Healthcare in Italy 🇮🇹 vs USA 🇺🇸

[@StellaMariaGiulia]

Waiting lists and medical access can vary from region to region, that been said I'll always be grateful to live in a country that prioritise saving people rather than making a profit.

[@JUGULUS-RUHUL]

Also, you can still access to "sped up" medical services just by paying what, 100€ or 200€? Still not those sky high prices like in N America. I remember going to San Giuseppe hospital, next to San Vittore here in Milan, I had to get a number of blood tests, more than a dozen if my memory doesn't betray me, and I didn't wanna wait so I payed only 129€ for all those tests. It was incredibly quick and I only had to go back there to hand them the urine sample. Super quick, the personnel was super kind and professional and helpful, and the prices were, well, a bit too expensive, but definitely lower than US standards

[@IoDavide1]

Waiting lists are deliberately caused by lobbies that are trying to transform the Italian healthcare system into a healthcare system like the American one

[@Salvinigeta]

@@JUGULUS-RUHULexactly screening tests have really long waiting list since you have 0 priority, but if you want to get the things done quickly, you can just go private for a couple hundreds euros

[@ciristo501]

​@@JUGULUS-RUHUL ricordiamoci sempre che lo paghiamo con le tasse piu elevate d'Europa, il sistema migliore è quello tedesco, privato, ma con assicurazione calmierata e garantita dallo stato...ma un americano se lo deve pagare, a voi sembra giusto che un americano normale o benestate, paghi poche tasse nel suo paese e qui gli regaliamo le cure?

[@Roberto-w1n4f]

​@@ciristo501 anche Giappone e Svizzera è privato, e sono super efficienti, il problema è il modello Usa , non i privati

[@sonosoloio]

I am Italian and 4 years ago I was diagnosed with leukemia and in these years I have had a decline in health with the need, among other things, of a cardiac surgery and much more that has led me to almost spend more time in the hospital than at home. before this and still in all this time I have always paid taxes for public health without complaining because it is not a political issue, like the "socialist" or worse "communist" nonsense that I have heard in some videos from US citizens, but it is one of the fundamental rights of the human being, to which everyone, even those without money, have the right to access. a nation that lets its citizens languish or even die from hunger or disease, has no right to declare itself civilized.

[@mavrospanayiotis]

Same for me... i have an health issue and in US i would be unable to afford my medicines and unable to work, living on a disability pension instead of working for a decent wage.

[@marinellap]

@@sonosoloio 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@play2it]

Before anything: best wishes for your health! (No matter political ideologies, fanta-races, religion, whatever/whocares!) You are totally spot on about univ. healthcare (etc) to be paramount to declare a society as "civilized".

[@BCMZ]

È sì, tu che fai parte di una comunità hai diritto d'essere aiuto nel momento del bisogno....ma chi non è parte della comunità anche no.

[@ciristo501]

Non condivido quando dici di non lamentarsi delle tasse, altri paesi europei riescono a fornire una assistenza uguale o superiore con una pressione fiscale più bassa, il sistema migliore è quello tedesco, privato, ma con assicurazione gestita dallo stato... non è privato vs pubblico, negli USA il sistema è marcio oltre a essere ormai un oligopolio

[@reaperluke3518]

Also in Italy we have a parallel private healthcare system in addition to the public one, so you can actually choose to speed things up and pay, or wait longer and use the tax-funded healthcare system. And no, unlike what 'muricans think, this isn't socialism.

[@barbaramcsloy8476]

I live in Canada. In 2020 I had a hip replacement. I arrived in the morning, had the operation in around 11am, was back home that evening. Total cost? $0.00. My aunt broke her femur in italy (she lives there) and had the operation to fix the leg. 40 days mandatory rehabilitation in recovery clinic (with pool). Total cost? € 0.00.

[@TheRudespo]

C.mon the same day? i do not believe that.

[@lbhh]

And the nice thing is that rich or poor people, italians or foreigners, and ilegal inmigrants, receive the exact same attention, healthcare, exams , surgeries and therapies. The laws say nobody can make differences because of their social, or economic, status, or because of citizenship, gender or religion.

