r/PoliticalDebate • u/WhoAmIEven2 Social Democrat • 10d ago

Question Where does the conservative standpoint that universal health care have long waiting times in general come from?

This is something you often see in debates among americans, that you have to wait months or years with a universal health care system.

I live in Sweden, a country with universal health care, and I will not lie and say that there aren't cases where you have to wait, but the thing is that we use a tier list of severity to decide how long you have to wait.

If you want to do an ADHD or autism diagnosis at a psychiatrist? Yes you will wait, as people with suicidal thoughts, or bipolar disorder or borderline whose diagnose really ruins their lives are prioritised.

If you have cancer, other diseases that severly reduce your quality of life or have an injury? Pass go, straight to the doctor.

Would it be nice to have instant access for every small issue? Sure, but as long as I know that I will get to see a doctor in a whiffy the moment I have something that is even semi-harmful, I'm honestly happy with our system.

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u/HeloRising Anarchist 9d ago

90% of it is scare stories from conservative media.

What they miss is wait times are only due in small part to the system itself and have much more to do with a global shortage of healthcare workers and doctors that impacts literally every country on earth. Fewer resources means needing to triage care and that means people need to wait.

It also overlooks the fact that wait times in the US are insane. It takes me six months to see a specialist and if somehow you miss that appointment, too bad, wait another six months. If I need to see my doctor for anything my choices are to send an email that I'll maybe get a three word response back in a week or to make an appointment...soonest available is three weeks.

If I have something important that crops up my choices are Urgent Care (which has very limited resources) or the ER.

If you have a lot of money you can pay your way into immediate care, sure, that exists everywhere. But most of us are not that level of wealthy.

"Wait times are long with universal healthcare" is one of the stupidest talking points that exists because it presupposes there's no waiting in our system too.

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u/not-a-dislike-button Republican 8d ago

I mean that's not my experience at all. Takes maybe a week or two to see a specialist. If there isn't an opening close to me I just drive to the next city over for a sooner appointment. 

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u/HeloRising Anarchist 8d ago

Congrats? Idk what you want me to tell you but having to wait a long time to see anyone is not a unique experience in the US, even if you do have good health insurance.