Is healthcare really that bad in the U.S.?

It just amazed me to see that people were turned away from hospitals is the U.S., or that they didn't receive the highest and best care available. That is unheard of here in Canada. Healthcare is a basic human RIGHT. I sat in labour and delivery and received the same great care as the lady next to me who was poor, uneducated, clearly a little bonkers, and who'd had 3 abortions, and 4 miscarriages, but still had every right to try to have a healthy baby.

If I were an American I would be protesting the situation and voting for someone to make an actual difference. It isn't fair.

Healthcare here is Canada, like I said, has its issues. But it is untrue that you have to wait forever. When you need something done, it is done. You do not die waiting. There are also a few private places where you can get things done faster if you are willing to pay.

Healthcare is not provided out of country, because you are Out of Country. Not a big deal, just get insurance for your trip.

Our doctors also do not have to worry about the lawsuits as American doctors do.

I'll admit, we do have some issues, but of all the surgeries, transplants, cancers, mental health problems, and everything else I have seen in my friends and family, everything was treated thuroughly and to the best of the doctor's abilities.

And if you were wondering, I watched Sicko. Made by an American. I was just wondering how accurate it was. If it is true then I sympathize with my neighbours to the south.

America, the US, is called the land of unlimited opportunities. I follow that with my own outcry of "the land of unlimited outrageous rules and guidelines". Health care is available everywhere and to everyone,
but:
1. If you are living in the US, you need health care. Otherwise you are going to have a huge and costly problem. Health care is too way expensive to cover from private funds.
2. It seems to me that the physicians, clinics and hospitals are greatly influenced by big drug companies and insurance companies. The drug companies send their drug reps to promoting their drugs, thus influencing the doctors, and the insurance companies lord over what and how much is allowed in health care. Remember the 17 year old girl who died just a few days ago? Her insurance company denied her twice an organ transplant. They changed their mind only when it was too late to save the girl.

I myself worked in a mental health clinic for about 15 months, having witnessed every Thursday at least 4 drug reps bringing their free-bees to influence or woe the psychiatrists. The psychiatrist were the ones who could write prescriptions.

I have been living here for over 44 years and was rather stunned about the cost of health care when I first arrived. At my first dentist appointment, I sat in the dentist's chair and cried. My husband was a PFC in the Army, there was no dental plan for wives, and we did have a limited income. I needed dental care, and we ended up paying the huge bill with monthly payments. The dentist did not care in the least that we were poor people, he was just interested in getting his money.
3. About hospitals refusing to care for uninsured patients, I have only heard about on shows like 20/20 with Barbara Walters.
4. How is it in Canada? We heard/read that people who need surgery need to be put on a waiting list or have to travel great distances because services as well as physicians are not available in many places.
5. In Germany - this is where I came from in 1963, the days of calling your employer saying you are ill and staying home for a week or two (with the doctor's slip) are long gone. Spa visits for recuperation after surgery and so on, are no longer paid for by the insurance companies. All kinds of necessary services are reduced. Medications have to be paid by the patient. There are many things that have changed over there in the health care field as my mother reports to me often.

All is not rosy in the US, however, but it is better than in many other places.

Hospitals and health care in general in the U.S. are controlled by a very powerful and corrupt AMA. They have politicians in their pocket, which makes complaining fall on deaf ears.

People who can afford health care are happy with what they've got pretty much. So, that leaves the less fortunate who cannot afford good care who are turned away.

Let's face it, your system is not perfect either. I have friends that are Canadian and they have told me stories about how providing care for all has its draw backs too.

I will agree that everyone should be cared for, but who is going to foot the bill?

I am not sure where you are getting your information regarding the health care in the U.S. but I think your statistics are a bit skewed. Speaking with Canadians whom I met in Florida, the health care of Canada did not cover them while out of the country. They also said that is some instances necessary operations were delayed due to the overtaxed use by you people. Now who am I to believe? Do I take your word or do I take that of several of your countrymen who think otherwise? To my knowledge, no one has been turned away from a hospital and if you can prove it, reveal who ,when , where and why. I'm sure a good lawyer would have pursued that by now.

I don't know were you saw people turned away from a hospital. I certainly have not seen it and I have several friends and a relative who work at a local hospital.

There is a problem with health care in the US and that is the cost of insurance. Cost of insurance is driven up by lawsuits. Here in the US you can sue anyone for any stupid thing (frivolous lawsuit) without consequences. So, doctors and hospitals get sued all the time. Doctors in turn practice defensive medicine, driving up the cost.

A man crushed his hand. The operation was successful, but he sued, because his hand was not exactly the same as before. Jury awarded him $30 million. Lady had a neck operation and sued because she did not realize she would have a scar.

Our politicians refuse to address the core issue. They just want to throw money at it. I think it's because they are lawyers themselves.