Ask Matt: What’s Wrong with the U.S. Health Care System?

[Shana A]

Ask Matt: What's Wrong with the U.S. Health Care System?

January 23, 2012 by Matt Kailey

http://tranifesto.com/2012/01/23/ask-matt-whats-wrong-with-the-u-s-health-care-system/

A reader writes: "As a European living in New York, I find the U.S. health insurance system bewildering, to put it mildly. A German friend just had his bottom surgery done (is in the process of – seems to take a lot of steps, including complications) and there is no question that his health insurance would pay for it.

"In addition, frankly, U.S. medical costs are astronomical. So how does the average U.S. guy pay? At an FTM meeting, I heard a strange comment: 'I wish I were on Medicaid.' Is that more likely to pay than health insurance? Seems weird. I checked my own insurance and the alternative available through work, and neither of them pay for 'gender stuff.'

[Medusa]

I don't know how moch you pay at US for health insurance

but at europe is common to pay 25-30% of FULL INCOME to basic health insuracne which then give you a "free healthcare"

[Joelene9]

  Here in the US, the insurance providers are private.  Most will not pay for SRS or other surgeries.  They will not pay for some "preexisting conditions" either even with the new healthcare plan.  There are the government Medicare/Medicaid programs for seniors and those on disability.  Some doctors, including my own will not accept Medicare/Medicaid patients due to the paperwork and poor returns from those.  Some of us do not have any kind of insurance because of the economy.  Some of us still will not get insurance or adequate medical treatments when this new "Obamacare" goes into effect.  Some of us will be fined and may even go to jail (geol) if we are not insured.  That part is being challenged in the court system.

  There is a doctor shortage already in my area and the increased patient load of up to 43% will put a strain on the medical field as reported in The Denver Post last month.  A lot of the elective surgeries such as SRS will be less available and more expensive.  It took me 3 months to find my doctor after all of the calls and internet queries.  After all of that, I had to settle with a transgender friendly PhD LPN. 

  I looked at the plans offered by the insurers for my age and found that I have to pay nearly $700 a month with a $600 deductable.  The deductable means that the insurer may pay anything over the deductable for a yearly doctor visit bill with restrictions, but you are responsible for anything under the $600 in that year's time.  That would be for me about $7,800 a year plus anything they will not cover past the deductable.  I am on a limited income with poor job prospects.   
  Joelene

[Pippa]

I don't know how moch you pay at US for health insurance

but at europe is common to pay 25-30% of FULL INCOME to basic health insuracne which then give you a "free healthcare"

Utter rot.   Most European states have a basic health service which is paid for through your taxes.  In some countries you may have to pay for any equipment or drugs needed seperately e.g. needles or anaesthetic.  You do not pay 30% of ypur income just for healthcare.

In the UK we have the National Health Service.  This is free at point of delivery.  It is paid for through taxation and national insurance.  In England you also have to pay for prescriptions.  I think you've been listening to tea party, anti Obamacare propaganda.

[Joandelynn]

I don't know how moch you pay at US for health insurance

but at europe is common to pay 25-30% of FULL INCOME to basic health insuracne which then give you a "free healthcare"

Nonsense, over here in the Netherlands it's more in the range of 10% of your income, and our healthcare tax has a top level income of 50.000 Euros/year, so if you make more money than that the percentage becomes even less.

And for that I get free SRS (also part of the price if I go to Suporn), free hair removal in my face and genitals, free bloodtests & medicines, free psychotherapy, free voice therapy, free tracheal shave if it's too large and even free FFS if I would look extremely masculine (although only 10% of the people that apply for that get permission from their insurance for that surgery, the rest has to go private for FFS)

I am not saying that our healthcare system is so terribly good, in fact there is a lot wrong with it. But IMHO it's still a lot better than in the U.S.

[spacial]

Following on from Pippa, I am rather alarmed with the way so many in the US, who support of some form of state health service, yet believe the utter garbage being spoken of about the NHS.

Granted, newspapers such as the Mail come out with stories of filthy wards and elderly people starving to death, but the key is the Mail. It just isn't true.

It rather reminds me of the hysterical claims, that our government banned us for owning guns, leaving us all at the mercy of desperate, armed criminals, wandering the streets, killing people at will.

It doesn't really affect us as such. We have enough to contend with the Mail to worry about the US, but it does seem a shame that the people there are being frightened into supporting notions, based upon such obvious dishonesty.

[Medusa]

Nonsense, over here in the Netherlands it's more in the range of 10% of your income, and our healthcare tax has a top level income of 50.000 Euros/year, so if you make more money than that the percentage becomes even less.

And for that I get free SRS (also part of the price if I go to Suporn), free hair removal in my face and genitals, free bloodtests & medicines, free psychotherapy, free voice therapy, free tracheal shave if it's too large and even free FFS if I would look extremely masculine (although only 10% of the people that apply for that get permission from their insurance for that surgery, the rest has to go private for FFS)

I am not saying that our healthcare system is so terribly good, in fact there is a lot wrong with it. But IMHO it's still a lot better than in the U.S.

Ok sorry,
here in Czech rep it is 13,5% to healthcare, 29-32,5% to social system and 15% income tax (and health care and social have some limits but really high, about 70000 Euros/year and here is political pressure to make it unlimited)
and result is:
free SRS with local surgeon 
free bloodtests & medicines, free psychotherapy, free tracheal shave
other is considered to be "cosmetical"