I remember a time in the eighties when there was a push to bring american style health insurance into the Australian health system and thankfully it was howled down most loudly by the doctors themselves!! thank goodness for decency over profits!
The universal healthcare model in Australia is well and truly in the sights of federal conservative governments every time they get elected here. Every election the conservatives and the right wing media (7, 9, 10, Sky, Fox and pretty much any piece of paper that has print on it) screams "MediScare". But don't be fooled, the Libs and the Nats would dismantle Medicare in a heartbeat if they thought they could get away with it.
Really 😲!? I'm European (northern). Sure! The US has some of the BEST Doctors in the world👍! But what does it matter if most, can't afford them? Nah! I'd prefer our system to Theirs, anytime 😎! But then again. I'm from a country, where Healthcare is a right..., not at privilege. You would think that the so called " Greatest Country on Earth", could do a Hell of a lot better 😲 !
@@KHValby Even a good doctor probably cant treat a patient how they need, simply due to an unqualified person behind a desk at a call center says its not needed or covered by the insurance rip.
In Australia my grandson fell at school and broke his arm. He was immediately taken to the nearest hospital and treated. X-rays showed a massive injury requiring surgery. He had his surgery and his arm had pins inserted, nerve ends joined. All over and done with by 6pm that night. His injury required two surgeries, weekly hospital visits then physio. He was given something to wear on his fingers that was made especially to fit him. The pins eventually removed and all at a grand cost to his parents of $0.00
Aussie here also, I BROKE ME NECK as a kid, and developed a tumour within the spine 10 years after the fact, still bill was $0.00. I even got a private hospital doctor to do my second surgury because he was excited to do it. All free, free food, free physio, fre catscans, everything. So lucky to be an australian :) I live in Turkey now, but even here they give free/cheap medical to me here.
@@matthewbrown6163 Americans are being fed propaganda about the medical cost and care in other countries and are brainwashed to believe we are all waiting in emergency departments for weeks with all the signs of a stroke, heart attack, burst appendix or a knife through the brain. We are not. You will get triaged immediately and you will be seen in order of need. I took my son to the emergency room when he was about 9 or 10. He’d decided to smash a battery open to see what was inside. Battery acid splashed in his eyes. 🤬🤬🤬🤬. We walked into that crowded room and after speaking to the receptionist he was taken straight through and immediately treated. Cost $0.00. And we walked out with bandages for his eyes and eye drops. $0.00. You might wait a couple of years for what they call elective surgery. Eg: knee / hip replacement. But if your condition deteriorates to where you’re not coping. You get treated immediately. My hysterectomy was in my mind not urgent. But the specialist I saw $0.00 thought it was. I was in hospital within 4 days (because I wanted to use the small hospital near my home). 2 bed ward and excellent treatment $0.00 Yet Americans think they’re getting the best doctors in the world and the best medical care because the government brain washes them into believing that so they can save money and the consequences of that. More Americans die from lack of being able to afford that care or go bankrupt from accepting it than I’d care to think about. And I imagine no one releases the figures on that because they don’t want the people to know the real truth about the complete lack of affordable health care in America. In Australia the poorest of the poor wouldn’t think twice about attending a hospital or a doctor for fear of the cost. It’s $0.00 and despite the bullshit Americans are fed. We can and do choose our own doctors. And we can see a doctor same day if we want one. And if it’s after our own doctors surgery hours….well, we have a home doctor service that we can call. A doctor will come to our home. Cost $0.00. But Americans think they’ve got the best health care in the world …. They’re lied to about the health care system in other countries to stop them from demanding the same level of care and cost.
The Netherlands here. That sounds about normal to me. Our rightwing has gotten us to pay a little for incentive-purposes. Which I do not agree with. For it only gives incentive to people who are not well off, gives no incentive at all to the rich and hinders complete healthcare for poor people. Which makes it very unfair. But that is the rightwing. (Our normal rightwing is about equal to US corporate Democrats. Believing in the Market, to solve all things, US rightwing is ... outragious? It baffles the mind.
As an Australian looking on at this complete fiasco called the US Healthcare I'm simultaneously laughing and crying. Yet another reason to be living in the best country in the world...happy arvo Ryan!
@Yvon Q. - Be sure to tell us all about ANY business which puts profit on the back seat. You idiots have no clue how many professionals are involved in your care when, for example, you have major surgery in a hospital. DOZENS of people you might not ever see doing analyses and tons of other things. Open heart surgery isn't quite as simple as changing spark plugs in your car. There's no such thing as "Jiffy Lube Surgery" except for maybe on an episode of "The Simpsons."
@Yvon Q. - Hey, since you're "so smart" be sure to tell me how most of the cost is "offset." Define "offset" in context. Here's a clue: It means that people who are not receiving the benefits of your surgery are the ones who are paying for your surgery. The rest of us get NO damn benefit via your surgery, and with Socialized medicine, we don't get to decide how the money is spent. It turns the Federal government into a business man, and in this case, a business man who has NO personal responsibility. That's why National healthcare a goddamn asinine idea. If there's a problem - and trust me, there surely will be problems - there is NOBODY to complain to. After all . . . nameless faceless bureaucrats are exactly that - nameless and faceless. They'll do their dirty deeds anonymously. This is pretty much how the "Deep State" works. People making decisions, and we have no clue who the hell they are.
@Yvon Q. - I worked in the administrative office building for a healthcare plan in the USA which included non-profit hospitals. You know, government hospitals. Meant for welfare recipients. The plan also included several for-profit hospitals as well. Members could choose whatever they wanted, and they did, all within the contracts of the participating medical providers. They were locked into a choice for no longer than a month at a time.
@Yvon Q. - That's strictly a matter of opinion, and you don't know what you're taking about. Doctors decide about healthcare, not the companies which employ them. There is NO profit motive for a doctor. For one thing, they don't sell anything. Doctors only offer skills and expertise, and there's no profit in that. The only decisions which they make are medical in nature. They're not administrators unless part of their role is to head up a medical group in which case they would manage other physicians. Be sure to tell me about anyone out there in any business who offers their skills and knowledge for FREE. You won't, because you CAN'T unless it's a non-profit company. Not very many of those. Physicians are independent businessmen and women. All they might do is contract with a medical group as part of a health plan. It's not as if they're "employees" unless they are specifically hired for the business end of a medical group or a hospital.
When we had our first kid in Sydney it cost us nothing and at the time the government gave us $5000 for spending on the baby. The US system seems to be a joke for it's citizens.
I was told this morning that my sister had a heart transplant yesterday. She will have the very best Surgeons and hospital care. No charge. Not long ago I watched a video about America that made me cry. A 26 year old male University student died because he couldn’t pay for his insulin. A 32 year old woman was off sick but couldn’t afford a Doctor she used up her sick days and went back to work because she knew she would lose her job if she didn’t at Walmart. She was found that night dead in their toilets. The whole video made me sick and that is not only shame on your Government. It is shame on your people too for taking it and allowing it to be that way. The Government couldn’t stand and big business couldn’t get it all their way if you all said no. No more! Never again!
Most Americans "Allow it to be that way" because they are ignorant. They actually do not know any better. They actually think that they have the best of it in the entire world because their education system teaches them this! So they do not learn how it is in other countries due to that previous statement. "We have it best, why do I need to educate myself in how Europe does it?" That is being ignorant. Another word for their education system is 'Brainwashing'.
