I have lived permanently in both a country with (Canada) and without (US) socialized health care, along with temporarily in another socialized one (Finland). I cannot even fathom half the things you're arguing.
You don't have to believe it, nor understand it. But, it's all true
Overall: you must have seriously awesome insurance to get the amount of coverage you say you're getting for the price - are you relatively young, and have you been healthy your entire life? Because I have a couple friends with chronic diseases that would like to argue about the cost of insurance and how much it provides them.
Catastrophic insurance that is not only inexpensive per month, but has great negotiated rates. High deductible, but if something goes massively wrong, it is nothing in terms of the big picture. Young at heart, yes. Healthy...yes, I've taken care of myself and am adamant about my preventative care. My mom had terminal cancer and her insurance was fabulous. Can't speak for others.
1. You aren't a doctor. Why should they test things that aren't indicated on a whim? Yes, communicate your problems and what you think should be tested, but I see your "pro" as an awesome way of escalating costs ridiculously. I
shouldn't be able to waltz in and say "test me for x" when I have no strong indications of such. See also overall statement, as this is not typical of most insurances.
Brilliant observation, but I AM the only one who can actually feel what is going on. It's not a whim, nor did I say there weren't strong indications. I'm not going to ask for tests to be run just because...c'mon now. If I don't 'feel right' (and I know my body very well) and I want either bloodwork done, or go to a specialist even though my PCP can't find anything, then that is exactly what I want (and am going) to do. And, that is what I recently did and found something. Had I been in your fantasy land healthcare world, I would have been dismissed and not 'allowed' to go to a specialist. Instead, I was given the number, called and made an appointment. No government red tape
2. Preventative health saves money. In my experience, when you cross the border from the US to Canada the number of public service announcements and emphasis on preventative health skyrockets. When the public foots the bill, they prefer you take the time to get that sniffle checked out before it turns into full-blown, hospitalization-requiring infection.
That was not my experience at all. The socialized country where I lived did not believe in preventative health. And, tell me this, why are the US doctor's offices at the border filled with Canadians??? Because they are not able to get the procedures they want and need. And, I actually feel that Canada has one of the better socialized models. But, you still have an exorbitant VAT to pay for it...so it's not 'free'. My brother lives in Canada, btw
3. Sorry? In the US, I have restrictions for what doctors I can see, too. How is this any different?
Sorry, I don't. And, even when I had a PPO and had an in-network list of doctors, I could go to whomever I wanted if I were willing to pay a little extra. It's also different in the fact that I was restricted by distance from my residence as to what doctor I could see in the socialized system. Pretty sure that is not what you are referring to...most restrictions are tied to the physicians that are enrolled in your provider's coverage. No? And, typically there are plenty of choices
4. Not sure of the specific situation you're complaining about... but once again, you either have quite affordable insurance or the cost you're stating is rather obscene. In any case, this is obviously a specific problem with the system you utilized, not socialized healthcare in general.
No, it's not either/or. I don't know what you consider affordable, but yes, I consider it very affordable and a great plan. And yes, the cost was obscene for what I described. They were not mutually exclusive events.
5. I don't like physicians walking around like zombies because they've spent the last X years of their lives watching extraneous paperwork pile up in cliffs around them, can't provide best practice treatment to patients because they know they'll bankrupt them (even for insured people!) and are having to work intensively with mainly profit-driven insurance companies.
Haven't experienced that. My physician charged me 40 bucks (was uninsured at the time) for the exact same thing I was going to be charged 500 GBP in the UK for.....filling out a form for a vet school physical. Yes, true story
Also - by what measure does the US have the best healthcare in the world? We have some of the best healthcare centers, yes. Our doctors are brilliant. But when a significant chunk of the population can't access that care due to cost (or other factors!), I sincerely question your assertion. It also doesn't jibe with the WHO rankings or any others I know of.
You can question all you like, but anyone here can walk into an emergency room and get treated without healthcare.
Not going to look it up/go intensely into taxes because I need to get back to studying biochem, but we either spend the most or close to the most per capita on healthcare around the world. Damn right I would prefer we just take it out of my weekly grocery bill.
Obviously you are one that feels that it's more 'free' that way. Whether you take it out of your grocery bill or raise taxes, you are still paying for it. All you are telling me is that you don't know how to budget very well