How can America let this happen?

@sharra1 (6340)
Australia
October 22, 2008 9:17pm CST
Last night I watched a current affairs show on Australian Television which showed an American medical charity giving free medical help to thousands of Americans who could not afford medical aid and were not eligible for health insurance. This charity treated these people the way it treats the people of the Amazon where it normally operates. They were only sorry that they had to turn away thousands they could not help as they only had a limited time. The most in demand were the eye doctors and the dentists although the dentists were mostly needed to extract teeth while technicians made dentures. I was shocked that the richest country in the world needed this sort of help. I see the right wing people here who go on about socialism and do not seem to care that there are thousands and probably millions of Americans who are suffering because they are not eligible to have health insurance. One of the doctors last night said how grateful he was to be able to do proper medicine to help people without money getting in the way. To actually show these people that doctor’s do care about healing people. I am puzzled how can these people could not be eligible for health insurance? Do you have to have a certain income level before you can take it out? How come there are millions of poor who are not able to access any medical help?
5 people like this
19 responses
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I don't know our "welfare" is a little hard to explain. There's like a federal poverty level and then the states figure out what the cut off is for whether or not you qualify for the services offered. Some of these people may have had actual medical insurance but not dental and optical. We do not have dental and optical and our medical only kicks in after we spend $10,000 first.
5 people like this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
The thing I wonder is if a country like Australia, which is not as wealthy, can cover all citizens so that they can get medical care why is America unable to? There were thousands of people in just one state alone who drove all night just to get to this free clinic that was set up for a weekend in a fair ground. For all the thousands they treated there were thousands more who missed out. I was stunned that these people were so desperate for medical care and unable to get it because they had no money. Don't you think there is something wrong with this? I know many people here claim that charity is the answer but this charity was unable to cope with the need. It was not the answer. It is obvious from this show that some people care because the charity exists and the doctor who wanted to make a difference had financed his own mobile xray clinic and that must have cost him a fortune. Our system in Australia, as mentioned below, works much better and everyone is covered. It is not perfect but it works and we still have charities and need them.
2 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
23 Oct 08
"The thing I wonder is if a country like Australia, which is not as wealthy, can cover all citizens so that they can get medical care why is America unable to?" Ummmm I don't know simple guess there are too many conservatives that are afraid that taxes will go up and that silly thing of "big government".
3 people like this
• Australia
24 Oct 08
It's because of the epidemic of ASP - advanced socialist paranoia - that seems to be endemic in the Republican ideology. Let the market set the price, and those who can't compete in the market are stuffed. Lash
1 person likes this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I live in Massachusetts, the first state to mandate that everyone have health insurance. It's now easier in my state to qualify for medicaid, and there is various incentive & penalties to business to provide insurance. The biggest problem (as I see it) is that small businesses & the self-employed can't afford private insurance. We have a variety of good programs to help the poor, and people employed by larger companies have access to the insurance offered through their jobs.
3 people like this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
Well I do not remember what state it was that the charity went to but health care is a basic need that no one should be denied just because they are poor or on low incomes.
2 people like this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
23 Oct 08
barrudaki- hi neighbor :) I did oversimplify things explaining Mass's new policies. It is far from ideal, but it has helped a lot of people get care who didn't have it before. I'm actually not truly a supporter of national healthcare. I fear, among other things, that if the state is paying the bill eventually the state will get to pick & choose what care we have as options. If I ran the world, I'd do away with all insurance. Doctors that charge 300 for an "hour" visit that's only 10 minutes long is outrageous & if they were competing for our out of pocket dollars they'd be more competitive about their fees. Another point I didn't mention in my original response, another reason medical care is so expensive is to cover the malpractice insurance doctors must pay for. If we were so sue-happy as a nation the price of care might not be so outrageous.
