All I'm saying is that the systems in place in the UK, Germany, etc. are not realistic solutions for this country, and as joanwilder pointed out below that, often, those who criticize us don't know the nuances of our system (as she mentioned -- it's illegal to deny someone emergency treatment, so it's not like we intentionally kill people, our issue is that we then leave people with no way to PAY for treatment). Mind you, I don't think you are one of those people -- I know you are a smart cookie who knows her stuff :D
I also, frankly, covet our surgery/emergency system and if I have to pay for it, so be it. It chills my heart to think of what might have happened to my mother in a socialized system, when she was really ill a few years ago. As it happened, we went to one of the best hospitals in our geographic region, and she went into emergency surgery immediately, no questions. Otherwise, she would have died. (wait lists = FAIL) We were just lucky that she works for a fantastic employer (incidentally, they are European!) who has great benefits, and it was 100% covered. As someone who is (thankfully) college educated and has the ability to get a good job at a company with great benefits, I want my privatized care. Now, finding a better, partly socialized solution for other people? Is what this country needs to do. But we have one of the best medical systems in the world for a reason (aka: b/c money is evil and makes the world go round). We have some of the best medical schools and specialists because we have our money-sucking privatized system. I wouldn't trade our system and what it is (and why it is) for anything, but it needs modifications going forward.
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I also, frankly, covet our surgery/emergency system and if I have to pay for it, so be it. It chills my heart to think of what might have happened to my mother in a socialized system, when she was really ill a few years ago. As it happened, we went to one of the best hospitals in our geographic region, and she went into emergency surgery immediately, no questions. Otherwise, she would have died. (wait lists = FAIL) We were just lucky that she works for a fantastic employer (incidentally, they are European!) who has great benefits, and it was 100% covered. As someone who is (thankfully) college educated and has the ability to get a good job at a company with great benefits, I want my privatized care. Now, finding a better, partly socialized solution for other people? Is what this country needs to do. But we have one of the best medical systems in the world for a reason (aka: b/c money is evil and makes the world go round). We have some of the best medical schools and specialists because we have our money-sucking privatized system. I wouldn't trade our system and what it is (and why it is) for anything, but it needs modifications going forward.