Coronavirus - are we all doomed? (6 Viewers)

[The_Doc_Man]

Col, I can understand that this is one of those issues that represents a "great divide" between the USA and the UK. We in the USA have/need medical insurance because we don't have universal government-funded healthcare. No matter where you go in the world, SOMEONE has to pay for goods and services in a hospital. Nothing is free. The question is where the costs are hidden when they are not out in the open. Ours are out in the open. Yours, from what I understand, are more hidden.

 

[moke123]

Apparently my stepson called a Med provider inquiring what to do. The tests are apparently free but the appointment was going to cost him $110 just to go there. BUT they are not testing for covid19.

When my daughter turned 26 last year she was booted off my insurance. Luckily my state had RomneyCare (now ObamaCare) and she has been able to purchase her own coverage (very good coverage at that) for $30 a month.

 

[AccessBlaster]

How does 'better insurance, equals better care' work?

Don't know ask Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger next time they bypass NHS for the free market.

 

[ColinEssex]

Doc, every worker in the UK pays a percentage of their earnings - called National Insurance to the government which in turn pays for the NHS to be free to everyone. Prescriptions are not free, except for over 65's or you live in Scotland. Dentists are not free because they are greedy sods. Most other treatments are free. Nothing is hidden, the amount you pay is on your payslip.
AB, I think you are referring to people's choice of either using the NHS or going private. That is personal choice, it is quicker to pay privately but costs a lot. If I had the money the two gentlemen you mentioned have, I think I would go private rather than wait 2 or 3 years for an operation in agony. Obviously, if your need is urgent, then you only wait months for an operation.
Col

 

[AccessBlaster]

View attachment 80236

AB, I think you are referring to people's choice of either using the NHS or going private. That is personal choice, it is quicker to pay privately but costs a lot. If I had the money the two gentlemen you mentioned have, I think I would go private rather than wait 2 or 3 years for an operation in agony. Obviously, if your need is urgent, then you only wait months for an operation.
Col

So if the wait times were not long at NHS, Paul and Mick would rather go there [NHS] instead of John Hopkins or Cedars-Sinai. It's ok Colin you don't have to answer this one. The choice is obvious, they want to live.

I have an enlarged prostate possibly cancerous, I am going to UCLA health regardless if I can afford it. I WANT TO LIVE, pretty simple.

BTW if you are a male and over 50 get your PSA checked.

 

[ColinEssex]

Actually, I used to live near Sir Paul near Hastings in Sussex. I worked in the main hospital. Part of my job was to deal with patient / relative queries and problems. Without breaking confidentiality, for a period of around a month or six weeks, Sir Paul was a frequent visitor almost every day, (not a patient), I was detailed to assist him and his wife Linda to get through a busy hospital without causing too much disturbance, mainly by guiding them though areas the public wouldn't be allowed. We had several good chats. It was amazing to be helping 25% of The Beatles in a day to day activity that was common to us all. The hospital was an NHS one and Sir Paul was quite happy to use it.
Col

 

[AccessBlaster]

Yeah always liked him, he's a good one.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Col, you asked about what was the difference if you had insurance or did not have insurance in the USA and came in for treatment. One difference is that you would not be likely to get a private room without insurance. (No guarantees if you DID have insurance, just better odds.)

 

[ColinEssex]

Anyway, to get back on track. I see on the news that the USA is now the world epicentre of the virus with highest number of cases. The peak is due here in the UK in two weeks.
The White House clown is still mumbling about Americans being back at work by Easter. Is he totally insane or on another planet or just blind to reality?
Col

 

[AccessBlaster]

Anyway, to get back on track.

Quite right old man! Back on track, Tally-ho pip pip cheerio.

 

[AccessBlaster]

Something you probably will not see on your local news, no wonder she's not president. Disgusting.

 

[vba_php]

Tally-ho

ahhh, a classic line from so many american films....

 

[NauticalGent]

Quite right old man! Back on track, Tally-ho pip pip cheerio.

♪♫ Try to mock the way they talk, fun but all in vain...♫♪

 

[deletedT]

Something you probably will not see on your local news, no wonder she's not president. Disgusting.

@AccessBlaster I know you are a Trump supporter. But I can't understand what's disgusting with Hilary's comment.
President Trump did nothing to protect his people and asked to wait until Easter and promised it'll be gone by then.
The consequences of his policy was more than 85000 infection in less than two weeks.
What's disgusting with Hillary's comment?

 

[moke123]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...ce-care-emergency-room-covid-19-a9429946.html

 

[Jon]

Something you probably will not see on your local news, no wonder she's not president. Disgusting.

I agree. Disgusting and in bad taste. Has she no boundaries over making political points?

 

[Jon]

@AccessBlaster I know you are a Trump supporter. But I can't understand what's disgusting with Hilary's comment.
President Trump did nothing to protect his people and asked to wait until Easter and promised it'll be gone by then.
The consequences of his policy was more than 85000 infection in less than two weeks.
What's disgusting with Hillary's comment?

Define nothing. He was criticised heavily by the Democrats for blocking visitors from China early on. It doesn't matter what Trump does, people will criticise regardless.

What are the consequences of an alternative policy. You do not know. It could have been far worse. It could have been better. But to optimise in a unique fast-moving unpredictable scenario is virtually impossible. Its like trying to hand onto a wriggling eel!

 

[Minty]

I think it is a really poor attempt at dark humour, by someone in a position who simply shouldn't be trying to do that.

I suspect if the positions were reversed and Trump had done it it would have been seen as normal behaviour and ignored or even seen as vaguely amusing.
I find him unbelievably stupid most of the time. Who else in his position would claim that emergency payments being made will be "Great for the economy"?
His stance and comments are beyond comprehension most of the time;

JAN 22 ‘We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control’
FEB 27 ‘It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear’
MAR 9 ‘Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!’
MAR 16 When asked how he rated his response: ‘I’d rate it a 10. I think we’ve done a great job’
MAR 17 ‘I’ve felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic’

 

[deletedT]

What are the consequences of an alternative policy.

@Jon We were the first country after China who was hit with this virus. And later it was Korea.
For a week or two we were in second position and Korea in third. Both Japan and Korea are close to China, We are neighbors and we have a lot of trade and tourists. The possibility of spreading this virus for us is much more than a country several thousands miles away.
How many weeks have be passed since the outbreak? Japan and Korea are going down the list of infections and death rate.
Just now Japan has announced 1099 infections and 49 deaths.

He could search and ask for advice how we and Korea keep the infection as low as possible. But he sees everything from a business point of view.
He had a lot of options but he preferred to announce We have it totally under control. Or it will be over until Easter.
He doesn't worry about people and their lives. He worries about business much more than anything.

 

[Jon]

What country are you in Tera?

I think Trump is surrounded by advisors who will be telling him all sorts and influencing the approach. I do like what Trump did with the economy. I am not so keen on his comments about opening everything up at Easter. That is one of the first times I was a bit shocked by what he says he will do. I'm hoping that sense will prevail and everything will stay locked down. My thoughts are perhaps that the economy is one of his strong points and he doesn't want it coming crashing down, particular with the election just around the corner. i.e. he has one eye on the prize, which is influencing strategy. I hope human life will get the priority.