I cought a small portion of a PBS health care special. Some guy went traveling to many countries and checked out how they did heath care. Taiwan apparently decided to research first then build 'the perfect plan' but I missed how they did it. 
Sweden had some interesting changes to what was very much like America's...they made health care non profit, and insisted all health care companies take everyone. And insisted everyone get health care (govt of course pays for the poor) the premiums are 700 a month for a family..on the one hand not to cheap, but on the other cheaper than I was quoted for a family plan here.
Health care companies are allowed to make a profit on 'riders' or extras like fancier rooms at hospitals and stuff. Not sure how abuse of that works (does the hospital have empty rooms with a waiting list because most do not have the proper rider for the fancy room?)
I missed the other countries, but most of what I heard was a bit different than what our country was proposing last I checked (which wasn't recently so feel free to correct me)
The gist of what was said seemed to be that basic health care cannot be free market. just extras. I am not to sure I disagree..which is surprising for a libertarian to admit.
Health care in other countries
April 16th, 2008 at 01:20 pm
April 16th, 2008 at 05:41 pm 1208367676
When I was in school, we had a health check up day once a year at school. A group of doctors and nurses come to school and they check students weight, height, eye-sight, teeth, etc.... We had a little notebook that had all the record. When doctors find something (like cavity) he wrote a note in my notebook to let my parents know they need to take me to the dentist. This is for all schools in Japan, not only mine.
When I was working, we had a health check up day once a year at work. LOL (I know I'm repeating the same sentence to make my point.) Again, a group of doctors and nurses come to work-site and they check employees weight, height, eye-sight, teeth, etc. On top of that , people over 30 were sent to stomach screening, and people over 35 were sent to "human dock" for thorough health exam. Again, this is not just my previous employer. Most of companies in Japan do the same for their employees.
All of these exams mentioned above are provided at no cost to us. (I know someone is paying for it, but it wasn't my wallet they asked for the money.)
If you're self-employed, a local community often offer free or really cheap (like $10) health exam to anybody in the community.
So, as for preventative, I think their government does a good job. Maybe it's one of reasons they live for a long time.
April 16th, 2008 at 05:42 pm 1208367739
When I was in school, we had a health check up day once a year at school. A group of doctors and nurses come to school and they checked students weight, height, eye-sight, teeth, etc.... We had a little notebook that had all the record. When doctors find something (like cavity) he wrote a note in my notebook to let my parents know they need to take me to the dentist. This is for all schools in Japan, not only mine.
When I was working, we had a health check up day once a year at work. LOL (I know I'm repeating the same sentence to make my point.) Again, a group of doctors and nurses come to work-site and they checked employees' weight, height, eye-sight, teeth, etc. On top of that , people over 30 were sent to stomach screening, and people over 35 were sent to "human dock" for thorough health exam. Again, this is not just my previous employer. Most of companies in Japan do the same for their employees.
All of these exams mentioned above are provided at no cost to us. (I know someone is paying for it, but it wasn't my wallet they asked for the money.)
If you're self-employed, a local community often offer free or really cheap (like $10) health exam to anybody in the community.
So, as for preventative, I think their government does a good job. Maybe it's one of reasons they live for a long time.
April 16th, 2008 at 05:44 pm 1208367858
Will you delete my first post? (And this one.) I edited it and for some reason it was posted as a new post. Thanks, and sorry for the trouble.
April 16th, 2008 at 06:44 pm 1208371494
The biggest difference in their system I caught was that insurance companies are not allowed to make a profit. Sounded kind of like the way some public utilities work.