r/FluentInFinance • u/The-Lucky-Investor • 13d ago

“Medicare for All” would save the U.S $5.1 Trillion over 10 years Discussion/ Debate

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/30/easy-pay-something-costs-less-new-study-shows-medicare-all-would-save-us-51-trillion
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u/Secret_Squire1 13d ago

American having lived in Europe and the UK.

No it’s more like having to wait several weeks to be seen by a GP to be told to go home and take Tylenol while resting. I had my foot run over by a car and was told the same thing.

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u/Cadet_Stimpy 13d ago

It takes months to get appointments in the US now too. It’s not a socialized healthcare issue, it’s a medical professional shortage issue.

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u/mannsion 13d ago

It depends on many things.

When I needed an MRI, I was in there two days later getting an MRI. When I needed an endoscopy the earliest they could get me in was 6 weeks away. But I had the choice of getting an endoscopy 2 hours away the next day and chose to wait instead.

When I crashed my ATV and was carted into the ER they dropped everything and took me back immediately.

Ime, when I wait it's because there's no harm in waiting, it's not an emergency, and if it's an emergency there's 0 wait.

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u/Cadet_Stimpy 13d ago

Seeing my PCM or specialists is what has taken weeks to months for me. If I accidentally saw off my arm while I’m doing some wood working, I’m sure I can get shuttled by ambulance to a hospital and be seen relatively quickly.

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u/mannsion 13d ago

I think that really comes down to availability. My primary care physician generally can slot me in within days of a phone call, but as he get's more popular and books up it'll take longer, he's super young and great so I imagine it won't be long before I'm waiting, but yeah.

This is why I employ other services. If I have a physical or have questions etc yeah I'll schedule with my Primary Care physician. But if I think I have pneumonia I'll just walk into Urgent Care.

And with urgent care I use the new online scheduling system and text messages, so I can checkin from home and just head there when the wait timer get's to about 30 mins estimated.

My insurance covers me anywhere I want to go.

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u/Cadet_Stimpy 13d ago

I can’t go to urgent care for checkups, sadly. I’m glad the healthcare system is working out so great for some people, but it’s not that way for everyone. I don’t live in a big city or rural country, just a middle of the road average area. I don’t decide where I get referred, my insurer does. And I have to wait as long as I have to wait.