I've read so many terrible stories of people having to pay for Sumatriptan and Verapamil, even oxygen!? I wouldn't stand for it!!! Come to the UK. It's all FREE!!! Thank you to everyone at The National Hospital of Neurology UCL! You're the bestest!

WHAT???

And live on the same side of the pond, and even the same COUNTRY as that wicked witch?

NO WAY!!

It is bad enough we have to put up with her, every time she invades our shores!  Doesn't your country have jails for people beings like her?

Chuck

Yes you are lucky

350 days of sunshine a year vs. cheaper meds.

Sorry, I'm staying.

Socialized medicine.....certainly not a hot topic here in the states! Nope, no chance of THAT igniting a cntroversy here!!! :-X

Guiseppi

(Who hates politics but loves a teeny bit of pot stirring!!!)

Damned glad you're getting relief though! ;)

ClusterChuck wrote on Aug 7^th, 2008 at 9:24pm:

WHAT??? And live on the same side of the pond, and even the same COUNTRY as that wicked witch? NO WAY!! It is bad enough we have to put up with her, every time she invades our shores!  Doesn't your country have jails for people beings like her? Chuck

You could say the same about our oil tycoon!  ;)

I just came back from three weeks in the UK and I loved the weather. If I had the chance, I'd move to Scotland. 70's and cool :) beats the 90's and 100's we've been having.

Pete wrote on Aug 7^th, 2008 at 6:07pm:

I've read so many terrible stories of people having to pay for Sumatriptan and Verapamil, even oxygen!? I wouldn't stand for it!!! Come to the UK. It's all FREE!!! Thank you to everyone at The National Hospital of Neurology UCL! You're the bestest!

(pssst - here's a hint. Ain't nothin' free in this world. Somebody pays for your free Sumatriptan, Verapamil, and even oxygen! If you're not paying for it in some way, shape or form, you're getting it off the backs of somebody else. Just food for thought.)

wrote on Aug 12^th, 2008 at 1:38pm:

Pete wrote on Aug 7th, 2008 at 6:07pm: I've read so many terrible stories of people having to pay for Sumatriptan and Verapamil, even oxygen!? I wouldn't stand for it!!! Come to the UK. It's all FREE!!! Thank you to everyone at The National Hospital of Neurology UCL! You're the bestest! (pssst - here's a hint. Ain't nothin' free in this world. Somebody pays for your free Sumatriptan, Verapamil, and even oxygen! If you're not paying for it in some way, shape or form, you're getting it off the backs of somebody else. Just food for thought.)

We do pay for it with our extremly high taxes and script charges however its not all in 1 lump some and we dont need insurance or we suffer like they do in the us so ya the UK has it better i would hate to be poor and live in the us just food for thought!!!

BrianJ wrote on Aug 12^th, 2008 at 5:23pm:

wrote on Aug 12th, 2008 at 1:38pm: Pete wrote on Aug 7th, 2008 at 6:07pm: I've read so many terrible stories of people having to pay for Sumatriptan and Verapamil, even oxygen!? I wouldn't stand for it!!! Come to the UK. It's all FREE!!! Thank you to everyone at The National Hospital of Neurology UCL! You're the bestest! (pssst - here's a hint. Ain't nothin' free in this world. Somebody pays for your free Sumatriptan, Verapamil, and even oxygen! If you're not paying for it in some way, shape or form, you're getting it off the backs of somebody else. Just food for thought.) We do pay for it with our extremly high taxes and script charges however its not all in 1 lump some and we dont need insurance or we suffer like they do in the us so ya the UK has it better i would hate to be poor and live in the us just food for thought!!!

Sounds like you actually like it that way, mate.

I guess somebody has to.

Well like i say i would rather pay this way than suffer, our poor get as well treated as our rich do and i suppose thats the differance  we dont brush them under the carpet we take care of our own

BrianJ wrote on Aug 12^th, 2008 at 6:48pm:

Well like i say i would rather pay this way than suffer, our poor get as well treated as our rich do and i suppose thats the differance  we dont brush them under the carpet we take care of our own

Quote:

our poor get as poorly treated as our rich do

It works in reverse, too.

