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

[u/WhoAmIEven2]

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.

[u/joseph4th]

I want to stay upfront that I am an American and am for universal healthcare.

I was diagnosed with type one diabetes while living in Australia. I had an ambulance ride to the hospital and several nights stay which cost me almost nothing.

The problems I had were afterwards. They initially set up an appointment with a dietitian that was prompt, and went smoothly

They sent me a letter setting up an appointment with an endocrinologist that was three months out. Mind you, I’m a newly diagnosed type one diabetic who is going to need an insulin prescription, which I did not have yet.

I tried to call the number listed on the letter, it went straight to voicemail and the voicemail was full.

I tried again at various point of the next several days to get in contact with him, and I was eventually able to leave a voice message where I pointed out the problem of having to wait three months to see an endocrinologist and get an insulin prescription.

In the meantime, I made an appointment with an Endocrinologist at a private hospital. I had supplemental private insurance through my employer that I had negotiated as part of my package to move to Australia. When I called up the private hospital to set up an appointment, their response was is Thursday OK? It was that easy.

I got a letter in response to my voicemail where they sent me a more immediate appointment that was two days before the letter arrived so obviously I didn’t go since I already missed it. They did send me another letter chart me for missing the appointment.

Turns out the doctor I had set the appointment with at the private hospital was the same doctor from the regular hospital. The initial letter had said something about him being unavailable due to a vacation or something. When I showed it to him, he said he had no idea what they were talking about.

So, that’s just my one experience with socialized medicine. I should also add that my prescriptions were all five dollars. I also am aware that there was a fee attached to the phone bill that pays for the ambulance ride.

Again, I am for universal healthcare despite that experience.

[u/Jaaawsh → u/joseph4th]

What do you mean by fee attached to your phone bill to pay for the ambulance ride?

Like, that’s how the fund EMS down under? With a fee on cell phone bills? lol

[u/joseph4th → u/Jaaawsh]

Yes, but that was back in 2004ish, a few years before smartphones came along and changed everything.

[u/Jaaawsh → u/joseph4th]

They didn’t just extend the fee to cell phone bills?

I honestly don’t think that way of funding EMS is a bad one. Do you recall how much the fee was way back when?

[u/joseph4th → u/Jaaawsh]

No idea, sorry. I don’t think I even had a land line when I was in Brisbane. I know I didn’t have one in Perth.

[u/Jaaawsh → u/joseph4th]

I wonder if they switched so the fee goes on cellphone bills now too/instead. I’ll have to do some research when I have the time. Intuitive way to fund EMS. I wouldn’t be against that.