which is the best place to live in the us?

[roc]

san diego is prime real estate

[warrior_code]

I don't believe it.

I Know it takes months upon months.

I made an appointment with my MD yesterday morning and went to see him about a lung infection later that evening.   To see a specialist you have to wait a while, not a family physician however. 

[Moosejay]

I made an appointment with my MD yesterday morning and went to see him about a lung infection later that evening.   To see a specialist you have to wait a while, not a family physician however. 

That can be the exception.

Take care of your health, unlike most people in ALL countries, and this'll all me a moot point.

[G o a t b o y]

I made an appointment with my MD yesterday morning and went to see him about a lung infection later that evening.   To see a specialist you have to wait a while, not a family physician however. 

Unfortunately, in an age of increasing specialization, a "family physician" is all but useless for all but the most basic or obvious ailments.  It seems these days their primary purpose is to decide which specialist you need to see to properly treat your condition.  In America, where it is fairly easy to get in to see a specialist, no big deal, but in the socialized medicine countries, whoaaaa....       just hope you never get sick, or you'll find out that "free" healthcare could kill you while you wait.

[warrior_code]

Unfortunately, in an age of increasing specialization, a "family physician" is all but useless for all but the most basic or obvious ailments.  It seems these days their primary purpose is to decide which specialist you need to see to properly treat your condition.  In America, where it is fairly easy to get in to see a specialist, no big deal, but in the socialized medicine countries, whoaaaa....       just hope you never get sick, or you'll find out that "free" healthcare could kill you while you wait.

You are correct and something must be done about that.  The problem is so many people who specialize at medical schools here in Canada leave to go to the united states or other places, chasing more monetary rewards. That is not what the Hippocratic oath is all about, but I suppose nothing can trump innate human desires.   There are many private clinics now popping up here in Canada that gives those who have the means to pay up front for complex surgeries a chance to have quick care.  My brother tore up his shoulder 2 years ago and would have had to wait 18 months for a simple 2 hour arthroscopic procedure.  Instead he payed 6,000$ and got it in a week.  There is a increasing effort to produce more doctors that are more likely to stay in canada.  In fact in my medical school interview not long ago, I was actually asked indirectly if I would be committed to practice in Canada.    Baby steps I guess. 

[warrior_code]

OH yea, I always have a giggle when I hear we have "free" health care.  It astounds me when a citizen does not know where his/her tax dollars go. 

[Moosejay]

You are correct and something must be done about that.  The problem is so many people who specialize at medical schools here in Canada leave to go to the united states or other places, chasing more monetary rewards. That is not what the Hippocratic oath is all about, but I suppose nothing can trump innate human desires.   There are many private clinics now popping up here in Canada that gives those who have the means to pay up front for complex surgeries a chance to have quick care.  My brother tore up his shoulder 2 years ago and would have had to wait 18 months for a simple 2 hour arthroscopic procedure.  Instead he payed 6,000$ and got it in a week.  There is a increasing effort to produce more doctors that are more likely to stay in canada.  In fact in my medical school interview not long ago, I was actually asked indirectly if I would be committed to practice in Canada.    Baby steps I guess. 

After 8 years or more in school...mountains of debt (250k in school loans oftentimes), and the burden of liability practicing, it is much (not all) about the money.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is foolhardy.

[Moosejay]

OH yea, I always have a giggle when I hear we have "free" health care.  It astounds me when a citizen does not know where his/her tax dollars go. 

True.

There is no free healthcare...anywhere

[benchmstr]

I'd like to move to AZ or Texas when I have the money. Chicago sucks.

hell yeah.

bench

[warrior_code]

After 8 years or more in school...mountains of debt (250k in school loans oftentimes), and the burden of liability practicing, it is much (not all) about the money.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is foolhardy.

Perhaps I am a foolish 20 year old whom has much to learn.  I can say that many of my older friends who are in their 2nd/3rd year of study of medicine completely changed their ideologies.   As undergrads they were about nothing more then having a direct positive effect on others.  Now it is more about the porsche carerra GT(sweet car btw).   

[G o a t b o y]

  My brother tore up his shoulder 2 years ago and would have had to wait 18 months for a simple 2 hour arthroscopic procedure. 

That's insane.  If Americans were routinely told that, there'd be rioting in the streets.  And yet those who favor socialized medicine would have us think it's all peaches and cream in Canada and Europe.    Must be why so many rich foreigners from socialzed medicine countries come to the US for treatment, huh?

[Deicide]

That's insane.  If Americans were routinely told that, there'd be rioting in the streets.  And yet those who favor socialized medicine would have us think it's all peaches and cream in Canada and Europe.    Must be why so many rich foreigners from socialzed medicine countries come to the US for treatment, huh?

