hiitdogs
Cathlete
Hi Liann,
I read your question about socialized medicine and I didn't want to hijack Clarissa's thread any more than I already did. Sorry Clarrisa!!
Whereas often labeled "socialized" health care, the German system really isn't. To put it somewhat simplified it consists of several PPO plans that are government regulated (NOT government-run, the insurance carrier is a seperate entity) as well as private insurance which are only minimally regulated. The reason why it is often misquoted as "socialized" is that it is mandated.
Meaning, if you have a job, you HAVE to pay for health insurance, you can choose between several insurance carriers and you cannot opt out. The total cost is 15 % of the gross salary, which will be split 50:50 between employer and employee. If you are on well-fare, unemployed, on maternity leave, etc. your insurance premium will be paid by the government. That way everyone is insured, which you can call Universal Health Care.
More importantly though, no one can be turned down based on pre-existing conditions, nor could coverage be cancelled due to illness as it is possible in the US.
Being insured through any of those 6 or 7 government-regulated insurance companies, you have access to about 80 to 85 % of all of the doctors, health care providers and hospitals. The rest will only accept private health insurance or out-of-pocket pay. You can still see those doctors that are not contracted with your insurance carrier but there are deductibles.
The doctors are not employees of the insurance company, it is somewhat like a PPO network. Unlike in the US, the insurance has no say in what medical treatment is necessary, this is up to the doctor. They have to document what treatment and why it is done.
Since you were asking about elderly people with lots of testing, etc. My grandmother had to have regular doctor's visits, testing and medication due to high blood pressure and diabetes. She was also diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of colon cancer. Her doctor referred her to a "private" clinic which practized a combination of allopathic medicine with alternative medicine, yoga, etc.
Her government insurance covered 85 % of the cost based on the doctor's recommendation/decision. Unlike in the US where health insurance companies without having ever seen a patient, make decisions that - in my opinion - only a doctor can and should make.
I really dislike HMOs because doctors are employees of the insurance company which makes me wonder in whose best interest they are working, the patient or the insurance? Having a government-run HMO ...... mmmhh, thanks but no thanks.
That being said, I think the major problem in the US is, that the health care that is practiced, is intervention-based not prevention-based. Drugs are prescribed WAY to fast IMO and many people have such a pop-a-pill-fix-it-all mentality that no matter what health care insurance system the US will eventually (hopefully) adopt will not be financially feasible.
And, Michele, I don't want to diminish the accomplishments of American medical research and doctors by any means, I hope it didn't come across that way. I do want to say though that there is a lot research and results also coming from European countries, Stockholm's Karolinska Institute/Hospital and Munich University Hospital are one of the most renowned teaching and research hospitals in the world. Many of their doctors also travel the world for speaking engagements, including my own OB/GYN who delivered my son in Germany.
What I notice though is, that in America there is a heavy focus on either/or - either allopathic/conventional medicine or alternative/homeopathic medicine whereas in large parts of Europe it has been and/as well, meaning a combination of both with a heavy focus on prevention.
I also want to reiterate that what you get in Germany is NOT just "basic" health care. You will get the treatment and you will get advanced treatment, if necessary. The thing is, since they have access to health care, most diseases can be prevented or treated, if caught in time.
I think it is a tragedy that millions of people here are without health care and I hope something will be done because otherwise this health care crisis will spin out of control, and it doesn't need a major in econimics to realize that this will be a disaster for America's economy.
Oh and to the person who emailed me to let me know that if things are so great in Germany, I should take my communist attitude back there, thanks, I will take your suggestion under advisement, just as I hope that you will consider my suggestions ;-). Sometimes it doesn't hurt to look beyond ones horizon and to consider what has worked for other countries/people, it doesn't make any of us un-American or communist infiltrators.
All of that being said, NO politician will be able to implement any of their plans without broad bipartisan support and without the American people demanding a health care overhaul. And not all "socialized" health care plans are equal, there are different ways to run it and I hope people will abandon this extreme view of socialized health care and politicians will stop their partisan bickering and will find a way that works for the good of all of us. Maybe one step at a time?
I read your question about socialized medicine and I didn't want to hijack Clarissa's thread any more than I already did. Sorry Clarrisa!!