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

Canada is not USA, the country is very cold but their hearts is very warm ❤🇨🇦

[@ColdBluex]

One of the biggest challange in our Italian NHS is politicians constantly defunding it, together with the school system, to push money elsewhere while they pocket plentiful for themselves and, especially the right-wing side, to push the private "US-model" one. That's why more and more doctors are allowed to do paid visits in hospitals, where, curious enough, the paying ones have almost no waiting lists. Moreover, waiting lists are longer because small hospitals have been closed more and more during the years, forcing bigger hospital to overwork, especially through a lack of healthcare staff. But, as we see, it's often a political problem not a system problem. The socialized/"free" healthcare can work and can work well: paying higher taxes is like paying an insurance, you pay to be sure that if something bad happens to you or your beloved ones, they can access the best care they can find. The difference? With socialized healthcare NO ONE can say NO to you. You can surely find the butcher, you can face a bad practice case, because people aren't perfect and what else, but there's no "death panel" saying "no" because you're already sick or they deem you already dead. They will treat you whoever you are: sick, very sick, already sick, disabled, old, very old. I've seen transplants or chemos given to 80yrs old people. And no, you won't go bankrupt. And the idea that we have old technologies and that's why it's better to pay for expensive insurances, it's truly false: in Italy we have avant-guarde hospitals and health centers with the most recent technologies and, despite how little it's given to fund medical research, they're still able to discover new things and treatments. So, no, we're not behind others :)

[@gyrofrank]

True. Maybe it's because Italians like me are ashamed to say it, but if there are others in this comments section I'll join in as well. Fortunately, I have not had any particular problems with health or waiting lists to date, but it is not at all uncommon for citizens, especially from southern Italy, to experience waiting times of months if not even 1/2 years for urgent exams or even surgeries. We have almost daily television broadcasts about these cases that expose the problem of waiting lists that even the government does not seem to be able to effectively curb.

[@Hugo77-uo9nw]

Se tutti pagassero le tasse,abbiamo un evasione fiscale monster,forse non ci sarebbero tagli

[@ColdBluex]

@gyrofrank Ashamed, why? Anyway, if I got right what you way, it's still part of the problem. If doctors are truly so overbooked they wouldn't any free spot in their "libera professione" lists. Obviously I talk about NHS doctors that do also "libera professione", not the fully private ones (this is another matter). Defunding and emigrations of young health staff worsen the waiting lists, but I bet that if someone would forbid NHS doctors to take appointments in libera professione, something would change, because they wouldn't earn nothing more than their usual profession and, I hope, they would protest trying to have higher wages. Instead, in this way, they just try to push the patient on their libera professione list: this allow the government to keep investments and budgets low (and save money for other things) and at the same time force the patient to afford the visit with no other benefit than cut the waiting time. I mean, when it come to health people are forced to spend money not to die, right? US-style. Win-Win for politicians. And problem of Italians are that we go on socials to lament what it's not right, not protesting on the streets. In this, our fellow French neighbors are far better: if you try to do things they don't like on the social level, they will literally cover your palace in sh!t. People forget how much power they have when it comes to protest. Unfortunately, we Italians as long as our green little garden stays green, all the environment around can even burn down to ashes. Then, when fire reaches it, we're the first to scream how things doesn't work and how Italy is awful. If you want things to work, you have to worry about them even when you're not involved directly, even when you don't need them :) It's a mechanism, all the cogs needs to work at all times, not only when a specific person need them.

[@ColdBluex]

@Hugo77-uo9nw Anche, ma difficile combattere l'evasione quando i grandi evasori sono proprio quelli che dovrebbero ostacolarla, l'evasione, O loro stretti amici, probabilmente in egual misura. Come diceva mio nonno "i mangia a ufo non fanno cane mangia cane". E considerato come i grandi facoltosi, quasi sempre, basano una quota sensibile del loro accumulare ricchezze sull'evadere le tasse e sullo sfruttamento dei loro lavoratori, il muro che si crea tra politici e grossi imprenditori è difficile da buttar giu. E purtroppo, l'italiano medio, soprattutto se dell'età dei baby boomer, è più disposto a giustificarli che a condannarli/osteggiarli all'urlo di "sono quelli che ti danno il lavoro, dovresti ringraziarli" -> se è gente che tratta chi li fa guadagnare come pezze da piedi e pur di comprarsi le Lamborghini pagano fior di quattrini per conti off-shore e finte società con cui evadere, anche no, grazie. XD Questo senza considerare come certe aree politiche siano anni che spingono per il modello statunitense, come vige in alcune parti della Lombardia, tra cui Brescia (città da cui arriva la mia compagna) dove ho scoperto che le assicurazioni sanitarie sono assai più diffuse perchè il privato impera. Quando sento parlare di "modello lombardo" mi vengono i brividi.