• Australia
24 Oct 08
In Australia doctors' fees work on a 'scheduled fee' set by the Government. A doctor can charge more than the scheduled fee if he/she wishes, but then the patient can simply change dotors if that is too high, so there is not a huge variation. For those who rely on the government-funded Medicare scheme there is a refund of about 50% of the scheduled fee. At present the fee for a general practioner is around $60 (US$40). So, it's not clear if the $300 you mention ($450 Australian) is for a GP or a specialist, but either way it is an extraordinarily greedy fee. Of course all those Americans suffering from 'advanced socialist paranoia' (ASP) would argue that the government has no right to regulate doctors' fees (I wish they'd regulate lawyers as well), let the market set the price, but the people the OP is disussing are in no position to compete in the market on anywhere near an equal footing with the conventionally mainstream employed, so they have to go without significant medical care. I spit on your ASP (not meaning you, of course, Eden). Lash
3 people like this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
23 Oct 08
Because there is no "free" medical insurance system in the US. You have to pay for it unless you are young (like a child), pregnant, or old (I think over 65). So millions of people who are "working poor" can't afford to pay $500+dollars a month for family coverage. When we are uninsured it is usually cheaper to just pay for the Dr than to carry coverage, even if going to urgent care costs $100+ medicine.
3 people like this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
29 Oct 08
This just seems so wrong that there are so many people who cannot afford health insurance and so cannot afford medical care.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Oct 08
We don't have health insurance coverage like most civilized countries do. Here in the U.S., we pay for our own insurance. If you are employed, some employers pay a part of it, but most people have to pay for their own. Of course, if you have health problems, you will find it very hard to get coverage; it will either be a lot more than you can pay, or the insurance companies won't cover you at all. This is especially true if you have had cancer. The insurance companies call that a "pre-existing condition." You would think that Americans would be delighted to help their fellow man out by making sure everyone in this country has health care. Unfortunately, that is not true. A lot of citizens think of that as "socialism." A lot are afraid that their taxes will go up. We really are a selfish bunch in this country, and our leaders for the last eight years revel in it. That is why I will be voting for Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton wanted to make sure all Americans had health insurance, too. I supported her in the beginning, but since Obama won the nomination, I am supporting him. I worked at Social Services and saw many, many people who could not afford basic health care. For the most part, children are covered; but if you are over 21, or between 21 and 65, there is no government program to help you. It's really a shame and disgrace.
2 people like this
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Cheryl, this is one thing you and I can agree on even if we don't agree on other issues. The price of insurance of enormous and even more so for adults with medical conditions. As I stated previously, I had to pay cash for my last doctor visit and it was probably cheaper than paying the insurance would have been, but I had to keep it cheap. The doctor wants lab work because of my medication. I can't afford it.
1 person likes this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
23 Oct 08
I live in Canada and the provinces provide universal health care here. I am one of its biggest critics, but the American system is worse. Even if you are insured, the HMO can deny you treatment if they think it unnecessary or too expensive. Also you can have a cap on how much they cover, so if you go over you are not insured. Pre existing conditions can disquailify you. America has the highest cost of GDP I think it is around 16% and other first world countries the highest is 11% and others less. While America has some of the best medical procedures, access can be difficult for a medium income subclass that is already sick but too "rich" for medicaid but too poor to afford health care premiums. Apparently there are 16 million Americans uninsured for even basic services. America already has a socialist medical system in their medicare, it just does not cover everyone. I am constantly surprised at the resistance of Americans against expanding this system to everyone.
2 people like this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
I am stunned that they can be so selfish. Seeing those people last night was shocking and I wonder how Americans can let this happen and not be ashamed of themselves. This is totally wrong. I cannot believe that people can be so callous as to run their country like this.
2 people like this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
20 Nov 08
Unfortunately, adequate healthcare is very expensive in the US. Even the healthcare through my school was a ridiculous amount of money, and it is not a very good plan. If I had a job that offered good benefits, it would be a lot easier, but most lower-middle class people don't have jobs with good benefits. Without benefits from a job, a good health insurance is going to cost at least $200 a month. This is unfortunately not a price all of us are willing to pay, especially when we don't even have major medical problems. I have very cheap health insurance that costs me about 50 dollars a month. It has a $1,000 deductible lol. But the average cost of a trip to the Emergency Room is around $3,000, and that is if you aren't staying overnight. The average cost of a doctors visit is over $100. I don't know, it is just so ridiculous to me why it should cost that much to talk to a doctor for 10 minutes. Healthcare in America is really effed up. All of the hospitals are for-profit now and want all the money they can get. It really baffles me. Healthcare was actually one of the main reasons I voted for Obama over Barr. Immigration was another.
