Do people really believe US healthcare is so much better because of greater profit incentive?!
Question: Do people really believe US healthcare is so much better because of greater profit incentive.?
I keep hearing arguments here from US citizens that their mega-expensive private health care system is wonderful because the higher profit incentive ensures they have the best medical technology and standards. They say having a socialised system (a dirty word in the US it seems) eliminates the profit incentive and results in sub-standard medical care.
There maybe an element of truth to this, as better doctors can charge more money in a free-for-all privatised system. But I think this argument is generally pretty weak.
Firstly, it assumes that the only incentive for people to try to do their job well is to make more money. I don't believe this is the case. In most professions, whether it be medical doctor or anything else, people like to perform well in their job for pride and personal satisfaction. It isn't just about the money.
And if one doctor is better than another doctor they will tend to have more patients come to see them, and get more money that way.
Countries that offer universal health care mainly paid by their government can also have optional private health cover for wealthy people who do not wish to wait for elective surgery and want luxuries such as choice of doctor. The private clients pay more and thereby provide a monetary incentive for doctors to improve themselves, as word gets out which doctors are at the top of their field and are chosen by the wealthy privately insured people.
This way there is some monetary incentive for improvements in medical technology and doctors skills (in addition to the already-mentioned non-monetary incentives which I think are more powerful any way) and at the same time there is an acceptable level of medical covereage for all citizens. It may not be perfect but it has to be better than the US system.
Agree or disagree.?Health Question & Answer
There maybe an element of truth to this, as better doctors can charge more money in a free-for-all privatised system. But I think this argument is generally pretty weak.
Firstly, it assumes that the only incentive for people to try to do their job well is to make more money. I don't believe this is the case. In most professions, whether it be medical doctor or anything else, people like to perform well in their job for pride and personal satisfaction. It isn't just about the money.
And if one doctor is better than another doctor they will tend to have more patients come to see them, and get more money that way.
Countries that offer universal health care mainly paid by their government can also have optional private health cover for wealthy people who do not wish to wait for elective surgery and want luxuries such as choice of doctor. The private clients pay more and thereby provide a monetary incentive for doctors to improve themselves, as word gets out which doctors are at the top of their field and are chosen by the wealthy privately insured people.
This way there is some monetary incentive for improvements in medical technology and doctors skills (in addition to the already-mentioned non-monetary incentives which I think are more powerful any way) and at the same time there is an acceptable level of medical covereage for all citizens. It may not be perfect but it has to be better than the US system.
Agree or disagree.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
I totally agree.I am in Australia. And am a Nurse who works in the public (free) sector hospitals.
I am not wealthy. But I pay for private insurance.
You don't need to be wealthy to have private insurance. I pay $109.00 a month. That's it.
When I go into hospital I pay NOTHING. It get's paid by my insurance and Medicare. (Government)
We defantly DON'T have a sub-standard health care system.
Russia does. I consider that sub-standard.
Our hospitals look exactly like yours. With the same standards.
We also DON'T wait months for life saving surgery or treatment. A broken bone doesn't take 7 weeks to be treated. It's treated straight away. Another myth blown away.
In fact when I am admitted to hospital and there is no private bed available at a private hospital, then I am more than happy to stay in public.
I also get paid MORE to work public than private!
So that goes against all the propoganda that I am following about a socialised health care system for the USA I am hearing about.
I have been on YA for a long time and are so sadened to hear about people being so sick but no insurance so can't afford to see a Doctor.
Why would a Country do that to it's own people.? Is it ONLY about making money in health care in the USA.?
Why should someone who is despearatly ill need to stress over how they are going to be able to pay the ER visit.? When they should be receiving medical care.?
I have heard so many American's state that if they had a socialised health care system then people would abuse it. How can you actually abuse it.? By seeking help for a heart condition BEFORE it get's so bad that they can no longer work. Need hospitalization with no insurance, for months.? Or the diabetic who's toes are falling off from the uncontrolled blood sugars because they can't afford the medication.?
Medical costs could actually drop.
also here in Australia we get our medications subsidised by the Government for pensioners, aged, disabled, single parent, for $5.20 each. Not hundreds of dollars each.
Reach $300.00 in a year and they become free.
I LOVE OUR SYSTEM and wouldn't have the American system for quids.
I do hope that Obama does win the election as something has to change.
Your health care system is sick!Health Question & Answer
I am not wealthy. But I pay for private insurance.
You don't need to be wealthy to have private insurance. I pay $109.00 a month. That's it.
When I go into hospital I pay NOTHING. It get's paid by my insurance and Medicare. (Government)
We defantly DON'T have a sub-standard health care system.