"No charge" of course means that other people are paying for the surgery. Meaning your fellow citizens pay via tax money. Do those citizens also pay your university tuition? And fill the gas tank of your car? And pay your rent? And get you a big birthday cake on your birthday?
@@scotthullinger4684 You pay taxes for infrastructure, police services, road maintenance, the fire department, public servants, etc., even if you don't use those services. I don't understand what is wrong with paying taxes so that everyone can afford healthcare. Insurance companies do not want to pay for certain procedures because profit is their bottom line. With universal healthcare you will get treated no matter what. Do you not think that everyone should have access to healthcare no matter if they are rich or poor? Do you think it is right that insurance companies are deciding what medical treatment you are getting? You are paying for your healthcare either way. Why are people so opposed to paying it through their taxes? Is it because rich people don't think poor people should get care? Yes, some people are lazy and don't work, but there are also reasons (such as mental health issues and low paying jobs, disabilities, etc.) why the less fortunate can not afford insurance and even if they could, once again you are at the mercy of the insurance companies not wanting to pay for certain procedures.
@@susangraham1203 - Oh, I DO indeed use all of those services, trust me. And you won't be convincing me of too many things which are not a covered benefit in American healthcare. I used to work for a healthcare company whose policy was to cover every medically necessary thing. That's the bottom line if a company wants to remain in business - customer satisfaction. The vast majority of them succeed rather brilliantly. Capitalism is far and away MUCH more superior to Socialism.
@@scotthullinger4684 I never said you didn't use those services. I was trying to say that not everyone might use them, but they still pay for them. You also didn't answer my questions (about how you pay for healthcare) which is fine because from your response (from what I see) is that you seem to not realize that there are people in your country that are not getting care and it doesn't matter to you. I guess all my American friends are lying to me (sarcasm intended). Universal healthcare works in capitalist countries just fine. I thought I was quite polite in my comment. I'm glad you are happy with insurance companies deciding on your healthcare. I'll take mine anyday, as well as my benefits, vacation time and overall better quality of life.
Aww blessings to you and your wife next month!! As an American living now in Scotland ( married a Scot!) I actually CRIED when I walked out of the pharmacy the first day and they told me everything was free! I had a health issue that scared me and the Drs. Unlike the "reputation" National Healthcare gets from the US lawmakers and talking heads ( cough cough Fox.) I was seen immediately for an MRI and colonoscopy. Thank god it was not Cancer ( all the signs mimicked it) but it was something and we found it out quickly. I wait no longer here than in the US and its FREE!!! That is....its taken out of taxes in a realistic fair way vs tons of military spending on things in my whole lifetime we have never used. ( I am a bit older than you!) so it is a BIG lie they try to sell to Americans and its sad that people buy it! Soon I can vote in the US and UK and I will fight like hell to keep the NHS system here and still fight for the US to have a SANE system because healthcare is a right and not a privilege! xx
@@B-A-L Whatever happens it will not be the travesty that is the American system. Scotland always votes anti Torry so we will see what the future holds. People in all of the UK will fight to the death to keep NHS. They know what is at stake.
Honestly if I was a U.S. citizen I would feel so angry at being extorted. The health care system being privatised is an absolute joke. Healthcare should be accessible by all as a public service. If you pay taxes, you should be able to access free hospital, free schools, and also support others who don't pay taxes due to disability or income. It benefits everyone to keep health a public community benefit.
To be fair, most countries which have well working health care systems use a semi-privatized one. E.g. doctors and hospitals are often private businesses that compete with each other, and that competition is an important factor to ensure their productivity. What however should be ensured through public means is that everyone should have the capacity to actually make use of these services.
@@jenswurm That's how it works in Czechia mostly. Limiting the price of medication is a must. When my son got sick two years ago I was in the hospital with him. I had a bed next to him, breakfast, lunch and dinner and paid 200 CZK per day. That is ten dollars.
In Australia my husband had a burn -went to doctor-got sent to hospital - was immediately taken in - had 2 operations, special boots personally made for him - had follow up vists and all the onitments , bandages while at home - and the biggest expense was the road tolls to get to the hospital and the parking to visit him
I’m in Australia too and the parking at hospitals is outrageous… I was paying $280 per week while caring for my dying mother… the rest of the hospital stay was free but the parking was $40 per day… and she was in hospital for 3 months… that was back in 2019 so has probably gone up now! When compared with the US though, I’ll take the paying for parking (although I don’t think we should have to pay for parking at a hospital at all…)
@@emilyalcorn3547 I was just thinking I would rather pay for the parking than the hospital bill but didn't realise how much this would be in Australia. We complain about this here in the UK when my local hospital charges about £10 a day, though you can can get it free if you have something that requires regular visits like cancer, but only for the patient, I think.
Every American I’ve spoken to about this says, “But we’ll have to pay more tax.” Well, that’s better than selling your house isn’t it? Had 2 babies here in Australia. Out of pocket? Basically, zero! Spiders are good, they eat bugs you don’t want in your house.
Americans pay personal income tax from dollar one! Australians are tax free up to $21,884 in the 2022-23 financial year before any income tax is payable.
@@patrickriley1360 I've had babies in a private hospital, 2 in a public hospital, here in Oz.The cost in private, even if you don't have health insurance, is way, way less than in USA. Their system is a total rip-off. No other way to put it. Taking advantage of people at their most vulnerable. Disgusting!
Aussie here I remember in one of my high school sociology classes my teacher laid out the sum paid to give birth in the US. I distinctly recall everyone being beyond incredulous and then someone asked “Why would you give birth in the US then?” My teacher didn’t really have an answer to that one lol
when my wife had our child in Australia, we paid zero. And we were lucky she had a private room with 3 nights stay in hospital. I did have to pay for parking each day, but cant complain about that. oh yes and like other said, the gov actually gave us $5000 and was spread out over 6 months.
A family friend in his 80’s, on a Government aged pension, had his chronic back condition worsen so badly that he was flown by air ambulance interstate from a New South Wales border town to Melbourne, Victoria for spinal surgery. Cost $0 for the transportation and his surgery and hospitalisation.
I recently had a similar situation, though I'm not on any government benefits; I have ambulance cover, but because I was air-lifted from one hospital to another, I didn't even need it. Four nights in the ICU, another 4 in high-care, multiple scans, scopes and x-rays, two continuous drips, loads of pain meds and ongoing after-care checks....... cost me $36 for the train ride home and $25 for a month of four different medications for my recovery once released. I can't begin to imagine what that would cost in the US.
@@anserbauer309 I hope you have a full recovery. Our friend is 89 now and the Government has just presented him with a ride-on electric scooter to allow him wider mobility. He has in-home care eg someone cleans his home and he has showering assistance as part of the In Home Health Care package from the Government.
@@judileeming1589 Thanks Judi. I'm pretty well recovered, but have mild diabetes now after the massive doses of steroids I needed in hospital. Thankfully, not insulin dependent and meds are affordable at $10 for a 3 month supply!
@@anserbauer309 Here in Qld Aust the air ambulance is usually run by the State's car club: RACQ. The Gov subsidised them and we the patient pay nothing.