[@gyrofrank]

@@ColdBluex "ashamed" in the sense that it is desirable to be able to speak only well of one's country, unfortunately this is not always the case.

[@GTR34x]

I'm italian and for all the times my mom went to the hospital in her life, my family would probably be homeless if we lived in the usa

[@TheMarcodiator]

I think that Italy might be the only country with a "right to health" article in our constitution: Art. 32 The Republic safeguards health as a fundamental right of the individual and as a collective interest, and guarantees free medical care to the indigent. No one may be obliged to undergo any health treatment except under the provisions of the law. The law may not under any circumstances violate the limits imposed by respect for the human person

[@QueryState]

Ciao, I'm Italian. This comment is not entirely accurate. Several countries have the right to health in their constitutions. Here are some examples: Portugal: Article 64 guarantees the right to health protection Spain: Article 43 recognizes the right to health protection France: the preamble to the 1946 Constitution (which is an integral part of the current constitution) guarantees health protection Brazil: Article 196 defines health as everyone's right and the State's duty South Africa: Section 27 establishes the right of access to healthcare services Mexico: Article 4 guarantees the right to health protection What makes Article 32 of the Italian Constitution special is not its uniqueness in including the right to health (which as we can see is present in many constitutions), but rather: - Its comprehensiveness in covering both individual and collective aspects - The explicit reference to free healthcare for the indigent - Protection against mandatory medical treatments not provided by law - The reference to respect for human dignity as an inviolable limit So while Italy certainly has one of the most complete and protective formulations, it's not the only country to have constitutionalized the right to health.

[@TheMarcodiator]

@@QueryState I stand corrected!

[@QueryState]

@@TheMarcodiator Comunque ancora, l'art.32 è fantastico e sono grato di averlo nella nostra costituzione.

[@TheMarcodiator]

@@QueryState esattamente.

[@rosarioscapolatiello8968]

Sono italiano e quest' anno hanno diagnosticato un tumore al seno a mia moglie a marzo ed è stata operata a fine maggio. In questi 3 mesi ho speso circa 600 euro tra Ticket, autostrada e gasolio. Non siamo diventati dei senzatetto come sarebbe accaduto negli Usa. Meditate popolo americano, meditate

[@DaniGiac]

Il sistema italiano è uno dei migliori al mondo, eppure coloro che non sanno, che non conoscono come funziona la sanità nel resto del mondo lo disprezzano,proprio perché non comprendono quanto siamo fortunati.

[@petrektek1385]

Meditiamo noi, che piano piano ci stanno trasformando in un sistema privatizzato come quello americano!

[@lbhh]

@@DaniGiac questo è tipico. Mentre altri, per esempio i franciesi sono molto orgogliosi e si sentono migliori di tutti anche se non lo sono, gli italiani parlate sempre male del proprio paese. Alcune persone dovrebbero viaggiare un po' di più o informarsi su cosa succede all'estero prima di parlare. Purtroppo, leggendo la stampa e i social media vedo che quando c'è qualcuno que parla male o scrive criticando questo paese, di solito si tratta di un italiano.

[@andreanecchi5930]

Two years ago I had a venous thrombosis in my left leg, I was in the hospital for 25 days plus another 14 days when a vein opened on the same leg almost bleeding to death, I live in Piedmont in Novara, I found exceptional doctors and nurses, everyone was kind and helpful, Then the dieticians from the same hospital gave me a really good diet, I weighed 111.7 kg and now I weigh 73 kg, I like our healthcare system

[@sarahgirard1405]

This is my experience but in reverse. I lived in the states for 6 years and it was some of the worst years of my life. And I had several brain surgeries when I was a child in Germany… so it wasn’t all honkey dory before… but the amount off stress and despair created by the health system and everything else is so immense. I still am in shock how people can live like this.😢

[@lisatowan4536]

Healthcare in the U.S. is so expensive. As a cancer patient, I am supposed to pay 20% of the costs of my bi-weekly chemo sessions and 33% of my expensive shots. I was fortunate to get financial assistance from the medical center that I go to. Otherwise, I couldn't afford to continue treatment. I am about to have my fifth surgery and have had 66 rounds of chemo so far, along with hot chemo in my abdomen during one of my surgeries. The cost over the past six years has been in the millions. Of course, much of that was covered, but my portion has still added up, especially since I'm only receiving money from permanent disablity. Healthcare needs an overhaul.