Exactly. If you are wealthy the US has the best health care in the world. If you are not....

[G o a t b o y]

Exactly. If you are wealthy the US has the best health care in the world. If you are not....

Well, I suppose it depends how you define "wealthy".  If you're a college graduate with a career, you've got health insurance, and therefore access to this system.  The fact that Wal Mart workers might not have it so good certainly isn't going to entice me to move to Europe or institute socialized medicine here so that I can have the priviledge of waiting 18 months for a routine surgery instead of getting it within a week like i can now.

[warrior_code]

6000$ isn't even that bad of a price considering the machines he uses costs a few thousand to run for the duration of the operation as well as the assistants he has.  Not to mention the time he spent in school training. 

[warrior_code]

Well, I suppose it depends how you define "wealthy".  If you're a college graduate with a career, you've got health insurance, and therefore access to this system.  The fact that Wal Mart workers might not have it so good certainly isn't going to entice me to move to Europe or institute socialized medicine here so that I can have the priviledge of waiting 18 months for a routine surgery instead of getting it within a week like i can now.

Like I said before, for minor simple check ups or routine ailments that happen to us all, our system is excellent.  For more complicated situations you are either going to pay your way or get in line.  No system is perfect. 

[Stark]

Why haven't you jumped the fence from Mexico yet?

your "best" doesn't count, a man that lives in a place like this doesn't qualify, sorry dumpster.

[Deicide]

Well, I suppose it depends how you define "wealthy".  If you're a college graduate with a career, you've got health insurance, and therefore access to this system.  The fact that Wal Mart workers might not have it so good certainly isn't going to entice me to move to Europe or institute socialized medicine here so that I can have the priviledge of waiting 18 months for a routine surgery instead of getting it within a week like i can now.

Yes, Sweden is truly an awful place to live.

[G o a t b o y]

Yes, Sweden is truly an awful place to live.

Strange, I can't see where I said anywhere in that post "Sweden is truly an awful place to live".




But now that you mention it.... cold weather sucks ass, and 18 hours of darkness in winter would be enough to drive me insane.

[Deicide]

Strange, I can't see where I said anywhere in that post "Sweden is truly an awful place to live".




But now that you mention it.... cold weather sucks ass, and 18 hours of darkness in winter would be enough to drive me insane.

How many years have you spent in Europe as a basis of comparison?

Moreover when the American Empire crashes along with the dollar I think it won't be pleasant. Prepare an escape route.

[Moosejay]

Exactly. If you are wealthy the US has the best health care in the world. If you are not....

If you are not, as 50% of all hospital bills remain unpaid and are eaten by the hospital, that's because you will not get turned down if you show up at a hospital here.

Especially if you don't have insurance.

Ultimately, no one gets turned down here

[Cleanest Natural]

Vermont

[Bluto]

Let's try to stick to the topic guys.

I'm surprised none of you live in Florida? Or Vegas. Doesn't Jay Cutler live in Vegas! Can't be all that bad!

And Hawaii, aren't you entitled as an american citizen to go live there? Yet most of you live elsewhere in the US where you got bad weather etc MOST of the year what's up with that?

[Fatpanda]

Seattle is just too dreary with too much overcast and rain... I'd be depressed all the time.  Boston is just too "northeast/blue collar/old-world attitude" that I don't like, plus I'm not a fan of cold and snow.

you could have just described Glasgow, Scotland. Still we have great pubs 

[Fatpanda]

Lifestyle is better; more relaxed, less rushed; Coffee Culture; history, architecture, art, attitudes; multilingual; secular...

where in europe do you stay? i take it its not britain ! no wonder we ruled the world - lazy euro's !!!!

[Fatpanda]

lot of seriously deluded Americans in this thread talking about European health care like 'they know all about it' when in fact not one has it accurate.

if i need to see the doctor for anything i call, make an appointment and will see him that day or the next.

if i feel its something urgent i can walk into the hospital, and will be seen within a few hours, unless its life threatening in which case you are taken immediately.

if you need something done (operation, scan, x-ray, etc)to prevent death or extreme pain, etc its done straight away.

if you can get by then yes you are placed on a waiting list. ( this would be if you are having some reoccurring problem, constant shoulder pain, digestion problems etc etc)

and we don't have to pay a single penny for any of it regardless of how rich we are.

so tell me, how exactly is the us 'health system' better?

also in europe we dont have to worry about getting shot, although we do have a knife problem in glasgow (knife stabbing capital of europe if not the world  )