Today the US news is dominated by debate on government-provided medical services. As an American in Australia I can provide insights and commentary on the system in the USA and here in Australia – where medical services were nationalized years ago.
In short – if America ever came close to Australia’s system, it would be a significant improvement. In Australia healthcare is accessible, affordable and really easy. There are no medical bureaucrats or “death panel”. (Thanks Sarah Palin for adding intelligently to the debate – NOT!)
As background, I moved to Australia in 1990, and while I’ve had other postings around the world, I’ve called Sydney my home for 11 years. In-between the first and most recent time in Australia I was back in the USA for five years.
Healthcare in Australia is easy. Citizens and permanent residents receive a Medicare card allowing free access to most healthcare practitioners. Have the flu? See your doctor, swipe your Medicare card, sign and leave. Same with services at public hospitals.
We also carry private medical insurance ($220 per month for a family of three). This would allow a private room in a private hospital – and our choice of surgeons. More often it gets us discounted chiropractic services or visits to a nutritionist.For 95% of our medical services we rely on the government via Medicare. That includes discounted prescriptions – such as Enbrel for chronic psoriasis. This costs $32 per month. Without government support it would cost $1,300.
In the USA I had private insurance through Ford Motor Company. This allowed access to all doctors and services. Yet when I left Ford and kept my insurance through COBRA it cost $1,600 per month for a family of three.
Before relocating to Sydney in 2005 we visited with our then-two-year old son. He had a recurring fever so we visited the local doctor. As we didn’t have Medicare he charged the full rate - $45. When we got back to New York City my son’s pediatrician conducted follow-up tests. I signed her submission to my insurance company – for $1,900.
Living in Sydney my total taxes are equivalent to when I lived in New York. Here we pay only Federal taxes – not at the state and city level. Yet while the tax levy is equivalent I feel, through Medicare, that I gain a whole lot more.
I’d be happy to continue adding to the discussion on medical costs in Australia versus America.
In short, America – get with the program!
3 responses so far ↓
Jim // Sep 13th 2009 at 8:06 pm
Yes, get a medical programme that helps the aged, the poor, frankly, anyone sick. But dont take what the UK has and copy it. The last two Prime Ministers left the UK asap for the USA. The majority of Brits would leave if they could afford it or get visas, with the USA being top of the destination list. Subsidize insurance for those with low incomes, but dont copy the UK in anything. It has a failing NHS, rising violent crime, high unemployment and politicians that have been caught in an expenses scandal that shows their morale values for what it is. Ask this question, why does the world want to move to the USA?
Ian // Oct 5th 2009 at 11:16 pm
Jim, most of the world might like to move to the USA but I don’t know any one from where I live who does - Ohhh by the way, Jim, I live in Australia. No other place in any way that you measure it, financially, sheer beauty, opportunity or democracy compares - NO WHERE ON EARTH JIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nonny mouse // Oct 6th 2009 at 9:23 am
The last two ministers before Brown would be Blair and Major, both of whom are still in the UK, and as far as I am aware have never been to the US for medical attention of any kind. The majority of Brits might dream about leaving the UK for some other, more idyllic shore, but having lived as a Yank ex-pat in New Zealand for some time, I know quite a few Brits who’ve decided to go home - not because of the medical care, but because they missed family and friends. Most of my American friends, however, are delighted to be here.
I’ve also lived in France and the UK, and experienced their medical systems, personally. The NHS has problems, but I can assure you that most Brits would never give it up in return for an American style health care, or near total lack thereof. As for the rest - violent crime, high unemployment, and immoral politicians - the UK hardly holds a monopoly on those.
I have asked the question, why does the world want to move to the USA? I left it 20 odd years ago and never looked back. And from the latest statistics, a lot of immigrants are feeling the same. There’s a hell of a lot of silly foaming at the mouth about illegal Mexicans abusing our health care and schools and jobs, etc., but hardly a peep about all the LEGAL Mexicans who are giving up on America and going back to Mexico. The Irish are quitting New York in droves. Much of the Asian immigrant population is looking elsewhere for their happy futures - Australia, New Zealand, in particular.
So the answer to your question is, the rest of the world DOESN’T want to move to the US. Even tourist numbers have fallen to abysmal levels, they don’t even want to visit us - not with such intrusive and humiliating Homeland Security screens and data mining - we’re losing foreign investment in the States as well, as businesses are increasingly loathe to trust our banking system, or the stability of our business sector.
The States needs more than a medical system that treats the aged, poor and anyone sick. It needs to treat EVERYONE, because a healthy population is a productive one, something the UK along with the majority of the civilized Western World (and quite a number of the uncivilized rest of the world) figured out a long time ago.
For all its problems, if I had to leave New Zealand, I’d still pick the UK over the US, any day of the week.
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