[@zingapore4007]

I am sorry to read that. Hope you can be cancer free very soon! 🫂

[@QueryState]

Much love and a big hug from Italy, Lisa.

[@lisatowan4536]

Thank you both

[@vittoriopitorri701]

Pensa in Russia andrà in produzione il vaccino anti cancro dal 2025 così ho letto in dei articoli ed è gratuito per chi lo vuole.🇮🇹buona fortuna💪

[@TheMoqueca]

I would not change our italian NHS with the USA for any reason whatsoever. We have ate issues of course, very well described in the video, and you don't find the same standard in any hospital. As you have said, the peace of mind is priceless.

[@ManubibiWalsh]

I’m from northern Italy, and twice I was admitted for neurological issues. The first time was in 2009 which was the worse issue I had, where I basically spent a month throwing up (even throwing up bile) every day and couldn’t keep any food down. Went to the ER and they sent me to the best neurosurgery ward in Italy (which happened to be close by) as an emergency 3:55 and I spent 3 months there. They ran tests on me every day including blood tests, they ran a whole bunch of MRI scans and did 2 surgeries on top of treating my brain infection. The food was good too, for the standards of hospital food. In the end i got a bill of €0. Since then I’ve been doing MRI scans to keep an eye on the situation and every time the ticket is like, below 50 euros. Also yes, the queues are long and frustrating and I’ll agree with that, but honestly? I’m fairly happy with the healthcare I’ve received so far. And everybody should get healthcare that is affordable or even free. Also, paying for healthcare with your taxes is proven to be way less of an expense than the prices I have heard of from people who needed treatment in the USA. It’s insane, and I’m so very sorry for the people who have to suffer under that draconian system. I hope things change soon for American people. Hold on tight, keep fighting, and also Luigi did nothing wrong compared to the healthcare coverage companies or whatever they are called. Unity for the working class is the only way forward.

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

Obamacare was a good starting point but Americans didn’t liked it, go to understand the reasons 😅

[@IsabelleCastle]

I live in Portugal and I had to go to emergency which turns out I had gallbladder stones. The emergency room visit was 6 euros. The sonogram visit to verify the stones: free. Surgery to remove gallbladder: free. So happy I don't live in the USA anymore. This and quality of life is top tier. 10/10

[@kyle11235]

All Europe countries are great. 🇮🇹🤝🇵🇹

[@GorgieClarissa]

i HATE how messed up the american healthcare system is..... I HATE IT

[@dod2304]

Particularly with prescription drugs. But, you're right, all other care too. It's a catch 22. My friend who had totally messed up vertebrae in her neck and immense pain: surgery denied because she wasn't "bad enough". It got worse, tried to get it approved again. "It's too bad for surgery". I know someone who was on a brand new med for his asbestos caused lung damage. It was helping. Not cured, not great but keeping him breathing. His insurance took the med OFF their covered list. It was in the $1000's and they couldn't afford it. Before they could even appeal, he died 10 days later.

[@MariaTeresa-b7w]

So sorry for your friend..in Italy they would have operated on him for free, he would have had to pay only the cost of the visit and the clinical tests before the operation, less than 80, 100 dollars@dod2304

[@marinellap]

You're right. There's no perfect system. If your conditions are not severe you'll have to wait long in the Er. But I'm so proud to live in a country, Italy and a continent, Europe where health assistance is a RIGHT. I had a bad problem years ago. I was hospitalised for 2 and a half months, went to physical rehab 3 times, got surgery procedures and I didn't spend a euro!

[@Tulkash01]

If your conditions are severe you are not going to wait long in ER unless a doctor makes a very serious bad call. The codes are there for this reason: "white" means you have basically nothing so the staff will prioritize those in more urgent need of care than you are, "yellow" means you have some kind of condition but nothing that threatens your life. "Red" means you are very serious and you might die, so you get priority treatment... and "black" means you are dead. The reason you might have to wait hours is your case has been given a "white code" and the other people with you have more serious conditions than you do. You'll basically get treated when all of those people have been dealt with.

[@marinellap]

@Tulkash01 that's exactly what I was saying, I perfectly know what codes are for!