About 15 years ago I was in the cinema and saw "Sicko", the film by Michael Moore about the US health care system. I went with my friend. This cinema was one of the few in Switzerland showing this film. Besides us, there was only one woman in the room, who I also knew, a friend and, like me, in the Social Democratic Party. And so we sat down and watched the three of us. The film upset me so much that I cried, tears of anger. I cried over these poor people in America who are being cheated and treated so miserably while still being told they live in the best country in the world. Those stupid poor victims. It's all very reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984, a country where people think they are free, yet they live in a system of exploitation and lies.
Sigh ☹️ I’m 67 and live in Australia in the last 4 years I have had 2 colonoscopies, an endoscopy, a pill camera through the gut, 2 whole blood transfusions and 4 iron infusions AND 4 trips to hospital by ambulance the total out of pocket expense for me was $70, that’s it $70… the ambulance service did send a bill for $465.02 for each trip BUT with a a rider in large bold type STOP, YOU MAY NOT NEED TO PAY THIS BILL IF YOU FALL INTO THESES CATEGORIES. Those categories cover almost everyone.
@@RandomStuff-he7lu You can buy ambulance insurance as well for something like $50-100 a year. Worth it if you have a chronic issue you know might need an abulance in an emergency. Less so if you are younger, but even still an ambulance is about $800-$1200 in Australia if you have to pay for it. Although you'll probably find they only charge people with insurance as well.
@@RandomStuff-he7lu I knew it was free in the state but didn't know they got it free across Australia. It not something i've worried about, because one of the bad bits of the Australian system is forcing me to have private insurance, which i'll never use because i can't afford the gaps, but covers ambulance, optical and a little bit of dental, which i do use. I end up about break even for the year. We have a problem in Canberra where bulk billing GP's are so few, the hospital ER gets filled with sick people who could see a GP but can't/won't pay for it. The sooner we fix the bulk billing rates of GP's the better IMO. So its not problem free but way better than the USA!
I have to admit to being so surprised when Americans proudly celebrate independence day from the British when they could have had the UK NHS today if they'd simply settled for the Westminster system and a Monarch as we did in Australia! I am 63 and have NEVER paid a cent for any medical examinations, operations, hospital admissions and occupancy. Never! Our Paramedic insurance for my wife and I is AU$120.00 P/A and we are covered Australia wide. We have never had private health insurance either. Despite the rumors they start in the USA, the wait list for elective surgeries stops the moment your condition worsens beyond tolerable. Then it's ER and the ops get done immediately for free. LOL. I like your channel and subscribed from Australia. Stay safe champ. Cheers.
Now, if you lived in Queensland (Australia), you wouldn't even need to buy the ambulance insurance! Our State pays for our ambulance bills. I had a rare cancer a few years back. Required excise then radiation therapy (radiation 25 doses over 5 weeks - 60 Gray). My total bill for the whole procedure (Excise then Radiation) was $10! The $10 was a non refundable amount for use of a card which gave me access to the parking lot for free every time I went and got my daily radiation zap. Still kicking 4 years later! Am grateful for the Australian medicare system.
@@candycanessongs bahahahahaha.......Im literally rolling around laughing at you from over here in WA where we carried the entire bloody country during the COVID lockdowns. Get back to me when NSW is responsible for as much of the nation's GDP as WA is......bloody fool.
Sweden: For a couple of weeks ago I went to the emergency for stomach pain. I thought it was a severe constipation, but they diagnose it as a ruptured appendix. Some hours later I was operated, and the appendix was removed, then I spent 3 days in hospital to reverse the infection. The total cost for all of that was 300 SEK ($29,35). Then I needed powerful antibiotics for additional ten days, and it cost 172 SEK ($16,83). They had put the operation wounds together with metal clips, and therefore I later visited a medical center to remove them, and it cost 50 SEK ($4.89) Total cost in Sweden to remove a ruptured appendix and aftercare was 522 SEK ($51,08). I took the car to the emergency when a thought it was just something simple, and the parking fee was 525 SEK ($51,37) for four days and tree nights. The parking fee was more expensive, but I could had asked my brother to get the car. And of course full paid sick days, and not effect on number of vacation days. I wonder wat it would cost in US, or really, I probably don't want to know it.
If I were getting charged 3k for an ambulance ride, $50 for one pill and $300/night, not only would I expect the BEST EVER care I would also expect to be laid out on a swan down mattress, be hand fed grapes and pulled pork for dinner, to drink water from a pure gold wine goblet and hand bathed by a super model!
In Australia, my mother had to have a hip replacement and was told she would be put on the waiting list, and it could take a while. She was called the following week and was told she would be having the surgery that same week. She has no private health insurance, she paid zero $ for the surgery, zero $ for the stay in hospital and she had a physiotherapist come to her home to provide her recovery treatment also zero $
Americans love talking about all the Canadians dying in hospital waiting rooms waiting for treatment. This is the biggest lie told to the American people by politicians bought by the medical industry. Life saving treatment is always available promptly, it's elective medical treatment that you may have to wait for. And even then, like in your mother's case, it's not nearly as long as they project.
That’s not the story in the Hunter Valley. Still zero cost and excellent quality, but it takes over year to get an outpatient appointment, then a year’s wait for the surgery. Still grateful xx
Here in Southern Ireland ,there are very long waits for operations on the NHS. An elderly friend who needs a cararact removed from her eye was told 2 years ago that she wouldn't see a consultant for a year ,then wait another 3 or 4 years for the operation.2 years have gone by and she hasn't seen a consultant yet, there is an alternate treatment provided by the HSE but she won't avail of it. Patients can opt. to have their operation in another Eu country at no extra cost, I needed the same operation ,a cataract removed from my left eye, another Eu country includes Northern Ireland, so I phoned a private hospital in Belfast Northern Ireland, and was offered a consultation in three weeks time, A Friday at 5.30 pm. Could then have the operation the following morning at 10.00 am. So I jumped at the chance. The system is you travel to Belfast, went by train on ny free trvel pass.The Kingsbridge Private Hospital, you see the consultant ,pay him think it was E130. Go.to hospital the following morning for operation paying E1,300. Had the op. Involving getting 3 lots of drops into eye,then an iodine drop, you walk into operation room,anaesthetist gives you injection in eye ,you lie on table,fully clothed, surgeon replaces your own lens with an artificial lens, takes about 15 minutes, no pain or discomfort of any kind , didn't even realize he gave me injection in eye, Came out of operation room. Had cup of tea and a scone, dressing on eye, got taxi to railway station and was back in Dublin about 5 pm. Perfect job. You send in your payment receipts to the health board and they refund practically all the cost within about 4 months. Getting other eye done next month. A friend has has both knees replaced on two different occasions cost ,E11,500 each knee, He will get practically all the money refunded, ( hadnt the cash,so got a bridging loan from the Credit Union its a great scheme, he spent 3 days in the hospital each time,that was included in the cost. So although waiting lists long for anyone silly enough to wait,travelling to Belfast or Newry is a great option.So I'm very pleased with NHS
Four weeks ago here in Australia I was a pedestrian struck by a bus and was lucky to survive it, had an ambulance ride to the hospital, and after one night many scans And pain medicine I managed to come out of it with a broken nose and broken rib......it didn't cost me anything due to being the public system and having medicare, I don't have private health insurance either.
