Cost of Health Care Continues to Rise

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by Deczor

We just had a new hospital built down the road to replace the old one. The old one was adequate, but a bit old. I'm not talking a small hospital either, it's the main one in the capital.

If people get sick or hurt, they go to the hospital. They get treated and leave. If they're too far gone, they die. Such is life... and death. When I had my appendix out they just did it. No question of money ever came up. A friend of mine had his finger broken quite badly. He was treated and didn't even have to give his name. He's getting physio now as well.

If I go to my GP around the corner I spend US$10 on the consultation. If I need drugs she gives me a prescription and I go to the chemist and get what I need. It costs $3, (about a buck fifty in US money) no matter how much of any kind of drug I require.

I'm not on any special health plan at work. I don't get any special subsides from the government. It's just how it is here.

You can get private health insurance. My parents are on that. They pay a couple of hundred bucks a month for some really extensive cover. Mum was bragging just the other week that she only had to wait two months (which is about the same as the public health wait time for non-urgent stuff), and that being treated in a private hospital would have cost $2500 without insurance, but she only has to pay $600.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that she's paid more than twice that in insurance cover in the last couple of years and they'd have done the same thing in the public system for free.

They believe in a user-pays system and buy into this whole 'socialised medicine' rubbish that gets spouted on TV (yes, US telly is very dominant, even here, where it's opinions are not relevant). Thanks to Fox and christian TV my parents are paying twice for the same service. Cool, eh?

Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand............?

I love it when people here in the 'States say, "Well I heard that in _____, they have that and it's horrible." I always follow that with; "Ever been there?"
The answer is usally, but not always "No.".

I've spent time in countries that have "national healthcare" and they all seemed pretty darn healthy.

Dave

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Don't really want to give up my doctor though, but his practice has been bought out by corporate medicine. Hope they and my insurance company get along.

Even if they don't get along with your insurance company it's still better than having the government making life and death decisions. (BTW my mom has Medicare and can go to any doctor she wants and has never had a doctor refuse to accept Medicare)

[merrylander]

Welcom aboard Deczor, you may well have run across a few Americans dow under as I understand the hip and knee replacements are far cheaper in Aukland even counting the airfare.

[Deczor]

Haven't met any that have come here for medical reasons. Have a few american and canadian friends that came here for a break and never left. It's a problem. For them, not for me. Even with all their families back over there they just don't want to leave NZ.

We have a new guy at work that came here for a couple of weeks three years ago. he went home, got married, saved up and moved with his wife back here with the intention to stay and start a family.

Must be doing something right, eh?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Deczor

Haven't met any that have come here for medical reasons. Have a few american and canadian friends that came here for a break and never left. It's a problem. For them, not for me. Even with all their families back over there they just don't want to leave NZ.

We have a new guy at work that came here for a couple of weeks three years ago. he went home, got married, saved up and moved with his wife back here with the intention to stay and start a family.

Must be doing something right, eh?

Any more room at the inn? If the Palin/Beck cabal end up running this country, NZ sounds pretty hospitable (not to mention as far from the nuthouse as possible).

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Any more room at the inn? If the Palin/Beck cabal end up running this country, NZ sounds pretty hospitable (not to mention as far from the nuthouse as possible).

thought you were going to Canada ?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by noonereal

thought you were going to Canada ?

I'm not that picky. Anywhere with good fishing, hunting and beer that would have me. NZ has the added advantage of not being able to receive Fox News (which will become like Pravda once Palin/Beck take over).

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I'm not that picky. Anywhere with good fishing, hunting and beer that would have me. NZ has the added advantage of not being able to receive Fox News (which will become like Pravda once Palin/Beck take over).

I think you are wrong.

I think it is like Pravda now just not mandatory yet.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I'm not that picky. Anywhere with good fishing, hunting and beer that would have me. NZ has the added advantage of not being able to receive Fox News (which will become like Pravda once Palin/Beck take over).

As much as the right likes to talk about national security, can you imagine the threat we would face with those two representing the US in the international arena? Think Putin could look into their eyes and see vacant space?

Regards,

D-Ray

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by noonereal

I think it is like Pravda now just not mandatory yet.

... and with lower journalistic standards.