hand, it's essential for people to be protected. On the other hand, it drives the costs WAY up. I don't know how to solve that one, largely because I don't know much about malpractice lawsuits. Are they often frivolous? I've no clue. But maybe to lower insurance costs there should be other penalties for medical wrongdoings than solely monetary?
My real issue is not the system; like I said, it's better here, plain and simple. My problem is the lack of progress, even arguably negative progress. While everything else in our life has gotten better, and the best new stuff has slowly been trickled down to people who could not afford it a decade earlier, healthcare here has not. How can that be? What do we need to do to ensure that those benefits and advances are passed along to everyone?I do have issues with this system, but I also have a response to your question. I've been having problems with doctors and college insurance, so excuse me for ranting... this is a bit of a sore point
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Well, the deal with commoditized goods is as follows:
An Intel P1 66mhz used to go for $500. Over time, we develop the chips, and make them better, and competitors step in and drive down prices. Then, there are two options: you can get a flashy new P4 3.2ghz + HT or dual-core for $500, or you can get the same old P1 66mhz for a buck or two (literally). That happened over like a decade. Granted, most industries don't move that fast. But I disagree with your assessment that the problem is due to industry, because that is an example of an industry which has served consumers perfectly. You can always buy a bleeding-edge PC for >$3000, and now you will always be able to buy a basic one for ~$400. It meets the needs of all price-points.
But with health insurance, something has failed. You can no longer buy the cheap P1 because the government has said nobody is allowed to make it. Now, I'm not saying the government shouldn't dictate healthcare requirements to keep people safe from the Doctor Nick's of the world, but come on- the price of
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The problem with leaving it to corporations is they will fuck the workers out of health-care the first chance they get. Indeed, that means that health care will be tied directly to the state of the economy, since in a weaker economy corporations will be able to force people to work without health care.
If a government is supposed to protect its people, why isn't national health as important as fending of foreign invaders?
Also, I'm applying for a job at google tomorrow, so send me your good 'google-whore' vibes, okay?
Oh awesome, Dallas. Good luck. You should tell them you run intellectualwhores.com; I'd bet they all know and love it. But quickly, right now go and change the main page so that it heavily references Google, put on a google search, and compare yahoo/msn searching to outlaw bikers
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That is a good question! By necessitating one but not the other, the government has said that everyone has the right to a good education but must work for the privilege of healthcare
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Comments 18
Mental healthcare is substantially worse, even.
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I don't know about elsewhere, but employers in West Virginia are having a harder time finding health insurance they can afford for their employees, so people tend to go without.
Meanwhile here in Japan I know that 70% of whatever health problem I have will be covered by my National Health insurance (I can't tell you how happy that makes me, not to have to worry about health insurance!).
I don't know how substantial these would be, but I can think of a few differences that might make coverage in the US more expensive:
- pharmeceutical companies in the US are allowed to have ridiculous advertising campaigns for drugs we really don't need (like Viagra *cough cough*)
- national healthcare in countries such as Japan, in a way, "prioritize" who receives what care... Like, if you have a chronic problem that's not urgent, you might have to wait months for treatment, while something like a broken arm of course gets fixed right away.
I'd say more but I need to head to work in a bit...
Reply
My real issue is not the system; like I said, it's better here, plain and simple. My problem is the lack of progress, even arguably negative progress. While everything else in our life has gotten better, and the best new stuff has slowly been trickled down to people who could not afford it a decade earlier, healthcare here has not. How can that be? What do we need to do to ensure that those benefits and advances are passed along to everyone?
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An Intel P1 66mhz used to go for $500. Over time, we develop the chips, and make them better, and competitors step in and drive down prices. Then, there are two options: you can get a flashy new P4 3.2ghz + HT or dual-core for $500, or you can get the same old P1 66mhz for a buck or two (literally). That happened over like a decade. Granted, most industries don't move that fast. But I disagree with your assessment that the problem is due to industry, because that is an example of an industry which has served consumers perfectly. You can always buy a bleeding-edge PC for >$3000, and now you will always be able to buy a basic one for ~$400. It meets the needs of all price-points.
But with health insurance, something has failed. You can no longer buy the cheap P1 because the government has said nobody is allowed to make it. Now, I'm not saying the government shouldn't dictate healthcare requirements to keep people safe from the Doctor Nick's of the world, but come on- the price of ( ... )
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HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!
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If a government is supposed to protect its people, why isn't national health as important as fending of foreign invaders?
Also, I'm applying for a job at google tomorrow, so send me your good 'google-whore' vibes, okay?
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