I'm Austrian... When my son was born I had a C-section. 2 weeks in hospital. I had to pay about 30 euro by myself. All costs were covered by national healthcare. In addition I have a private insurance, so they PAID ME 2.000 euro "baby-bonus" Btw I love the interruption by your wife. I hate spiders and my husband always has to kill them 😂😂
Gosh I feel for you guys! In the states. I have had to call an ambulance twice for my baby son in the last few years. Both for febrile convulsions which is super scary but very common in infants. Ambulance and trip to the hospital emergency department both times cost nothing. I can’t imagine forking out $$$$ for what is a right given to citizens and paid for by our taxes. Must be so stressful for parents with unwell kids.
In response to the supposed delays and quality of nationalised healthcare here are some examples from my own direct experience. My infant daughter was born with a congenital heart defect, while at the time it was untreatable (any where in the world) she was under the care of one of the world's top heart surgeons who kept us informed of her condition and options throughout her stay of several weeks in hospital, cost, nothing. My son, as a teenager developed appendicitis, he was admitted to hospital in minutes of arrival, was operated on while we waited and stayed several days in hospital, cost, nothing. I had an episode of extreme vertigo and (I am in my seventies) an ambulance was called. While it was on the way a nurse gathered details of symptoms and my history while on the phone and relayed it to the paramedics in the ambulance who were on site (in a rural area) in less time that it would take me to drive to the hospital. Two paramedics examined me, gave me an ECG And made sure I was stable and gave me an injection and medication, staying nearly an hour. Total cost, $90 NZ. We now have a family ambulance membership for $75 a year for free ambulance cover. A friend's wife was diagnosed with a potentially malignant abdominal tumor, she was admitted to hospital for surgery in three days, again, total cost, nothing. It can be done if there is no profit, insurance admin costs, and advertising etc siphoned off the health expenditure.
Ryan, there are other videos that are done in the US. The older generation of Americans believe you should pay. Why…… As an Aussie, we pay next to nothing or nothing for our medical services. There are no limits, no insurance companies deciding how we should be treated or medication that is affordable for everyone in the country. We do not file for bankruptcy for going to hospital as it is a free service. It is disgusting how you are gaslighted in the US… it is a fundamental right to have basic health care not a privilege for only those that can afford it.
I was recently arguing with someone who tried to insist, in Europe healthcare was paid for by outrageously high taxes. When I gave the figures for costs in the US compared to the UK, they accused me of cherry picking. They also claimed universal healthcare was stealing from other people. I did ask if they knew how insurance worked or if the fire service putting out a fire meant stealing from others but they ran away.
Australians do pay for their medical services. It's just that many don't know about it. It's called Medicare. A national scheme where the Government funds GP's (MD's) and specialists for their services. GP's often will 'bulk bill' their patients. (Group many accounts together and bulk bill the Government). The patient has no gap (out of pocket) expense and the Government pays the total account. It's a 2% levy on incomes. Someone earning $50000 pays $1000 a year. 100k $2k and so on. For many on low incomes, it costs nothing as there is a tax offset for the levy. Medication is highly subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) which costs the Federal Government nearly $10B a year. Maximum cost is about $41 per scrip (Generics are far less on many occasions, as low as $5 or $6). Concession rates for low income earners on social benefits pay only $6.60 per scrip. In addition to that, once a limit of about $1500 is paid in a year, it costs only concession rates for medication. Public hospitals are free but waiting times in emergency departments are long often and patients are seen on a needs basis. The more serious are seen 1st. Elective surgery times are long generally. Private hospital cover can be purchased for less than 2k for a single. Double for a family. Quicker emergency care at a cost (Often costing $400 to $600 plus) with elective surgery times much shorter. Most people pay an annual $250 excess for an admission for a procedure or operation. This is paid only once a year. e.g. 2 or more admissions are free. There's a choice of specialist too so often someone can get the best in their field. So for a couple earning 100k a year total they are paying 2k a year for Medicare then about $4k for private cover as a couple of family. Many take out family cover when expecting a child to get the best care available. There are waiting periods though. Usually 12 months for this and 2 months for other conditions. For a high income earners, it's expensive. A 300k income pays 6k for Medicare and it would be difficult to justify this payment for medical services in a year for most years. Then the 2k for private health insurance. It's mandatory over about 150k as there are penalties otherwise.
@@jimr4354 Yes thats true and the biggest issue i have with our system is the gap payable if you choose to use your private insurance. Many people have the insurance to avoid paying extra medicare tax but still use the free system. However when its actually compared the Australian system costs taxpayers far less than the US system. Thats the biggest myth of all, the US healthcare system is the most expensive taxpayer subsidised system in the world.
@@JustinWatson23 I find $250 for hospital admission is not too bad but if it's a medical emergency and you choose a private hospital, the gap there is substantial ($400 to $600). It's the price you pay for relatively quick service compared to the public hospital system where wait times can be ridiculous (12 hours plus). There's the risk of malpractice and negligence (which I know of cases) caused by interns with little experience (1st year qualified) and the necessity to service so many patients. The public system is overloaded and many times now ambulances are queued up at admissions with long waiting periods. That in itself is enough reason to get private hospital insurance considering the potential seriousness of some cases. When you consider for most young to middle aged people, emergency care will be not that regular, is $400 plus too much to pay to be assessed quickly by experienced doctors? How much is a life worth or treatment for a serious condition? It can be deemed a ripoff but compared to the U.S. system is nothing really. I can understand it might be tough though for families though with multiple emergency cases. The other aspect is many medical centres are open late til 10 and do bulk bill so that is an alternative for many patients. Too many access emergency when they have no need to and so blocking the system up with longer waiting times.
@@jimr4354 Problem is for non emergency care if you use insurance you are out of pocket thousands of dollars. I was $3000 out of pocket for shoulder surgery for me that was deemed not an emergency even though the bone was broken. I have no issues with the amounts you are talking about paying if it was the case all the time but even with my relatively good hospital cover non emergency stuff you are charged a lot on top of the insurance and thats the bit I object to. same for dental, I pay for dental coverage, but really it barely covers anything other than a clean and a filling. I need a tooth replaced, i'll be out of pocket over $6000 there. The reason the public waiting lists are so long for elective surgery is because people won't use private when they are expected to fork out thousands extra. So yeah our system is heaps better than the USA, but a few governments have tried to turn it too far towards the USA style system. A lot of Australians have private insurance only because it means they pay less tax, but never use it. This in turn keeps premiums lower, but means only those with significant savings can afford to actually use it.
Here's our "secret" mate. In 2019-20, health spending accounted for 10.2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in Australia. In the UK it's 12% of GDP. In the USA it's 19.7% of GDP. That's a disgrace.
Quite a few years ago now I saw the documentary " Sicko " by Michael Moore, that is one hell of a eye opener about your health system, unbelievable really. Congrats on baby Ryan!
