The cost of medicines in the USA and here
Discussion
croyde said:
Can anyone explain to me why does Trump want the NHS, would he even know what it is, and why do the Left keep saying this?
Being one of the largest and best funded organisations on the entire planet with a captive market of tens of millions could have summat to do with it. jamoor said:
What if you have a startup business that makes very little or are a poor artist scraping by?
Do you have to continuously rely on goodwill of hospitals? What about medicines? If you get a mid level health insurance policy paid for, what’s the difference between a mid level and Bella and whistles policy?
I knew someone would quote the whole post, I just didn’t expect it to be the very next post Do you have to continuously rely on goodwill of hospitals? What about medicines? If you get a mid level health insurance policy paid for, what’s the difference between a mid level and Bella and whistles policy?
To answer your first question, I addressed it - the premium tax credits. If you earn no money (struggling artist or investment in new business that doesn’t make much money), you can get a good health insurance plan for zero.
Just to be clear, financial aid from hospitals isn’t, I don’t believe, good will. My understanding is that it’s legally.
Affordable Care Act plans are categorized into 4 different groups. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The plan with the lowest premium is Bronze, Platinum has the highest. They all pay out for the same drugs - it’s not like on a Platinum plan you get the good drugs, but on the Bronze plan you only get sugar pills! The difference is the amount of additional out of pocket expenses you have over the premium.
The premium tax credit will buy you a silver plan.
For example, I purchase my wife a Gold level plan because we know she’s going to have a sizable event next year (she’s pregnant so God willing, it’ll be a natural, healthy birth but of course there could be some complications). This means that on top of the premium I pay for her, we will only have a small out of pocket contribution - the book says $760. When my daughter was born it was a little higher due to a minor complication. On the other hand, my daughter and I have Silver plans (from memory - I only worry most about my wife’s as she’s pregnant).
What that means is with the premium tax credit, the poorest of the poor with no job and no prospects could very well have the same plan that I, personally, have at zero cost.
Coming back to your previous question about what happens if you start a business etc. That was the position I was in a few years ago - because I made a significant investment in my business, my tax return showed we didn’t make any money that year. We received a premium tax credit for about 75% of the premium cost of the plan we chose.
The Moose said:
Halb said:
The Moose said:
Pretty much everyone can afford healthcare insurance.
In the UK, the US, or both?https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4...
It is not pretty much everyone or even close.
Halb said:
The Moose said:
Halb said:
The Moose said:
Pretty much everyone can afford healthcare insurance.
In the UK, the US, or both?https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4...
It is not pretty much everyone or even close.
...or am I missing something?
The Moose said:
Halb said:
The Moose said:
Halb said:
The Moose said:
Pretty much everyone can afford healthcare insurance.
In the UK, the US, or both?https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4...
It is not pretty much everyone or even close.
...or am I missing something?
The moose has explained the system well.
The crux of the matter is that Health Insurance is down to YOU.
The money is not taken at source like NI contributions.
Many people CHOOSE to pay less into a scheme or nothing at all believing that nothing will happen to them.
A nice cheap high deductible plan which leaves some nice free cash for a car payment/latest phone/coke+hookers etc but come unstuck when they need it.
My medical insurance + co pays/deductibles costs less than my previous NI contrubutions.
I have Type 2 Diabetes. I had a stent fitted earlier in the year.
My insurance has not gone up. I am still covered for everything.
Mind you, maybe I should not pay for health insurance which would make a nice monthly payment on a new Corvette C8.
What could possibly go wrong?
The Moose said:
My family and I get significantly better care here that we ever did back in the UK.
Objectively if you take any particular family in the US and any particular family in the UK then the chances are the UK family will have better health outcomes and spend less on healthcare to achieve it. Not sure if I may of posted this before but about 8 years ago my ex wife got health insurance here in the UK.
A year or so later she got breast cancer but the treatment for such an aggressive tumour was quick and amazing. Drugs that were too expensive for the NHS, amazing hospitals and easy contact with her oncologist.
But now her premiums are £900 a month and she can no longer afford it and because of her health history no other company will touch her.
A year or so later she got breast cancer but the treatment for such an aggressive tumour was quick and amazing. Drugs that were too expensive for the NHS, amazing hospitals and easy contact with her oncologist.
But now her premiums are £900 a month and she can no longer afford it and because of her health history no other company will touch her.
HD Adam said:
Yes, you are.
The moose has explained the system well.