Like I said, as long as you feel good about socialism, knock yourselves out. I could't live being that dependent on the government.

BrianJ wrote on Aug 12^th, 2008 at 6:48pm:

Well like i say i would rather pay this way than suffer, our poor get as well treated as our rich do and i suppose thats the differance  we dont brush them under the carpet we take care of our own

So do we.  It's not the poor who do without coverage , it's generally the working class who gets the bad deal-  you have insurance, so the government doesn't help you with meds or anything else (or you make too much money to get on any government programs).

I had a friend that developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma, she had no medical insurance, nor did she have any money.  She got the same care as anyone who had money, including her monthly prescriptions (which fell in the range of $3000.00 a month).  Her medical bills were in excess of $750,000.00 and neither she nor her family had to pay a penny.

I am not dependent on the government what so ever i pay my taxes and i pay my script charges and regarding poorly treated yes the national health has some problems but it has never let me down my daughters life has been saved and my CH was diagnosed and treatemant offered with out issue

im not saying we have it perfect and im not saying US is all bad  i just think some things we have better and other things are better in the US i do think our national health is the best way for the good of the people

BrianJ wrote on Aug 13^th, 2008 at 11:40am:

I am not dependent on the government what so ever i pay my taxes and i pay my script charges and regarding poorly treated yes the national health has some problems but it has never let me down my daughters life has been saved and my CH was diagnosed and treatemant offered with out issue im not saying we have it perfect and im not saying US is all bad  i just think some things we have better and other things are better in the US i do think our national health is the best way for the good of the people

Whatever, dude. Maybe it's just me - but I like my "freedom/security" scale to be balanced.

I've been wrong about far bigger things than this, so don't get your knickers in a twist.

LOL brew  my knickers are in no way in a twist

I have never lived in US and i assume you have never lived in the UK so untill we do niether of us has a clue really i was just responding to you first post and would never have posted in here if it wasnt for your responce  but anyhow cya later and PF wishes to ya mate

I think both systems have their merits.

Here in Finland we have a combined system of sorts. There are:

1) Government supported clinics and hospitals. In my experience, the specialists in these hospitals tend to be quite good, but to get in you have to first go to a clinic to get an appointment to a specialist. The government clinic doctors tend to be somewhat bad. One problem is that a lot of the doctors are immigrants, which can make communication with them a bit difficult. The clinic doctors' solution to many problems is to just prescribe NSAIDs and three days off from work.

A visit to a gov. doctor costs 22e and a visit to a nurse around 10e or so (can't remember). Then if you have to stay at the hospital, it costs around 26e per day. The 22e covers everything a doctor or a specialist can do to you per visit, including e.g. major brain surgery. Lab tests and procedures like MRI and such don't cost anything. If there is no hurry, you might have to wait six months to several years to get to surgery, but emergency cases are handled immediately. Also if there is no emergency, you have to wait for weeks or even months to get a simple clinic appointment. You can go to clinics without appointments, though, to be seen by a nurse or a doctor during the same day e.g. to get sick leave from work.

2) Private clinics and hospitals. According to my experience, the doctors here tend to be somewhat good, but not always. A normal consultation at a private clinic costs around 70-100e. The national insurance, which covers every citizen of Finland, cuts around 10-20e off from that. There are also private insurances, which can cover everything done to you in any kind of medical institution, including a private clinic or a hospital. Often you're automatically insured by the place you work at.

If you want anything like lab tests, surgery, MRI, so on, it costs much more - even many thousands of euros. The results of surgeries in private hospitals and government hospitals don't really differ. You don't have to wait for long to have any kind of surgery or such at private hospitals.

