So, can someone explain the USA healcare system to me?

So you have to pay for it, got that far, and you can chose to insure yourself if you can afford it. But what about people who can't afford insurance, do they still get treated and left with a bill? or are they just ignored and don't get treatment?Thanks to anyone who answers.So, can someone explain the USA healcare system to me?
If you don't have insurance, you are totally screwed. If you have insurance, you are screwed but not as badly.People can get treatment but it's very expensive so most people don't. You can be treated but you will be billed. So, can someone explain the USA healcare system to me?
You get what you pay for, which is a better system than socialized health care. Socialized health care creates disincentives for doctors, long lines, and an overall lack of quality in health care.
Even people with insurance have to pay as insurance doesn't cover everything. There are varying levels and insurance products out there.People without insurance can get SOME treatment (not all), but if they have a serious / expensive illness they're often out of luck.
[QUOTE=''Strider212'']You get what you pay for, which is a better system than socialized health care. Socialized health care creates disincentives for doctors, long lines, and an overall lack of quality in health care.[/QUOTE]You might get what you pay for, but what if you cannot afford treatment you need?
[QUOTE=''Engrish_Major''][QUOTE=''Strider212'']You get what you pay for, which is a better system than socialized health care. Socialized health care creates disincentives for doctors, long lines, and an overall lack of quality in health care.[/QUOTE]You might get what you pay for, but what if you cannot afford treatment you need? [/QUOTE] You're SOL. A harsh reality of life, but a true one.
[QUOTE=''Strider212'']You get what you pay for, which is a better system than socialized health care. Socialized health care creates disincentives for doctors, long lines, and an overall lack of quality in health care.[/QUOTE]To an extent maybe, but the NHS in Britain may have it's problems, but I'd rather have free health care for those that can't afford it, then for those same people to go without any heath care just because they can't afford to get any.At least here in Britain you can go private as well...but the NHS is always there for those who can't afford to.
[QUOTE=''Strider212''][QUOTE=''Engrish_Major''][QUOTE=''Strider212'']You get what you pay for, which is a better system than socialized health care. Socialized health care creates disincentives for doctors, long lines, and an overall lack of quality in health care.[/QUOTE]You might get what you pay for, but what if you cannot afford treatment you need? [/QUOTE] You're SOL. [/QUOTE]That's exactly why we need a better system.
[QUOTE=''Boba_Fett_3710''] If you don't have insurance, you are totally screwed. If you have insurance, you are screwed but not as badly.People can get treatment but it's very expensive so most people don't. You can be treated but you will be billed. [/QUOTE]Well that sucks. NHS for the win; we pay for it in our taxes (if anyone didn't know that). Wouldn't it be possible for the US to do something similer, as that health system seems to be making profit out of sickness. Can't be that hard; just increase the taxes slightly and make healthcare free. Private health care isn't that much better over here, just shorter lines. Cuba seems to have done health care right, from what I've heard.
If you can't pay you get treated and left with the bill. Hospitals can't deny you care if they have an emergency room.Some people qualify for the government's healthcare. If you have health insurance you pay what the insurance company doesn't cover.
[QUOTE=''redwolf22''][QUOTE=''Boba_Fett_3710''] If you don't have insurance, you are totally screwed. If you have insurance, you are screwed but not as badly.People can get treatment but it's very expensive so most people don't. You can be treated but you will be billed. [/QUOTE]Well that sucks. NHS for the win; we pay for it in our taxes (if anyone didn't know that). Wouldn't it be possible for the US to do something similer, as that health system seems to be making profit out of sickness. Can't be that hard; just increase the taxes slightly and make healthcare free. [/QUOTE]We're probably headed towards something like that. More of a hybrid system where you can have private insurance if you want to, but providers will not be able to cancel your coverage if you get sick.
[QUOTE=''redwolf22''][QUOTE=''Boba_Fett_3710''] If you don't have insurance, you are totally screwed. If you have insurance, you are screwed but not as badly.People can get treatment but it's very expensive so most people don't. You can be treated but you will be billed. [/QUOTE]Well that sucks. NHS for the win; we pay for it in our taxes (if anyone didn't know that). Wouldn't it be possible for the US to do something similer, as that health system seems to be making profit out of sickness. Can't be that hard; just increase the taxes slightly and make healthcare free. [/QUOTE] Honestly, I would love healthcare to be included in our taxes. The insurance I have with my job is taken out of my paycheck anyways so I really don't see the difference.
if you dont have insurance then they are going to harvest your organs and use your body for medical research when you come in with a cold.
