YES! It's wonderful that the US is one step closer to universal health care, but it's not national health care. And it's not like universal health care is making a lot of Americans happy (it's making this one extremely happy!) In previous posts I have expressed my thoughts about national health care and how ludicrous it is that Americans have to pay for coverage...
So, another rant/experience (be prepared, this is another college liberal making her claim against the society she lives in--what else is new?):
Students here find it shocking when I say that one of my fears when I graduate from college is how I will get health care. In fact, it is probably my biggest worry - bigger than making money. I've had friends that choose to work at Starbucks while they try and work as actors because they offer health insurance to part-time employees. After being here for many months, I've realised how ridiculous it is that health care costs money in the States.
You may remember when I had swine flu in September. The doctor prescribed Tamiflu, a very expensive drug, and I was so surprised that when my friend returned from the pharmacy with it, it didn't cost a cent. Neither did the 3 hours I spent in the doctor's office. And neither did the follow up phone call.
I think it's a bit sad, that when my 'American' prescriptions have run out I go to the doctor here asking for refills and hoping that I can get a long supply of it so I don't need to pay for things when I get back (granted, I am a part of the National Health Care service since I'm here for a while, not everyone can do this). I find it also humourous, that when I told the doctor about my asthma medication, he suggested that he try and lower the dose as I was doing fine... a reminder that America is very over medicated. While it may have been a bit untactful, he did say that in the UK, they try to have their patients on the lowest dose versus the highest if they are okay. This is not to say that America over prescribes - but I would say that American culture has a 'thing' for prescribing and a thing for medicating as remedies. It helps in the UK, that drug companies aren't out trying to find doctors or hospitals to use their specific brand of medication. With the NHS, every drug is brand name, but it's not about making money from the NHS for drug companies. For insurance companies and drug companies in America, it's all about making money off of the ill.
I found it so telling that when I went to 'check out' from my appointment I instinctively reached for my wallet. And was reminded that, no, my appointment did not cost a cent. And I could come back any time to meet with the doctor.
I then went to the pharmacy and learned the hierarchy of prescriptions. Certain prescriptions are free, but other than that, prescriptions are £7.00. That's for everyone. As my friend Dom said, it evens out the playing field so that if a drug is more or less, everyone still pays the same amount. It may seem a bit 'unfair' that my £7.00 prescription may go to help another person whose prescription is more, but that's an aspect of the NHS, and dare I say it: socialism.
Anyone in the UK will say that the NHS is not perfect. But the fact that I don't need to fork up my dad's insurance card and cash to get a dose of asthma medication or a 15 minute visit with the doctor says a lot. I also like the fact that the NHS was founded on and still is founded on truly helping everyone as a nation. Insurance companies and drug companies in America aren't about helping the sick or the people, they're about making a profit.
It is not customary for the Brits to be very 'patriotic' as they are a reserved group of people. But I think it says a lot that the NHS represents health care for everyone - the sense that everyone in this nation should be able to care for another.
I find it ironic, then, that a nation like America, so patriotic and willing to flaunt its values, is ultimately a nation that can't come together and realise that national health care is not about socialism, it's about being a patriotic person who just wishes to help their fellow American.
I may sound preachy, anti-American, but really, I love America. I'm glad to go back soon. But America is a very ironic and contradictory country. A lot of the values 'preached' in society are not exactly the values practiced.
More on that later...
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