This is not an advocacy for privatization.

Some western european countries have a heath care system that is a partnership between the public and private sector.


France for instance everyone pays a 200 euro fee for the public health care insurance.

The public healthcare doesn't not reimburse 100% of medial costs. Most French citizens buy supplemental private insurance to cover the difference.

Last edited Sun Feb 17, 2013, 04:49 PM - Edit history (1)

profit from privatized healthcare.

That's why there is the pressure to institutionalize private healthcare here and make it look a little like single payer. And that is why there is the push in Europe to privatize healthcare.

Best healthcare I had was in France -- and it was single payer.

When I was there it was a public/private sector partnership.

You had to pay a 200 Euro fee for government insurance. This does not cover 100% of costs. To cover what the government buy private supplemental insurance (I was told that 80% of the population does this)

We had insurance from another European country where my husband worked. The payments come out of your check.

I've got a 2nd cousin, that lives in Paris (duel citizenship) most of the time. While she was here in the states, 2 years ago,
she was diagnosed with a very aggressive type of breast cancer. She carried TWO policies here in the
states but found out that they would pay for the breast removal...BUT, not for chemo/radiation. What the hell?

So, she had to return to Paris, where she got full and complete treatment...cancer free now for 2 years.

We, the United States, are a disgrace with our for-profit health system.

Didnt your cousin read the policies? This story seems sketchy.
When purchasing a policy you make choices and price obviously was a factor in your cousins decision. The more you pay the less risk you take. Seems your cousin went cheap.

The problem with our health system is two-fold: Big pharma/Big Medical have control of our govt. Our govt is a puppet. Reimbursements set by CMS(Medicare) have been manipulated by big pharma. Both are guilty though since big pharma would not get anywhere without some entity to manipulate the game. This was not the case before Medicare. Nixons drive to reduce costs via introduction of HMOs in the 70s was another huge problem. This is unfortunately a case of unintended consequences. The intentions were good but the results were/are disastrous. Both big pharma and government are culpable. Growing one only concentrates more power in the other. A sick cycle.