[b3nji]

This doesn't ring true coming from the UK. I like in the US now and the healthcare is not comparable.

The UK health care system is an absolute joke, it's a running joke among a lot of the population. It's not free for a start, the taxes the population have to pay are eye watering. You have to wait weeks, if not months for a specialist, hospital beds are few, there is no accountability for regular fuck ups (I've been on the bad end of a horrific one).

The US system from what I have seen so far is a dream. It's cheaper and the service is top notch.

For context I've moved from the Midlands in the UK to the Research Triangle in North Carolina.

[tptacek]

A thing people in the US have trouble keeping a bead on is that net compensation (after taxes) in Europe tends to be sharply lower in the US, so that white collar professionals with employer-provided insurance are generally coming out significantly ahead of where people in the NHS are, financially.

[t0mpr1c3]

Incomes are sharply more unequal. Yes, tech professionals earn more in the USA. Plenty of people flip burgers or cut lawns, and 25 million or so can't afford health insurance.

If you take any kind of look at disparities in health outcomes, it becomes immediately apparent who is dragging down the mortality statistics. This is not something espresso-drinking researchers at WHO dreamed up to fight a culture war.

[tptacek]

I'm not making an assessment of which economy or system is better. I'm saying that the modal American HN commenter would probably be significantly worse off financially in the UK NHS than on their own insurance, even factoring in how expensive insurance is.

[t0mpr1c3]

Yes, probably. There are plenty of comments here along the lines of "I have health insurance and lots of money, healthcare in the USA is fine".

[bpt3]

And those comments are correct for the vast majority of American households, which is why the status quo remains.

[t0mpr1c3]

25 million Americans have no health insurance. Most rich nations would consider that unacceptable, and do something about it.

[senderista]

"than in the US"?

[tptacek]

Yeah, thanks.

[t0mpr1c3]

Mate, I don't know how long you have been here but you have another think coming.

NHS services are free at the point of care. I worked in the NHS for a good few years. Never swiped anybody's credit card.

In the USA, calling an ambulance will set you back more than $1,000. No insurance? Better not give birth. You'll need 20 grand. Maybe 50 grand for a C-section.

[s1artibartfast]

But do the NHS birthing rooms have jacuzzi and robot room service delivery? We were just touring them and it is pretty wild.

[t0mpr1c3]

My first child was born in the USA. My wife was lying on a gurney in a corridor for hours because all the operating rooms were full. By the time we got into the OR she was fully dilated and it was too late to get an epidural. It was complete chaos.

Our second child was born at Kings College Hospital in Lambeth, in a bed, with a midwife, listening to music. No jacuzzi required.

[danny_codes]

The US spends literally twice as much as the UK on healthcare per capita. So if by cheaper you mean literally 100% more expensive, then I guess you're on to something.