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30 People Compare Healthcare In The US Vs. Other Countries, Say The US Has A Lot To Learn
When Harvard professor Moshik Temkin was in France, he had to see a doctor. At the time, he didn't have health insurance, so Temkin couldn't know what to expect. The appointment could have taken a serious bite out of his pocket. But it didn't. In fact, it was so cheap compared to what he's used to in the United States, Temkin even tweeted out his experience.
The tweet instantly went viral, inspiring other people to share stories as well. Continue scrolling and take a look at some of the most popular ones.
Image credits: moshik_temkin
Image credits: moshik_temkin
Image credits: moshik_temkin
Image credits: moshik_temkin
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Sum Guy 3 years ago
Our hospitals in Eswatini might not be up to par with the world... it's a 3rd world african country after all, but I had my wisdom tooth removed for about $4 total, pain meds included. Also sometime last year I had to get a couple of tests and scans including X-rays. total cost, 20 emalangeni which is just over 1 US dollar.
According to the Commonwealth Fund, which regularly ranks the health systems of a handful of developed countries, in 2017, the best countries for health care were the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Australia. The United States came in last. The country's health care system, the report says, spends far more than other high-income countries yet has gaps in the quality of care. And this is consistent throughout 20 years.
The U.S. had the worst performance score overall and ranked last or near last on the Access, Administrative Efficiency, Equity, and Health Care Outcomes domains. Based on a broad range of indicators, the U.S. health system is an outlier and should look at other countries' approaches if it wants to become an affordable, high-performing health care system that serves all Americans.
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#2
Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
Shameful. The USA pays more per capita on health care than any other country, so I've heard, yet we have the highest maternal death rate of any first-world country. We are sick and getting sicker.
"The United States spends far more on health care than other high-income countries, with spending levels that rose continuously over the past three decades," the report said. "Yet the U.S. population has poorer health than other countries. Life expectancy, after improving for several decades, worsened in recent years for some populations, aggravated by the opioid crisis. In addition, as the baby-boom population ages, more people in the U.S.—and all over the world—are living with age-related disabilities and chronic disease, placing pressure on health care systems to respond."
#3
Radek Suski 3 years ago
They don't do it anymore in Germany. The TV is free. I mean it wouldn't work these days anyway as almost everyone have at least a smartphone
#4
The important thing is that timely and accessible health care could mitigate many of these challenges, but the U.S. health care system fails to deliver required services reliably to all who could benefit. Particularly, poor access to primary care has contributed to inadequate prevention and management of chronic diseases, delayed diagnoses, incomplete adherence to treatments, wasteful overuse of drugs and technologies, and coordination and safety problems.
#5
am_c0m0 3 years ago
In Canada, I had a hysterectomy and stayed at the hospital 5 days. My Medicare was expired , they told me to come in when I got my new one. While I was waiting for it, I got a bill from the hospital: over $10,000! A few days later, went with my new Medicare card, they registered it and I paid $0.00, including my new Medicare card.
#6
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
LOL. American: "I paid 49 Euro for a doctor visit and meds!!!" European: "Dude, you've been robbed!!"
The Commonwealth Fund's president, David Blumenthal, said at the Spotlight Health Festival, which is co-hosted by the Aspen Institute and The Atlantic, that there are 3 main reasons why the United States lags behind its peers.
Firstly, a lack of insurance coverage. A common talking point on the right is that health care and health insurance are not equivalent—that getting more people insured will not necessarily improve health outcomes. But Blumenthal stated: "The literature on insurance demonstrates that having insurance lowers mortality. It is equivalent to a public-health intervention."
#8
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago (edited)
Netherlands: 140 Euro per month for insurance. Co-payment 385 Euro per year. No payments to doctors for visits or house calls, very minor contributions to prescriptions until you've maxed out your co-payment for that year.
More than 27 million people in the United States were uninsured in 2016, which is nearly a tenth of the population. That's mostly because they can’t afford coverage, live in a state that didn’t expand Medicaid, or are undocumented. Those aren’t problems that people in places like the United Kingdom worry about.
#12
Crazy Meerkat Lady 3 years ago
Can't Bored Panda staff get rid of this Hazel Lily shmuck? Except for Parkinson's, apparently she is also suffering from memory loss because she posts the same damn comment everywhere!!! We get it....ultimate herbal clinic.... the answer to everything. Suffering from a disease? Ultimateherbclinic. Suffering from stupidity, Ultimateherbclinic. Lost a nipple? Want to become pen pals with a rehabilitated serial killer? You know it people...... Ultimateherbclinic. Get out!