I agree. I’ve watched that too. Americans seem to not like Michael Moore as he points out things such as this and gun laws in a movie about columbine ( not sure of spelling). It’s all money driven
I’m Australian, I lost my precious 18 year old to cancer in January, quality of care was not the issue, my daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma. She was also born at 31 weeks and spent a long time in neonatal intensive care. During her life, I didn’t have to pay for her healthcare, it was covered by the government, even when her chemo and immunotherapy that occurred weekly at a cost of $65,000 AUS to the government, it was free to me. I never had to choose over treatment and keeping a roof over our heads, our government paid me a carers allowance to take care of her. I cannot imagine living in America and that doesn’t even cover the guns
I had a major heart attack 5 yrs ago and have 2 stents in my heart. The aftercare and cardiac rehab were excellent. Had this happened in America I'd be bankrupt or dead.
As an Australian 2% of my taxable income helps fund the Medicare levy. I would not expect to be taxed on my income whilst living and working abroad. Yet Americans who do not enjoy a Socialised health care system are still required to report their income to Uncle Sam even when they are living and working abroad whilst receiving no benefits or representation. I wonder at the American concept of freedom.
Actually you are wrong about paying tax when working over seas. It depends on which countries you work in and if that country has a reciprocal agreement. This rule also applies with capital gains from investments/ property ownership etc. the tax rules in Australia are very complex, the ATO want a slice of your pie, it does not matter if you earned it overseas and it does not matter if you have already been taxed on it in the relative country.I know this as I have worked overseas now for 25 years in multiply countries.
This is why the government isn't doing anything about regulating costs.........pharmaceutical companies spent $900 million on lobbying between 1998 and 2005, more than any other industry. During the same period, they donated $89.9 million to federal candidates and political parties. They don't want to bite the hand that feeds them.
the holding your baby after its born thing is not even an 'option' here, its just done, the kid is pulled out and slapped on your chest almost immediately (unless there are complications of course), mother holds bub while the doctors/midwifes finish up 'down there', then they focus on getting bub to latch for the first time once everything has settled down. they give bub a very quick clean and examination, then put him back on mum. its not until hours later that they actually take bub 'away', then its only for measurements and weight, then its back to mum or dad. unless there is an issue with mum or bub, bub stays at mums bedside/in her arms until they both leave the hospital. we paid about $20 per kid. that was for my parking at the hospital. could have probably parked down the road for free, but then I would have to move the car every few hours.
Very similar to what happens in the UK. The only real difference is, wherever baby goes, a parent does too. Largest expense about going to a hospital in the UK? Car park charges (the other expense is food, and that's optional in case you decide to not want anything on the free menu)
@@dwaynewrighton8547 I didn't actually mean they take the baby away (unless it has to go into isolation), they just take it over to the other side of the room to the heated scales. there is no real point where the baby leaves a parents side. none of this 'baby in room full of babies' stuff like you see in the movies.
That’s the same in the UK my son was born 11 weeks early by c-section because there was complications in princess Anne’s hospital which is one of the best on the south coast for the NICU, the doctors and nurses where amazing and the after care was top notch, he was in hospital for 7 weeks before we could take him home thank god there was no issues and I would finish work about 4 in the afternoon and go straight to the hospital and stay until about midnight while my wife was resting as she stayed from morning till afternoon and all I payed for was parking which I payed £30 a month and whatever I did not use got reimbursed straight into my bank.
@@gavintjames1989 yeah. luckily for us, both kids were relatively easy, on time, vaginal births. some stitches and stuff for mum, but nothing major, both basically only over night stays. my niece was quite premature and had to stay in hospital for 6-8 weeks, most of that in one of those pods in the ICU section of the maternity ward.
@@myopinion69420 if my wife would have gone full term then it would have been only over night stays but due to unforeseen circumstances that wasn’t meant to be but that would scare me in the US in how much would the care and after care cost with the c-section as well, it just baffles me with how backwards there country is.
We are blessed to have the healthcare safety net we have in Australia. The health of the nation should be top priority of any government. I am a strong believer in also including healthy nutrition and lifestyle in this and promoting that, not just pharma. The video seems to expose a system that stresses people about health so much that it’s detrimental to their health and they then need to buy more health services. 🧐 Ethics? Congratulations on your upcoming baby! I’ve seen the crib in the past and thought they must be sleeping while you filmed 😆 There are free medical centres in every town here, you just turn up, see the doctor for free, they refer you for any tests you need, all free, and even the specialists they refer you to afterwards are usually free. There is a waiting list for specialists or surgeries if you aren’t an urgent case and you can use private system if you wish to pay or are covered privately as well. Also if you do pay at a private specialist or use private cover the more times you see them the less the bill becomes, there’s all sorts of ways the costs are offset. It’s complicated and not perfect but it’s a lifesaver for most people. Pensioners all receive reduced prescription costs.
Mate, as an Aussie, I have to laugh every time you say "happy arvo"... I've never heard that said here in my entire life. But keep on saying it 'cause it kind of cute.... it's growing on me.
My mum in law is from Minnesota. Just two years before retirement she required a hip replacement. Luckily she had really good insurance. Just as well because the surgeon put the wrong replacement hip in The one he used was for another patient. My mum in law developed an infection and then the hospital realised the error. The surgeon was not reprimanded in any way. My m-i-l required two months in hospital without a hip needing six weeks of massive antibiotics. Eventually she got the correct hip replacement and then needed 4 months in a rehabilitation clinic to fully recover. The bill for everything was just over $1million USD. Her insurance paid almost all and mum had to fork out about $25,000. But the insurance company got a major rebate from the hospital for the surgical error in the hundreds of thousands. Mum hit no share in it and then faced an increase in her premiums. To top it all off she went back to work 7 months after the first op and was promptly sacked due to fact the employer would have to contribute higher fees to her health insurance which was originally included in her employment contract. An awful and needless experience and the only one to lose out was her.
That sucks.I had twins -underweight and stayed in hospital.I went home but was rushed back with pleurasy! I also stayed for another 5 weeks in hospital.Insurance paid us AUS $900.00.And paid for our hospital costs as well!!
Germany here: I see my doctor on a regular basis, for example yearly checkups. If im going in to the hospital, i have to pay 10 Euros for the first 15 Days, im in the hospital, after that, no payment. Meds prescribed by my doc are either free or cost me 5 € at the max...
American healthcare is tied to the employer, the history of this is interesting. In most developed economies, this isn't the case, certainly not Australia. Unpaid medical bills are the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the US. In Australia, this number is practically zero.
I am in Canada in a very rural area. I had to enter the small local hospital ER with chest pains. I was quickly diagnosed and treated. Drs ordered a CT scan at large city hospital so I was put on an ambulance to have one without delay (300 km round trip). Back in local hospital to stay for three nights. Medications, meals, snacks, phone, WiFi, cable TV, and parking were all free. All hospital and doctors are no charge (no bill seen). After discharge specialized drugs at low cost (one day's dose cost in US would buy a week's worth in Canada). Partial compensation for drug costs for lower income. Follow-up specialist Dr visits in big city I get paid mileage by cheque.
