Hello, Canadians of Lemmy! Down in the USA there is a lot of conflicting information regarding the efficacy of y’alls healthcare systems. Without revealing my personal bias, I was hoping for some anecdotes or summaries from those whom actually live there.
Doesn’t Australia have both? I’ve always been told it’s a dual system
yeah kinda… you can get private health (but it’s muuuuch cheaper than the US; eg i pay $1200/qtr which is about $800USD/qtr) and over a certain tax level if you don’t have PHI you pay a medicare levy so it becomes more cost effective to have PHI than not
PHI often gives you things like better food in hospitals, private room, cheap/free glasses, better mental health support, massage etc… the stuff that medicare pays for like surgery, doctors visits etc your PHI doesn’t pay for
medicare keeps you alive and healthy, PHI makes things comfier
Now that is interesting.
At some point we need to have a better system in America. The largest issue is it’s tied to your employer. It’s such a weird system and fairly unique.
If you don’t have a job, you have to pay for your own insurance which can be very expensive.