Due in March/April/May 2013 Roll call!

[ThreeMenAndALAdy]

I think insurance companies are evil too. We have pretty good health insurance, but our premium's are always going up and so are our co pays. And with 4 children that's a big deal. We now pay for things that we never had to pay for before. I think a lot of it has to do with the government cracking down on people who don't have insurance. As a whole, we pay for those who can't afford to pay. It really affects the middle class, which is most of the US. I feel like I'm always paying medical bills. My ds had gastro issues when he was an infant, and it cost us almost $1000 from start to finish. Mind you, I was nursing and just needed to change my diet to non dairy!!! I've also had early u/s with this baby, my doctors request, and just received a bill for $600. It's really frustrating, but at the same time comforting to know that I live in Boston and can go to some of the best hospitals in the world. I wish things would change a bit because I'm sick of paying a bill off only to get another one a few days later.

[Butterfly Spirit]

I'll shut up now. *goes quietly into a cave*

LOL I'm not mad at you.

[suregena]

So interesting to hear such a first hand comparison Suregena, it is so lovely to hear such positive things about the NHS. I agree it is fab and very under rated by a lot of people in the UK, I suppose it is taken for granted because it has been there for so long.
I don't think it would do any harm for some of these direct comparisons to be talked about more openly to promote how fantastic the NHS is.

Out of interest why do you think the US doens't have a system similar to the NHS? If most people have insurance anyway surely that could just be changed to a national insurance type tax that could then be used for public hospitals? Do you think it would just be way too complicated to set up? x

Americans hate taxes. And there were plenty of scares about socialism in the 50s.

Ronald Reagan on Socialism & Liberalism - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCqA4QhfXHA

It gets very incorrectly tied into all sorts of strange comparisons... people throw things out like the Soviet Union, etcetera. No one knows really what they are talking about.

It's a big button for fear... us Americans are told over, and over, and over that we are the Greatest Nation in the world, that we have the Best Healthcare in the world, that we are the country with the most Freedom. That we have liberty, democracy... the right to make decisions for ourselves within our own lives.

Things that are Government run are painted in a way, like a Totalitarian type government system, like Communism, to Americans and it creates a big buzz-fear about it. It is seen as evil for people but it is slowly changing.

Places like the UK, Norway, France, Germany, etcetera, all have some form of healthcare that makes it accessible to all, though they all are a bit different from each other but fundamentally are painted in very negative lights in America. It coexists within those democracies fine, though.

Americans want to feel like they have complete control over their lives but what is not realized is that Government-provided healthcare systems still gives you control. NHS is big on Patient Choice. You can choose the hospital you want to go to, the doctor you want to see, whether or not you get something done; you can discuss your options, you can see your choices. Healthcare is cheaper per person in the UK than it is in the US because they practice preventative healthcare. Because everyone has equal access to healthcare, people can treat problems before they become big issues, which keeps costs down overall in general. In the US, people are left to become really unhealthy if they have problems without affordable access to healthcare, and small problems turn into big, expensive ones.

America has a lot of skill, a lot of technology advances, a lot of procedure advances... but the citizens are less healthy overall compared to other Western countries. The US has high infant mortality rates, people's lifespan isn't as long compared to other Western countries. Why is this?

Like I tell people at home, in the UK - we have the NHS, and then there are private insurance and hospitals. If you want a non-urgent surgery for your wrist next week rather than in 4 weeks, you can go private. Most emergency care, however, is still always on the NHS, because that is what they're there for: to take care of you. But what Americans view as complete Government control is far from the fact as you have all the choice, and then some, in such a system set up as here.

It's an issue of control. The UK is a democracy with corporatism just like the US. They have some things that are nationalized, just like the US. Unlike the US, the one difference is the heathcare system is a big, corporate money-business in the US. In the UK, it makes no money.
But while most people don't think of things like public school, firefighters, etcetera, as snationalized services they are provided, because they are, they fail to see the connection or view it in a similar light as the healthcare issue. Nationalized/universal/socialized healthcare is the big, bad, scary in the US. Opinions have begun to change, but it is still there. There are people in the Government that would prefer to keep it alive for the very reason they tell citizens to fear it: control.

Like I say, there are good Governments and bad ones, it just depends whose in the position and where their true conviction lies.



And, frankly, it's odd.

:/

[suregena]

I think insurance companies are evil too. We have pretty good health insurance, but our premium's are always going up and so are our co pays. And with 4 children that's a big deal. We now pay for things that we never had to pay for before. I think a lot of it has to do with the government cracking down on people who don't have insurance. As a whole, we pay for those who can't afford to pay. It really affects the middle class, which is most of the US. I feel like I'm always paying medical bills. My ds had gastro issues when he was an infant, and it cost us almost $1000 from start to finish. Mind you, I was nursing and just needed to change my diet to non dairy!!! I've also had early u/s with this baby, my doctors request, and just received a bill for $600. It's really frustrating, but at the same time comforting to know that I live in Boston and can go to some of the best hospitals in the world. I wish things would change a bit because I'm sick of paying a bill off only to get another one a few days later.

It's very unbalanced, which is frankly why people hate the idea of "paying for other people's healthcare who can't afford it."

Here, we are all the same. It takes the frustration out of it. I don't look at my neighbor and moan that my taxes are going to his healthcare costs, because my taxes are also going to mine! And his is going to mine! And on and on. It just feels... less like a battle, I guess.

[suregena]

Man, I need lunch now. *Sandwich time!*

[Butterfly Spirit]

Man, I need lunch now. *Sandwich time!*

Everything I eat lately gives me heartburn.. I HATE it!

[suregena]

Everything I eat lately gives me heartburn.. I HATE it!

I've only the last few days have had queasiness in the morning upon waking (except today...) and an overall, all day feeling like I've overeaten.

Hmm.

Heartburn is horrible.

[Butterfly Spirit]

I've only the last few days have had queasiness in the morning upon waking (except today...) and an overall, all day feeling like I've overeaten.

Hmm.

Heartburn is horrible.

My MS started with a icky pit in my stomach feeling that got better after eating and then it changed to.. waking up so nauseous couldn't move and DH had to bring me food or I couldn't function..then the throwing up
But finally... the M/S has faded away! I still have my moments but after 24/7 of some form of nausea or vomiting I am SO glad it's gone! *knocks on wood nearby* lol
But it is a mixed blessing..I remember praying that I would be sick so I'd know I was okay! LOL So, I'm glad you are queasy! It's your reassurance that things are going as they should and bean is thriving!

[mummypink]

So interesting Suregena! I'm not surprised you feel so passionately about it all, sounds so incredibly frustrating. x

[suregena]

My MS started with a icky pit in my stomach feeling that got better after eating and then it changed to.. waking up so nauseous couldn't move and DH had to bring me food or I couldn't function..then the throwing up
But finally... the M/S has faded away! I still have my moments but after 24/7 of some form of nausea or vomiting I am SO glad it's gone! *knocks on wood nearby* lol
But it is a mixed blessing..I remember praying that I would be sick so I'd know I was okay! LOL So, I'm glad you are queasy! It's your reassurance that things are going as they should and bean is thriving!

I'm taking these prenatals - Amazon.com: Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal Multivitamins, 180 Count: Health & Personal Care

I didn't really take any prenatals with my son. I wonder if these are helping me from the get-go with keeping things sort of mellow in the MS department? Obviously, I'm not yet 6 weeks, so it's still early on!