MRI is US$300 to US$400 in Thailand at a private hospital. That's the full price at a for-profit hospital with no insurance benefit plus private hospitals don't get any government subsidies so I think that's the *real* price here. Why so much cheaper in India? Those MRI machines are way expensive and the owner has to recoup costs plus a profit. Labor costs are somewhat cheaper in India than Thailand and overhead like insurance cost is minimal in both places (no windfall malpractice awards for "emotional" distress). Sounds to me like there is some subsidizing going on at Indian hospitals.
Why an MRI costs $1,080 in America and $280 in France
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Can you tell us the *real* cost, including how much you pay in taxes for your "free" healthcare? You know, it isn't really free. Somebody is paying for it. Maybe even you. And if you are paying for it indirectly through a government taxation based program then you are paying way more.
I'm not sure what you're getting at, but Australia leads America in almost all quality of life indicators and spends less per person than the US.
I realize that a large part of the Australian health care system is subsidized by the government, but I still pay far less than my American counterparts and have better healthcare.
We've got something called the Medicare levy, which is 1.5% of your total income - obviously some of our regular taxation funds the health care system also.
If you earn something like $75,000 per year, it works out cheaper to have private health insurance than to rely on the public health system. I've got private health insurance there, but a lot of the time I use the public system because the specialists are sometimes better.
I'm not saying that Australia has the best health care system in the world, we certainly don't and we are slowly moving towards something akin to the US system but at the moment I'd much rather our system than the US system.
That's not true, US healthcare costs it's citizens more as a percentage of GDP than anywhere else.
PR-2000-43/ WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION : ASSESSES THE WORLD'S HEALTH SYSTEMS
46% of bankruptcies are related to healthcare debts in the us too.
To be honest it's no problem for me if you actually prefer corporations to rip you off and participate in a system where healthcare is rationed out by companies who want to charge you the maximum and often deny you access to care for actuarial or business reasons. But honestly, you're getting fucked.
That's irrelevant for a whole host of reasons.
It's not subsidized by the government. Other Aussies are paying for it.
You're not paying for what you use.
No, I still have no health insurance. Doesn't bother me at all, I just pay cash for what I need.
The brain tumor is NOT cancer and I did NOT have to have brain surgery. Though the meds I have to take are like $55 each. But, I order from offshore pharmacies and pay like $4 instead.
Cancer is serious shit, and bad bad accidents. Not downplaying that. But all these snot nose faggots who want free healthcare so they can go to the doc when they have tummy aches are fucking faggots and OWS losers.
Not going to debate economics with you G, you have me well and truly covered, but can you tell me what U.S. taxes are paying for?? lol...talk about paying for what you (as in the everyday folks) don't use.
Sorry about the tumor, even if it is not cancer.. Hope you are better now..
But that offshore pharmacy thing.. Is that legal?
I am sure it is not, otherwise the pharma US pharma companies will raise hell.
And there is the quality of the medicine as well... Are these trustworthy sites?
Dude, the fact that you have to put your life into the hands of some offshore pharma because otherwise you would have to pay 13 times the price is seriously fucked up shit. The fact that you can't see it shows how deep the brain washing goes (no pun intended).
What are you talking about? It's the same shit I get here. Same packaging, same everything. I just don't pay the U.S. fees.
What brain washing? Because I don't think I am entitled to other peoples money? That means I'm brainwashed? Maybe you're brainwashed with an entitlement attitude like the other OWS people?
When I say the government, what else could I mean than other Australians? I'm not ignorant, I realize that the government is funded by other Australian individual's taxes, business tax, sales tax etc etc.
Do you believe that every individual is entitled to basic health care? If not, that's where our difference in opinon stems from and we're never going to agree on the basic economics surrounding health care unless we agree on that question.
If you don't, then let me ask you a question. A person is shot and bleeding to death, if they don't go to hospital then they will die. Should this person be admitted to hospital if they don't have the means to pay for their stay?
Now let's assume another scenario, that person is you - the person who has shot you has stolen your wallet and all other forms of identification. The hospital has no idea whether you will be able to pay for your stay, should they admit you or let you die?
Preventive medicine is cheaper than Remedial/Curative medicine. I'd rather pay more than my fair share than live in a country that doesn't provide basic health cover.
I oppose all taxation. It is "legalized" theft like the military draft is "legalized" kidnapping.
I just get tired of people ripping on the US healthcare system (which is fascistic) when they don't pay for what they use in their own country.
It's the pot calling the kettle black from the perspective of someone who respects individual liberty and private property.
So if it is exactly the same then why would you have to pay 13 times the price?
I think of it as paying it forward. I know that sounds far too simple a concept for the superior intellects on here, but if my tax money saves someone (say a child for instance) that in other systems couldn't pay for health care, or even life saving surgery - then I am good with that and where my tax money has gone.
thanks for the new word...had to look that up even though I had a general idea.
Ummm, he does pay for what he uses though. He said, 1.5% of his income. He's just prepaying.
The reason other countries are cheaper than the US, is because they HAVE socialized health care. If the government is the one and only conduit into say a 35,000,000 person market, they have huge sway over the price points at the negotiating tables with pharma and medical device companies. And it's in the best interest for the government to get prices at the cheapest possible, because they're elected / appointed officials, and they want to use those extra taxpayer dollars for other things, to ensure they get elected / appointed again.
Er no, you're basically implying that social security is prepaying for retirement as well - when this is 100% untrue. How many taxpayers supported 1 SS retiree previously vs today?
Also do tell, why have private imaging (MRI, CT, PET) facilities been legalized and popping up all over Canada now? Maybe the market was...right!
In hospital like you describe here it costs close to $200, yeah. $300-$400 is very pricey for a country like Thailand.