Supertrinko t1_itmymia wrote on October 24, 2022 at 8:48 PM

Reply to comment by MakionGarvinus in The US Navy wants swarms of thousands of small drones by Sorin61

Yeah Americans have this sort of pride in the idea that "socialist" countries have to sit in waiting rooms for hours, or on waiting lists for months. That the American system is some point of pride because you get healthcare when and as you need it.

The fact is though, that you get it so quick because most people can't afford it. If healthcare were affordable, a lot more people would use it and the waiting lists would be longer.

Some people will then make excuses to keep such a system.

MakionGarvinus t1_itn1c1c wrote on October 24, 2022 at 9:06 PM

In Canada, most hospitals around where my wife is from charge a $20-50 co-pay. That prevents people from coming in with a cold, and clogging the system just to be told to take a couple days rest. I think they do have a version of supplementary insurance that you can pay for, and get extra / 'better' care.

Supertrinko t1_itn21hn wrote on October 24, 2022 at 9:10 PM

Couldn't that be better targeted by saying "If we determine that you come to the emergency room for a non-emergency, you'll be charged the co-pay fee."

In NZ, we pay $40 for a GP consult ($80 if it's a GP you aren't registered to), but it's free if you go to the hospital and hang around in triage until they finally get to you.

I would very much like it if hospitals just said "This could have been a GP visit, so pay us $80." It would stop people just using emergency rooms as a free doctor's visit.

But free doctor's visits could also help that.

MakionGarvinus t1_itn2d9q wrote on October 24, 2022 at 9:12 PM

From what I've heard, it becomes a problem around areas with a lot of natives. $20 to 'hang out' stops that.

Supertrinko t1_itnfme4 wrote on October 24, 2022 at 10:47 PM

In NZ, it's an issue with low socioeconic groups, which so happens to be "natives".