No, they are not, true. But they are far better than the system in the US. I'm from a Third World country, with a public system (free for all: public hospitals, for example), then the semi-public (a health insurance paid from your income, but the cost is ten times lower than any private company) and private health care. There are great problems in public hospitals. However, they can't deny any kind of procedure to patients (be MRI, surgeries, etc), OR medication (contraceptives are freely given in public hospitals, as well as antibiotics, or other treatments for people who otherwise would not have the chance to buy them). However, you depend on the fact that the machines are working, the surgery rooms are ready and fully provided, and the hospital pharmacies have the drugs required. Sometimes, you do have to wait months for a surgery or a procedure like your MRI. However, these services are entirely free.
Within this category also falls treatments like those for cancer or HIV, or insulin for diabetics. You can apply for them at the Health Ministry, and they'll give these for free.
Then those who have a job in any branch of public administration (in town, province or federal administrations) has a sort of health care on their own. They don't ask if you want to belong to it, you just do. They take a small amount from your paycheck, and you are included on it. It's compulsory for all public employees.
(However, anyone can join it for a slightly more than the public employees, and the cost is really not much, compared to the private companies).
This one is much, much, much better than the free, public system. You might still have to wait for procedures but never as long as in the public system, and sometimes, not at all.
I had hernia surgery and hysterectomy a couple of years ago. I paid nothing, except a plus the surgeon and then to the anesthetist, a plus that was absolutely within my budget (husband is a public employee, and the second job is veterinarian). The health care system covered the costs of the surgery, and the stay at the private clinic where I had it, plus medication.
I am diabetic and have thyroids problems, and my daughter has asthma. The health care system pays 70% of the cost of our medications. The voluntary second health insurance we have with the Union of public employees covers more than 20% of what's left. So, we end paying almost nothing.
I have had all kind of procedures and tests (including mammographies and ultrasounds). All they require is an authorization, which is never denied if the doctor attaches a report explaining why you need it. And you don't have to wait weeks to get the authorization. You go to the Health Care office closer to your home and present your papers there, and they approve it (they have a doctor there).
Now, there are procedures that require a deeper review. They can take months, and sometimes, but MRI's or CAT scans aren't among them. We are talking about meds that need to be imported, or experimental treatments here. Everything outside this category, that's considered normal, you get almost without incident, always.
I wear glasses (severe myopia), and I do have to get authorization from them, but they basically cover half the cost of my glasses and 60 to 70 % of contacts, so it's worth the wait, and all the paperwork.
Health is a Constitutional right. You can sue the State here and get compensation if they don't cover your medical needs if you can't pay for them, so they cover themselves.
It might be not perfect, but sure as hell it beats the alternative. I wouldn't have been able to my surgeries, my glasses or my meds if some sort of public system had not been in place. So, considering the alternatives, I would still take this system over nothing at all.
Re: this completely disgusts me.
Within this category also falls treatments like those for cancer or HIV, or insulin for diabetics. You can apply for them at the Health Ministry, and they'll give these for free.
Then those who have a job in any branch of public administration (in town, province or federal administrations) has a sort of health care on their own. They don't ask if you want to belong to it, you just do. They take a small amount from your paycheck, and you are included on it. It's compulsory for all public employees.
(However, anyone can join it for a slightly more than the public employees, and the cost is really not much, compared to the private companies).
This one is much, much, much better than the free, public system. You might still have to wait for procedures but never as long as in the public system, and sometimes, not at all.
I had hernia surgery and hysterectomy a couple of years ago. I paid nothing, except a plus the surgeon and then to the anesthetist, a plus that was absolutely within my budget (husband is a public employee, and the second job is veterinarian). The health care system covered the costs of the surgery, and the stay at the private clinic where I had it, plus medication.
I am diabetic and have thyroids problems, and my daughter has asthma. The health care system pays 70% of the cost of our medications. The voluntary second health insurance we have with the Union of public employees covers more than 20% of what's left. So, we end paying almost nothing.
I have had all kind of procedures and tests (including mammographies and ultrasounds). All they require is an authorization, which is never denied if the doctor attaches a report explaining why you need it. And you don't have to wait weeks to get the authorization. You go to the Health Care office closer to your home and present your papers there, and they approve it (they have a doctor there).
Now, there are procedures that require a deeper review. They can take months, and sometimes, but MRI's or CAT scans aren't among them. We are talking about meds that need to be imported, or experimental treatments here. Everything outside this category, that's considered normal, you get almost without incident, always.
I wear glasses (severe myopia), and I do have to get authorization from them, but they basically cover half the cost of my glasses and 60 to 70 % of contacts, so it's worth the wait, and all the paperwork.
Health is a Constitutional right. You can sue the State here and get compensation if they don't cover your medical needs if you can't pay for them, so they cover themselves.
It might be not perfect, but sure as hell it beats the alternative. I wouldn't have been able to my surgeries, my glasses or my meds if some sort of public system had not been in place. So, considering the alternatives, I would still take this system over nothing at all.