Reply to: Finally a possibly good Brexit outcome

[SueEllen]

This is true. From what I remember of the Economist article. it wasn't that things are expensive in America; it's that they 'run' massively more tests than we do.

Read and watched other stuff on US system.

If you have insurance and your insurance pays for you to have treatment at that facility the price is less.

If you don't have insurance at all or your insurance company doesn't cover that facility the price is more.

The prices are made up to make it look like insurance companies who cover that facility get a discount.

[northernladyuk]

What else is there? You get one of those papery shirt things which shows your arse off to the world, and that's about it. You don't get free parking and snacks. And if you're under the knife, they don't even have to give you a lunch that you wouldn't want to eat anyway, unless you'd walked for days across the desert eating nothing but a vulture's leftovers.

Trick with hospital food (if the option is available) is to order the Asian vegetarian menu.

Aside from that, the bed day cost includes meds, investigations, nursing care, disposables (swabs etc.) etc.

[Mordac]

That was my favourite.

The cost of an NHS inpatient day is about £400. IIRC that includes everything except surgical costs (but that is from memory).

What else is there? You get one of those papery shirt things which shows your arse off to the world, and that's about it. You don't get free parking and snacks. And if you're under the knife, they don't even have to give you a lunch that you wouldn't want to eat anyway, unless you'd walked for days across the desert eating nothing but a vulture's leftovers.

[northernladyuk]

On reflection, it seems logical to include those things - but it's still an eye-watering amount for a nightly charge.

and you have the bonus of paying almost $160 just to leave!

That was my favourite.

The cost of an NHS inpatient day is about £400. IIRC that includes everything except surgical costs (but that is from memory).

[Bean]

Room charge will include monitoring equipment, 24 hour nursing care etc. (I expect).

On reflection, it seems logical to include those things - but it's still an eye-watering amount for a nightly charge.

and you have the bonus of paying almost $160 just to leave!

[northernladyuk]

$1847.81 per night, for a semi-private room?

I know it's apples to oranges, but how much is a nearby Ritz or Savoy? What a joke!

Room charge will include monitoring equipment, 24 hour nursing care etc. (I expect).

[Bean]

It all adds up.

$1847.81 per night, for a semi-private room?

I know it's apples to oranges, but how much is a nearby Ritz or Savoy? What a joke!

[northernladyuk]

This is true. From what I remember of the Economist article. it wasn't that things are expensive in America; it's that they 'run' massively more tests than we do.

It all adds up.

[Cirrus]

It is a massively inefficient system in terms of unnecessary investigations etc.,

This is true. From what I remember of the Economist article. it wasn't that things are expensive in America; it's that they 'run' massively more tests than we do.

[woohoo]

In stead of paying more tax, just take out private health insurance

I've had private health insurance. The problem with Bupa and I'm sure other providers is that they do their best to not pay for problems that you have. Is it chronic, well it's hit and miss if they will cover you.

I have a problem with my nose and polyps. So its chronic and for years Bupa have been great. Then they changed and now do their best to not cover consultations and operations. Nearly everything was an argument with them.

I now pay for private consultation, last time I was charged £600 for a 20 min consultation. When I complained to them they sent me a new bill for £200 less. No reason given.

So I do think private care is much better but I don't think it's the future, it's also limited.

I also know someone who works at Bupa and it's changed, cuttings costs and staff etc. I'm sure other providers are doing the same.

Also, you side-stepped my question, you made a statement about most other euro countries having better health care.

[Eirikur]

Really, most other European countries? I'm not one for praising the NHS, well I love the idea and would pay more tax to make it better but it has real issues.

But i'm sure only a few months ago I was arguing against the NHS being touted as the best health care provider. Not sure if this is the link or not.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...lthcare-survey

In stead of paying more tax, just take out private health insurance

[woohoo]

Not sure why you need brexit to reform the NHS. Most other European countries have far superior health care systems without having a NHS equivalent and they are still in the EU

Really, most other European countries? I'm not one for praising the NHS, well I love the idea and would pay more tax to make it better but it has real issues.

But i'm sure only a few months ago I was arguing against the NHS being touted as the best health care provider. Not sure if this is the link or not.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...lthcare-survey

[Eirikur]

Not sure why you need brexit to reform the NHS. Most other European countries have far superior health care systems without having a NHS equivalent and they are still in the EU

[northernladyuk]

Per capita?*

Some Tories with business links to the US do want a US model.

*Just checked. Indeed they do. Amazing - they spend the most by far and yet have the worst outcomes of any developed country.
Something for the free market idealogues to ponder

It is a massively inefficient system in terms of unnecessary investigations etc., partly because the payers and the providers have different incentives, and partly because of litigation risk.

Also, the NHS has such a dominance that it depresses clinical salaries against what they would be in a market system (or maybe that's received wisdom - happy to be corrected by someone who knows better).

[OwlHoot]

Always bear in mind the Americans spend more than us per capita on state funded healthcare. Following America would not reduce NHS funding demands on that basis.

Given their chronically litigious society, much of that is medical insurance.

If they limited liability, or had a fixed set of damages for any eventuality without absurdly vindictive jury-determined excess, their healthcare would be far cheaper.

I mean if King Ethelbert could do it in about 600AD I'm sure it's not beyond the wit of man today!