I think it's a cutural thing

[ionaonie]

Much like I will never understand the American attitude towards guns, I don't think I'll ever understand their attiude towards health care.

It is truly making my mind boggle.

insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage because of a person's medical history. Period. They will not be able to drop your coverage if you get sick.

Comments

[davidbrider]

Well, now they are trying to suggest that Stephen Hawking gets good service from the NHS because he is famous.

Sheesh. Some people, I think, just can't be reasoned with sometimes, y'know?

[ionaonie]

I know!

Talk about not doing your research - either about the NHS or Stephen Hawking himself.

Idiots.

[beadattitude]

Honey, I live here and I don't get it.

[ionaonie]

I don't know if that reassures me or scares me more ;-)

[anjak_j]

The stuff with certain parties in the United States slagging off out health service really grates with me. If I lived in the United States, I'd most likely be dead, or living on the street doing whatever I could to get illegal drugs to ease the pain associated with my health conditions. Or maybe in a state-run mental hospital, for the safety of society.

I don't see any way in which that is better than me living independently in my own home with appropriate treatment. Yes, it did take me time to get the treatment I need - but I knew I would get it eventually. There is a ways to go with getting all the help I need, however I do have a reasonable quality of life. And I have the NHS to thank for that.

[ionaonie]

The thing that gets me about US politicans slagging off our system is that they just don't get it. I seem to be reading about a system that I just don't recognise. Not one tiny bit.

I just want to hit them and be like, Wikipedia is your friend. Or the NHS website. At least then tehy might get the odd fact right.

[allothi]

Yeah, I was managing to find it funny, right up until the point where I realised that large numbers of people actually believe this stuff.

[ionaonie]

The things some people will believe truly scares me.

[forcryinoutloud]

All I know is that my father, my mother, my grandmother (up until she died a few months ago), my grandparents, several aunts and uncles, would ALL be dead if they had to pay for their health care. Sure, the Canadian health care system (and others like it) has its flaws, of course it does, but it's SO much better than the alternative. I couldn't even IMAGINE having to live in the US and pay for health care. :(

--

Cintra Wilson of the NYT

I don't know what's worse, the actual article, her several attempts at "apologies" or the comments SUPPORTING her article. *ugh* SO much fail!!

[mardahin]

See, and I lived in BC and had to pay monthly premiums which I couldn't afford so wasn't able to buy into the Canadian system even though I lived there for 2 years and paid Canadian taxes. It makes my view of how "great" the Canadian system is just a bit more jaded. It's got it's positives, yes, but it's also not quite the glory that a lot of people portray it as.

[ionaonie]

a) That is an awesome icon and made me burst out laughing. SO damn true!

b) I think all health systems have good points and bad points. I know the NHS does. For all that we love the NHS in the UK, I think we could all name a dozen ways it could be improved if only the government got its act together.

I can also say, with complete honesty, that I know nothing about the canadian system *g*

[mardahin]

*G* In order:

A. I greatly enjoy the icon as well, in part because it is so accurate a reflection of reality (and something that people so often overlook). I wrote a whole fic at one point about how Kate Heightmeyer, who never really went off-world, had this whole massive collection of scars she'd acquired while "safe" in the city