[@marinellap]

Ok, we're saying the same thing

[@Netdweller]

Don't forget that in Italy there are private hospitals that are like a 5 star hotel

[@yaowsers77]

This is why I can never quit my job. I work for a hospital system. I had a health scare last year around this time. It was my first time having to spend the night in a hospital. I'm completely fine but I was worried about the bill. It was zero. I went to a hospital in my system, my doctor follow-ups had small copays but were also in my hospital system. I was so relieved but at the same time I realized I could never quit. My prescriptions are super low. I understand why I have co-workers in their 70s.

[@josegmnz6376]

there are still private doctors and hospitals in Europe, it's a shame that we sometimes have to use them because of the long waiting times but even the private ones are 1/4 of the cheapest alternative in the US because they aren't allowed to profit as much and they don't control the market cause the public sector offers the service for free

[@Tulkash01]

In Italy those private hospitals are still paid with taxpayer money (and this is actually causing the public system to get progressively worse because the funds that go to private healthcare don't go into public hospitals)

[@10.11stars]

Tbh long queues are not a matter of public or private health care. Queues for non-emergency cases (well, sometimes they greatly underestimate issues so they 'white code' people as happened to Kacie) are a thing because there are less and less doctors willing to work in certain fields in public hospitals, and that is because they are paid very little for the job they do. Wages have not grown in Italy, or they've actually decreased, in the past thirty years, while all around Europe they have been growing. And at the same time, the cost of life has been skyrocketing. Ten doctors leave the Italian NHS every day and I honestly can't blame them: between low wages and risking to be assaulted by shitty people on the near daily basis, work conditions are not something I would put up with. Glad to hear everything was okay in the end ♡

[@Netdweller]

I live in southern Italy, and yes, wages have been getting lower since forever and the taxes are only going up. Northern italians complain that we don't pay all the taxes, but how are we supposed to pay if we're poor? Hell in Naples there are jobs that will hire you for 600€/month (usually they're illegal), and that isn't enough even to pay the rent.

[@Netdweller]

Also the medical staff gets assaulted because there are people that get hired thanks to nepotism, not because of their skills. I don't know if this is true only for the south or everywhere else in Italy, but you will often find personnel that clearly doesn't know what to do.

[@alemassa6632]

"Shitty people" mi è è piaciuto.

[@Salvinigeta]

@@Netdwellerio vivo al confine con la Svizzera e onestamente da persona del nord non mi lamento perché non pagate le tasse, ma perché tutto quello che paghiamo allo Stato sembra scomparire, io onestamente a livello di servizi ho poco da lamentarmi anche se vedendo i nostri vicini viene da piangere a fare il confronto, ma al sud posso solo immaginare che immensa frustrazione sia, quel 50/60% che paga le tasse, riceve in cambio assolutamente nulla a livello di servizi

[@mavrospanayiotis]

@@Salvinigeta anche io settentrionale ma davvero non mi permetto di dire che i meridionali non pagano le tasse. Chiaramente i fondi destinati al Sud sono male indirizzati e favoriscono speculazioni assurde, ma questa non è una scelta dei concittadini: lavoro con meridionali e molti sono devotissimi lavoratori, come molti sono dei pigroni quanto molti altri settentrionali. Bisogna protestare per questa situazione, più lavoro al Sud significa un miglior mercato e crescita anche per il Nord.

[@Pomoscorzo]

I have often been told that I couldn't possibly be happy in Italy since the country is allegedly "so poor". As you say, peace of mind is priceless. I have never been rich, but well-to-do is enough. Who needs the alleged endless opportunity in the US to become "rich" when things might go horribly wrong and you will be ruined before you can so much as dream about being rich...

[@elleanna5869]

Italy is in G7 ( first 7 economies in the world) since decades. Are you serious they told you it's "poor"?

[@Pomoscorzo]

@elleanna5869 I am serious. Unfortunately.

[@clelia7820]

The Italian economy is no longer as brilliant as it once was, but we certainly don't have thousands and thousands of people forced to live on the streets, without hope and without any kind of help. And we are still the seventh economic power in the world. What I do know is that I certainly couldn't live in a country so... er... "unaware" of the rest of the world.

