I’m an American but thank God, I live in Australia.
We do not pay for health care at point of service; our taxes pay for health. We even have an after-hour doctor service. True story! A doctor will come to your home for no charge, provide medication, then send a full report to your primary doctor the next day. It saves ER costs.
I had two babies in hospital. Cost to me? NOTHING. Years later, I had lifesaving surgery, two weeks in hospital, and six months after care. Cost for my family? NOTHING.
Treatment is the same rich or poor BUT immediate elective surgery with private health care. Tax paid citizens wait maybe 2 years for a new hip or new knee, although cataracts are attended quickly. With money in health, our hospitals are modern, our doctors and nurses well paid.
Health insurance is affordable. Cost for my hubby and me? $350 a month covers BOTH OF US including physio, chiropractic, massage, hearing aids, DENTAL and GLASSES! Don’t get me started on big pharma! Asthma puffer here, $2.50. There with insurance $10. There without insurance $70!
Our government pays for most pensioner medication costs. We have public housing for those in trouble. Our vets and mentally ill are cared for.
Our minimum wage is $18 an hour. Our PAID vacation leave is FOUR WEEKS PER YEAR. After 10 years of service we get THREE MONTHS PAID long service leave. Our sick leave is 10 days a year ACCUMULATIVE. I didn’t use it and when I ended up in surgery I had three months’ PAID leave. We have Family leave (5 days if your kid is sick or mom, etc) and bereavement leave too.
Nine % EXTRA of our wage goes to our personal superannuation account (401K) paid by the employer BY LAW. This money accumulates, is invested in the person’s name, cannot be taken by government, and is there for our retirement. Employers don’t pay medical insurance here, so they can afford it. I know 30-year-olds with over $150,000 in their retirement account.
Yet America is 57th in infant mortality and 35 on the child poverty scale…35! Romania is doing better! 22% of American children live in poverty, virtually 1 in 4, but politicians focus on cutting taxes to multimillionaires.
America is the tenth richest country in the world, but its citizens have a living day by day lifestyle. American tax dollars should be spent on improving the lives of Americans! Where does your money go? When are Americans going to put an end to this insanity?
Susan Cartwright