On Saturday I was scheduled for a minor blood procedure the doctors office wasn't equipped for, so it was performed in the hospital that day. There was no-one else in the ER waiting room of our small hospital, and the nurse called me right at the scheduled time. Only one patient occupied a bed in the ER. Procedure done in a new multi-million dollar building addition to the hospital opened only a few weeks ago
UK NHS used to be one of the most accessible healthcare systems in the world - no one had to pay for anything that was available on the NHS, and all emergency care was, plus a lot of other stuff. Long waiting lists though. We do have private healthcare there too, that can bypass waiting lists and get other, non-essential surgeries done (including cosmetic - that's usually paid for). But things changed - and now a lot more has to be paid for, but nothing like (I mean NOTHING like) what you in the USA have to pay. Australia is more expensive than the UK - GP visits, unless bulk billed, on a pension or a child have to be paid for, for example; and prescription drugs cost what they cost (with subsidies in some cases), whereas a UK prescription is blanket cost. Dental work is more expensive in Australia too. Ambulances - it's wise to have private health insurance in Australia to cover that, or it's ~AU$800 charge (where I am, could be more elsewhere!). Free in the UK. It disturbs me mightily that the UK appears to be trying to move to a more US-like system - it will be appalling if that happens.
You’re not quite right about the ambulance in Australia. You can pay $75 per year to cover a family/household for full ambulance cover. You don’t need private health insurance. Even if you get rescued by a helicopter etc which is worth thousands, you don’t pay a cracker.
UK dentists are like searching for hens teeth !!! The irony !! No wounder are teeth are shocking . I haven't had a face to face gp visit in 3 years despite working for NHS throughout pandemic ...NHS waiting list is crazy now but it's all free at point of use and you don't need to owe a kidney to get care but it's going downhill thanks to the evil conservatives!!!
So what if i told you that in Finland before your baby is born the government will send you a baby box which contains everything you need for the first year for your baby like clothing, baby shampoo etc. What if i told you that it is completely free so you don't pay a dime. What if i told you that before your child comes out during your wifes pregnancy the visits to the child heath care center are free and when your baby is born after a couple of weeks they will check your baby that everything is ok and this will include your wife as well and all of this is free. After that visit you go there with your baby for health check ups and vaccinations.
I recently noticed something very wrong with my left eye. Went to my local hospital, who referred me immediately to a larger hospital about two hours away. I got to the second hospital @ 2.30 pm. Was told I was going blind. Was in surgery by 5.30 pm same day. My vision restored. Cost me nothing. I go back for check ups with top eye specialist every three months. Still no cost. Checked on internet same surgery in us around $10,000 USD. If I was in us I would be blind now. From Australia.
This morning I went and had my annual echocardiogram done (Im in advanced heart failure) I have one done every year to ensure that my 2 mechanical heart valves are functioning normally. I had my mechanical valves placed 4 years ago during a 5 week stay in hospital, 15 days of that in intensive care. I take 14 medications a day, including insulin. I pay $46 for TWENTY FIVE vials of insulin. My total cost today for the echo? $0.00. My total bill for the open heart surgery? $0.00. That heart surgery was my 20th surgery.....I have paid nothing for any of them over and above the $1000 or so that my husband and I pay into our Medicare scheme through an annual tax levy. I live in Australia. I know hundreds of Americans with similar heart conditions to mine. Most of them are wearing life vests. Life vests are not used where I am, or in most of the developed world for that matter......theyre a wearable defibrillator......they are extremely ineffective, quite often they deliver a shock when not needed, they also have trouble, as you'd imagine, keeping contact with the skin...partly why they are very ineffective.....and must be worn extremely tightly to have any hope of working at all.....but in the US just about everyone is scared into wearing one, or getting an implantable device, because they are EXTREMELY profitable to their makers and the doctors who terrify patients into believing that without it, theyre going to drop dead. People in the US who've had the same surgery I have had have been billed as much as $500000 just for the surgery and a week long hospital stay, let alone the 5 week stay I had which is not that uncommon.............. I would take our medicare system over the US system any day. The US doesnt have a "better" system, if the US system was in any way "better" survival outcomes would reflect that. They dont. In fact your infant/mother mortality rates are among the worst in the developed world.
The one thing I have never understood is why the richest country on Earth does not look after its citizens. In the UK we have had free Health care since 1947. Why is America so far behind?
2 years ago I had a tumour (malignant) removed from my colon , I spent nine days in hospital and my only cost was €80 a day for the hospital bed. The surgery , medication , pain relief was free. My tests since then , CT scans , colonoscopies , consultations are all free. I've been cancer free since and I'm being monitored continuously. I imagine it would have cost north of $100k+ in the States.
Congrats on your baby and how lovely to see your wife. She looks fantastic for 8 months. I’m a scientist and I make my husband kill spiders too, lol. Please keep saying happy arvo, many of us love it - a great meeting of USA and AUS!
I'm a Brit and I'm well aware of the short comings of our National Health Service, but I thank all I hold dear that we have it. My wife and boss has been a Nurse (now ICU ward Sister) for nearly 35 years, trained in the Army and switched to the NHS after 10 years of service, our oldest daughter has followed her example and two of our granddaughter are currently training in the Royal Army Medical Corps at the moment. I look at my girls with such pride for what they do and are willing to do, yet I'm the one who got the medals for my military career even though they are hero's everyday.
Just to put it out there, most of Europe has facilities and experts that are superior to America. Also having a baby, in Slovenia, is free for anyone with mandatory insurance (costs 15€, that is deducted from your pay monthly) and added insurance (that individuals pay 35€ per month). And basically you only need the mandatory insurance, because it covers any urgent treatment (like giving birth), or breaking a leg, .... and if needed an ambulance ride, just a normal visit to the doctor (check-up, bloodwork, basic diagnosis, costs around 1,75€ to 2,5€) . Now with the added insurance everything is free (except for unnecessary elected surgery). Now if you loose your job and are eligible for social assistance, both of those are covered by the Center for Social Help. As for medication I have three prescriptions for depression, ptsd, and a few other things, that cost around 30€, but I don't have to pay anything for them, because of our social care system developed when we were still part of the Yugoslav nation of Communist heretics and the league of unaligned nations, has been preserved into present day society.
An inhaler costs around $8 in Australia That was hilarious when your wife came in.... How is she going to be when you visit Australia down the track? Bugs and spiders are a part of life.... haha And apparently you have to pay $40 to hold your baby immediately after birth in the USA so start saving Crikey,.!!!!
I broke my leg badly a year ago, (compound fracture of the tib and fib), two ambulances involved (one to bring better drugs) 30 min ride, 2 days in hospital, surgical insert of rod in bone, antibiotics, pain relief, moon boot etc. Total cost $137 ($100 of which was a gift basket for the wards nursing station). The Australian system works. Ambulance costs are state by state, my state has it for free. The US system doesn't have to be bad, it is a choice.
Surgeon, MDs and other health professionals are, in western societies, are all paid very well. Perhaps not US well, but certainly well. The biggest difference with the US is the cost of the administration of the insurance system. The senior staff in insurance companies are paid obscene amounts, and they don't add anything to health outcomes. Congrats on the baby! I can guarantee your life is about to change in ways you cannot imagine!