The crux of the matter is that Health Insurance is down to YOU.
The money is not taken at source like NI contributions.
Many people CHOOSE to pay less into a scheme or nothing at all believing that nothing will happen to them.
A nice cheap high deductible plan which leaves some nice free cash for a car payment/latest phone/coke+hookers etc but come unstuck when they need it.
My medical insurance + co pays/deductibles costs less than my previous NI contrubutions.
I have Type 2 Diabetes. I had a stent fitted earlier in the year.
My insurance has not gone up. I am still covered for everything.
Mind you, maybe I should not pay for health insurance which would make a nice monthly payment on a new Corvette C8.
What could possibly go wrong?
The US government spends a huge amount healthcare, far more than any other country, however you want to measure it or categorise it.The moose has explained the system well.
The crux of the matter is that Health Insurance is down to YOU.
The money is not taken at source like NI contributions.
Many people CHOOSE to pay less into a scheme or nothing at all believing that nothing will happen to them.
A nice cheap high deductible plan which leaves some nice free cash for a car payment/latest phone/coke+hookers etc but come unstuck when they need it.
My medical insurance + co pays/deductibles costs less than my previous NI contrubutions.
I have Type 2 Diabetes. I had a stent fitted earlier in the year.
My insurance has not gone up. I am still covered for everything.
Mind you, maybe I should not pay for health insurance which would make a nice monthly payment on a new Corvette C8.
What could possibly go wrong?
Ultimately that money is coming from you.
gregs656 said:
The Moose said:
My family and I get significantly better care here that we ever did back in the UK.
Objectively if you take any particular family in the US and any particular family in the UK then the chances are the UK family will have better health outcomes and spend less on healthcare to achieve it. croyde said:
Not sure if I may of posted this before but about 8 years ago my ex wife got health insurance here in the UK.
A year or so later she got breast cancer but the treatment for such an aggressive tumour was quick and amazing. Drugs that were too expensive for the NHS, amazing hospitals and easy contact with her oncologist.
But now her premiums are £900 a month and she can no longer afford it and because of her health history no other company will touch her.
That is exactly what happened before here in the USA.A year or so later she got breast cancer but the treatment for such an aggressive tumour was quick and amazing. Drugs that were too expensive for the NHS, amazing hospitals and easy contact with her oncologist.
But now her premiums are £900 a month and she can no longer afford it and because of her health history no other company will touch her.
I hope your wife is healthy and all is well.
Read most of this thread.
Don't understand if the US have introduced pricing alligment with Canada how are drug prices cheaper there then in the USA.
Also does it matter, the USA and EU are set to sign a trade agreement one day so either the EU will have to accept US rules or the USA will have to accept EU rules?
This is interesting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzsKPsWqLmg&t=...
Don't understand if the US have introduced pricing alligment with Canada how are drug prices cheaper there then in the USA.
Also does it matter, the USA and EU are set to sign a trade agreement one day so either the EU will have to accept US rules or the USA will have to accept EU rules?
This is interesting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzsKPsWqLmg&t=...
Macski said:
Read most of this thread.
Don't understand if the US have introduced pricing alligment with Canada how are drug prices cheaper there then in the USA.
Also does it matter, the USA and EU are set to sign a trade agreement one day so either the EU will have to accept US rules or the USA will have to accept EU rules?
This is interesting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzsKPsWqLmg&t=...
Prices are cheaper because they have a national healthcare system like ours and can negotiate from a position of strength.Don't understand if the US have introduced pricing alligment with Canada how are drug prices cheaper there then in the USA.
Also does it matter, the USA and EU are set to sign a trade agreement one day so either the EU will have to accept US rules or the USA will have to accept EU rules?
This is interesting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzsKPsWqLmg&t=...
The England and Wales NHS, through NICE appraises their effectiveness and the quality and length of life and says “not at that price”.
Either the cost comes down, or they don’t buy.
loafer123 said:
Prices are cheaper because they have a national healthcare system like ours and can negotiate from a position of strength.
The England and Wales NHS, through NICE appraises their effectiveness and the quality and length of life and says “not at that price”.
Either the cost comes down, or they don’t buy.
But they have a trade agreement with the USA and according to this thread the US have made prices of medications part of the agreement.The England and Wales NHS, through NICE appraises their effectiveness and the quality and length of life and says “not at that price”.
Either the cost comes down, or they don’t buy.
