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Poor Britons healthier than rich Americans | 61 comments (61 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Poor Britons healthier than rich Americans (none / 1)
To clarify, the 46 million people without health insurance number is the self-reported Census number, with various caveats and skewing factors. But that doesn't matter, because it's clearly too many people, and many of them are the least privileged in the country--although that is changing as the cost of individual insurance rises. It's a horrible system.

However, that is not what the article is about...

by asdf on Thu May 4th, 2006 at 11:38:46 PM EST
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Re: Poor Britons healthier than rich Americans (none / 0)
I'm not speaking to the article, but to the comments.  It's funny to hear you say ours is a horrible system -- I didn't get that you held that view by your prior comments.  Perhaps, in this new light, my comment above was worded too harshly.  This being the case, however, what is it you object to in critiques of this system?

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 4th, 2006 at 11:44:06 PM EST
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Re: Poor Britons healthier than rich Americans (none / 1)
What I'm having trouble with is the America bashing tone that sometimes creeps into the ET discussions has crept in today.

The American health care system is stupid. Everybody in America knows that, and we're struggling to figure out what to do. Fine. So where's the discussion, for example, (on a European blog) about the mile long queue to sign up for a new dental practice in England? How are you going to convince Americans that this is better?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/4367717.stm

Or, off this topic, when Britain and France introduce an Iran-sanctioning proposal at the U.N. there is this mad scramble to explain how it's actually an unbelievably convoluted scheme to undercut the aggressive American Empire. The possibility that the European governments are also worried about Iran is taboo.

It's like "everything about America is bad and everything about Europe is terrific." I prefer to see a discussion about the positive and negative on both sides of the pond, which on most days is how it goes. But not today.

by asdf on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 12:00:02 AM EST
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Re: Poor Britons healthier than rich Americans (none / 0)
You know, I live in a relatively poor (thoght there is worse) borough of London and I had no trouble whatsoeaver registering with a doctor (GP). I even had a choice of several different practices within walking distance of my home.

I'm behind on my dental and eye check-ups so I'll try to register with an eye doctor and a dentist shortly. I'll let you know how not-horrible it is.

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 01:58:14 AM EST
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Re: Poor Britons healthier than rich Americans (none / 1)
Dentist is likely to be a problem if you try to register as an NHS patient - there is a general shortage exacerbated by recent changes to their contracts, one very bad aspect of the NHS.

Any major high street will have probably three or four opticians, any of who will offer NHS sight tests for the £15 fee, You do not have to buy any glasses or contact lenses from them, just ask them to give you the prescription which you can use at any shop. As well as the reading tests, they will also examine your eyes and do other tests as appropriate. They will take a family history to look out for some problems (if you are over a certain age - 50 I think - and your parents had glaucoma you get the test free). You also get the test free if you are over 65 or in one of other exempt groups and some get vouchers to help pay for them. Cost will depend on the frames and type of lens and coatings you chose. Obviously if you need bifocals or varifocals the cost will be higher. There are several major chains and they frequently do special offers - one chain does a "two for one" offer, handy if you need reading and distance glasses (though you have to pay for coating the second pair) or at this time of year they do free light-sensitive lenses instead. Shop around for the best deal for you.

If they detect any problems they will either give you a letter for your GP or refer you to a hospital opthalmology department.  

by Londonbear on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 03:25:27 AM EST
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Poor Britons healthier than rich Americans | 61 comments (61 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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