Americans often say " well UK citizens still pay for healthcare from there wages with national insurance" but what is often misunderstood is that, that amount is very small and adjusted based on your income (For me it's less that £50 per month) but what people forget is that even if I was unemployed I would still receive full healthcare regardless of how much NI I had payed previously. No-one in the UK is refused healthcare, those who work contribute to the healthcare system but there is no distinction between those who "contribute" and those who don't. As someone who has received major Surgery in the last 10 years I can honestly say I would be dead or in debt for life if I lived in the US. No shame on the US here, I previously married an American, but universal healthcare works and should be available to Americans too
Absolutely shocking America, i am so blessed to be Australian. Congrats on the baby & don't kill the spider bro just let the woman freak out a little more and put that on RU-vid 😃😃🤣🤣 ✌🤠
The simple breakdown is: In Oz, we pay a "Medicare levy".. Its approx 1.5-2% of your taxable income. But we also have a tax free "threshold" of $18,500. (You do not pay Tax or pay medicare levy for these earnings). This means when you need access to public health, you get it.. Once you get to hospital, all your public hospital fees are covered. There is a small fee for ambulance, but you can get "Ambulance cover" for the year. We also have "private" cover, which allows choice and immediate access to services of specialists etc. This "enhances" the public system for some users.. (Cover for a family of 4 is approx $2-4000 a year) I had the top valve of my stomach rebuilt, as it didnt work. A major stomach laparoscopic operation, weeks of tests, 2 surgeons (one a Professor of Gastro Surgery), a team of 8.. 4 days in care and lots of heavy painkiller dwugs.. Walked out owning $6 for some Prescription painkillers to take home for the next month.. Cant complain about that.. Do the math/s, what is 1.5% of your taxable income worth as compared to what you would pay for medical insurance monthly.. Interesting comparison.. And we go to the GP asap when we feel sick, so our healthcare is a lot more "preventative", where in the US people only go once their issue is "chronic"..
You are spreading another fallacy. There are a lot of great Doctors in the world, cutting edge technology, medical specialists and hospitals and care. American is neither the cheapest or necessarily the best with the quality of health care. Other countries also do a great job with the quality of Medicine too. And a lot cheaper. (lol....sorry, to burst your bubble)
Hey Ryan. First of all congrats for your (first?) child. All the best for your family ❤️ In the 30 sec. between 6:50 and 7:20 you exactly described the reason, why we Europans expect a federal regulation of our health care systems and companies. As trade union we love the free markets too. But in some aspects of life, companies have to be regulated. American politicians like to call that 'socialism', but here in Europe we call it 'social standards'. Greetings from Germany to you and all the nice Australian people here 😊
Another Australian here. 3 years ago I had a complete liver transplant. Living in QLD the surgery and the 1.5 years of testing and procedures before hand were all covered by the government as 'life saving treatment'. My only out of pocket expense was a couple hundred dollars when I lived in the hotel across from the hospital after transplant for 2 weeks, all that money was later reimbursed from the government. When it comes to my anti rejection medication that I'm now on for life the cost of each is 140$ but the subsidies mean I only pay $40 a box per month. In QLD our ambulance is paid for within the electricity bill. However in the entire Australia country we also have the RFDS the royal flying doctor service which is a free plane service that does patient transfers, clinical care and emergency services to the population living in remote towns and stations. It's been a free service since Jihn Flynn created it in 1930s
I live in Brasil. Last may my brother had a serious back problem, he is tal and broad, 2m10cm (no idea in inches, but he is a former basketball player, about 130kg), he was not able to walk and there was no way me and my mom could carry him to the car and hospital. We called our public health service (SUS). They came in, and game him a injection for pain, at home, and took him to hospital, were he had xray, tomography, and a bunch of other exams. All free. He had to have surgery, well, that is something that can take a while on the public sistem, a few months (or years) so you can have them for free, so, he has health insurance, and was able to do it with no additional cost (maybe a R$ 300 for the anestesy ~ U$ 90). He was still getting his pay (he is an engineer) for the 4 months he was not able to work, now is in fisiotherapy, also no additional cost. My uncle is currently on cancer treatment, all free, even transportation and food. Our taxes are high, but not even compared to paying what norh americans pay for health...
When I had my daughter 37 years ago here in Canada, I paid nothing. It turned out to be a c section, and I was in the hospital for over a week. I thank God every day that I live here, it ain't perfect but it's better than our closest neighbour's.
I’m so grateful for Medicare. I remember a time in 1967, well before Medicare arrived- my mother contracted Hepatitis A , and because we didn’t have health insurance my mother had to be treated at home by the GP rather than go to hospital. So once again thanks to Medicare it has saved my life without ramifications of high medical bills.
Spent 24 nights in hospital in Brisbane Australia including on night in intensive care (massive PE) and walked out with $50 bill for the medication I took home. Glad I live here and not the USA.
In Queensland, Australia, we pay a small fee ($2)with our car registration that gives everyone who lives here free ambulance services.....gotta love the Lucky Country!
Americans need to rebel against their health care system. You have 330 million people. Use your market power to boycott targeted products. Drive down prices, run campaigns that publicise the inequities in the system and convince Americans that universal health care is not communism.
I am a European who live in Canada for five and half years. At first I did not realize why Canadians felt their country is better place to live as they have universal healthcare. As a naïve European I believed it's normal to have it. It took me gathering information to realize that country where a lot of pioneering medical interventions took place, country of scientific advancement average Joe cannot afford to go the the doctor. And that many people are two paychecks or one hospital stay from being homeless and broke.
We actually do pay in Australia, a very small percentage for Medicare taken from our wages $90,001 to $105,000, the rate is 1.0%, $105,001 to $140,000, the rate is 1.25%, $140,001 or more, the rate is 1.5%. If you have private health insurance you get a rebate. Our Government may not be the best, but people do not hesitate to go to the doctor or hospital if they are sick due to financial difficulties. A Government that looks after the people is doing its job, a Government that puts profit before its people is not.
As an Australian I'm proud of our health care system. 2 weeks ago my wife broke her arm requiring reconstructive surgery. The most expensive thing we paid for was the Uber driver from the hospital. Everything else was free!
I’m in Australia a few years ago I busted my hand and even bent some bones. I had reconstructive surgery by the best specialist in the country he ranked number 6 in the world. Drilled wired and stretched plus check ups, X-rays and scans. After care including physio and it did not cost me one cent. I don’t have private insurance.
One of the reasons why medicines are so cheap in Australia is because the Australian Federal government buys medication in huge amounts and then pharmacies buy it from the Federal government. By buying medication in such huge bulk the Australian government gets those awesome bulk buying discounts. Certain medications which would then still be considered expensive get subsidised further.
Was that an Australian spider your wife was screaming at lol. I thought only we had all the spiders lol. Move to Aus, cheaper medical bills, same spiders lol
Firstly, congratulations. I hope you enjoy fatherhood as much as I do. Being a dad is the best thing in the world. I wanted to mention a couple of things. I'm English and I know Americans who argue in favour of their system often criticise the UK system by talking about how our taxes are much higher. This is a red herring and also not true. Our taxes are not much higher than yours and low income people in the UK usually pay even less tax than they would in the USA. The taxes we pay towards running the National Health Service are much lower than the premiums paid by the average American for insurance and as you mention yourself you still get bills to pay as the insurance rarely, if ever, covers 100%. We can run our system more cheaply because it's a state run service not a profit making business. An appendicectomy costs about $5,000 in the UK and around $40, 000 in the USA. Real cost versus profit making business. They also imply that our system means you pay in taxes for other people's care. But that's what happens with insurance too. They don't put your money into a special box with your name on it. It all goes together to pay out all the costs for everyone. And they have to make enough money to pay out all the claims from everyone and also make a profit. The more they have to pay out, the higher premiums will be for everyone no matter what claims you make yourself. This is how insurance works.