2 people like this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
20 Nov 08
I think the American system is seriously bad. I much prefer the Australian system which provides free health care for people who are poor. Yes we have waiting lists in hospitals etc but at least we get the care we need.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
here in australia, every citizens or permanent residents got a medical aid from government which is called medicare... it is a government funded institution and it helps to subsidise our medical fees to a certain percentage depending on which doctor you go... specialist like eye and dentist are not covered by them... that's why we also have to have private health insurance to cover for those services... i and my hubby are using medibank private here as our private health insurance... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
Yes medicare covers the basic cost and people pay the gap or have private health insurance. If you are on a pension or low income then you get a card from the government that helps you get free health care from those doctors who bulk bill. That means that they bill medicare directly and do not charge a gap fee. Specialists do not bulk bill and even pensioners have to pay the gap but lab tests, scans and xrays are all covered for pensioners and low income card holders free of charge. I have heard that there is a low cost dental scheme but the waiting list is years long. They also provide free eye tests and glasses every 2 years. I think it is a very civilized system.
1 person likes this
• Australia
23 Oct 08
It should be pointed out that in Australia, when you are earning, a small percentge of your income is deducted to help fund Medicare. The cover is very plain brown wrapper, of course, public hospital beds if you are that ill, and if you want more private hospital cover or the extras like chiropractic and dental, you must join one of the private health cover companies. I have needed to use the free system for some years now, but before that I worked for a fair while, so I have contributed - not perhaps as much as I have drawn, but that was merely the luck of the draw that I got too ill to work. This sort of social lustice has existed in humn communities for millennia. Prior to the rise of capitalism, nobody starved (or went without care) unless everybody starved, as in the case of famine. We have lost a lot by giving up our sense of communal support. Lash
2 people like this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
25 Oct 08
This post makes me feel lucky to be born in a country where the health service is free. We can get mostly of the health services free of charge at the national hospital. Sometimes there is a waiting list for operations but at least the service is good. © ronaldinu 2008
1 person likes this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
26 Oct 08
I think you are very lucky to have a free health service. I think everyone has a waiting list for operations. I am very glad that I was born in a country where everyone is covered to some extent. We only have free health care for the poor but everyone else gets some of their costs back and we have affordable private health insurance.
1 person likes this
@mehale (2200)
• United States
25 Oct 08
There are several reasons why so many Americans do not have health insurance. One of the biggest ones is the cost factor. Health insurance - at least good or worthy health insurance - is very expensive and there are a lot of people who cannot afford it. Unfortunately my family falls into this. We make too much money for low cost programs, medicaid, chips, etc; but at the same time we do not make enough to be able to purchase health insurance. We are considered self employed and our employer - we drive a truck and are owner operators (we own our own truck) and are leased to a company - does not provide health insurance to independent contractors. Another big reason for the lack of insurance in so many American families is Pre-existing conditions. We also fall into this category as well (as if one was not enough, LOL). Both of our children, and myself have pre-existing conditions. I have high blood pressure, our son is a cancer patient - he had AML leukemia when he was 4, he is in remission for 3 years now and well on the way to being considered cancer free, but he will always be a cancer patient to the insurance companies and the medical field. Our daughter had HUS when she was 5 - it is caused by mis-treating an ecolli infection. Her doctor (at the time...NOT NOW!!) prescribed a high powered antibiotic without running tests to find out what was wrong. This killed the bacteria, but caused it to release a toxin that caused her kidneys to shut down and also destroy her red blood cells. She was on dialysis for a while with her kidneys completely shut down. She is fine now, and only has high blood pressure to show for it ( this is a common residual effect of HUS), but it is considered a pre-existing condition. I have checked into getting health insurance on them (and myself as well) several times. Each time I have been told that I could probably get insurance on myself, but not on them. I should not worry about getting insurance on them - THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ACTUALLY TOLD ME THIS!! And not just one company, but several different ones. This makes it very hard for many families to get health insurance. There are probably many other reasons as well - letting the insurance companies charge what they want, not regulating the industry, etc, but these - at least in my opinion - are the biggest ones. I am not saying that it is right - because it certainly isn't - but that is the way it is. We really need to repair our failing healthcare system.
