A friend just got out of 8-1/2 hours of cancer surgery

[stollen]

here in Germany. He'd had the same surgery in the US, and doctors basically did nothing besides close him back up and offer a bill of $160,000 and an educated guess as to life expectancy.

German doctors had a look and were surprised that the US doctors hadn't at least taken out a tumor that was obstructing a bowel and causing much pain. They said if that didn't come out soon, he would die of that rather than the cancer.

The bill: 25,000 euro.

Chaffetz is a heartless bastard, to compare a life/death surgery to a cell phone cost and imply it's the patient's fault.

You own him, 3rd district Utah. SHAME ON YOU.

[Ilsa]

1. The US needs to look at other models for health care.

We don't need to reinvent this wheel. We need to see what is working in other developed nations.

[stollen]

3. Sanders discussed this basic idea until he turned blue

only to have what semblance of a national health care there was to be overturned by the GOP.

The US is a backwater country.

[SunSeeker]

15. No, he did not talk about it until he turned blue.

He did like talking about single payer in Vermont---until they put a price tag on it. When they determined that Vermont single payer would require a new 12% tax on the middle class, Bernie clammed up--as did all the other politicians who saw such a tax hike as politically toxic. No one had the guts to defend this perfectly reasonable tax--not even the socialist! No one had the guts to point out that people would still save money on healthcare even with this tax, since they would no longer need to pay premiums or co-pays, nor invest hours of their time filling out insurance forms.

Yes, we are a backwater, because even our socialists don't have the guts to defend taxes that pay for a civilized society.

[northoftheborder]

2. Much attention has been paid to other countries' exceptional and

varied methods of including all citizens (and visitors) in a health care system. But those in charge, Republicans, ignore and/or misrepresent them. Single payer is only one way. Capping costs is another. A lot of varying ways to do this - but it takes people in power who have empathy.

[stollen]

4. voters with a clue also helps.

The US is not a civilized society.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. In Switzerland, people are required to purchase private

health insurance. However, costs of the insurance, health services and drugs are regulated. All adults 26 and over pay the same premiums (!) and the average monthly premium is $243 USD.

This is just an example of something other than single payer that still gets everyone covered and SAVES $$$.

[stollen]

19. If ever there were a country dedicated to its own citizens, it would be Switzerland.

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. The thing that's funny

is that Switzerland's health insurance/care system is considered "expensive" by European standards, but they are rated #2, just behind the Netherlands, for the overall quality of their system. Everyone has health insurance and they spend 11.4% of their GDP. We still have millions without insurance, ridiculous deductibles for those who do, and we spend almost 18% GDP. Life expectancy for Swiss men is #1 in the world at 81.3. Swiss women are #6 at 85.3.

[stollen]

22. Yeah, the minute I cross the border, the prices rise incredibly

But while in Geneva last year, I saw an incredible international city with people of all races, creeds and colors. Despite high (medical)costs, they must be able to afford, otherwise they wouldn't/couldn't live there.

[Hamlette]

5. Must read article about cost of hip replacement in Belgium $13,000 vs USA $100,000

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/health/for-medical-tourists-simple-math.html?pagewanted=all

he ultimately chose to have his hip replaced in 2007 at a private hospital outside Brussels for $13,660. That price included not only a hip joint, made by Warsaw-based Zimmer Holdings, but also all doctors’ fees, operating room charges, crutches, medicine, a hospital room for five days, a week in rehab and a round-trip ticket from America. . . .

Makers of artificial implants — the biggest single cost of most joint replacement surgeries — have proved particularly adept at commanding inflated prices, according to health economists. Multiple intermediaries then mark up the charges. While Mr. Shopenn was offered an implant in the United States for $13,000, many privately insured patients are billed two to nearly three times that amount. . . . (for the artificial hip only, did not cover hospital or doctor)

An artificial hip, however, costs only about $350 to manufacture in the United States,

The article goes on to explain how/who the artificial hip costs so much in the US. It will make you furious. I have an artificial hip, it cost $3,000 in 1995 (plus doctor and hospital costs for a total of probably $20-30K...I don't remember. It would now be well over $100K and you are only in the hospital for 2 days.)

[stollen]

7. Medical costs in the US are absolutely disgusting

My friend will be in the hospital for about 13 days. In the US for the same operation he was in for four days.

The US is an ass-backward heartless country when it comes to fundamentals, like health care.

I'm getting an organ transplant this year, and you can be damned sure I won't be going to the US for the procedure.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

13. Wishing you good luck with your surgery. n/t

[stollen]

21. Thanks! I appreciate it.

I'm at 10% function now but can still swim and do yoga. I've been really pleased with my care. The nephrologist will even call me on a Saturday with latest blood results.

[Initech]

6. He is the worst of the worst.

[stollen]

8. I tried to call all his office numbers

The mailboxes are booked. They're not even letting aides answer the phones.

[pansypoo53219]

9. butbutbut amerika has the BESTEST medi$$$ine.

[LeftInTX]

11. USA didn't used to be bad

I started a job in Jan 1979. I never used my health insurance because doctor appointments and meds were so cheap that it wasn't worth the hassle.

Around the same time, my grandmother had a hysterectomy: Cost was somewhere around $750

In 1981 my dad had cardiac bypass surgery. We were totally shocked at the cost: $10,000. We had never heard of such an expensive medical procedure (Champus and employee health insurance covered everything) But we were just so shocked that that a medical bill was half my annual salary.

[Norbert9]

12. What's the cancer type?

Just medically curious. Was it carcinoid?

Hope your friend is doing well

[stollen]

17. Yes

Carcinoid carcinoma

Thank you.

ICU for four days and then about 13 days total in hospital.

[Sunlei]

14. good post, you have a lucky friend! Republicans are "heartless bastards" & as Obama always said,

SELFISH.

[democrank]

16. Glad your friend got that care.

I' d like to know how many members of Congress still don't understand that many Americans are one major illness away from being wiped out financially. That's all it takes and you can lose everything....even your home.

Nothing is going to change until we elect a majority that puts people first.

[stollen]

18. The US system is uncivilized

Just when everyone got something (ACA), the GOP takes it away. If that doesn't tell voters something about what the Republican Party is about, nothing will.