>>>>>Adward,
>>>>>
>>>>>>Sorry to say it, but it's entirely because medical work is cheap in Serbia, and other similar places.
>>>>>
>>>>>huh... In every western country I know of, except the US it works that way. In holland virtually everyone is insured and everyone can get medical care. And we are a rich western country with very modern medical care that also cost a lot. So could anyone explain me why such thing could not be accomplished in the US ??
>>>>>
>>>>>Walter,
>>>>
>>>>The word 'cheap' was related to different thing: why doctors spend more time with patients and why US hospitals have shortage of doctors.
>>>>In regard to your question: you probably know that it's not income related. Low or no income actually makes getting medical care the easiest in USA. Uninsured are mostly middle-income young people. They are healthy and accordingly have different spending priorities. If forced to buy/pay for medical insurance that would have to cut down on nightclubs, restaurants, fashion stores etc. One may argue that it's good but I think that government should not regulate human behavior to such an extent. So far the latter point is shared by most Americans, though it may change in near future.
>>>
>>>Now there's a generalization - and an incorrect one too - if I ever saw one!
>>>
>>>Low/no income people do NOT get medical care "easiest in the USA". Yes, they have to be seen if they arrive at an EMERG, but that's about where it ends.
>>>It is NOT night-clubbing young health people who do not have insurance. Sure, some uninsured are them, but there's millions of people who are not young, not old (medicare) and ARE working who do not ahave and cannot afford medical insurance.
>>>
>>>Medical bills are the US's #1 cause of bankruptcies. That alone should tell you something.
>>
>>Did you ever hear about Medicaid? It is a medical insurance, btw very good one, for people with low or no income. Obviously, it is very disappointing to lose all assets to medical bills, but after that a person will get medicaid. Actually, many people hide assets to qualify.
>
>Yes, I have heard of it. But the price of admission - being poor, possibly bankrupted by medical bills - is a very high price to pay. Not in cash money, but in just about every other aspect of life. Enough to lead some people to crime, drugs, suicide, etc.
>And people who hide assets to qualify don't, I'm sure, do so because it's so good. My guess is they do it because they are cheaters and cheapskates.

It could be so but that's imperfect world, and good intentions to improve it usually make great paving material to well-known destination.