Subject: RE: BS: Woman shoots herself to get help
From: gnu - PM
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 03:06 PM

bobad... good one.

But, not only is Amos correct on the issue of rights, NObody has free health care. SOMEbody has to pay for it.

The problem, I THINK (?) Yanks with "private" health care have is they believe that there will be an increase in taxes and the level of service will drop. And other arguements ensue, of course.

Case in point. Kendall (USA) had ready access to amazing (IMO) private health care for his throat. Over the past dozen years, I had reasonable access for the same condition (Canada.. and it varies by province)). My throat was taken care of. But, last June, something was wrong again. On July 13, my GP sent a referral for an ENT. I saw the ENT on June 1. She saw no cancer with the scope and diagnosed a breathing problem within my nose causing severe snoring, which, combined with my loss of 1.6 of my parotid glands (saliva), was aggravating the past surgeries.

Ultrasound... minimum 6 months on an "urgent basis". Eye doc... 12 months on an "elective basis" (loss of night vision, floaters, sensitivity to sunlight). Physiotherapy... 4 months "urgent" if you are self employed and can't get Workman's Compensation from the government. But, if you are bleeding, the emergency department will see you RFN, depending on how much blood is on the floor... and it's free.

Oh, yeah... presciption drugs are not free here. I pay private health care $1600 a year for an 80% co-pay. It covers some dental too. Single, no kids.

So, I can understand in a way the fear some Yanks with private health care feel. They see their hard work and their health care access and quality being placed in jeopardy with "universal health care", along with increased taxes.

I am NOT saying the level of service for present US private health care WILL be degraded, but if the politicians have to make a choice between Gramma's hernia and sending a rover to Mars or bullets to Iraq, I expect Gramma's shittin her drawers.