1 person likes this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
26 Oct 08
I am so sorry mehale. The fact that you cannot get healthy insurance and cannot afford health care seems so unfair. The system definately does need fixing. The trouble is that you need a government that has both the desire and the will to fix it and who knows the right way to fix it. Doing the wrong thing can make it worse and I am not sure either side has it right.
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
23 Oct 08
Of the people who "have no healthcare", many who are eligable for public free or low cost services, many do not apply. Many more are not aware of the programs many hospitals offer, such as the one in my town, you fill out some forms, poof, free medical care at the hospital and doctors offices, and it is the same service people with money get, there is no difference in what is covered. Medicaid, mostly for kids, covers medical, optical and dental as does SCHIP. There is a common myth touted out there that there are "47 million americans who do not get health care". This is a fallicy. The truth is there are 47 million humans on american soil who do not have health insurance. Of this 47 million, at least 12 million aren't even U.S. citizens. Millions more are young and can easily afford it as offered through their employer, but choose not to. A few million more are pretty well off and just choose to pay out of pocket. A few million more are eligable for medicaid or SCHIP and do not ever apply. Many states have state level programs to cover hospital bills either in partiality or totality, many people just aren't aware they exist.
1 person likes this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
24 Oct 08
Well the people I saw begging for medical help were old people who did not earn enough to get help. Many of them needed the dentist who had to extract all their teeth. He said that the teeth were so badly decayed that he had trouble getting hold of something to pull the root out. I think this is shameful that a country can care so little about its people. These were people who could not get any help from anyone and had no money to pay the exorbitant costs that doctors and dentists charge, let alone the price for dentures. You sound as though all these people were in trouble just because they did not bother to fill in some forms. These people were the ones who were not allowed to have health insurance and had no money. I do not see how you can pretend that it is all their own fault.
1 person likes this
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
23 Oct 08
as for the companies offering healthcare and employees not taking it...there are loopholes to this too. For example seven years ago when I began working at my place of employment I had 90 days to decide on health insurance or I had to wait for open enrollment...which they have every year...but they only have open enrollment every year for people to change or drop their insurance not to sign up....Our corporate office decides when that would be. I know this is wrong and I have never pushed this issue...but it is what it is. ANd as for the programs I have applied through my hospital for financial assitance and I only qualified for 40% of aide. How ridiculous is that? I cannot afford health insurance but according to the state I don't even qualify for half of assistance on this outrageous bill....and after looking over the doctor bill I had for an ER visit...I have to ask what are after hours service when it is an ER....it's not like it's a bar or somehting. They overcharge for services and take advantage of people....doctors, hospitals and insurances. ANd the problem also is no one tells people about these services available to them.
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
24 Oct 08
I am not sure who you are referring to as pretending it is their fault, but I can assure you it is not anyone who understands the importance of healthcare and the wellness of others. I work in the healthcare field. I know exaclty what suffering is and it is sad. But first of all AMercia is not the Amazon. ANd I am not even sure what types of services they have there....but here in America I do knwo what types of services we have. And even though we are seen as a rich nation... watch the news...we taxpayers are footing a bail out bill....we are facing something like a trillion dollar debt for our and our children's future. the only pretending I see is others who are going by a limited view through a camera lense. Because here in America we do have services for public aide, people don't know about some of them because they do not willingly tell people. You find out through word of mouth usually or when you sign up for public aide. As for the amazon and other places doctors donate their time I think highly of them...and for the ones here in the US who do the same.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Private insurance is very expensive for people who are older or who have medical problems. The monthly premiums are high and usually the deductable is high and has to be satisfied before the insurance company starts paying. I have company provided insurance which costs me $12 per month for a family plan with a $100 per person deductable. Buying the same policy myself, at my and my husband's ages, would cost about $500 per month with a much higher deductable.
2 people like this
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
26 Oct 08
well i live in maryland, and we had to go along time without insurance, due i was out on disablty. and my wife job at the time did have health insurance. even after she lost her job due becoming disdable as well. us trying to health insurance through the state was hard. for us to even get it we had to come close loosing everything we have even our house. health insurance is so high it's unreal. i know people who can't afford at work. yeah it's sad in the country that is suppose to be so rich, can;t help thier own. its all about money. even with us now being on disablty and we have medicare that pays for most but still it's hard to keep up with that too, with our med plan we have to pay. we are back up on paying that just because time we pay all our bills we can;t pay it.
