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Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,808
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!


@Danielle46 wrote:

I'm so sick and tired of reading lies when it comes to health insurance.  We are told that with single payer health care you can't get surgery when needed, that you wait in line to see a specialist or even a regular doctor and so many other untrue things.  My daugher lives in Denmark, they have GREAT health insurance, there are no lines, if you're sick you can see a doctor as quickly as you can see one here, you can see a specialist without waiting a month, you can get second opinions etc.  The people there are very happy with their health insurance so stop listening to fake information/propaganda.


Denmark has a population less than the city of New York alone. There is no way to compare the administration of their health system to one that would manage a population that is 50 times bigger. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,320
Registered: ‎04-28-2010

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!

Re: Denmark:

 

Much less populated, and 'Last I heard' (years ago) was that their average annual income is 'way higher' ..... and their individual (and maybe even corporate) income tax is 'way way' higher. 

 

Higher taxes, more services.  Lower taxes, less services.

 

Well, I might need an update.

'More or less', 'Right or wrong', 'In general', and 'Just thinking out loud ' (as usual).
Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,320
Registered: ‎04-28-2010

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!

'Anyway', I'm not familiar with current insurance benefits and whether or not second and third opinions are covered.

 

They should be covered, because the insurance companies and/or gov would save billions by covering second, maybe even third opinions.

 

Operations aren't inexpensive, not to mention the patients' discomfort and risk, etc.

'More or less', 'Right or wrong', 'In general', and 'Just thinking out loud ' (as usual).
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,328
Registered: ‎03-19-2010

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!

I saw a report on my local news last week that said 98,000 Americans die annually due to medical error. I didn't catch who made that report. I thought that was a huge number so I googled it. I found a report from Mayo Clinic that states 250,000 Americans die a year due to medical error. I was shocked. Either number is huge.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,139
Registered: ‎04-16-2010

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!


@shoekitty wrote:

@PA Mom-mom wrote:

@FlowerBear  Three letters: NHS. No second or third opinion available. Take a number and wait your turn.

 


shoekitty said

I am not sure you can get second opinion.  i have a friend who lives there, and they have National Health.  getting regular care is easy, but specialists..not so much.  you do have choice to get private care...but expensive.  my friend has an  autistic child. they do put him in front of the line, and they offer a lot of advanced testing and care. when she had her son, they came to visit her for after care in her home.

 

 


@shoekitty   Yes, you can get a second opinion...and a third if you choose.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,139
Registered: ‎04-16-2010

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!

@froggy  I have often stated that you can't compare a country the size of the US to a country the size of Denmark (or England or Austria, etc) when it comes to Health Care Programs because just the sheer number of people is VASTLY different between the two.

 

That said, you CAN get a second and third (even fourth) opinion if you wish. You can also go OUT of your country and to another country and see a specialist for an opinion if you wish under the NHS. I know this firsthand. It's telling people you CAN'T do those things that bothers me; don't lie about it. Is it perfect? No. But I'll tell you, at least every single person does get BASIC care; that doesn't happen here.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,821
Registered: ‎02-16-2018

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!


@SahmIam wrote:

@froggy  I have often stated that you can't compare a country the size of the US to a country the size of Denmark (or England or Austria, etc) when it comes to Health Care Programs because just the sheer number of people is VASTLY different between the two.

 

That said, you CAN get a second and third (even fourth) opinion if you wish. You can also go OUT of your country and to another country and see a specialist for an opinion if you wish under the NHS. I know this firsthand. It's telling people you CAN'T do those things that bothers me; don't lie about it. Is it perfect? No. But I'll tell you, at least every single person does get BASIC care; that doesn't happen here.


@SahmIam  That’s the National Health Service run by the UK government. I lived over there and patients wait a long time on a list for surgerys, and no, you don’t successfully sue when given poor health care.  The day I can’t choose my doctors is the day I stop going to the doctor, and trust God with my health care. My life matters too much to put it in the hands of just any doctor. If the U.S. ever went that route, you can bet your life that members of Congress and the very wealthy would be the only ones still choosing their doctors.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,821
Registered: ‎02-16-2018

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!

[ Edited ]

@reiki604 wrote:

@Bridgegal wrote:

As my freshman government professor said:  "Don't believe anything you hear and only 1/2 of what you read."

 

That is untrue about the NHS not allowing second opinions.


Of course it's untrue but it fits some peoples narrative so they present their own alternative facts.


@reiki604  What good is a second opinion if you don’t get to pick your doctor? NHS picks the doctor for the second opinion if they allow you that luxury. In the U.S. the patient does their research and gets to pick their own doctor.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,820
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!


@SahmIam wrote:

@shoekitty wrote:

@PA Mom-mom wrote:

@FlowerBear  Three letters: NHS. No second or third opinion available. Take a number and wait your turn.

 


shoekitty said

I am not sure you can get second opinion.  i have a friend who lives there, and they have National Health.  getting regular care is easy, but specialists..not so much.  you do have choice to get private care...but expensive.  my friend has an  autistic child. they do put him in front of the line, and they offer a lot of advanced testing and care. when she had her son, they came to visit her for after care in her home.

 

 


@shoekitty   Yes, you can get a second opinion...and a third if you choose.


Shoekitty said.  In England on NH?  Not likely.  I just asked my friend in London.  She said, you can in some cases , but it takes weeks, sometimes a few months to get in for one.  I guess if you thought you had cancer , like the women in story did...you might feel you cant wait.  She said it depends on specialty.  Then you have to go to arbitration or file a grievance.

 

here in the US, I have gone for second opinions.  Its easy...and it is something everyone should do when it comes to surgery.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,139
Registered: ‎04-16-2010

Re: Misdiagnosed and had surgery!!!

[ Edited ]

@shoekitty @Ketra  I've waited 6 months to see a specialist in the US. At Johns Hopkins, the average time for a follow-up is 5 months and that's WITH having cancer (ask my FIL how that went). Other times I've been able to get in with a few weeks. Between my family, my DH's family, our son (who is disabled), NONE of us have been able to see a specialist the next day or the next week and rarely in a few months; the average overall is 3 months in my experience.

 

No different in the UK. Now. my MIL fell and broke her shoulder (needed a complete replacement) on Christmas Eve in London. Took her to the ER. She's 84, btw, and in FANTASTIC health; takes no medication at all. But, due to her age, the admitted her asap. Called the specialist AT HOME to come in; she did. Said it needs to be done now. Called everyone in for surgery. But wait! Don't have the right shoulder kit (I'm not a nurse, MIL is, she understood). MIL said it can wait till after Boxing Day. Doctor said no, I'll drive to XYZ hospital and get the kit.. and she did. In the end, surgery was done on the 26 due to other cases that came that were life and death (mums was not). Surgery was done first thing on Boxing Day (26th).

 

I don't know ANY doctor that would have done that. Nope, not a one and I love our doctors. I could go on regarding the care of other family members and friends under the NHS and I bet you'd be very impressed. In the end, as I keep saying, NO system is perfect.  

 

 

Edited to add: The cost of private insurance is NOTHING compared to what we pay in the US. AND you use the same staff, the same doctors, the everything. The difference? Numbers of beds  reserved for private patients and you may (but not guaranteed as ALL doctors must see non-private as well) get in faster (akin to same day sick appointments that doctors here in the US keep blocked and it's first come first serve). Otherwise, it's all the same stuff.