Insurance

[Negeen]

You guys are so lucky over there in the UK. In the states coverage is a pain.

[iforget]

It is true that our health care is free at the point of delivery but it is not by any means free and we contribute towards it at source throughout our working lives.

We also do not have the same freedom of choice, access to services at will and we wait a considerable time for non-urgent treatment ..

But yes it is great not to have to worry if we can afford treatment when we need it most

Sadly the system was set up in the 1950's to help the poor and with immigration increasing the population by more than they could have imagined back then and the more recent health tourists issues the NHS is in crisis

I should hate to be at the mercy of insurance companies...that sucks

[Hidden]

Yes we are lucky I spoke to quite a few Americans and they were really envious of our free at point of delivery Health Service - they told me that in the USA if you were ill it was a case of feeding your family or go to the doctor - whether that's true or not I can't confirm

As iforget says we pay into the system all our lives to provide Health and social care

[iforget in reply to Hidden]

Sadly it is true. I have many friends in the USA and when one friend lost her husband she also lost her insurance... she almost lost her life when she became ill and could not afford to see a doctor and because she lives in a rural area a trip to ER was not an option. Hers may be an unusual case (have no idea) but it is scary that could happen to anyone.

[gr33nmind]

Coverage is a lot better in California, then here in Pennsylvania Still you are correct about the UK. I don't think HBOT Hyperbolic Oxygen Therapy is completely free in the UK, but it does cost a considerably lower amount. I'd love to have the opportunity to receive HBOT. Since the UK government pays for heath care primarily, most preventative health care, and care that would lower future health costs, is either paid for completely or is greatly reduced. This is not only in the patients best interest, but also the countries. Although the UK doesn't always have the most expensive treatments, and their doctors aren't the absolute wealthiest in the world, they do have considerably better care then the states.

[iforget in reply to gr33nmind]

HBOT is not widely available and only funded for a small number of conditions for which prior approval is still needed.

Compared to USA medical costs HBOT is still very competitively priced for patients travelling from USA for treatment in private medical centres here in the UK offering this.