1 person likes this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
27 Oct 08
It does not seem fair to me that people who are on disability should have trouble getting health care. In Australia you do not have to pay for health care except for specialists. We pay a gap fee with them but everything else is free. I cannot accept the argument that money should set the rules. To me that seems totally wrong. It is rare for people with money to be brilliant and history has shown that the great geniuses of the world tent to comet from poor backgrounds. Newton, Einstein, Hawking, and lots more not born to multimillionaire parents. People should not be abandoned because they are poor it is wrong. The whole addiction to greed it totally wrong.
1 person likes this
@leahsfrog (120)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Okay, health insurance here in America is a bit different than that of countries like Canada and Australia. Here you pay a premium every month for health insurance either through your employer or you find one on your own. In some cases, those in the lower income brackets with children, the elderly or disabled can qualify for Medicaid which is a free/low premium insurance funded by the government. Just because you are an American citizen does not guarantee you to Medical care or insurance. My husband pays $203 a week for our health insurance for 2 adults and 6 children, this is actually a good price comparatively. We also have co-pays of $20 a visit and $50 per ER visit. Yealy deductibles are set at $600 before the insuarance company will begin paying the bills.
2 people like this
@kenchihi (121)
• Malaysia
23 Oct 08
Well, people need to go to the root of the problem. Now the problem is people are not eligible for health insurance. So, tell me, what are this health insurances for? Of course, it is the American's way to foot their medical bill if something really harsh happens to them health wise. So the issue is then of the price of service from the doctors. Just like what you have mentioned, doctors would be more than happy to treat patients as long as it helps people. But, why are they charging high prices then? It is because they need to defend themselves from lawsuits. In America, many doctors are facing lawsuits from patients who accuse them of negligence. If this doctors loses money and possible their right to practice because of little little accidents (which might not even be their fault), it really hurts the profession. Thus, the way they defend the profession? charging higher prices! Since people can't foot high prices, then came the insurance with crazy premiums and requirements. How about this, why don't you Americans start saving up money, use that money to foot your own medical bill, instead of getting insurance. Asians use that method a lot. They try their best to avoid insurances. :) All the best
@Drakhan (240)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I'm curious about the doctor who said he was grateful to be able to do proper medicine to help people without money getting in the way? What exactly stops him from giving an hour of his day to treat patients for free at his office? How exactly does the presence of television cameras cut down on his cost of treating patients? The last time I went to a doctor, I sat in his waiting for an hour past the time of my appointment because he was overbooked. He charged me $200 for a 30 minute examine in which his only expense was his time. And he ordered another $1,500 in tests to be done the next week. I didn't bother to show up for the next round of tests because what I got for the $200 was "You seem fine but we'll do some tests to be sure." There's your high cost of health care.
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
24 Oct 08
The doctor in question worked for a charity that helped people who could not afford to go to a doctor. In this instance there were tv cameras. The point of the program was that America's health care was so bad that it needed the same charity work as the people of the amazon. As for offering to treat people for free at his office, if he has one, I wonder how he would manage that. Since thousands of people drove hundreds of miles to this one weekend clinic, how many people would be on his doorstep begging for help for that hour? Even if he did it would not be enough to solve the problem. Universal health insurance or health care is the only way to deal with this and only the government can do it.
1 person likes this
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
24 Oct 08
We have two clinics in my area who have doctors who donate their time after hours to see people who cannot afford to see a doctor. They also provide common medications these doctors prescribe either free or at low cost. There are other options.
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
23 Oct 08
My state has a program that my kids are eligible for. My daughter automatically because of disability. In two years she will go from being eligible for medicaid to medicare. However, for me to be eligible I can't make over $200 a month. I just went to the doctor this last Monday and had to pay cash. I've avoided going for the past two years by making appointments saying I need my medication and never actually going. The meds get called into the pharmacy. Anyway I went and told them to do whatever was necessary for me to get my script. I'm sure I could use a complete physical, but I can't afford it. The nurse practitioner I saw wants to see me back, but she knows my situation so I'm suppose to call her with my BP reading in 4 weeks to see if my hypertension meds are working appropriately. You mentioned teeth. My oldest daughter got medicaid braces. Some may say braces are a luxury, but in my daughter's case she had a tooth growing on the palate of her mouth. Now they don't provide for braces no matter what. Toothless adults who can't afford to pay for their dentures, stay toothless.