[QUOTE=''redwolf22''][QUOTE=''Boba_Fett_3710''] If you don't have insurance, you are totally screwed. If you have insurance, you are screwed but not as badly.People can get treatment but it's very expensive so most people don't. You can be treated but you will be billed. [/QUOTE]Well that sucks. NHS for the win; we pay for it in our taxes (if anyone didn't know that). Wouldn't it be possible for the US to do something similer, as that health system seems to be making profit out of sickness. Can't be that hard; just increase the taxes slightly and make healthcare free. [/QUOTE] Yes it is possible. It would take a lot of work, but yeah the American system stinks, and is getting worse.
[QUOTE=''Wren28''][QUOTE=''Strider212'']You get what you pay for, which is a better system than socialized health care. Socialized health care creates disincentives for doctors, long lines, and an overall lack of quality in health care.[/QUOTE]To an extent maybe, but the NHS in Britain may have it's problems, but I'd rather have free health care for those that can't afford it, then for those same people to go without any heath care just because they can't afford to get any.At least here in Britain you can go private as well...but the NHS is always there for those who can't afford to. [/QUOTE]
And that health care is of a much lower quality than private health care. Socialization of health care creates HUGE disincentives for doctors. Rather than getting paid for their productivity as doctors, they are paid a flat rate. This is essentially like tenuring your supply of doctors.Furthermore, patients that have no business being at the hospitals (i.e. colds) create long lines because the cost of health care is driven down to zero. This means that real emergencies have to fight through the masses before they can be given legitimate health care.The economics of handouts teaches that its costs outweigh the benefits, which means that is not socially optimal.
I think it is along the lines of ''You break it you bought it'' :P
I see this was a pro-NHS thread in disguise.
[QUOTE=''Engrish_Major''][QUOTE=''Strider212''][QUOTE=''Engrish_Major''][QUOTE=''Strider212'']You get what you pay for, which is a better system than socialized health care. Socialized health care creates disincentives for doctors, long lines, and an overall lack of quality in health care.[/QUOTE]You might get what you pay for, but what if you cannot afford treatment you need? [/QUOTE] You're SOL. [/QUOTE]That's exactly why we need a better system.[/QUOTE] That system ought not be associated with socialization. Even with all of the ridiculous taxes that doctors pay, the U.S. health care system is still the best in the entire world. Why do you think people come from Canada to receive treatment in the U.S.? The quality is much better.
[QUOTE=''Strider212''] And that health care is of a much lower quality than private health care. Socialization of health care creates HUGE disincentives for doctors. Rather than getting paid for their productivity as doctors, they are paid a flat rate. This is essentially like tenuring your supply of doctors.Furthermore, patients that have no business being at the hospitals (i.e. colds) create long lines because the cost of health care is driven down to zero. This means that real emergencies have to fight through the masses before they can be given legitimate health care.The economics of handouts teaches that its costs outweigh the benefits, which means that is not socially optimal. [/QUOTE]The incentive for doctors/insurance companies now is not to heal patients, it is to make a profit. That is a backwards incentive to me.
[QUOTE=''duxup''][QUOTE=''redwolf22''][QUOTE=''Boba_Fett_3710''] If you don't have insurance, you are totally screwed. If you have insurance, you are screwed but not as badly.People can get treatment but it's very expensive so most people don't. You can be treated but you will be billed. [/QUOTE]Well that sucks. NHS for the win; we pay for it in our taxes (if anyone didn't know that). Wouldn't it be possible for the US to do something similer, as that health system seems to be making profit out of sickness. Can't be that hard; just increase the taxes slightly and make healthcare free. [/QUOTE] Yes it is possible. It would take a lot of work, but yeah the American system stinks, and is getting worse. [/QUOTE] That is a myth. The U.S. health care system is the absolute best in the world.