The Welfare state

Yeah, am grateful for the NHS, would be scared to live in a country without one like the US

Reply 4

OP

Yet the American health system receives more funding from the state in relative terms...discuss

Reply 5

Blamps

Yet the American health system receives more funding from the state in relative terms...discuss

In relative terms? You mean, per person? I would be surprised. Where is that statistic from?

Reply 6

hitchhiker_13

Slippery slope arguments...

Anyway, while I would say that the government have mismanaged the NHS in some ways, the cannot be blamed totally. The sheer range of treatments available now mean it can never be a fully comprehensive service. We could double spending, and double it again and again, and still all that money could be spent...easily.

The # 1 reason that the NHS is failing is because anything that is "free" soon runs out, as you would know if you ever tried to buy something for nothing.

Reply 7

Howard

The # 1 reason that the NHS is failing is because anything that is "free" soon runs out, as you would know if you ever tried to buy something for nothing.

Yes, I go for a kidney transplant EVERYDAY because it's freeeeeeee! :smile:

Reply 8

fishpaste

Yeah, am grateful for the NHS, would be scared to live in a country without one like the US

Well, that depends if you carry health insurance or not.

With insurance I can expect to live 5 years longer if I get treated for lung cancer in the US than in the UK. That's if I die. But, in addittion the chances of living are greater.

Reply 9

fishpaste

Yes, I go for a kidney transplant EVERYDAY because it's freeeeeeee! :smile:

Don't be ridiculous.

Reply 10

Blamps

Yet the American health system receives more funding from the state in relative terms...discuss

Nothing to discuss because it's not true.

Reply 11

OP

fishpaste

In relative terms? You mean, per person? I would be surprised. Where is that statistic from?

I think it is quite well known...I believe it is the same situation even for University education

Reply 12

hitchhiker_13

11

Howard

Well, that depends if you carry health insurance or not.

With insurance I can expect to live 5 years longer if I get treated for lung cancer in the US than in the UK. That's if I die. But, in addittion the chances of living are greater.

Something like 40% of people don't though.

Reply 13

OP

Howard

Nothing to discuss because it's not true.

How do you know?

Reply 14

Blamps

I think it is quite well known...I believe it is the same situation even for University education

Well, I must be living in the only part of the US where it isn't well known then. How extraordinary.

Reply 15

hitchhiker_13

Something like 40% of people don't though.

42% and that's tragic.

Reply 16

OP

Blamps

How do you know?

Health Care Spending Rose 8.7 Percent in 2001
U.S. health care spending escalated to $1.4 trillion in 2001, an 8.7 percent increase over the 2000 cost.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported the figures Jan. 8 in its annual expenditure report. CMS also reported that health care spending averaged $5,035 per person in 2001, compared with $4,672 in 2000.

"While still the greatest in the world, our health care system is stretched and stressed to the point of nearly breaking," HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said. Causes for the spending hike included an 8.3 percent rise in hospital spending, a 15.7 percent rise in prescription drug spending and an 8.6 percent rise in spending for physician services.

Public spending, including Medicare and Medicaid payments, accounted for 45 percent of national health expenditures. Spending for Medicaid reached $224.3 billion in 2001, an increase of 10.8 percent, the fastest growth rate since 1993. "If there ever was an argument for Medicare and Medicaid reform, this report is it," said CMS Administrator Tom Scully

Reply 17