Of late, I've enjoyed watching the long-time American TV series, E.R. Over and over, it uses the horrible and dangerous financial abuses of the existing United States "Healthcare" system for plot-lines. There's the kid who almost dies from diabetes complications, because his family doesn't have a policy, and they are waiting for a new one which won't cover existing conditions, so he can't be officially diagnosed and treated until the new policy kicks in. (Sorry for the convoluted sentence.) And there's the poor man who ends up needing an amputation, because he couldn't afford to check with a specialist after an infection.
Obama and the Democrats are ecstatic after their healthcare program passed congress, but from what I've read, it is far from solving all those problems. It still sounds confusing and complicated. Congress is giving the government four years to try to work out the kinks. That's a long time. Lots of people can die before then.
Here in Israel, we have a simpler system. No, it's not a blanket socialist "the government pays all." (I wonder if such a country really exists.) There are a handful of different healthcare organizations, and you choose the one you want for basic services. Payment is either from salaries or "welfare." You can upgrade care and benefits by paying extra each month. Everyone is covered, all ages, all conditions. Some medications are highly subsidized, and others aren't. Childbirth is covered, including the expenses caused by complications. There's a fourteen week paid (a high percentage of the woman's salary if she worked most of the previous year) maternity leave. She has the right to extend her leave without pay, and the job is held for her for six months to a year, depending on the job.
In Israel, there's also the "private" option for certain specialists and speedier care when there's a long wait.
The general medical level in Israel is extremely high and people come from all over the world to be treated.
When I was a teenager and decided that I was going to make aliyah, move to Israel, I knew nothing of healthcare. I was just enamoured with the Zionist dream. Israeli healthcare is a bonus.
8 comments:
Yet Israelis are constantly traveling to the US to get tzedakah for health care - psychiatric especially but also dialysis and others.
A very small percentage. You must be in a neighborhood with lots of shnuerers. I've never heard of anyone going for psychiatric care. To get health care in the states you need lots of money. It doesn't make sense.
Most of the same people also expect others to donate for other things.
Batya, there are tons of people who go abroad for major med treatment or to collect money for highly costly medicines the Health Ministry "conveniently" doesn't cover.
Yet, day to day clinic care here is overall much better than anything Europe or Canada has to offer.
And in fact, soon the US will be crying for eternity over the nobody they placed at the top of the pyramid.
One more thing: keep in mind that the level of poverty in Israel is much higher than in the US, the standard of living is much lower, while the costs of major medical treatment remain just as high anywhere.
Bye, bye, Miss American Pie
thanks, Shy, I love that reason.TV clip.
But back to my main point. As imperfect as the Israeli system is, will the proposed/passed US version be more perfect or less?
It is an explicitly known fact that while the US spends more than any other country on health care (both in absolute and per capita dollars) its health outcomes are poorer than other industrialized countries that have better health coverage. The fact that the US finally was able to pass some sort of health insurance reform is miraculous and should be recognized for what it is - a huge step moving forward. The criticism that the US is taking within its borders is more than sufficient; no additional criticism from other corners of the world is needed. (In case you had not noticed, the last time there was this much vitriol and legal action in favor of "states rights" and state nullification of federal law it was followed by a jolly jaunt in the woods called the Civil War!)
What your post, as well as the criticism that comes from all comers, affirms is the three "Universal Laws of Health Care Systems" as defined by Tsung-Mei Cheng, one of the foremost health economists in the US:
1. No matter how good the health care in a particular country, people will complain about it.
2. No matter how much money is spent on health care, doctors and hospitals will argue that it is not enough.
3. The last reform always failed.
I am very happy for you (and, in fact, for two of my daughters as well) that you are fortunate enough to live in a state that provides universal health care. It is, indeed, fortunate that Israel places the health of its citizens above the greed of health insurance companies, drug companies, medical device and supply companies and doctors. In the US, all these barriers had to be crossed to make any sort of progress in health reform.
So, in keeping with the third law above, hopefully the US will continue to make changes in health coverage reform, continue to make mistakes and hopefully along the way the population will approach the health of the population of Israel.
Joel, thanks, yes, nothing's perfect, not even here, but it's still better than most places.
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