Macski said:
But they have a trade agreement with the USA and according to this thread the US have made prices of medications part of the agreement.
It appears the point is that US pricing falls to meet Canada pricing, not the reverse;https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/471963-trump...
loafer123 said:
Macski said:
But they have a trade agreement with the USA and according to this thread the US have made prices of medications part of the agreement.
It appears the point is that US pricing falls to meet Canada pricing, not the reverse;https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/471963-trump...
The Moose said:
That article is from nearly 12 years ago. Before the Affordable Care Act was signed into law...
...or am I missing something?
The situation is now 1 in 10, not 1 in 5, thanks to Obama, but even some of that 90% "Now the bigger issue seems to be that many people with insurance are struggling to pay their deductibles and copays."...or am I missing something?
https://www.statnews.com/2019/07/28/health-system-...
Edited by Halb on Sunday 8th December 11:18
The Moose said:
jamoor said:
It very much is a privilige for those that can afford it, luckily here it's a right that can't be taken away from you.
Pretty much everyone can afford healthcare insurance.croyde said:
Not sure if I may of posted this before but about 8 years ago my ex wife got health insurance here in the UK.
A year or so later she got breast cancer but the treatment for such an aggressive tumour was quick and amazing. Drugs that were too expensive for the NHS, amazing hospitals and easy contact with her oncologist.
But now her premiums are £900 a month and she can no longer afford it and because of her health history no other company will touch her.
This is what happened to a local lady round here. She'd had health insurance for over 30 yrs, then got really ill. Insurance premium didn't go through the roof, they just refused to continue it. I found out meeting her in the local GP centre trying to sign up. A year or so later she got breast cancer but the treatment for such an aggressive tumour was quick and amazing. Drugs that were too expensive for the NHS, amazing hospitals and easy contact with her oncologist.
But now her premiums are £900 a month and she can no longer afford it and because of her health history no other company will touch her.
I've never had private health insurance, but have gone private twice in my life. Once when my back went. NHS said I needed MRI. Yeah, 7 month wait. Consultant (virtually one door from the MRI scanner room says he can get me in quick for a scan, 500 notes! I'd done some research - MRI mobile scanner unit travels 'daily' round the Midlands/South region, 199 quid! Consultant then says, 'yes, that's correct (but omitted to tell me so), I'll book you in.' Mrs drove me to Cheltenham (NHS!) Hospital, and bingo, there is huge Mobile Scanner/lorry. Pay my 199 quid (people I spoke with came from everywhere, inc one young guy from France with his family - he'd had a cycling accident). Had my scan and results were back with consultant within a week! Lower disc herniation.
Next occasion, inguinal hernia. NHS hospital. Got in reasonably quick. Outside op theatre awaiting Gen. Anaesthetic, my BP went sky high (long story). Refused to operate. Told to go on beta blockers (nah thanks, I hate pills, especially when I don't need 'em!) Sent home.
Found out some NHS hospitals do same (very common) op under a Local Anaesthetic. Hmm, odd I thought. Tried to get transfer to different area - not a problem really, it's a same day in out op. Someone could drop me off, or I'll catch a train, then get picked up by Mrs or friends.
Could I hell.
Why couldn't my NHS do it under a Local anaesthetic (gotta be cheaper - I thought they were strapped for cash?). Was it postcode lottery perhaps? Turns out my area is 'teaching'. Who operates on you? How the f would you know, you're out to the world, so could be Junior, first day perhaps. Gotta learn somewhere.
So I looked at private. p
s off abroad and recuperate in the sun on a beach - this really appealed to me.Forget it. Turned out far more expensive than here at home.
Right, let's go to London, good hospital choice. Almost booked it for £2.5k, then read the small print! F that! Probably end up paying twice that amount.
Somebody asks how I got on at the local NHS hospital, and could hardly believe what I told them. He tells me there is a hospital on my doorstep that does this op. Wow! There is. £1800 all in.
Chatted with surgeon while he did op. Even brought up the old days when a Guinness was given to patients!
So, I could have paid in all my 30 years since starting my business and paid what? More than my £1999 I bet. Horses for courses. You takes your choices.
Edit
Forgot to add.
After my 'non' operation at NHS hospital I was pestered with several letters in the post over the next month or so, one actually from my 'local' NHS authority asking me HOW did my operation go?
Was I pleased or not with the surgery? How long did it take for me to recuperate? Would I recommend them?
Hmm.
Edited by dandarez on Sunday 8th December 14:50
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