Here is an e mail from a friend of mine, who is British and has been fighting myeloma for the last year or so. He wanted to et the record straight about government health care in England. (FYI I don't have a direct line of communication to Sarah Palin.)
Dear Carla
You're American - tell that lunatic Sarah Palin to stop peddling lies about our National Health Service! It appears from over here that some rather ugly people are coming out of the woodwork to try and persuade you all that the British NHS is some kind of communist conspiracy that, if adopted in the US will result in bodies lying in the street (I thought that was what happened after Hurricane Katrina thanks to neglected flood defences...) and doctors arbitrarily deciding who lives and dies.
Sure, the NHS isn't perfect, far from it is some respects due to our idiot government's obsession with targets being met to produce good-looking statistics, hence a top-heavy administration full of box-tickers and not enough actual workers like cleaners in some areas. I can't say though that I have anything to complain about after my experiences. While I was cooped up during most of February in the (spotlessly clean) isolation room, I asked one of the nurses what the difference was between the way I was being accomodated and treated and the private patients on another floor. She said they got a compliemntary newspaper and a better view out of the window.
What did you tell me about how much your various drugs had cost you in the last year? I think you mentioned the figure of $7000. Here in April they made cancer drugs free - previously I had been supplied with all my stuff using a card costing about $150 for a year, irrespective of the quantities. Prior to that I had to pay about $12 for each prescription, sometimes three or four a time, so the high use card became the better option, but as I say now no charge at all.
I wonder if Ms Palin gets paid by the drug and insurance companies in cash or with stock options and Mercedes sports cars.
There, I feel better now, having a little rant about these BS merchants!
Hope things are good with you. Best wishes
Martin
4 comments:
I second that for Canadian health care. I worked in that system and if you need care you get it, period. Nobody goes bankrupt because of medical bills. There are no pre-existing conditions. Um..gee it sounds like US medicare! I wish people would stop believing the lies of the fearmongers. With that, I also say that I am delighted to meet you, and I am busy reading all of your former posts. You rock.
thanks for chiming in!
people often claim that no doctor wants to work in canada because they can't get paid enough.
but in the US they can't afford to practice because malpractice insurance is so outrageous.
I think these lies are all spread around by the people who profit (mightily) from things being the way they are.
I learned recently that medicare was the compromise by congress when we tried to pass universal health care before- during the Truman administration! This is an old fight.
My husband & I have had to file bankruptcy twice due to my illness and the secondary issues it was causing. Mind you, dr's couldn't figure out what was wrong with me until I started up with blood in my urine all the time, facial/arm/leg rashes and very high cpk levels. Then a positive ana,some fibrosis and high sensitivity to lights (sun/flourescent). TWICE because our health insurance could not cover the cost. Our out of pocket expenses were ridiculously high. Either hospitals need to get real with expenses or the government needs to help us.
Every single person who turns their nose up to govt. health care is but one loved one away from financial ruin. My husband worked two FULL TIME jobs & would come home and hold me while I sobbed from pain. I finally was able to medicate a bit of my pain and started sewing to help offset expenses but the damage was done.
18 surgeries, lung fibrosis, full blown lupus, chronic fatigue, touchy kidneys, migraines from hell and so on. Scripts are the one levity we have. His insurance is fantastic with scripts.
Pre-exisiting..forgetaboutit! Done.
I just spent the better part of an hour reading your blog. I'm so glad I found you off the piggy back of FLORIDA SUE. Thank you for having me.
Gentle hugs
Tammy
i hear ya, girl. I had to go bankrupt this year as well.
i agree 100%- anyone who still thinks we have the best health care in the world has never really been sick.
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