Arguing the benefits of socialized health care

“So what do I owe you?” I asked, thankful they had managed to stitch me up quick enough so that I might be able to head back out to enjoy the countryside of Scotland.

“Um, what?” She responded, genuinely quizzically with a lilt in her voice intrinsic only to the Scottish accent.

“You know, for the work you did. How much does it cost?”

“Oh, you’re a Yank. Nothing, love, we have a health care system here in Scotland,” she choked out through her laughter.

“OK. Um, thanks then.”

I wandered off a touch confused and very relieved. I had imagined that the lack of paperwork on my entry was an indication I would be filling out forms for the rest of my trip and that as a citizen of a foreign land I would be taken advantage of and hit with some massive bills. I wasn’t, though, and as I emerged back into the grey day, I was thankful the people of Scotland had forged such a humane health care system.

I am just going to say it. I am prepared for the inevitable outcome, the shaking of fists from people who recognize me from the grainy Frontiersman picture, the labeling that will henceforth emerge, the online comments on the article that will remind me that if I don’t love America I should once again leave it.

Socialized health systems are much, much better than the health system we have in the United States.

I am a clumsy man. For years I have been honing new and comical ways to hurt myself, and I really do think I am gifted on this front. Due to this, I have had the pleasure of trying out the health systems of a number of countries, which include Mexico, Luxembourg, France, Slovenia, Scotland, England (just try to tell a Scot that England and Scotland are the same country, I dare you) and Canada. All of the aforementioned systems would fall under the label of “socialized medicine” — in other words, the government organizes and pays for the system, much like our government organizes and pays for education, policing and the military. While many of these systems I am sure are far from perfect, I can honestly say I would rather be sick in each of those countries before the United States.

This is not ideological, mind you. I really don’t care how the system is labeled or if an insurance company pays or the government or whatever. I care about the quality of care, what it costs, how quickly they can move you through and how confused I am with the ensuing paperwork.

Because of the fact that for most of my adult life I have managed to find jobs that have insurance coverage, my comparison rests in this reality, alongside around 55 percent of all Americans. I am sure the good people who work in careers that don’t provide coverage have a different perspective, but I will only point out the obvious: we have a whole load of working people in this country without health insurance. That is absurd and wrong, and I would expect most of us could agree on this. From there, however, I think the discussion tends to fall apart and the ideologists start acting goofy and inventing things like death panels and stomping their feet. It would be a good funny show, if it weren’t for the fact that a well-functioning health care system for some is the difference between life and death, and bankruptcy and solvency.

For me, the comparison is easy. I have lived in both systems — four years in Luxembourg meant that I have visited doctors and dentists, received MRIs, taken prescriptions and in general have been poked and prodded thoroughly. And, of course, there are no death panels, you are free to choose your doctor, and as long as the treatment is necessary, it is free. There are no co-pays, deductibles, preexisting conditions or huge waits (in fact, in general I wait much, much longer for services in the U.S. than I did in Luxembourg). If you are a working person in Luxembourg, you are covered. The paperwork is minimal and the people for the most part are friendly. No one goes bankrupt from being sick, and there are no stories about people being turned away from hospitals because they have no coverage. By each of my measures this socialized system performs remarkably well; from my perspective, undoubtedly better than the United States’ system.

And the cost? Surely these nutty socialists must pay a ridiculous amount for this system. As it turns out, the United States spends about $3,150 more every year for each of its citizens than Luxembourg does.

Recently, Governor Parnell has been seen atop a soap box blasting the Affordable Care Act. Republicans in Congress are threatening to shut down our government unless this act is defunded. I truly don’t know what to expect with Obamacare. It seems much more complicated and wasteful than a socialized system, but it might be an improvement over what we have now. Time will tell. I just wish everyone in the United States could see what I have seen. I truly believe that if people knew the benefits other citizens enjoy, the debate would be over and we could move on. So my challenge to you, Governor Parnell, is this: if you do love our country, then please leave it and come back with some better ideas.

Pete LaFrance grew up in Palmer and moved back to th e area after 18 years living abroad.