And this surely is the most important point.Pubic wrote:
OP, I've not read any post so far, but will do so.
About all of the insight I can offer is to say "100% private = shit, 100% public = shit" and offer up a description of the local situation, so here goes.
We have a reasonable taxpayer-funded health system. If you're fucked up, you can get "free" (tax-funded) health care. It might not be the best around and you may have to wait a little while sometimes, but you can get fixed up if you really need it. Going to the local doc for some pills to fix your cold or whatever will cost you 2-4 hours worth of wages. From what I've heard, the UK's NHS is the cream of the crop for public health systems, though ours is still pretty good. They fixed me up when I fucked up and cut my hand open a few years back.
Public health does need funding, which means either taxes, or a government which owns a lot of shares in a lot of companies. I don't mind paying a little more each month if it means more security.
We also have a private health system. Personally, I have health insurance because I got it free through a previous employer and was able to keep the policy after I left, at the discounted rate which they paid. The policy covers either a shitload of major surgery, or a bit of major surgery and some minor GP stuff, for about 12-20 hours waged work per quarter. This private policy has paid for my wisdom teeth, and after having left said former employer in 2009 the payments are only just starting to work in my insurer's favour. The insurer, BTW, is not a company, but a co-operative. The payments go to the doctors, not shareholders, and because of this its incredibly good value.
So yeah, private and public can co-exist quite peacefully. I'm happy with my hybrid health system.
The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
~ Richard Feynman
~ Richard Feynman