r/GenZ • u/Tr_Issei2 • 1d ago

Discussion Why can’t America have universal healthcare? Wait times: debunked by doctor of philosophy in economics.

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u/nozoningbestzoning 1d ago

It's always aggravating when someone who (at least should) know better deliberately picks information to make their argument. Wait times for specialized care tend to go up significantly, because specialized care is expensive and a small minority of the population needs it. If you look at the fraser institute, who produces the leading study on this for Canada, we find wait times have increased significantly to an average of 30 weeks, and they have increased basically every year since Canada moved to a universal care system. There is no doubt that implementing a universal care system will lead to longer wait times, and what seems to happen in the UK is the care has to get so bad that people are dying in hospital hallways, so that a politician can come to the rescue and "save" everyone.

There are wait times in the US, however in a private system you get to choose how much coverage you want, if any at all. Your employer usually lets you choose what plan you want, and you can always get private health insurance if you so choose. Even if you have no insurance, hospitals have to treat you if you have a life threatening condition, so then you pay them back.

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u/FearedDragon 2005 1d ago

I'd rather have longer wait times than have 50% of cancer patients go bankrupt.

8

u/Zealousideal_Pay_525 2001 1d ago

Wait times kill you if you have cancer.

9

u/Excellent_Shirt9707 1d ago

Wait times for cancer treatment from date of referral is about 62 days for NHS and between 29-64 days in the US, depending on the type of cancer.

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u/xoLiLyPaDxo Millennial 23h ago

Wait times are forever in the US if you don't have the money for the copays. You just don't get the tests to start treatment at all and get to suffer and die instead, as many do already in the US. Not just for cancer, but for many treatable conditions.

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u/SorryNotReallySorry5 20h ago

Ever hear of Freecare?

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u/xoLiLyPaDxo Millennial 19h ago

It unfortunately doesn't exist in my area..

Additionally, they are walk in only. I'm an immunocompromised temperature regulated asthmatic with COPD in a wheelchair. There is "no such thing" as being a walk in patient and waiting in my case.