We have to pay for everything in Oz so it really makes you appreciate the nhs!
Over here everything is private with the exception of public hospitals. We have Medicare which we all pay into which is basically a rebate scheme, the providers charge a fee, the Gov has a fee schedule and we the public pay the gap unless you have private insurance. There are some services and docs who charge the same as the rebate so you're not out of pocket, it's a complicated system!
However, having experienced both I would say the advantages are:
You are not tied to one doc, you can go to any practice which can be a benefit if you're not happy with one!
You get a diagnosis quicker, there are so many scanning, X-ray places etc you may only have to wait a couple,of weeks at the most. We aren't reliant on the local hospital and it's one machine!
I had my op at the local public hospital an I couldn't fault it, even got to choose the day of my op (although I think I was just lucky!)
The downside is that you can be out of pocket for a lot of money even if you have insurance as they also have a fee schedule which may not match the provider!
I do feel so much money is wasted in the nhs, even down to people not showing up for appointments when so many people have to wait weeks to see the doc, so perhaps they should be fined....not that they'll probably pay it!
All forms of medical procedures are so advanced now it's no surprise that expenditure outweighs income so I guess something needs to be done unless it's charging the population more in NI contributions and they won't like that either! Guess we can all start with trying to stay healthy although I still got bloody gallstones!
Private health insurance in Oz is a rip off, the providers charge the insurance companies more for the same service than you as an individual! Plus most people only have it to get out of paying a Medicare surcharge incentive you earn over a certain amount, so it's not an ideal solution either!
Still we're all better off than the States, I've read some awful stories of sick people who can't even afford the docs let alone scans, surgery etc....