• GiddyGap
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    6 months ago

    There’s a reason why literally no other country in the world is imitating the US healthcare insurance system.

        • rayyy@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Putin had a hand in the Brits leaving the EU and the election of Trump in the US - both massive wins for Putin.

          • Patches@sh.itjust.works
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            6 months ago

            I’m sure he’s had a hand in a lot of things. Trolls are very cheap in Russia.

            But it doesn’t absolve anyone of their responsibility now, and it won’t in the future.

      • GiddyGap
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        6 months ago

        Britain has universal healthcare with zero deductible and zero co-pays. Not even on the same planet.

        • withabeard@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Sadly, only somewhat true nowadays.

          There are plenty of parts of healthcare that are privatised and pay only. Some of this paid for by the NHS and the current government are attacking the “costs” of that. Especially as the treatments are often more expensive when done privately than they were on the NHS. Dental and optical treatment are privatised now. Much of our ambulance and rescue service are now private or voluntary. We’re seeing ever increasing costs for the ambulance services, while watching wait times skyrocket. Given private ambulance firms are measured on a few KPIs, they are targeting those over general care. Many surgeries that used to be covered (such a cleft lip) by the NHS are now regarded as cosmetic and come with insurance deductibles or are not even covered by insurance.

          Many industries, such as software development, are offering private cover as a workplace bonus. What that means in reality is when I come off my motorbike, the expensive emergency surgery I need will be covered by an NHS surgeon. The insurance company will then “elect” to pay for me to be moved to a comfortable hotel/hospital where I can stay in comfort. That comfort is what I’ll be paying my insurance for, not the actual surgery.

          • GiddyGap
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            6 months ago

            Even if there are a few things now considered “cosmetic” in the UK, it’s still far, far from anything you’d experience in the US. And that’s where all the medical debt comes in.

            Not only do you have to struggle with the health issues, often through no fault of your own, you also have to struggle through financial hardship on top of that. It’s truly an awful system.