Whereas often labeled "socialized" health care, the German system really isn't. To put it somewhat simplified it consists of several PPO plans that are government regulated (NOT government-run, the insurance carrier is a seperate entity) as well as private insurance which are only minimally regulated. The reason why it is often misquoted as "socialized" is that it is mandated.
Meaning, if you have a job, you HAVE to pay for health insurance, you can choose between several insurance carriers and you cannot opt out. The total cost is 15 % of the gross salary, which will be split 50:50 between employer and employee. If you are on well-fare, unemployed, on maternity leave, etc. your insurance premium will be paid by the government. That way everyone is insured, which you can call Universal Health Care.
More importantly though, no one can be turned down based on pre-existing conditions, nor could coverage be cancelled due to illness as it is possible in the US.
Being insured through any of those 6 or 7 government-regulated insurance companies, you have access to about 80 to 85 % of all of the doctors, health care providers and hospitals. The rest will only accept private health insurance or out-of-pocket pay. You can still see those doctors that are not contracted with your insurance carrier but there are deductibles.
The doctors are not employees of the insurance company, it is somewhat like a PPO network. Unlike in the US, the insurance has no say in what medical treatment is necessary, this is up to the doctor. They have to document what treatment and why it is done.
Since you were asking about elderly people with lots of testing, etc. My grandmother had to have regular doctor's visits, testing and medication due to high blood pressure and diabetes. She was also diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of colon cancer. Her doctor referred her to a "private" clinic which practized a combination of allopathic medicine with alternative medicine, yoga, etc.
Her government insurance covered 85 % of the cost based on the doctor's recommendation/decision. Unlike in the US where health insurance companies without having ever seen a patient, make decisions that - in my opinion - only a doctor can and should make.
I really dislike HMOs because doctors are employees of the insurance company which makes me wonder in whose best interest they are working, the patient or the insurance? Having a government-run HMO ...... mmmhh, thanks but no thanks.
That being said, I think the major problem in the US is, that the health care that is practiced, is intervention-based not prevention-based. Drugs are prescribed WAY to fast IMO and many people have such a pop-a-pill-fix-it-all mentality that no matter what health care insurance system the US will eventually (hopefully) adopt will not be financially feasible.
And, Michele, I don't want to diminish the accomplishments of American medical research and doctors by any means, I hope it didn't come across that way. I do want to say though that there is a lot research and results also coming from European countries, Stockholm's Karolinska Institute/Hospital and Munich University Hospital are one of the most renowned teaching and research hospitals in the world. Many of their doctors also travel the world for speaking engagements, including my own OB/GYN who delivered my son in Germany.
What I notice though is, that in America there is a heavy focus on either/or - either allopathic/conventional medicine or alternative/homeopathic medicine whereas in large parts of Europe it has been and/as well, meaning a combination of both with a heavy focus on prevention.
I also want to reiterate that what you get in Germany is NOT just "basic" health care. You will get the treatment and you will get advanced treatment, if necessary. The thing is, since they have access to health care, most diseases can be prevented or treated, if caught in time.
I think it is a tragedy that millions of people here are without health care and I hope something will be done because otherwise this health care crisis will spin out of control, and it doesn't need a major in econimics to realize that this will be a disaster for America's economy.
Oh and to the person who emailed me to let me know that if things are so great in Germany, I should take my communist attitude back there, thanks, I will take your suggestion under advisement, just as I hope that you will consider my suggestions ;-). Sometimes it doesn't hurt to look beyond ones horizon and to consider what has worked for other countries/people, it doesn't make any of us un-American or communist infiltrators.
All of that being said, NO politician will be able to implement any of their plans without broad bipartisan support and without the American people demanding a health care overhaul. And not all "socialized" health care plans are equal, there are different ways to run it and I hope people will abandon this extreme view of socialized health care and politicians will stop their partisan bickering and will find a way that works for the good of all of us. Maybe one step at a time?
It's hard to get anyone to answer your questions without going on a rant one way or the other and you did a very good job. I can't believe all these people PM'ing everyone all these nasty comments. There is way too much anger around here lately. Chill out peeps! 
