Some things are meant to be

This is how health care should work: I feel bad, I see a(ny) doctor, doctor fixes me, I pay doctor.

This is how health care works in America: I feel bad, I see my "primary care provider" or something like that, p.c.p. fixes me, I pay some pre-determined fraction of the price of the drugs I get, and maybe consultation, the rest is paid by my health care plan that's run by a corporation that handles insurance and pre-paid schemes, which either I or my employer pays a monthly premium to. There's lots of fine print in the middle of all of that. The thisamericanlife episode is highly recommended.



In the light of this whole health care debacle/debate going down in the US right about now, I'd like to mention that I don't think I have any health insurance, not the same kind of insurance as in the American context anyway. I think I might have one for accident or serious illness, but none for medical expenses.

Yesterday, I woke up with a little irritating feeling in my ear, and by the time I went to bed it was so uncomfortable I couldn't sleep. Today, I went to see a doctor, just a regular ol' general practitioner, one I had never seen before.

She was really sharp, well spoken and helpful. She answered all my questions and discussed all the different possibilities for what I could do. It turns out I have an outer ear infection and a fluid buildup in my middle ear.

I paid out of pocket: s$70, about 50 US dollars, for the consultation, a decongestant and an antibiotic. Sure, it would be more amazing if health care in Singapore was free, but I like how in this situation, I have the reassuring feedback where I feel like I am paying reasonably near-cost for the goods and services. Also, nobody can call this (excellent) system socialist either. Not that I'm against socialism, anyway.

Such a low fee! The clinic didn't feel cheap either, it had carpeted floors, glass doors, a leather bench, flowers. This was also the first time I've seen a doctor in a long time, and it was surprisingly pleasant.



I think this is simply a situation where there is efficient health care system which is efficient and competitive (as opposed to bureaucratic and monopolistic), and people face realistic costs and have systems that work.

Footnote: the USA has the highest health care cost in the world, and ranks 43/190 for infant mortality (behind Cuba and Slovenia), 47/190 for life expectancy, and is generally recognised as the lowest quality care among similar countries. In 2005, about half of bankruptcy filings were due to medical expenses.

Information was got from here and here.