Next, administrative inefficiency. "We waste a lot of money on administration," Blumenthal explained. According to the Commonwealth Fund's report, in the United States, "doctors and patients [report] wasting time on billing and insurance claims. Other countries that rely on private health insurers, like the Netherlands, minimize some of these problems by standardizing basic benefit packages, which can both reduce the administrative burden for providers and ensure that patients face predictable copayments." To put it simply, while insurance coverage, in general, is great, it's not ideal that different insurance plans cover different treatments and procedures, forcing doctors to spend precious hours working with insurance companies to provide care.
#16
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
Stop voting for people who think that universal health care is socialist and that article 25 of the universal declaration of human rights is just a joke.
#18
Luis 3 years ago
A brick hit my left foot toe and get broke, after 3 hrs and 300 for the X-rays, they ask me 3,700 for the surgery ( with the insurance that I pay 350 per month) I went to Mexico, 35 dlls for the appointment and the X-rays, Dr told me can make the surgery right there; he did it, and charge me 175 dlls I live in the border, I just cancel my insurance in USA and get it in Mexico... Now I pay 125 for my and my wife and my 2 sons, and I'm covered 100% and my copay is 125 dlls for any procedure We may need...
Finally, underperforming primary care. "We have a very disorganized, fragmented, inefficient, and under-resourced primary care system, "Blumenthal explained. The Commonwealth Fund found that many primary-care physicians struggle to receive relevant clinical information from specialists and hospitals, complicating efforts to provide seamless, coordinated care.
#19
Cassie 3 years ago
"American aversion to going to the doctor" - We hit a rough patch years ago where we didn't have insurance. The kids had Medicaid, but adults generally don't qualify. I broke my foot (dropped a very heavy washing machine on it and there was really no question that it was broken) but refused to go to the hospital for it because there was no way I could afford it. Even with insurance, I'm terrified that one of us will need to go to the ER. It's $150 just to walk in the door and there's no telling what seeing the doctor or getting tests will add to that. Suffering and self-treating are too common here.
#20
Carl Fraser 3 years ago
Hubby developed pneumonia with sepsis in Tokyo. 10 days in hospital, so many blood tests, x-rays, scans etc, even the hospital were worried about the bill. Ended up being $22,000 [Australian] and after our insurance paid out their bit, we were left with a bill of . . . . . . . NOTHING.
#21
Tanya Fisher-Lehmann 3 years ago
The cost in Germany is €10 per day in the hospital. But you only have to pay 280€ maximum per year (4 weeks), no matter how long or often you are in any hospital. That's the cost of food and linen basically.
On top of a lack of investment in primary care, "we don't invest in social services, which are important determinants of health," Blumenthal added. Things like home visiting, better housing, and subsidized healthy food could extend the work of doctors and improve chronic disease outcomes.
#23
#26
Tom Krysiak 3 years ago
Of course you do! You deserve a health system that's not a corporation...
#29
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
Find a good friend in Spain who will send you your inhalers. Perhaps we could make it a business. "Good friends for Americans" We buy your meds in Europe, send them to you and you pay us the meds, shipping costs and a little surcharge of $5 per shipment. Happy days for everyone...
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What do you think ?
Shelp 3 years ago
Those testimonies were extremely sad to read. They reminded me of those stories of children from violent households who are extremely distrustful and stressed out when put in a caring and loving environment. They grew up with a terrible system, and can't really believe their luck when confronted to something better, that everyone else finds normal...
Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
I highly recommend Michael Moore's documentary "Sicko," which contrasts our health "care" with what people get in other countries. We need to be marching in the streets by the thousands!
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Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
The same people who howl "Socialism!" at the thought of single-payer health care don't bat an eye at the obscene amounts the USA spends on "defense" or corporate welfare.
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Shelp 3 years ago
Those testimonies were extremely sad to read. They reminded me of those stories of children from violent households who are extremely distrustful and stressed out when put in a caring and loving environment. They grew up with a terrible system, and can't really believe their luck when confronted to something better, that everyone else finds normal...
Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
I highly recommend Michael Moore's documentary "Sicko," which contrasts our health "care" with what people get in other countries. We need to be marching in the streets by the thousands!
Load More Replies... Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
The same people who howl "Socialism!" at the thought of single-payer health care don't bat an eye at the obscene amounts the USA spends on "defense" or corporate welfare.
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