CNN Investigates: Australian Vs American Health Care

[Turborama]

Run time: 02:16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwq9coiAja0   Posted on YouTube: August 16, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: August 16, 2009 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 2048

 

[aquart]

1. That says, "Lou Dobbs."

What is the reason I should watch something that says "Lou Dobbs"?

[ihavenobias]

3. He's not in the segment. n/t

[grahamhgreen]

9. Reported by Brooke Baldwin.

[ihavenobias]

2. Thanks for posting.

More in depth information would've been good, but this is a nice concise overview.

[MrModerate]

4. I'm living in Australia now, but am not eligible for Medicare here . . .

so my US-based health insurance reimburses up-front payments I have to make.

However, doctor and hospital visits are vastly less expensive -- even though I pay 100% up front -- than in the States for care that is at least comparable. The paperwork I have to provide to my US-based (employer/employee-paid) is an obnoxious chore but not terribly difficult. I don't get much pushback from the US insurer because 1) it's just not cost-effective for them to do the research needed to come up with a case for denial of common procedures (also because I haven't claimed anything major); 2) because I'm enrolled in a big multinational's program they're constrained from denying anyway; and 3) because US-equivalent procedures and medications just plain cost them less.

Interestingly, there's no dental option in the Australian system and dental costs here are shockingly high -- more than twice what I'd pay in the US. Aussies often go to Thailand and Indonesia on "dental holidays" to avoid local costs (what they can save more than pays for the vacation).

And yes, there's a vigorous private health insurance market, as the video alluded to, which is affordable (my company provides it for free to local hires) and which greases the wheels with regard to waiting times.

So the Australian system as applied to general medical has substantially kept costs down while delivering care outcomes superior to the US, and where it isn't imposed -- dental -- the costs are crazy high.

Hmmmm. Any lessons for 'Murrica?

[barack the house]

5. In single payer nations the dis-satistied are usually not as pleased over small issues than ...

any sort of real malpractice. Overall you would find most folks are satisfied, that they wouldn't consider going to a private system. THe way you have to see it is with roads maintained by government and local autorities you get some who are not totally satisfied, but if they were privately maintained it would only be wealthy areas that had fine roads and other areas you would have wheels will run flat through disrepair. Still it's within the intrest of the wealthier states to pay for up keep, so when they travel they can have a smooth running car too. Likewise in health care, it's within everyones intrest folks are more healthy so airbourne diseases have less of a chances of becoming pandemic.

[AusDem]

6. thanks for posting

i was about to do a post regarding the Australian way.

A little bit more info (though I'm no expert). If you're over a certain taxable income, you will be hit with a 1.5% "Medicare Levy" but only if you have not bought private health insurance. As I fit into this category, I have taken on private insurance. This covers basic dental (plus basic dental surgery), and a number of other optional costs (such as physio, chiro, massages), as well as basic hospital costs. Overall, my annual private insurance cost is $750AUD, which is quite affordable, and I probably claim around 300 a year on a regular basis anyway (dental and optical checkups). My deductibles are reasonably low, though I'm generally only covered for 65% of the costs of the more "optional" cover (eg dental, optical), but hospital costs would be fully covered.

Its not perfect, but at least I knew when, a couple of years ago I was on a lower salary, that any significant costs would not bankrupt me, as medicare is there.

There's more information here: http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/healthcare.html

[pattmarty]

7. One question an INFORMED person would ask is: If we have the..........

..........."best system in the world", why aren't ALL these other countries screaming at their elected officials to institute the "free market" greatest, wonderfulest, more efficient, least costly system that we have??????? Ya never hear that shit on teevee.

[izquierdista]

8. We have the "best health care in the world"

In the same way that North Korea has the best cuisine in the world. It may be true for the top 1%, but for the vast majority, it ain't there.

[pattmarty]

11. Yeah, but try telling that to the tea party Fox viewers.

[grahamhgreen]

10. REC REC REC! Be aware the Australian health care system is under attack

by private insurance & neo-cons.

They are working their evil little schemes down under, as well.

I stumbled this as well.... So thumbs up if you can!

[Wednesdays]

12. K&R

:kick: