Friday, September 10, 2010
Boooh, beware of the horrors of socialism!!!
So today I had my first experience with going to the doctors here in Sweden. It made me think of the many times I heard Americans (mostly republicans) talk about how horrible the socialist health care is and how we should beware of it! Well, let me tell you, this morning I had the best doctors visit experience ever! I had been sick for about three days (Urinary Tract Infection), and I was trying to wait it out and hoping that it would go away, but this morning I had the worst pain and decided to check stuff out with a doctors. So than Vanja found out that the doctors we are assigned to has open-door visits from 10-11am. Fearful of what I might hear from the doctors, I went to the office. The thing in Sweden is, everywhere you go, you have to take a number and wait for it to be called...even some stores have this system (instead of waiting in line). So I took a number and waited. Then, when it was my turn, I spoke to a lady at a desk and she asked me for my personnummer (that nice little SSN that I waited for for a month :) She immediately found me in the system and told me to wait in the waiting room until the doctor calls my name. While I was in the waiting room I noticed that each doctor that would come out to get a patient, would walk to the patient (if he new the person) instead of yelling their names. I thought that was very nice. Plus, the doctor would help the elderly walk into his office! One more plus for Sweden haha. Obviously, he didn't know me, so he did say my name when it was my turn and introduced himself. When we went into his office, he asked me what was wrong and listened politely while looking at me (instead of scribbling something into his notebook while I talked). Then he drew a diagram of a bladder, urinary tract, kidneys, and explained to me on the diagram what he thought was going on! I didn't feel rushed at all and he didn't seem to be in a hurry to be someplace else. Then he prescribed me some antibiotics and proudly told me that I can go to any pharmacy in the city to pick up the prescription. (I say proudly, because he knew that I was American and he probably knew how the system worked in the US). I was pretty amazed (no physical prescription, no paper). So I went to the closest pharmacy and picked up my prescription which took two minutes (no, I did not need to walk around Albertsons or Target for half an hour until it was done) :). And that was that! The entire thing cost me about $20!!! Yes, the horrific experience I had with the socialized medical system!!! I might have nightmares tonight! :) I'm not saying that Sweden is better in any other aspect, but this was a very positive experience for me...none of that "you have to wait six months to be seen by a doctor in a socialized health care system" That's all I'm saying! Comments/critique is welcome!
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I've lived in US for little over 10 years and in those 10 years i have never, never seen a doctor (or had a feeling) that he or she knew exactly what he or she was talking about. I may had a bad luck, haven't gone to the doctors that often (knock on wood) but odds are there and I was wondering why? What is the sole reason/ purpose that people go to medical school in US (keeping in mind how much such school(s) cost)? You know the answer. On the other hand my child was diagnosed with asthma in the early stage (he was born in HOAG in Newport Beach) and in about 70% of our visits (and that was often believe me. Everyone who knows us, know what we went through with Til and his health condition) WE (my wife and I) have concluded diagnosis and asked for specific prescriptions (since we went to one pediatrician office, we have changed about 6 different pediatricians). When I was laid off and found a contracting job, I talked to the Insurance reps all over the OC offering to pay $837 out of my own pocket to get coverage for my son only (who was 2 years old at the time) never mind my wife and me. And every Insurance house (you name it) declined us, because my child who was born in US, who could became a president one day, who could go to foreign, hostile countries (like Afghanistan, Iraq and such) to "fight for freedom" was declined health coverage because he had "asthmatic precondition" and not even $837 would be enough. Republicans (or whoever) can talk shit about socialism and "our" health coverage but here when I go to doctors I see that he or she cares when she looks at my child. Yes, sometimes you need to wait (for special treatment) but if it is urgent (your doctor finds strange matter and suspects it may be carcinoma), you don't wait (because it is urgent, imagine that). Every child in almost every European country is automatically covered (imagine that as well). Can you ask yourself why my fellow Americans?
ReplyDeleteYeah, it is so frustrating. A job and health insurance go hand-in-hand in the states. No job, no health insurance...and if you have a pre-existing condition, then you are really *ucked! I feel for you! And yes, you can get qualified for medicaid or some other state-provided insurance, but you have to be poor enough where you can't even buy bread. And then you get the crappiest of doctors that exist. When we first got to the US we were under some sort of medicaid. I can't even describe the office this guys was running...it was dark, there were papers everywhere...and I remember he had one of those examining chairs for female related issues. I remember thinking: Hell no, I'm not getting on that chair, it looked like something from the horror movies hahaha. From then on I decided to have my female stuff taken care of at a free clinic! :)
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