Why is insurance so high in countries with "free&am

[Anonymous]

Answer me this... Why is it that countries with FREE health care have these insane insurance rates? I mean the majority of the cost of an accident is for medical expenses right? So, if ALL the healthcare is FREE to EVERYONE, then what exactly ARE you paying all that money for?

Can anyone answer this?

[davipu]

it pays for the bandwith so left wing libtards can fight with the right wing neo-cons about stupid poo that is completely unrelated to the board.

[dyran]

I just got my insurance stuff and health care only covers so much, in most cases it doesn't cover loss of pay, major rehabilitation or major stuff like that, so they'll fix you but not completely in some cases...

[conflicttheorist]

Probably keeps everyone from driving like an a$$hole because they don't have to pay for other people's damages.

[pantablo]

what countries are you talking about that has free healthcare and expensive insurance?

and also keep in mind insurance covers damage to property also...

[Cal Price]

UK has healthcare that is "Free at the point of delivery", nothing is free is it?
Vehicle insurance for third-party liability is compulsory and you can isure fire-theft-fully comprehensive if you want too, If you have taken a loan for the vehicle the lender may require you to take up certain insurance obligations. Most insurance payouts are simple vehicle damage but although an "Ambulance-Chasing" legal system encourages everyone and their uncle to sue for split hairs I don't believe that medical costs are a large factor although "Compensation culture" may become one in the future.

[Anonymous]

From the posts I've read it seems that some of the countries that have "free" healthcare also have very high insurance rates.  I'm wondering if they've just "transferred" health insurance into other insurance products.  

I guess the better question would be "what country are you from, do you have "free" healthcare, and what do you pay in insurance."

I'll start:

U.S., healthcare not free except emergency care, About $250 a year for liability.  Full coverage would be about $350 a year.

Oh, and Cal, it's the "lottery syndrome", everyone wants to get rich quick and the lawyers are happy to help you try for their 1/3.  Everything is SOMEONES fault, and they DESERVE to pay through the nose.  There are no accidents, only degrees of fault.  Sad really.

[indestructibleman]

Oh, and Cal, it's the "lottery syndrome", everyone wants to get rich quick and the lawyers are happy to help you try for their 1/3.  Everything is SOMEONES fault, and they DESERVE to pay through the nose.  There are no accidents, only degrees of fault.  Sad really.

on a tangent, i was watching a documentary on Hong Kong stuntmen, and they showed a guy who's wire had broken and he had fallen 30 feet onto rocks.  he survived, but was in rehabilitation for years.
anyway, his comment on  the incident was, "it was an accident.  it's nobody's fault."  i couldn't help but think, boy, you can sure tell he's not an American.

cheers,
will

[Ed_in_Az]

 

[Cal Price]

[Anonymous]

Cal,

What the hell does this mean?  Please translate...

"A teenager with a fireblade living in a dodgy estate would pay a fortune."

Does it mean a young kid with a crotch rocket living in the ghetto pays out the wazoo?

In the U.S. we do have a system not unlike yours.  If you're poor and can't afford insurance you just go to the emergency room and anything that MUST be done will be taken care of at taxpayer expense.

[Blueknyt]

Funny, even emergency room stuff costs, they with chase you for years to get it too. know plenty of folks without cash,assets or insurence.  doesnt stop collection agencies from attempting to collect, its not free, they just cant refuse to treat you if its life threatening, even then, they dont have to repair you, just stablise you  then can turn you loose.

[indestructibleman]

even then, they dont have to repair you, just stablise you  then can turn you loose.

this seems to be a recurring theme in American society.  life is important.  quality of life is not.

cheers,
will

[Michael]

Let me add to the weight of replies sinking your argument.

Here in AUS, our health care is free to the comsumer.  (As Cal pointed out, somebody somewhere has paid for it)  You get what you need, regardless of your ability to pay.  And that's from the ER to rehab and all stops in between.  Usually there will be some form of compulsory third-party personal injury insurance as part of your registration fee, so if you are injured by a licenced driver in a registered vehicle, the hospital can recoup some of the costs from the insurer.  Ambulance services differ between states.  Here in Tasmania, it's free.  In most others, you can pay a yearly fee to be covered for ambulance services.  The fee is a lot less than the cost of even one ambulance journey.
As far as insurance goes, it's the same the world over.  You pay depending on the risk the insurance company perceives you to be.  I pay AUD$220/year for full, comprehensive, cover all my damage insurance, which includes up to $5,000,000 liability for damage to others.
So how much was yours again?

[Cal Price]

Joe, your translation is 100%

Our NHS (National health Service) is cradle-to-grave and covers pretty much everything from you GP to specialist/consultant or whatever. Depending on where you live and what the problem is "waiting lists" can be pretty long but the real nasty stuff is usually handled fairly quickly.