Record number of Britons going oversees for healthcare

10:55 am on October 29, 2007 by Infidelesto

Michelle is paging Michael Moore

This is what happens after 10 years of nationalized health care in Britain. Sub-par treatment, long lines, and more people going elsewhere for the health care they need.

Novel idea: Give me more of my own money (lower my taxes) so I can afford a decent health care policy.

K? Thanks!

Those of you who think nationalized health care is the solution are totally insane.

Before you vote next year, remember who wants to nationalize healthcare in America: Clinton, Obama, Edwards…nuff said.

Record numbers go abroad for health treatment

Record numbers of Britons are travelling abroad for medical treatment to escape the NHS - with 70,000 patients expected to fly out this year.

And by the end of the decade 200,000 “health tourists” will fly as far as Malaysa and South Africa for major surgery to avoid long waiting lists and the rising threat of superbugs, according to a new report.

The first survey of Britons opting for treatment overseas shows that fears of hospital infections and frustration of often waiting months for operations are fuelling the increasing trend.

Patients needing major heart surgery, hip operations and cataracts are using the internet to book operations to be carried out thousands of miles away.

There Are 3 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Reilly on 29 October 2007:

    Don’t you think the statement, “Those of you who think nationalized health care is the solution are totally insane.” is a little extreme? How does wanting some semblance of security for you and your family hardly seems “insane.” (Besides, it’s easy to write off arguments by calling them “crazy”) Refer to the latest census on poverty levels in America
    http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9725549&CFID=18855323&CFTOKEN=51443769
    and then cross reference that with rising health care costs and the draw to public health care makes sense in many ways.

    And as far as Britons “fleeing” abroad. I would venture to say that your source did not inquire about the reasons for leaving. If you look at the number of Americans going abroad for health care, one could draw the exact same conclusions about the current American health care system. People are going abroad for cheap, immediate health care, whether they have public or private available.

    But you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. The status quo in America will continue. There is way too much money at stake, and the private health care industry will never allow their exorbitant profits to be endangered, no matter who many lives are lost under the current system each year (18,000 per year die in America as a result of not being able to pay to see the doctor).

    But as long as statistics like these remain mere abstractions in political discourse, and we fail to see them as painful realities for many people…then who really cares?

  2. Comment by Infidelesto on 30 October 2007:

    No, Reilly, I don’t think it’s extreme.

    Britons are fleeing because the NHS is a total FAILURE. One cannot draw the same conclusions about Americans going abroad for health care because there is NOTHING to back up that claim. that is just a rhetorical made-up talking point that has never been heard before by anyone. (unless of course you have a legitimate reference you can link to)

    I read the article you linked from the economist, and there is no doubt a “problem” with the current health care system, in that Americans increasingly cannot afford their own health care because of the rising costs. BUT, I don’t believe by raising taxes and instituting a government run system is the answer here.

    Look, I believe in less government, less taxes, more capitalism, and empowering the people to do more to help their own cause. The only way this can be done is by LETTING THE PEOPLE KEEP MORE OF THEIR OWN MONEY.

    They will spend more, invest more, businesses will hire more, health care will be more affordable when the federal government isn’t taxing us like wannabe-socialists.

    Democrats want to raise taxes and institute a nationalized system of health care. It’s the most dim-witted argument I’ve ever heard. It’s the “simple fix” that won’t work.

    Why not tax less so people can afford health care? Sure there needs to be tweaks to the system and regulations on insurance companies, but we’re not talking about some small tinkering here.

    Edwards, Clinton, and Obama have ONE purpose for this problem. Raise taxes on all Americans especially the successful (rich), and institute a GOVERNMENT RUN health care system. Do you follow? It would be a total disaster.

    Why do people believe in the government to take care of health care more than the people? This country did not grow to be the largest economic superpower because we had government run programs running everything.

    Empower the people, give more money back to the people, the people will know what to do with their own money. They will know where to put it, where to invest, and the health care problem will work itself out when people can afford it. We’re already taxed way too much as is (40%), and the Dems want to tax us MORE? Are you kidding me? It’s outrageous…

  3. Comment by Reilly on 30 October 2007:

    A simple google search brings up 191,000 hits on “Americans going abroad for health care.” This isn’t a new concept. You can also search your favorite news site for additional information.

    I would have to say that NHS is not a “total FAILURE” Something that has totally failed does not work in any way, shape, or form. I contacted people I know in the UK and every one of them had nothing but good things to say about their total medical coverage. Fearmongering by the current medical and pharmaceutical industry in the US has really demonized public health care, and you seem to agree, but what about those who can’t afford the extremely high price of coverage in the US?

    Doesn’t the large amounts of preventable deaths bother you? These are fellow Americans. If they were dying in terrorist attacks or fighting for our country this would be a tragedy, but these are deaths we can prevent. It is very true that America is a rich country, that is why we are all the more capable of helping each other (another characteristic that makes America great). (By the way, I don’t buy into the Social Darwinism that those who are wealthy are so because of their hard work and moral fiber, while every poor person is so because they just don’t try hard enough - Just look at Paris Hilton for case in point).

    As far as a raise in taxes, that has to come anyways. Health care isn’t going to be the primary source of this. The taxes have already been raised through the astronomical spending of the current administration. Everyone says the Dems want to “tax and spend”, but the Reps are “spending and taxing”. Someone has to pay for all of their spending. If it is okay to spend hundreds of millions of tax dollars on foreign activities, then why wouldn’t it be okay to spend money on saving American lives, increasing human security at home through health care, and letting those who really need to keep more of their own money do so? Actually, you WOULD save more of your money if we had nationalized healthcare. Our friends, a family of 3, pay $500 per month for health insurance. If they were in the richest tax bracket in Canada (which they don’t make enough for), they would only pay $100 per month for the national health care system there. The privatized industry here is robbing us blind and we think it’s great! That’s insane.

    As far as why not tax people less, this sounds good, but when average wages are so low then how does this help Americans afford life’s essentials? The article I linked to showed the rising disparity. Trickle down economics would only work if those at the top didn’t suck up all of the trickle. The average CEO in America earns 360 times the average worker. That CEO can surely help either through taxes or by providing fair health coverage in his company. Why do we need the government, my answer is: there is too much greed.The government is made up of educated, skilled Americans, why would you trust profit-driven companies over democratically accountable and elected officials? At least they have to answer to their constituents, something the health care companies are not required to do.

    But many Americans don’t make enough money. Do you have any friends who live below the poverty line? Can they afford to invest in the stock market? Can they afford health care?

Post a Response