As the debate about Health Care continues to heat up with the usual suspects from the Health Insurance industry beginning their campaign to convince Americans that Universal Health insurance is against their best interests, would decrease quality of care, limit options, increase wait time (as if those under the current system don`t have similar issues)and all the other usual lies they spout hoping to scare a large enough portion of the electorate to dash the hopes of us who want Health Care reform.
I would like to share with you MY experience under a single payer system which we have here in Japan. It is called National Health Care Service or for those of you who can read Japanese: 国民健康保険
Of course first I should tell you how it`s paid for before I go into the details of how it works.
Every month a certain percentage is deducted from my pay check which includes both my National Health Care and my National Pension. This amount is matched by my employer. While I don`t wish to discuss my finances in detail, I can tell you every month they deduct roughly 40,000 yen (around $385 dollars) by comparison my wife who is a stay at home mom pays roughly 7000 yen (around $65) for her coverage. All children under 15 are covered for free.
Once you are in the National Health Care system you are given a National Health card. It looks like this:
With this card you can go to ANY doctor, hospital, or clinic.
Now when you do need care you go to the provider of your choice and give them your card. After seeing the doctor and getting your treatment and/or prescription drugs you will have to pay a small co-pay. This is 30% of service cost 70% of which is paid by your National Health insurance.
Those are the dry facts, now I would like to get into my experiences in this system.
When I first came to Japan I was reluctant to use the system. I had come from America where generally I would suffer on my own before daring to go to the doctor, knowing how much the visit would end up costing me. This attitude followed me to Japan so it was 2 years before I actually went to a Japanese hospital. Here was my first experience:
Two days before Christmas 2 years ago I had developed a extremely sore throat and was worried so I decided to go to my local hospital in Chofu. When I arrived I had a severe fever and I could barely swallow. I walked into the hospital and was seen by a bi-lingual physician almost immediately (maybe a 5 minute wait after showing my National Health Care Card) who examined my throat, asked when it had began and took my temperature. He decided that a throat culture was necessary and it was sent to the lab. In the meantime he prescribed a painkiller and antibiotic and asked me to come back in 2 days. While the painkiller certainly helped my throat pain, it seemed that the antibiotic was having no effect. When I went back to the hospital they informed me that I had a severe case of Strep throat and I needed a much stronger antibiotic, which was prescribed immediately.
After 1 and 1/2 weeks of antibiotics I was healthy and able to enjoy the New Years celebration (unfortunately no alcohol)!
The total cost of this treatment including prescribed drugs and lab work?
Roughly 7000 yen ($65.00)
I was amazed! This was incredible affordable quality of care.
Since then I have been to the doctor for regular check-ups and never hesitate because of fear of cost.
Seems great right, so while I was planning this blog post I decided to interview my acupuncturist/chiropractor whom I see regularly to treat my back pain and tension which are remnant of an old sports injury (yes THAT is covered too. Once 30 minute visit costs me around $14).
I explained the current situation in the US and the current debate and asked if he wouldnt mind I ask some questions. He smilingly agreed.
This is ProgressiveTokyo and Hiroshi-san.
I explained how things normally work in the states, and asked as a provider how he felt about the Japanese system. He replied that it is very simple and no hassle. His secretary files his claims to the NHS and the NHS transfers the reimbursement. When I told him about doctors negotiating with HMOs and insurance companies he was shocked and said he always treats his patients with the care he feels is best and would never want to negotiate with a company telling him (the provider) what he should and should not treat. I replied "As it should be".
I now firmly believe that the reason the Insurance companies and HMOs are fighting this with their propaganda and lies is simple.
They know that once Americans see the amazing quality of care, service, lack of hassle for both patients and doctors is they will NEVER go back. And that scares them.
UPDATE from the comments:
Fellow Tokyo blogger and Fuji Mamma`s Obama phone call party enthusiast ;)YoyogiBear writes:
Good diary :-) I also use the Japanese system (1+ / 0-)
I use it as both a user & a business person and have written about it here a couple of years ago (including monthly premiums!):
Nat'l Health Care, a View From the Ground; What Americans Could Have Hotlist
I think it's a great, easy-to-use, transparent & affordable system and I would recommend it to anyone.
If anyone is interested, there are more stories from people who use Universal Health Care here:
http://healthcareforamerica.blogspot...
Please share it with your American friends! They need to know more than the lies that will be fed to them by the for-profit health care industry.
Update x2: I wanted to point out that the amount you pay (in my case it is high because of my current income)is based on a sliding scale. The less you make, the less you pay. I wanted to clear that up as it came up quite a bit in the comments.
Crossposted at Docudharma
I DID NOT PLACE THE SEIU BANNER AD BELOW. IT APPEARS AUTOMATICALLY AT THE END OF EVERY HEALTHCARE DIARY.