A Huge Can of Worms. It's Called Health Care.

I hate politics.  I really do.  I know politics run pretty much all aspects of our lives, but I hate it.  We all have our opinions, and if you don't agree with mine, chances are, you never will, and there's really no point in "arguing" or "discussing" or whatever.  But I just read a blog about health care, and I thought I'd organize my thoughts a bit.  And if you don't agree, well, it's MY blog, so :P to you. :)  This blog was posted by someone on Facebook about Private versus NHS (which I assume, stands for National Health Service).  Link is here: http://potentialandexpectations.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/this-americans-experience-of-britains-healthcare-system/

It has gazillion comments, and I skimmed through a lot of it.  As far as the article goes, it's good, she has experience with both systems.  But I can't help but feel that it is written by a person who already made up their mind that the NHS system is better.  Everyone's entitled to their opinions, no doubt about it.  But it's just that – an opinion.  But it's not treated as an opinion, it's almost treated as the next book of the Bible by those who support NHS.  Here's a quote:  “Thank you so much for detailing your experience of the NHS, I’ve been absolutely disgusted over the past few days at the insinuations of American right-wing politicians that the NHS allows people to die, mistreats people etc.”

First of all, I have a hard time believing that people are actually naïve enough to believe that the government really cares for our well being.  Really?  Do you REALLY believe that the government cares about your health care?  Do you REALLY believe, that if you were on the verge of dying, the government would honestly care about it?  Do you REALLY believe, that government run health care cares more about the individual being more than private health care?  I read so many people talk about how private health care only cares about money...  Well, I doubt the government isn't the same.  I don't believe for a second that the government really actually cares about my health care.  Let's get real it's always all about the money and what the government gets out of it.

Would the government really care enough to treat and support a terminally ill person?  I sure hope so.  But I don't know if I'd bet money on it.  Kris and his mom has met people in Mexico who came from Canada because the government wouldn't pay for or authorize treatment for their terminal cancer.  Say what you will, but if you happen to be terminally ill minority of the population, you may see the issue from a different light.  Granted, I'm not one of them (Thank God), so I can't say what they would feel.

Secondly, it's not that I don't think NHS is not a good system.  I'm sure it works fine in Britain, as I've read British people's opinions on their health care.  American health care is expensive.  REALLY expensive.  So I wouldn't mind a health care system that is cheaper.  (I hear people say “free” health care.  There is NO SUCH THING as FREE.  Someone somewhere is paying for it.)  My problem with US government run health care is that the US government has already failed to run several systems – Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  They're all bankrupt.  Especially in the case of Social Security, they have failed MISERABLY, and will not be able to support all the baby boomers that are going into retirement.  Because the money that the government “saved up” for their retirement is not there.  They have already proven to be a bad steward of people's money.

I just don't have any faith that the US government can successfully  run a health care system that involves everyone in this country.  They have a bad track record already.  Maybe the Brits don't have aforementioned programs run by the government that are bankrupt, and maybe they are more trustworthy with their people's money.

Thirdly, I have a problem with people's mentality that someone owes them something.  So many people's mentality concerning public health care is that they can all receive health care for “free”.  On someone else's dime.  My tax money is paying for some homeless bum who does nothing but sit around all day.  Some may say that even these bums have the “right” to health care.  Is health care really a human right?  I quote a reply from the blog:  “It’s a right (and a privilege), and one that should be available to every person in the country.”  What I have always heard, is with privilege comes responsibility.  So is health care a right, or a privilege?  A right is something you should have without any strings attached.  Privilege, not so.  But I just can't stand the “Rich folks owe me something, because I'm poor.”  Well, guess what.  Most rich folks got there because they worked hard for it.

Anyway, you will be paying for health care one way or another.  It's not free.

Fourthly, I can say that I have yet to set foot in a state / federal government run facility of any kind that runs efficiently, where the workers give a damn.  Every single facility that is run by the government, I have been frustrated with, because they really don't care how good they serve your needs.  If you don't get around to talking to as many people, well, so be it.  They'll have to call or come back.  Immigration is a great example of this.

I have no delusions that private health care is better than public health care.  They all have pros and cons.  I doubt American hospitals and clinics are that much better than British hospitals or clinics.  I would love to not have to worry about insurance deductibles, which run my life sometimes.  Like when we were planning on getting pregnant – if you get pregnant late one year, then you have to pay deductible twice (this year and then next when you deliver)...  Who wants to worry about that?  It all depends on what you would rather live with, and my biggest fear is that the US government won't be able to run public health care, and it will go bankrupt, just as Social Security has.  Then where will we be?

P.S.  I love how these so called open minded folks can't take it when there is opposition on their opinions.  A couple of "I would choose American health care" comments I've seen, are bashed over and over again, "Sorry you had a bad experience, but it was culture shock", "You must have been a fluke", "I doubt your mother in law's cancer went 15 years without diagnosis", "It's your location", "You are the exception", and whatever else they can come up with.  They can't just accept it and say, "Wow, you had a bad experience, and you would choose American health care over NHS.  And that's okay."  Nope.  They can't.