I'm personally happy that we have this combined system, but quite unhappy at how underfunded it is at the moment. I'd gladly pay more taxes myself to have a well-funded government supplied medical system. What I'd mostly wish for is better trained doctors at the government clinics and a cut in the queues for advanced treatment at specialists. In my opinion, it's natural to pay more so that everyone is happier and healthier, and that's more important than anything else I could spend my tax money to.

- Best regards and PFDAN to everyone,
Rosa

Medical differences notwithstanding, I must credit the Finnish educational system. If Rosa is any kind of example their language training is amazing. Rosa, you talk gooder'n lotsa us Amurikins!

David, as always, you're the perfect gentleman ;)

proud U.S Navy veteran and would live nowhere else.
But i have no fight with Uk.
we all do the best we can with what we have, thats the reason for this site isn't it.

well said karl :)

i have 1 or 2 U.S Navy veteran friends a good bunch of lads.

I commend anyone for being patriotic i just dont like it when people try to be negative of my country when they clearly aint got a clue my statments regarding the USA are from talking to friends from the US who struggle mainly to cover medical expences for there familys and i have over 200 friends from the USA and all of them are great

anyhow no badness was meant on my part each has there good points and bad points and besides we all deal with enough crap with out arguing with eachother over nonsence

BrianJ wrote on Aug 14^th, 2008 at 2:42pm:

each has there good points and bad points and besides we all deal with enough crap with out arguing with eachother over nonsence

So true it should be posted again!!

Fund your system how you will. The fact that only 1 country in the western world uses the entirely private (rubbish) method has very little to do with socialism! But, Cuba for instance, has a lower infant mortality rate and the same life expectancy as the US, AND spends 1 tenth of the per capita amount on health care as the US. The States have A LOT of good stuff, but the reds are winning this one!!!    

Stockholm syndrome.

Yes I'm captive! Captured by an evil woman who lets me drink in public places when I'm 18 on a Sunday and makes me do this thing called "a trial" when I get arrested, and when I get arrested I'm not even allowed to sit in an electric chair! But you're allowed to buy a tech 9 machine gun, so you win.

You be a good liberal and buy things and buy things, but as soon as you can't buy anymore you may aswell be dead and your health system will lend a helping hand to that!!

I'm not making any friends here am I!  

I'm out.

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Ah don't be like that! It's just banter! Healthy debate! Bigup the states!! This isn't a competition anyway. Your pain's the same as mine and I'd share my FREE drugs with you any time! Seriously though, no offence we're in the same boat here and with all your health spending I'm expecting a cure state-side pretty dam quick!!!  

Pete wrote on Aug 15^th, 2008 at 7:26am:

Yes I'm captive! Captured by an evil woman who lets me drink in public places when I'm 18 on a

And your point is here?  I don't necessarily agree with the 21 year old age limit here, but, to my knowledge, there are many places in the US that you can drink on Sunday (in public places).  However, I don't think that drinking in public places is something that elevates anyone to a superior level of conciousness.


Pete wrote on Aug 15^th, 2008 at 7:26am:

me do this thing called "a trial" when I get arrested, and when I get arrested

Don't know where you're getting this information, but unless one plea bargains, EVERYONE is entitled to a trial.


Pete wrote on Aug 15^th, 2008 at 7:26am:

when I get arrested, and when I get arrested I'm not even allowed to sit in an electric chair!

Again, your point is?  I live in a death penalty state and in more than one instance, I'd be glad to assist in placing that needle.


Pete wrote on Aug 15^th, 2008 at 7:26am:

You be a good liberal and buy things and buy things, but as soon as you can't buy anymore you may aswell be dead and your health system will lend a helping hand to that!! I'm not making any friends here am I!

You've got t bassackwards here, my friend.  It's the liberals that want to *expand* on social services, not the conservatives.


Pete wrote on Aug 15^th, 2008 at 7:26am:

I'm not making any friends here am I!

Very possibly not.  Exit, stage left.

Please play nice, kids.

