Article - Comparing UK and US Healthcare systems

[Pauline]

A Facebook friend posted a link to this article which I thought gave a good overview of using both the US and UK healthcare systems.

Business Insider - What it's like when you're an American using Britain's NHS, by Jim Edwards, Jan. 29, 2015

On Facebook @Terry asked my experience and if our taxes reflect the cost of healthcare, and this was my reply:

Although we lived in the US for 20+ years, we had very little experience with the health system other than having to pay a lot for individual policies and always worrying that if something happened we would lose our insurance. The one time either of us went to the hospital was when we first moved to the US and were uninsured. Back then it did not cost a fortune to just pay and that is what we did. And then got around to getting insurance - and then never used it in 20 years.

In the UK we have both been to the doctor a few times - that's it. So I can't really compare, which was why I liked that article.

Re taxes: VAT is over 20% in the UK, so everyone buying anything pays. Petrol (gas) is very expensive and most of the cost is taxes. Taxes on income are a bit higher. Property tax, called council tax, is lower and tops out at a low amount (too low an amount IMO). But the person living in the house pays it, so even as renters we have to pay.

 

[Panda]

The procedure for making GP appointments varies massively - at mine, for instance, I can phone or go online first thing in the morning and choose something for that day or for a couple of weeks hence. It is booking something by calling later in the day or for a couple of days forward that is the problem with this particular surgery but I have never not been able to see someone on the day . They all have an obligation to reserve a number of on day appointments for more urgent or child cases.

Some people have private health insurance as an employment perk, either fully funded or discounted. Others choose to pay for the occasional elective procedure as a self pay to get it done faster or at a time more convenient to them than offered by the NHS.You see the same consultants ( specialists ) privately - it is a requirement of private health insurance that the consultant is or has had an NHS consultant post.

For example: I had a procedure performed on the NHS by the top specialist in his field - he invented the most up to date version of it. You could not pay for better. He saw patients for NHS consultations and operations three days a week and the remaining two you could pay hugely to have him perform it at a private hospital. I waited 6 weeks - privately it would have been two. On another occasion, when I had some worrying symptoms that could have indicated cancer, I was on a fast track NHS protocol to see excellent specialists at a dedicated clinic within two days for a raft of tests ( with benign results, thankfully )

There are examples, though, where some elective procedures have long waiting times and there is a 'take it or go back in the queue' aspect, which is inconvenient as is the ever changing specialist appointment system. You do have some say or preference over which hospital or consultant will treat you but, honestly, most people take the recommendation of their GP. The author of the article is right about the difficulty of communicating directly with hospitals - that can be frustrating.

 

[Pauline]

We have the same setup at our GP in Painswick. Phone first thing to see someone that day, or if it is not urgent, make an appointment for later (usually up to a week later). I had a few bad colds/flus over the last few years and have always been able to see someone the day I called. Once, when we were on holiday in Cornwall, I even got in the same day to a local GP because I was feeling very unwell (one of those coughs that lasted a month).

Prescriptions are free for over 60 (or 65?) otherwise you pay a standard fee (around £7) for each prescription.

I have no complaints about the healthcare system here. I feel like we would be looked after if we needed it.