I remember watching "Mother Juggs and Speed" when i was a kid in the 70's, being English it was odd to me that there were Ambulance companies chasing after patients, we just call one when we need one and don't think about the cost.
In Australia if you aren't an Ambulance Member its about 1.3--2k per callout, however being a member is only about $50 a year for one person, $100 for a family. Once the membership is paid and registered ambulance rides are free, and its also free for people with a Disability Pension..
I am over 60 and get free health care, we pay for it in our taxes, but only what you can afford so you do not have to worry, the NHS is a blessing, we only pay nine pounds for medication but once you retire it's free, God help you in the USA, 🇬🇧🇬🇧
I am an American that lived in Canada for 22 years. All my kids (3 sons) were born there back in the '70s. I was in the hospital for 5 days with each of them (normal time back then), never saw a bill. Anytime me or my family had to go to the doctor, no bill. I fell and broke my leg, and had 2 surgeries on it, hospitalized for 10 days, fracture clinic visits 2 times a week from the end of July until the end of November, when the 6 pins coming out of my leg attached to a metal bar, were removed. I never saw a bill for any of that. That was one reason why I didn't really want to move back to the U.S. The bills I have had here since returning for emergency gall bladder removal (in hospital for 2 days, and a total hip replacement, in hospital for 3 days, just blew me away. I have a good health insurance plan, but the total cost for both of those procedures, the hospital stay, physical therapy, etc. were well over 60K. It's crazy, especially now that I am in my mid '70s now. It's a CRIME!
Fixing the US healthcare system is, in theory, pretty simple. Create one or more NOT FOR PROFIT health insurances (and make the not for profit part law). Mandate that for x citizens there must be a not for profit hospital available. Mandate that regardless of the way of payment, prices of treatment have to be the same for everybody. The first makes the perverse health insurance structure in the US obsolete. The problem with Obamacare is that the health insurances are not limited in what they can take or how much profit they can make, and such every insured person pays AT LEAST 100% of their treatment costs. The second will destroy most of the horrendous need for hospitals to squeeze everything out of every patient, because the patients will now go to a hospital that will only seek to cover its own costs. The third makes it so that everybody who comes into an hospital pays the price the most powerful negotiator, Medicaid and Medicare, negotiated for themselves.
As a life long asthmaric I'd be in trouble in the US. In the UK my inhaler costs the same as any prescription which is about $13. I choose to pay for a year of prescriptions (unlimited) upfront at about $140. In the UK it's true you may wait 2 months for a hip replacement but life and death conditions are fixed immediately. My friend unfortunayely recently had a heart attack. He was lucky we live with 8 miles of a hospital. He was stabilised by the ambalance crew. Rushed to hospital and immediately into surgery to put stents in. He was released from hospital 3 days later with no bill!
A couple of years ago I developed a lump underneath my jaw just below my right ear. Not sore or causing discomfort. I casually mentioned to my doctor and she insisted I get scans ($0 charge) and she forwarded the scans to a ENT specialist ($0 charge) who recommended I get it biopsyed. I had the biopsy ($0 charge) and the consultation with the specialist who diagnosed it as precancerous and advised I have surgery ($0 charge). I booked into St Vincent's Hospital they said it would be a couple of months wait and I could go on the standby list if someone cancels. 3 weeks later I am notified I'm booked in for next Friday 9:00 am. On arrival I have a CT scan ($0 charge) then I have the surgery by the ENT specialist and his team of assistants and anethatist ($0 charge). I'm in hospital for 8 days including medications endone and Panadol ($0 charge). This was major surgery where I had my saliva gland removed. They even replaced my blood pressure tablets for ($0 charge). All this was done through our public healthcare system.
My son was injured in a car accident, helicopter ride to the hospital, surgery, one week stay in hospital, follow up appointments for 3 years + physio and medication and another surgery, reimbursement for travel. I had no insurance the driver had no insurance, we had no charges at and if there was a cost we were reimbursed. I'm from Victoria Australia.
G'day from OZ, I have the highest standard of private health insurance in Australia. I had elective surgery in a private hospital with one night in the hospital and after insurance, I paid $700 US. Had I not had private insurance, then I would have had the same high-quality care at no cost, but I would wait for 5mths-8mths. Anything serious and you are in the hospital immediately with our national health system and you pay $0.00 for an ambulance, hospital stay, specialists, surgeons, drugs, etc. I pay $1600 US per year for my insurance and it really is optional.
In the province of Ontario, Canada, the public health system charges a flat fee for an ambulance ride to discourage unnecessary use. It's $45 (about $33 USD). Even if it's an hour-long air ambulance ride in a state-of -the-art helicopter staffed by pros, the fee is still $45.
Just for perspective: I earned ~2000€ before taxes last month. Of that, i payed ~165€ in taxes, less than 10%. Also payed ~165€ in health insurance, with the employer paying roughly the same ammount on top of that. This covers: All visits to general physicians, basic dental care, almost all vaccines, ambulance if needed, hospital visits, all needed surgeries, all medication, it is almost everything. What has to be payed out of pocket: For medications with a price below 100€ you pay 5€, if it is above 100€, you pay 10€ per package. Packages are usually sized for 3 months for chronic treatments. And there is a 10€ fee per day for staying at a hospital. But these out of pocket payments are capped at a max of 5% your annual income. Once you reach that threshold, you have to file some paperwork and then have no more payments for the rest of the year. Would love to see others from all over the world to add their real numbers here for some wider perspective.
Great video mate, entertaining and great to see the wife get a look in and good to see you didn't edit it out, wishing you guys all the best with the upcoming birth of your child 💯👍🇦🇺
My mother was on holidays in the U.S. when in seattle she broke her ankle badly and a spiral fracture up her lower leg. She thankfully had travel insurance and her operation and hospital stay was covered. When she returned home a company pursued her for the cost of the anaesthesiology saying the insurance company had not payed it. When she contacted the insurance company they provided her with the receipt numbers and said they would sort it out as it had been paid but they would send her a copy of her entire file incase there where future inquiries. When she got it she was shocked to find the operation and hospital stay had amounted to just over $147,000.
I've had two back surgeries - one surgery where they removed a cancerous kidney - one eye surgery - one surgery they fixed a pinched nerve in the elbow... All over ten years, apart from the eye surgery that was done (I was cross-eyed) when I was ten years old. Total cost over ten years (including three Ambulance Pickups) = $150
I am from Germany, my mother collapsed at home a month ago. 3 days stay in the emergency room, various treatments, she did not have to pay a single cent. Then yesterday she received a bill for 500 euros for the ambulance ride. Her health insurance covers 490 euros.
3 years ago I had a mini stroke. 1 paramedic, they called an ambulance Got to the hospital, got seen by nurses, doctor, specialist 4 days in hospital. Got discharged after I had 2 CT scans, one MRI and a lumba tap to extract spinal fluid. I had excellent care, good food, excellent staff My medication changed to include some changes. I have 5 didderent items on my presciption. Where I live, total cost to me is nothing, sod allm and that ibcludes my tablets and further specialist apointments. This is in the uk