Russia does. I consider that sub-standard.
Our hospitals look exactly like yours. With the same standards.
We also DON'T wait months for life saving surgery or treatment. A broken bone doesn't take 7 weeks to be treated. It's treated straight away. Another myth blown away.
In fact when I am admitted to hospital and there is no private bed available at a private hospital, then I am more than happy to stay in public.
I also get paid MORE to work public than private!
So that goes against all the propoganda that I am following about a socialised health care system for the USA I am hearing about.
I have been on YA for a long time and are so sadened to hear about people being so sick but no insurance so can't afford to see a Doctor.
Why would a Country do that to it's own people.? Is it ONLY about making money in health care in the USA.?
Why should someone who is despearatly ill need to stress over how they are going to be able to pay the ER visit.? When they should be receiving medical care.?
I have heard so many American's state that if they had a socialised health care system then people would abuse it. How can you actually abuse it.? By seeking help for a heart condition BEFORE it get's so bad that they can no longer work. Need hospitalization with no insurance, for months.? Or the diabetic who's toes are falling off from the uncontrolled blood sugars because they can't afford the medication.?
Medical costs could actually drop.
also here in Australia we get our medications subsidised by the Government for pensioners, aged, disabled, single parent, for $5.20 each. Not hundreds of dollars each.
Reach $300.00 in a year and they become free.
I LOVE OUR SYSTEM and wouldn't have the American system for quids.
I do hope that Obama does win the election as something has to change.
Your health care system is sick!Health Question & Answer
Agreed.
I don't know why we are so scared of anything with the word "socialized" in it.Health Question & Answer
I don't know why we are so scared of anything with the word "socialized" in it.Health Question & Answer
My opinion, and it's just my opinion, is that most things and people in the US are greed driven. Point in fact - or at least my version of the facts - is that fuel prices were absolutely greed driven. The oil companies have made record profits each of the last six years in spite of hurricane damage, increased production of hybrid cars . . . The banking industry snafu was also driven by greed. Banks offering loans to those who could not afford them expecting to be able to foreclose on them and resell at a profit. Their ultimate goal was to become bigger and richer.
In my opinion, NO ONE is worth even one million dollars a year, but if salaries were tied to actual profit and growth . . .
Back to the health care industry. Drug research and new technology investment are driven by the desire to increase profits.
Socialist anything has a negative connotation for me, because it implies equal pay for every job, regardless of skill level, difficulty, creative ingenuity, etc, which are trademarks of a capitalist society.
On the other hand, as a Christian I struggle with the inequality of the capitalist system we live in, but I'd also struggle with the inequality of a socialist system if I lived within that system. My solution is to do what I can to help those less fortunate. Health Question & Answer
In my opinion, NO ONE is worth even one million dollars a year, but if salaries were tied to actual profit and growth . . .
Back to the health care industry. Drug research and new technology investment are driven by the desire to increase profits.
Socialist anything has a negative connotation for me, because it implies equal pay for every job, regardless of skill level, difficulty, creative ingenuity, etc, which are trademarks of a capitalist society.
On the other hand, as a Christian I struggle with the inequality of the capitalist system we live in, but I'd also struggle with the inequality of a socialist system if I lived within that system. My solution is to do what I can to help those less fortunate. Health Question & Answer
Totally disagree.
Medical advancements and innovations tend to come from the US and that is because money is the bottom line.
Socialized medicine has failed and is a mess in most countries (despite what Michael Moore lied about) has failed.
I want to be able to pick my own doctor and have control of my own medical care. Under Obama he wants government to make more and more decisions about my life. I don't want more government involvement.
Even under Obamas plan 25 million people will not have coverage.
Read what Obama really says and it is like something out of France, Cuba, England etc. In England the medical system is a mess (so many of the British say). also, I don't want to pay for illegal immigrants. They are illegal. They need to become legal to get health care.
Socializing our medical system would be a mess. Trust me. I have lived under socialized medicine and can see the difference.Health Question & Answer
Medical advancements and innovations tend to come from the US and that is because money is the bottom line.
Socialized medicine has failed and is a mess in most countries (despite what Michael Moore lied about) has failed.
I want to be able to pick my own doctor and have control of my own medical care. Under Obama he wants government to make more and more decisions about my life. I don't want more government involvement.
Even under Obamas plan 25 million people will not have coverage.
Read what Obama really says and it is like something out of France, Cuba, England etc. In England the medical system is a mess (so many of the British say). also, I don't want to pay for illegal immigrants. They are illegal. They need to become legal to get health care.
Socializing our medical system would be a mess. Trust me. I have lived under socialized medicine and can see the difference.Health Question & Answer