It was the blooper heard round the world. In an editorial denouncing Democratic health reform plans, Investor’s Business Daily tried to frighten its readers by declaring that in Britain, where the government runs health care, the handicapped physicist Stephen Hawking “wouldn’t have a chance,” because the National Health Service would consider his life “essentially worthless.”
Professor Hawking, who was born in Britain, has lived there all his life, and has been well cared for by the National Health Service, was not amused.
Besides being vile and stupid, however, the editorial was beside the point. Investor’s Business Daily would like you to believe that Obamacare would turn America into Britain — or, rather, a dystopian fantasy version of Britain. The screamers on talk radio and Fox News would have you believe that the plan is to turn America into the Soviet Union. But the truth is that the plans on the table would, roughly speaking, turn America into Switzerland — which may be occupied by lederhosen-wearing holey-cheese eaters, but wasn’t a socialist hellhole the last time I looked.
Some anecdotes from my own life to add into the mix. I worked in Toronto for almost a year and during that year I got very sick, multiple times. I also have traveled quite a bit and have been sick in any number of countries. Read below to see the outcome of my experiences. Also note that all my expenses below are out of pocket, full cost, because I was not and had never been a resident of Canada or any other country other than the Philippines and therefore am not covered by any national program.
Anecdote 1: An evening in the emergency room, Toronto
I leave work early on a Tuesday evening and I'm coming down with something. My temperature is rising, I can't breathe, and I have what looks to be pink eye. I wait it out in my apartment until it is unbearable, and so I go across the street to the emergency room. After a five hour wait I got two prescriptions from the doctor, I paid $400 Canadian dollars (at the time still worth less than US dollars), and got my prescriptions at $20 total.
Total cost of emergency room and medicine: $420 Canadian
Verdict: While 5 hours wasn't exactly great, it's still better than any emergency room I've been to in the United States, also cheaper. Also keep in mind that I did what most uninsured people in the US do - wait until the condition was awful and then went straight to the ER. No preventive care.
Anecdote 2: A Pleasant Doctor's Visit, Toronto
I have an eye issue that won't go away. There is redness and pain but no photosensitivity or change in vision. After my evening in the ER I ask my Canadian coworker for the name of her doctor. I call to make an appointment and get one that afternoon. The receptionist asks me for my insurance card at which point I explain that I'm a nonresident and need to pay out of pocket. I get a prescription from the doctor.
Total cost of doctor and medicine: $50 Canadian
Verdict: Are you fucking kidding me? It's fucking awesome! When was the last time the doctor only charged $50 (actually it was $30 and the prescription was $20) TOTAL?! I can't even talk to my doctor on the phone without getting charged!
Anecdote 3, not exactly medical: A Chipped Tooth, Toronto
I chipped my front tooth during an ill-fated St. Patrick's Day in Miami. It wasn't too bad but it was noticeable enough and I wanted to get it fixed right away. My dentist in Manhattan did not have appointments on Fridays (the only day I was in the city at the time). I decided to get it done in Canada.
Total cost of repairing chipped tooth: $80 Canadian
Verdict: There are no words for how awesome this is. I can't even get a cleaning for $80 in the US.
Anecdote 4: Unbearable Eczema, Croatia
While on my honeymoon the eczema on my arms flared up. I stupidly forgot my amazing cream and so I toughed it out for a while until I could no longer handle it and it was waking me up in the middle of the night. Normal cortisone creams or calamine lotions do not work on this eczema, trust me, I've tried everything. I went to a pharmacy. I pointed at the eczema and said please help me. The pharmacist gave me two creams.
Total cost of "visit" plus creams: 60 kuna, or about $12 USD
Verdict: If this were to happen to me in the US, I would have had to visit my doctor, get a prescription, then pay for the prescription, which would have been a lot more than $12 USD.
I am not sharing all this because I think Canada or Croatia is perfect because I don't (no offense to Canada or Croatia but nothing is perfect), nor do I really advocate the Canadian health system. I'm sure it has its problems, as everything does. But the fact that I had three medical issues in Canada that cost me $550 Canadian, TOTAL, not copay, not deductible, not anything else, means that there is something seriously broken in the United States healthcare system. When I look at my Explanation of Benefits, I see that some of my visits cost $800 each. I pay only $25 because I have excellent coverage, but seriously, $800 for an hour's visit?
Still think we don't need reform?
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