Not sure if you gals overseas have heard all the controversy going on in the U.S. about having a govt. run healthcare system where everyone will be covered. I'm not exactly sure of all the particulars, because as usual when they put it down on paper, it is massive and confusing. But what I'm wondering is those of you who have that offered in your country, how does it work and what do you like/dislike about it. Thank you advance for your replies!!

we have the national insurance scheme which basically takes a percentage from your salary each month and goes towards healthcare and your final state pension,it is compulsory and you cannot opt out,everybody is entitled to the same care regardless of the amount they have paid into the scheme or how long they have had uk residence
No body is refused healthcare in the uk regrdless of costs,the only cost incurred is a medicine charge,or prescription cost of £7.90 if you are working if you are pregnant unemployed or on low income this cost is wavered and you pay nothing!
personally i paid £617 last month in national insurance alone!!
without my huge tax bill as well
i have not used the health service for 2 years,when i fell out of an attic and broke my back in 2 places the care i reiceved was excellent and i have made a full recovery my father in law has had a triple heart bypass all without charge
however if i had the option to opt out and into private sector and pay no national insurance i would be very tempted
there is wide spread abuse of our system by foreign visitors/ healthcare tourists,who travel to the uk have emergency treatment for free and leave!

Yes it does get abused.......I can never understand why we dont have to show proof of NS contributions/documentation before treatment is carried out.....

Too many people abuse our NHS ..... There must be a better way...

But the NHS has just done a fantastic job with Sonia. Because of her disability and pre-existing health conditions, private insurers would either run a mile, or be laughing all the way to the bank at the prospect of charging her sky-high premiums.

So saying, the availability and standard of NHS care does seem to vary across the country though. Shrewsbury wouldn't do the operation that Sonia needed, so she was referred to Wakefield, who have been excellent beyond belief.
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mmmm I agree with Ruth, I'm healthy(ish), my only medical problem is high blood pressure which I have had for 21 years know. I was offered private medical by my company after being here two years and after one month of phoning every insurance group I could find I gave up as my 'pre existing' condition would mean that they could not cover me for literally anything ! Without the NHS I would be buggered in years to come !

Exactly! Private medical insurance (as well as any other sort of insurance with the exception of things like National Insurance) is run as a business - the company is basically taking a punt that you won't get ill. So if they think the odds are against them, then they will either hike up the premium or refuse to insure you outright.

Also, you can't guarantee that it's only the rich (who are able to pay for private health insurance) who will need healthcare. I would consider healthcare to be a basic human right, so why should people be denied quality healthcare simply because they weren't born into a rich family or aren't in a high earning career?
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Unfortunately all insurance is dressed up book making (betting) they happily take your money if your unlikely to claim and refuse to cover you if you are a risk of ever claiming !! Thank god we have the NHS i would be in a wheelchair now and my father in law would be down the cemetery

My thoughts exactly! From what I have heard, the situation is pretty dire for people in the US who need treatment but can't afford insurance.
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It's also a postcode lottery. Each area gets assigned a certain budget and if that budget has already been spent then you have to go somewhere else. Patients are denied certain treatments because they live in 'the wrong area'. It's real madness.
I have used the NHS twice in the last 10 years-once for an MRI scan and once for mammogram/breast scan and biopsy.
I couldn't fault the treatment i received but i have also paid to go private on numerous occassions.
I think there should be some sort of 'opt out' of paying national insurance.
I don't see why people should pay national insurance if they go private all the time.
In an ideal world we should all get the same care, not be denied drugs, not moved to other counties etc..... but unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world!

Aye, common to many other Government endeavours, there is far too much red tape, illogical rules and regulations, and superfluous layers of management in the NHS. The consequences being the "postcode lottery" like you say. Most notably for things like new cancer drugs. The ironically named NICE (who are really NASTY in the way that they deny people cancer drugs because they are apparently too expensive), for example. Even more so, the discrepancies between England, Wales and Scotland - not just for cancer drugs, but whether you have to pay for your prescriptions, or for parking when you drive to hospital.
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However, the real heroes in the NHS are the people on the front line providing quality care to patients. Like Mr Harrison at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, who is the only consultant in the country who was prepared to operate on Sonia's bladder - and did an excellent job, despite the operation taking over 7 hours in theatre! Whereas her previous consultant had dismissed the procedure as being "too risky". It's made a huge reduction in her pain levels already, and should make a big difference to her quality of life.
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I guess it depends on your definition of the word dire. The uninsured in the US still get medical care. No one is refused. And if you are UNinsured, what you pay for treatment is a LOT cheaper than what is charged for someone who has insurance. I know lots of folks who have health insurance who would be better off financially NOT having it.

IMHO, the problem in the US is not NOT having health insurance, it's having AFFORDABLE health insurance. So, how a government run health care plan can solve that problem is beyond me...

to all!

Another problem is the waiting lists. I was referred to an opthalmic specialist, but was told there was a 23 month waiting list. I do object to paying for a private consultation when I feel this should be done for free on the NHS, after all I've paid shedloads of money over the years. However, I had two options - wait for the NHS appointment and hope that I wouldn't lose my sight in the meantime, or to go private. Guess what I chose?

A 23 month wait is RIDICULOUS! I'm guessing you went private. I'm hoping all is well, now!

I have a dear friend in Scotland that years ago had to have her hips replaced, ended up waiting 5 years for each hip! To be in pain for ten years and be on a waiting list for care when she paid her stamp faithfully is outraging!

Healthcare is available in the US, state help if one has to go that route. Now we have a choice, if we don't like our current insurance, we can pack up our stuff, and get another J-O-B that does have the insurance we need. Too many people here think the gov't should just take care of them. And, because our current president was elected, the gov't is saying we the people don't have to vote on it. Some democracy!