Overregulation

[cayoung]

In NY State where I live, a couple of years ago the legislature passed a law that said essentially that any insurer should provide medical insurance for anyone, regardless of a list of conditions.

I had a low risk plan, being in fairly good health and a nonsmoker. The cost of my plan went up several times, and then the company simply stopped writing in NYS. What plans remain are too expensive for me.

With deep regret I am without coverage. If I need something done, I pay by check or by credit card. My vehicle has medical coverage if I'm injured in a collision.

If something totally goes wrong, the hospitals cannot refuse me for lack of ability to pay (that was part of the legislation) so I can get medical care in spite of having no coverage.

Is any where else in the world regulated this much? I have heard that Canada and England and a few other countries all the medical care is government administered.

What other experiences are we having out there?

Christopher Young
Still healthy, fortunately.

[Craig]

Here in Australia we have a Public health service. Funded through tax.

You receive full emergency and elective hospiral care, subsidised family practice visits and subsidised drugs. I think it works very well. You need to wait to have certain things done - 3-6 months for a Hip replacement etc. Occasionally the situation lets people down but generally it works pretty well. Especially for emergency care - where it excels.

Running is parallel with this system is a private one - utilised by people with insurance (about 20% of the population) - who are also able to use the public system if they wish - which offers the same services but elective surgery is much quicker and you can chose your own surgeon.

I have lurked on TF and followed several threads about how wonderful North American health care is - and for those with comprehensive insurance it is truely impressive - but it sucks pretty much if you dont have insurance or have a chronic illness. Free public health care may be seen a socialist rubbish to some of you guys in the states, but it works very well here in Australia.

Craig

[jagdkampf]

Hi Craig,
The only fault I find in your analysis of our system is the fact that two tiers of care exist. We are required to give the same level of care to anyone regardless of their ability to pay. If we are hampered in our ability to give care, it is primarily from the insurance/government side of the equation. They dictate what tests can and can't be performed, prerequisites to care, etc, etc. It is mostly a beauracratic maze to dissuade caregivers. I think our system is badly broken and may fail dramatically in the near future. It is too broad a subject to adequately cover in a few paragraphs but I think eventually you will see some sort of broad public health care plan run by the federal gov. here in the U.S. I have a good paying job or I would not be able to afford health care. My current insurance bill for my daughter, wife and self is $778.00 per month with a $1000.00 deductible and my family and I are in very good health. This is a signifigant sum of cash for someone on a marginal income.
Jag