1 person likes this
• India
23 Oct 08
i live in other country....i dont wats happening in america.....sry 4 dat
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
23 Oct 08
This is sad. But to answer your questions...in order to qualify for any public aide they do look at your income which is good and bad. Because if someone who earns a meager income may qualify for aide, but the moment (and I mean the moment) they go over that amount they either have it taken away or have to pay more for it. Which I think is wrong they should give people a certain amount of time if they are getting on their feet. And sometimes even if you have insurance you may not be able to afford what you pay out of pocket. Like I have a really good dental insurance plan, but many times I cannot afford my part that I have to pay. So it's kinda a catch 22. But I am not a supporter of Universal Healthcare. I know people who use the medical card for their kids and the choices they have for doctors who accept this form of payment is ridiculous. The good ones are booked up and the bad ones scare you. Plus, you have good doctors and you have bad doctors. And then you have doctors and insurance companies who hike up the prices so you have to get insuarance. Last spring I went to the ER and it cost me over $1000...and based on my income I only qualified for 40% adjustment since I did not have insurance....all they did was blood work and a quick exam.
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
24 Oct 08
You say you are not a supporter of universal health care. Do you think that it is right then that people suffer because they cannot get health insurance and cannot afford to go to the doctor or dentist? Don't you think there is something wrong with a country as rich as America not caring enough about its people to provide them with basic health care? I have seen the arguments here. We also have indemnity insurance for doctors and we cap their fees and we provide health care to everyone no matter how poor they are. We do not have the wealth of a country like America but we manage to look after our people because we care about their welfare.
1 person likes this
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Sharra1- First of all I am one of those people you mentioned who cannot afford healthcare as I have none now. I do not support UHC because I do not want someone who does not know my needs to decide what is best for me healthcare coverage wise and to limit my services based upon the type of insurance I have. Healthcare should be left up to the individual to decide of the how, what, when and where. I know people who use the Medical card for their children and guess what they are on a waiting list for a good doctor but have to see a quack doctor until there is an opening. And I know with Medicaid and Medicare patients still have to have supplemental insurance to cover costs that are not covered by this government controlled program. Second of all this will lead to job loses across the US and more people will be without jobs and have to sue the UHC.....it does not seem as easy as it sounds in the pretty little package. I want my freedom of choice. I do not want to become more of a number to the people who I elect to serve as a "public" servant. The real problem is with the hospitals charging patients $10 for one Tylenol when I could simply pick them up for under $3 at the store. HMMMM....the problems really with the system... Plus, there are assistance programs at most hospitals now and state assistance for healthcare based upon income that can help people pay their bills. We need to focus on the reality of the cost of medical care in the healthcare setting, not in the person using the services.
1 person likes this
• Australia
24 Oct 08
There's another point we should make about the Australian system, where public hospitals are FREE for those who qualify on an income and assets assessment. As are ancillary services like pathology and radiology. We have a fraction of the wealth and population that the US has, yet somehow our government manages to pay for all this without going broke, as Sharra1 one has pointed ut s couple of times. One image of America that I have come a cross a number of times in economics and sociological texts at university is that of wealthy lawyers and bureacrats in major American cities leaving their offices to go to their $500 lunch dates and having to walk through a ring of beggars to get there. Makes you want to spit. Lash
1 person likes this
@rkrish (3003)
• India
23 Oct 08
I could say all the developed and developing countries are blended with rich and poor, managers and labours then only the country will be on the way to succeed and charity is one of the basic required and necessity to be prevailed in all citites as the corporation could take care of some extent in health front
1 person likes this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
Countries as rich as America should be able to provide basic health care for all its people. Australia is not as rich but we manage to provide this for everyone regardless of their incomes. Our private health insurance is also much cheaper. Maybe we are more humanitarian than Americans as we do not believe that people should be left to suffer just because they are poor or out of work.
3 people like this