Will Obamacare succeed where term limits failed?

[Lemur]

As I read it, the Swiss system is basically Obamacare, had it been written by people who were reasonably intelligent... instead of by Democrats.

You might want to read up a little more on Swisscare ... which begat HeritageCare ... which begat RomneyCare ... which begat ... eh, you know where this leads.

The most productive thing for Republicans, going forward, would be to look at the obvious problems in Obamacare, and reach back to the solutions already tested and applied in SwissCare (and already obstructed by Republicans in congress), declare that they are geniuses and have a fix, and move forward.

Hell, if it salves their egos, they can even tell everyone that this is what they meant by "repeal and replace." Whatever. Go nuts. But maybe, you know, work together to make something better. All of that touchy-feely let's-actually-try-to-govern stuff.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

You might want to read up a little more on Swisscare ... which begat HeritageCare ... which begat RomneyCare ... which begat ... eh, you know where this leads..

So, it is akin to labeling the latest scandal "urinatinginthewindgate" or whatever "gate" is being lobbed about. Gads but our public lexicon is thin.

[HopAlongBunny]

I am curious.
In Canada, under "socialized" medicine I just got discharged from the hospital.
I ended up going to emergency from a clinic I stopped in at due to nausea and a continued lack of appetite.
The doctor called me in to discuss test results=>I walked in the door and was handed a letter=>you are a sick man, get to emergency.
Turns out, my kidneys shut down at some point,...I had no idea.
So 6 days in the hospital; much blood, electrolytes, heart medicine, oxygen, food, bed rest and a raft of specialists.
Out of pocket costs so far = $0.00; that will change when I fill my prescriptions => what would be my experience in the USA?

I am also slated to be fitted with a fistula and will be undergoing a regime of home dialysis; machine and materials provided by the state.

[Husar]

I guess in the American system it would be something like 2000$ for the letter the doctor handed you, 100$ for the hour he spent examining and talking to you, 3000$ for sending stuff to the lab, 50000$ for six days in the hospital and you can buy the dialysis machine yourself for 10000$ if you want to live a little longer.

In an ideal system however, the free market would decide whether you get a kidney failure or a heart disease in the first place.

[Greyblades]

Yikes! what happened to make your kiney shut down?

[HopAlongBunny]

Yikes! what happened to make your kiney shut down?

As I understand it I suffer from a condition that causes the kidney to eat itself. Had I caught it sooner, it is treatable with steroids; by the time it was discovered I had only 3-5% of my kidney remaining.
Vote +1 for regular check-ups :p

[Crazed Rabbit]

I guess in the American system it would be something like 2000$ for the letter the doctor handed you, 100$ for the hour he spent examining and talking to you, 3000$ for sending stuff to the lab, 50000$ for six days in the hospital and you can buy the dialysis machine yourself for 10000$ if you want to live a little longer.

In an ideal system however, the free market would decide whether you get a kidney failure or a heart disease in the first place.

This is ridiculous. No way the dialysis machine would be that cheap to buy. That's probably the cost just to have it used on you for that week. Also, the cost is way to low for the doctor examination (I've gotten $175 bill, pre-insurance, for 15 minutes).

I'm not really joking.

However, you should read the article "Bitter Pill" by Steven Brill (PDF alert!). It discusses, in great depth, the astronomical cost of care in the USA and looks at reasons why (like hospitals charging 100x the cost for over the counter medicine).

As I understand it I suffer from a condition that causes the kidney to eat itself.

Wow, that's unnerving. Best of luck with your treatment.

CR

[Beskar]

Also, the cost is way to low for the doctor examination (I've gotten $175 bill, pre-insurance, for 15 minutes)

It is $32 for that from our private sector, 'free' if you visit the local GP you are registered to.


*Free at the point of access.

[Husar]

This is ridiculous. No way the dialysis machine would be that cheap to buy. That's probably the cost just to have it used on you for that week. Also, the cost is way to low for the doctor examination (I've gotten $175 bill, pre-insurance, for 15 minutes).

I'm not really joking.

I know, and I'm sorry.

I was trying not to look anti-american by using numbers that are too high.
The numbers were loosely based (from cheese-like memory) on some I saw in another forum recently.

Also wish you all the best HopAlongBunny!

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Condolences, Bunny. That ____ing sucks. Healthy enough for transplant in near future? Or is there some hope of returning to useful function percentage?

[Lemur]

Out of pocket costs so far = $0.00; that will change when I fill my prescriptions => what would be my experience in the USA?

Two thoughts:

1. The USA system is a lot more complicated than you make it out to be (who exactly gets stuck with the inflated bills is a hotly contested issue every single time), but you've got the general outline correct.
2. Your out-of-pocket may be $0, but you are still paying. (Ain't no such thing as a free lunch.) But you are paying in a much more rational manner than we do south of the border.