I feel safe in knowing the healthcare will be there when needed. When I was badly ill with an acute condition in 2006, I didn't have to make any phone calls or fill out any forms, negotiate with an insurance rep or any of that.
I'm sure it differs from nation to nation, but the NHS does have its downsides. It's main one seems to be underfunding. This underfunding is probably responsible for long waiting times for anything that isn't trivial or an immediate emergency.
The whole thing is incredibly complex and notoriously difficult to run without some problem rearing its head. There is also a built in unfairness in that different localities are handled by different
trusts with different somewhat independent boards. This leads to what has be called '
a Post Code Lottery' - meaning depending on where you live determines how much money is being spent on one problem or another. Furthermore, these trusts also make decisions about whether to pay for certain new (and inevitably expensive) drugs. So whether you live or die may come down to something as arbitrary as where you live.
I was once privately insured, I had my tonsils out in a private facility and received physio for a series of sports injuries. The general service was much better, the experience much more comfortable. I had my own room, my own television with cable tv. It was fantastic. If I'm ever in a position to pay for private healthcare insurance, I'll do it again.
But I'm glad I don't have the stresses of having to choose to be insured or take huge risks with my finances/health. I don't have to worry about the consequences of being diagnosed with a chronic condition to my healthcare payments.
™ Version 4.2
