Public Health System in New Zealand

[Kiwi cop]

I see a bit online about a movement for the U.S. to move to a public health system.

This is the reality of such a thing.

In November last year Karen was diagnosed with a cataract in her left eye. She has been losing vision for a few years, after a bout of shingles in that eye.

In February she was seen by a specialist and referred for publicly funded surgery. She was placed on a waiting list and told she would be seen within 6 months. She has heard nothing since.

In a few weeks she will go back to the optometrist who started the whole process for a follow-up appointment.

I have been researching the costs of going private, as Karen is not included on my work provided health plan. According to DuckDuckGo, the cost of cataract surgery in Kiwiland is around NZ$5,000/US$3,000 per eye.

The other night I told Karen that if we did not hear back from the health system by the end of January, I was going to take her to a private provider. The deterioration in her eye is starting to hold her back. She no longer drives and has trouble reading the screen on a 40" Tv across the room.

And that is the reality of public health.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I can't "Like" this, because I don't like what's happening to you! You're on my prayer list.

Ivan

 

[Heinz]

Also added to my prayer list. Best wishes

 

[Beemerguy53]

Kiwi Cop, thanks for yet another reminder of the deficiencies of government-run health care. So many Americans think that what's happened in other countries can't or won't happen here, that we can't make the same mistakes other nations do.

Good luck to you and Karen...

 

[ladder13]

Best wishes Kiwi.

 

[SMSgt]

But, but, but everyone gets health care! If you live long enough to get an appointment.

 

[mchom]

Thanks for sharing. I do hope you’re able to navigate the system there to a good outcome.

 

[Onomea]

Kiwi, my very best wishes for Karen's health.

My experience with national health care in Japan, where I lived for decades and had at least five hospital stays including chemo and radiation treatment for Stage IV cancer, is quite different from yours, and in a positive way. I contrast it with our health system in the US, and think we had better health care in Japan.

Of course, my wife and I are now on Medicare, due to being over 65 and in the US, and that is national healthcare for seniors. Still, Medicare takes place within the US system of healthcare which we find a lot more complicated to navigate, and less caring for patients, than Japan's national healthcare.

 

[Krogen]

A buddy in Canada has experienced much the same as you, Kiwi cop. He also says the older you get, the more the system is set to let you die with declining care. This is from experiences with his and friends' parents. He took on the role of patient advocate and made a pain of himself to get care for the old folks. If he hadn't done so, he feels the system would just let them wither and die.

 

[LVSteve]

Unless you are prepared to travel out of state AND your insurance will cover it, there are procedures with similar delays in Vegas. Don't be fooled by the brightly lit tall buildings, this city is way short on doctors and facilities.