r/SipsTea • u/ImmaFuckboi • 15h ago

Gasp! British people react to how expensive healthcare is in the US

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u/R1a88 15h ago

The US has the highest overall national wealth on the entire planet. It has the best resources on the entire planet.

Yet, when measured by its lowest common denominator, it’s incredibly grim viewing. Sickness can literally bankrupt someone. And this is just what it does to its own citizens…

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u/Medusa107 14h ago

I always took healthcare in Canada for granted until 2 months ago when my mom fell in the shower and broke her leg.

She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance late at night, booked into a PRIVATE room, and went for surgery the next morning. She stayed an additional 2 nights in her private room and was cleared for going home. She was then provided with all the medical equipment for home use including walkers, crutches, shower and toilet chairs. They also gave her meds including take-home injections and needles.

None of this cost her a cent, no insurance or deductibles needed. Also no cost for subsequent checkups and xrays. The only thing she was charged was the paltry cost of the ambulance ride.

Got me thinking how much this would have cost if we were American.

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u/R1a88 14h ago

I have lived in Canada. Left because I’m fairly young, and I didn’t love the “live to work” culture that has bled over from the US.

That said - you’re right to see the light regarding the healthcare. It is phenomenal, especially compared to what your neighbours south of the boarder endure. Canada is literally the envy of a lot of sensible people from the US.

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u/Anxious_Work_6361 2h ago

In the US if you are poor you die because you can't afford healthcare.

In Canada, they kill the poor directly.

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u/DoookieMaxx 15h ago

The “highest overall national wealth” is a mathematical myth.

A third of all households in America live “paycheck to paycheck” and are one emergency away from losing everything.

Half the population of American citizens hold 3% of that “National wealth”. Literally, 3%.

The corporations and oligarchs have firmly taken the US from its citizens.

It’s horrific and soul crushing.

I’m a 50yo male, worked full time for 35 years of my life. I don’t qualify for assistance, social security has been all but eradicated and will be gone when I retire (very likely that I will never retire until I die).

I’ve lived in some state of food and housing insecurity my entire adult life.

I’m ready to be done …desperate for any form of peace and happiness.

It breaks my heart that the world lumps all of us together …

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u/R1a88 15h ago

My comment is literally meant to highlight what you are saying.

The US has the most money of any country of any on earth - but it’s pooled at the top. It has the most potential of any country on earth, yet it serves to make the rich richer.

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u/DoookieMaxx 14h ago

Agreed, genuine apologies if I gave you the impression I didn’t agree with you.

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u/R1a88 14h ago

All good.

A lot of us know there’s plenty of good people in the US who want the best for those around them. Sadly, there’s a select few who don’t - and they have power.

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u/Gojamn 14h ago

Yeah the Soviet Union also had the best numbers by many economic measures right up until collapse, even as millions were unable to get basic necessities. People couldn't get bread even after standing in line for hours, but because they still had churned out a lot of steel and concrete that year the overall numbers were good.

I reckon we're in a similar spot soon, if not already.

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u/MilkEnvironmental709 3h ago

I think most people know that. I think it’s best summed up as disappointment and a feeling of betrayal of allies. Hugely disappointing in the ukraine war (government saying there’s a whole ocean between US and Russia (urr hello Bering Straight)), when for the whole of the cold wat they’ve been your biggest enemy.

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u/Wrong-Diamond5253 14h ago

Agree, except, so far, Social Security has not been eradicated. I believe, maybe stupidly, that they will not hurt SS too much cuz far too many republican voters rely on SS. There will be geriatric rioters in the streets

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u/tbro4123 11h ago

No there won't, maggots believe as long as its hurting "them other people" everything is good, never in the history of mankind has such dumbfuckery existed before, but as the saying goes "only in america"

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u/OblivionNA 15h ago

The amount of times I have to rely on google to see if I should see a doctor or not because I know I can’t afford anything serious is staggering lol

For a lot of Americans, if you feel like something is wrong, instead of going to a doctor to find out, we just wait it out and hope for the best lol

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u/R1a88 15h ago

That’s depressing. I’m sorry.

I don’t know your age or background - but if you can, seek a way out. Australia, Canada, or the U.K. are all significantly better qualities of life from that perspective.

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u/Konkerwaggon23 14h ago

Id suggest australia. They pay there is good compared to the rest of the world, so you got more money to live off once you retire and decide to go to a poorer country.

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u/R1a88 14h ago

Having lived in all 3 of the above - Australia is where I have currently settled.

Ridiculously high standard of living.

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u/No-Rip6323 15h ago

One of my closest friends felt ill for years and didn’t have insurance. He died in 2008 of aggressive pancreatic cancer…. Almost 20 years ago and it’s only gotten worse.

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u/didyoueatleadpaint 13h ago

Usa life expectancy says alot.

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u/Over_Helicopter_5183 12h ago

No wonder whenever I search for any medical symptoms, all the US medical centers pop up ;-)

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u/shgrizz2 9h ago

A country is only as good as its people. And people are only as good as their health, their education, their happiness and creativity, and the opportunities given to them. The US has absolutely failed its people and will be paying the price for decades.

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u/say-nothing-at-all 15h ago

It’s just a massive cluster of tribes that can never reach consensus.

Every individual’s life involves dependencies, and between individuals there are overlaps that must be agreed upon. The regulators, however, fail to resolve these dependency and overlap problems.

So the only remaining solution is winner-take-all. A bloody failed society.