by Guest » 20 Jun 2008, 02:31
Well in the UK, the healthcare system works with relative simplicity. After the primary analysis with the GP, if you're recommended for a referral to a specialist then you'll be assigned a date, depending on the urgency.
I now live in London, but I used to live in Wales; the two countries have the same NHS system, but in Wales you do not pay for ANY prescriptions, ever....not a dime. My father had 6 months of chemotherapy drugs, which are highly expensive, but he did not part with a penny. When he had his surgery he was in and out without ever seeing a medical expense form, or a billing agent tapping his shoulder looking for any numbers or account references.
Here in London, I pay Ј7.10 for my prescriptions, no matter how numerous in quantity they might be. For instance, I am asthmatic and get salbutamol (thats albuterol in the US) inhalers; the doc usually puts 3 on my prescription and that costs me Ј7.10. If he'd put down 4, it'd still be Ј7.10.You pay per prescription.
The rectogesic GTN ointment (0.4%) costs the NHS Ј32, but I only pay Ј7.10 for it. You see how it goes.
I was pretty confused in the states to see that I was billed $45 for a single asthma pump. They cost pennies to make and they could make a profit even if they only charged $10. Seems a little over the top to me.
I have had private British healthcare before too, when having a tosilectomy as a child. The entire thing cost Ј3500 for 3 nights in the most luxurious hospital, with my own bathroom and the works, and of course the surgery. So I noticed that the private healthcare here in the UK seems to be incredible value for money. The hospital I visited in the US was the exact same standard as the NHS hospitals I've visited.
The surgeons tend to do work for both NHS and private practices. By doing NHS twice a week or so and then their own private practice for the rest, they can do their bit and get paid handsomely by the government, whilst earning a wedge of cash on the side.
I felt that I was treated well whilst in the US hospital, but the aftermath - I was fraught with worry. My insurance company didnt recognise the form that the hospital sent to them so it was immediately rejected and the onus was on me to notice this and fix it with call after call after call while the hospital is encouraging me to pay with credit card and settle up with the insurer later, OR the heavies will come around to sort out the problem. It took 5 months for the status to change from rejected to accepted. I certainly didn't have $3600 to shell out I'll tell you that.
Anyways, after all this talk I booked an appt with my reliable GP for 3.20pm today, so he can have a look and doubly confirm the fissure site.
Phew, what a ramble...
-Brendan