Let's agree to disagree.
As far as I'm concerned, I'm very happy with a lot of European customs, such as the health care system. For 115 euro's a month I can get almost anything I'd need, very happy about my insurance company.
And for that matter, I feel everyone should be entitled to medical care, even if they can't afford it, for instance junkies or hobo's. They are part of our society, and someone's son or daughter. As a society we are responsable for the vulnerable.

But there are matters better handled by the Americans. I'd go for the second amendement, and death penalty.

O well, what do I know?  ;)

Helen, aka LeLimey, asked me to post (as a Brit who spends a tremendous amount of time of US soil) that she definitely as an opinion about this thread, but she is going out of town and won't be able to respond until she gets back home (Paul's).

This thread has gotten a little pointless we all know both ways have there merits and there bad points whats the point in continuing this thread ??

So true i think it needs saying a third time

each has there good points and bad points and besides we all deal with enough crap with out arguing with eachother over nonsence

I don't know why I'm getting into this fray, but I am.

I'm not saying that I want socialized medicine or that my government take care of all of my medical needs at no out of pocket cost to me.  What I am saying, as one of those "middle class" American's, with no employer sponsored insurance plan, I am having to buy my own personal  health insurance.  It covers no drugs.  It gives me limited ($75,000) coverage for only catastrophic care, such as maiming, cancer, heart attack, lengthy hospitalization.  I have no doctor visits covered.  No co-insurance.  No dental, eye care, nothing.  It pays only if I'm hospitalized with a biggie.  For this privilege, I am paying, just for little old me alone - not my husband  $475.00 per month.  Plus the fact, that nothing will be covered if one of those "biggies" happens to involving my knees because of pre-existing conditions.  My insurance is "rated" because at the age of 18 I destroyed one knee and damaged the other in a skiing fall.  I'm 62 years old.  

I think this is atrocious.  

My son-in-law was severely injured in an accident a few years ago (his first motorcycle accident - he had his second one a year ago).  He was almost killed, spent weeks in the hospital, seven surgeries (he's got as much metal in his body as an airplane), and almost a year in a wheelchair.  He was a young man, 20 years old, with a good but low paying job that he could no longer do - hence, no income.  His hospital bills were pushing $600,000, and his company health insurance paid only a fraction of it because that's all that was offered, and all he could afford to pay at the time.  He had to file bankruptcy which still shows on his credit report, interfering with his ability to establish credit, buy a car, buy a home with my daughter.  His bankruptcy will fall off in a few months, yet he was financially penalized for for seven years for something that was not his fault from the beginning.  

I think this is atrocious.  

The health care system in the US is broken and in need of a major overhaul.  Why do we pay $500 for prescription meds here, when we can buy the exact same drug in Canada for $150?  Why should we pay exorbitant insurance premiums for bare minimum coverage because of something that happened to our bodies 45 years ago (knee)?

Why??? The GD almighty DOLLAR!  That's why.

I love my country - wouldn't want to live anywhere else.  But, I think it's gotten to the point where my country loves big business more than it loves me.  I'm more than willing to pay increased taxes to my country if my country will make sure that I'm not left in bankruptcy and destitute should I have an illness or an accident.  Raise my taxes and give me low cost insurance premiums for adequate coverage, give me low cost prescription meds, with the balance subsidized by the government through my taxes.  

Off soapbox now.

Let the flaming begin.

Sandy

I said it in another thread, and I'll say it again here: Never love anything that can't love you back. It only leads to heartache and disappointment.

wrote on Aug 17^th, 2008 at 4:42pm:

I said it in another thread, and I'll say it again here: Never love anything that can't love you back. It only leads to heartache and disappointment.

Brew,

You are absolutely right, and that a sad commentary.  My husband, hopefully my two daughters, and my dog love me as much as I love them.  My cat??? I'm disappointed - she only loves herself ;D

To me the term "love" means unconditional - no matter what.  

So, OK, I'll change what I said above.  I "conditionally" love my country and it "unconditionally" does not love me back.  

I feel better now ;)  

Sandy