New Teaching Contract

[OakLeaf]

Don't forget that the "free" health care in Europe comes out of a tax base, or pools that everyone pays into. So it's not really free, but at least the systems and coverages are consistent within each nation.

I don't think anyone suggested it was "free." On the consumer side, it's consistent from individual to individual, which is the key point of this thread ... on the provider side, costs aren't inflated with huge marketing bills and duplicative administrative expenses.

[lph]

I don't think anyone suggested it was "free." On the consumer side, it's consistent from individual to individual, which is the key point of this thread ... on the provider side, costs aren't inflated with huge marketing bills and duplicative administrative expenses.

To me the real bonus is not that our health care is "free", because it's not, but that paying for it is not optional. And that good health care is not only for the well-to-do or for those who plan well. It has a cost, but these are still good things in my book. But I realize that these are hot political topics in the US and I won't pretend to know what it's like. It's a different world.

[malkin]

To me the real bonus is not that our health care is "free", because it's not, but that paying for it is not optional. And that good health care is not only for the well-to-do or for those who plan well. It has a cost, but these are still good things in my book. But I realize that these are hot political topics in the US and I won't pretend to know what it's like. It's a different world.

Of course, like everyone I am concerned about my own health care and coverage, but I also believe that there is enormous value in living in a community where EVERYONE is covered. I rarely hear this mentioned in US discussions about the issue.

[Irulan]

Of course, like everyone I am concerned about my own health care and coverage, but I also believe that there is enormous value in living in a community where EVERYONE is covered. I rarely hear this mentioned in US discussions about the issue.

++++
However, I've deliberately stayed away from the Universal needed in US sub topic as that tends to descend into the political fairly quickly. Unless everyone on TE is unanimous and there's no debate?

More crazy tidbits: My sis is a lawyer, fairly high up, for a major, national health insurer. She won't use their product, but uses her husband's. Some of her more famous sayings, while helping our mom w/Medicare...." I work in the industry and I don't understand the paperwork".

My SIL, who has worked her whole life until she has a debilitating stroke at 47, is fully disabled and on Medicaid. They recently sent her a letter stating that her income of $1079 a month ( yes, that's what she lives on) is $300 too high to qualify for full benefits, and she now has a $2000 copay she has to meet before she has any coverage. She can barely pay her rent and utilities, and they've done this. I've been trying to call in for MONTHS and the state systems doesn't allow you to talk to real people.

I will stop for the moment.

[girlontheroad]

Of course, like everyone I am concerned about my own health care and coverage, but I also believe that there is enormous value in living in a community where EVERYONE is covered. I rarely hear this mentioned in US discussions about the issue.

Ditto. I guess that is what concerns me most. I have similar issues to an earlier poster with pure existing conditions and realize how fortunate I am to be able to afford the premiums. I wouldn't expect that would be the case in most situations and if I couldn't it would mean having to return to a job I am glad to be rid of rather than working for myself. It just seems that those who can't afford it have a double whammy. Not only can they not count on insurance help with costs but they are saddled with no insured rates that are significantly higher than for the person in the next chair with the same treatment. My surgery just really brought this issue home to me recently. And this thread has made it clear that The options available vary greatly from state to state making the debates more complex.

[goldfinch]

Of course, like everyone I am concerned about my own health care and coverage, but I also believe that there is enormous value in living in a community where EVERYONE is covered. I rarely hear this mentioned in US discussions about the issue.

Absolutely. Health care for our country is about values. I lobbied for health care reform, favoring a plan such as medicare for all or a plan presented by Senator Wyden which was also simple and would cover everyone. I so burnt out on the lobbying effort that I had to retire.
I do know more than anyone should have to know about the varied complicated mess that is individual state options on health care coverage.

[Selkie]

To me the real bonus is not that our health care is "free", because it's not, but that paying for it is not optional. And that good health care is not only for the well-to-do or for those who plan well. It has a cost, but these are still good things in my book. But I realize that these are hot political topics in the US and I won't pretend to know what it's like. It's a different world.

++++++++++++++++
I like hearing about your country's system, actually. In the US, some view being required to hold health insurance as a violation of their constitutional rights (or---egads---the US descending into "socialism"). At the risk of being "flamed" or inviting a heated discusssion, I'm going to say it : there are those who use the constitution to justify selfishness (example: those who think that having to pay taxes violates their constitutional rights and see it as akin to having the government steal your hard earned income).