**Bobby Moss** @bobstechsite · Jun 28, 2018, 15:24

**Bobby Moss** @bobstechsite · Jun 28, 2018, 15:24

Bobby Moss @bobstechsite

Jun 28, 2018, 15:24

UK v US healthcare Show more

£29.10 buys an English person all the asthma inhalers they want for 3 months. If they're under 18 or over 60 they're free.

It costs Americans $50-100 per inhaler.

Here's an explanation for the disparity by "Adam ruins everything": https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CeDOQpfaUc8#

**iona** @iona@social.coop · Jun 28, 2018, 15:56

**iona** @iona@social.coop · Jun 28, 2018, 15:56

Jun 28, 2018, 15:56

iona @iona@social.coop

UK v US healthcare Show more

@bobstechsite I once stayed in the US with a friend and I was surprised to note that when she went to Walmart to pick up her prescription, it cost less than the UK prescription charge at the time.

I wonder if it's simply the case that we pay the same for everything while Americans pay cost price?

It also shouldn't be £29.10 in England when the rest of the UK gets such things for free, but we're used to that bullshit in England nowadays.

**Bobby Moss** @bobstechsite · Jun 28, 2018, 16:04

**Bobby Moss** @bobstechsite · Jun 28, 2018, 16:04

Jun 28, 2018, 16:04

Bobby Moss @bobstechsite

UK v US healthcare Show more

@iona it also depends on whether they have insurance or not.

An American without insurance has to pay full hospital prices. This means a short bout of ill health can bankrupt them.

If they do have insurance then the amount they'll pay will vary depending on how generous it is and whether the plan has an excess.

Of course in the UK we use a combination of employee income and employer contributions to fund most healthcare for everyone.

**Bobby Moss** @bobstechsite · 2018-06-28T16:08:26Z

Bobby Moss @bobstechsite

UK v US healthcare Show more

@iona that being said I wouldn't call us a health utopia.

My step-dad was told he'd have to wait weeks for his gall bladder to be removed. After he mentioned he had a Bupa membership he had it done within days by the same doctor in the same hospital.

So, we kind of have a two-tier system. Those who can afford to top-up their care with private insurance get a better service.

Jun 28, 2018, 16:08 · Tusky · 0 · 0

**iona** @iona@social.coop · Jun 28, 2018, 16:09

**iona** @iona@social.coop · Jun 28, 2018, 16:09

Jun 28, 2018, 16:09

iona @iona@social.coop

UK v US healthcare Show more

@bobstechsite My sister's a midwife - she works in the same rooms in the same hospital using the same equipment, but some days she's working for the NHS and other days she's working for a private provider.

**iona** @iona@social.coop · Jun 28, 2018, 16:13

**iona** @iona@social.coop · Jun 28, 2018, 16:13

Jun 28, 2018, 16:13

iona @iona@social.coop

UK v US healthcare Show more

@bobstechsite From the point of view of the internals of the English NHS, little distinction is now made between NHS and private providers. The CCGs are the ones with the budget, and they 'commission' services from whoever. NHS Trusts are in competition with private outfits for contracts.

It's a deliberate mess, designed to confuse people, extract public money and put it into the pockets of private companies.

**Bobby Moss** @bobstechsite · Jun 28, 2018, 16:24

**Bobby Moss** @bobstechsite · Jun 28, 2018, 16:24

Jun 28, 2018, 16:24

Bobby Moss @bobstechsite

UK v US healthcare Show more

@iona the awkward situation I guess the government has is that for decades it's resisted raising taxes to pay for the NHS to be funded properly.

It doesn't surprise me that we're now getting this hybrid provisioning of healthcare. If they mess with "free at the point of care" though they'll have a riot on their hands.

**iona** @iona@social.coop · Jun 28, 2018, 16:27

**iona** @iona@social.coop · Jun 28, 2018, 16:27

Jun 28, 2018, 16:27

iona @iona@social.coop

UK v US healthcare Show more

@bobstechsite They could help a lot by getting rid of some of the layers. The CCGs are pointless, they're a money grab by GPs, many of whom are doing very nicely thank you out of the arrangement by being both commissioners and providers.