[@extremathule982]

Italy's desire for poverty is the unfulfilled dream of many nations, so to speak, "allied". First of all the English, truly specialized in telling the most absurd bullshit about Italy. And their continuity is...."admirable"... ..........our lovely "allies"😒😒

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

@@Pomoscorzo We know that people don’t study enough in USA but this is too much to hear 😅

[@Romalvx]

Thank you for your very real, unflattering description of what healthcare is. The Italian national sport is actually complaining, and although it is very true that there are mistakes, painstakingly long waiting time as you said, that last liberatory word you said “priceless” is true, true, true. Italians, remember what we are at the risk of losing, for a wrong vote.

[@Musettube]

Sadly once the system was much better, our national debt and politicians ineptitude have make it just a memory of what it was when I was a baby.

[@rscaht]

​@@Musettubeonly politicians ? Italians spent 160 billions in gambling, that is more the cost of the public health system ! Let's be serius !

[@Ektor-yj4pu]

There's also Japan that has a health care system based on private insurances but where people don't go bankrupt if they get sick or injured.

[@kyle11235]

The same Switzerland and China. USA is the only private healthcare in the World who bankrupts his patients.

[@mavrospanayiotis]

The incredible thing is that Italy pays about 8% of gdp while US is a 17%. It means that Italy pays taxes but much less than US citizens.

[@caterinarosamarino242]

❤❤❤Condivido: la sicurezza di poter essere sempre curato senza spendere cifre folli, non ha prezzo! Anzi aggiungo che il sistema sanitario di base andrebbe potenziato e ottimizzato, e non parcellizzato, privatizzato, regionalizzato! La vita e la salute sono i principali diritti di ogni persona e non possono essere rinviati ai mezzi economici personali. Anche i meno abbienti hanno diritto alle migliori cure, e le tasse che sì pagano per la sanità sono tasse benedette. Inoltre il sanitario nella struttura pubblica offre i trattamenti più indicati e tratta il paziente da cittadino che ha pagato le tasse e ha diritti. Invece nel sistema privato il paziente è solo un cliente da spennare, proponendo i servizi più cari anche se non i più indicati.❤❤❤

[@rosso45]

Immagino che non ti dia fastidio pagare un mucchio di tasse per aspettare 4 ore in un pronto soccorso . Immagino che tu non dia fastidio pagare tasse per rimanere su barella due giorni in reparto perchè mancancamo posti letto. Immagino non ti dia fastidio perdere il turno in dialisi per uno che senza cittadinanza o reddito dichiarato fa apposta a non prendere appuntamento e si presenta comunque e vuole essere dializzato subito.

[@giovannispinotti]

Kacie, thanks for the video, a few further things to point out: 1) As others already mentioned, health care in Italy is managed regionally, not at a state level. That means that every region has different structures, different budgets, different procedures. Depending on what region you live in, healthcare can be a dramatically different experience. 2) What you're describing here is only the "pronto soccorso" procedure, that is, the emergency room, and yes if you don't have a life threatening problem, waiting hours can become very long. But, there is one other main way of doing healthcare: everybody has his own "base" appointed doctor, through whom you get access to recipes, drugs, medications, blood tests, analysis, and a whole bunch of other medical services. For instance, you need an ENT, an orthopedist, or a dermatologist? Go to your base doctor, get a "recipe" for a visit, book the visit through your regional system. Same for a blood or a colon test. 3) All these doctors, if you so wish, can also visit you privately. Depending on the name of the doctor and his qualifications, that could cost you anywhere between... 150 maybe and no upper limit. 4) Italian healthcare was ranked among the best in the world until not too long ago, and Lombardy healthcare was ranked among the best in Italy. I'm lucky I live in Lombardy, but in the latest years politicians clearly steered our healthcare towards private, and it is not working as flawlessly as just 5-6 years ago. Just last month, I could not find a public dermatologist in the next 2 years, and they basically pushed me to go private.

[@meowcifernails5731]

Keep also in mind, this is after years of politicians pushing and attempting to privatize NHS. When my mother was younger, apparently you could even get things such as plasters, needles, some amount of diapers after pregnancy and other such things for free, and more visits were also entirely free

[@aldeonuwu2634]

Better waitin 10h for free healthcare then 1 minut for 10k check

[@matiacolusso5509]

If you have to wait 10 hours, the good news is that your situation is not that bad. The last time I went to an ER I had a severe respiratory distress and I was taken in immediately.

[@aldeonuwu2634]

@matiacolusso5509 exactly, if u are a white code u have to wait, but at least is free so who cares

[@FAB1150]

In Veneto getting a cast for a broken bone is free, removing it costs about 40€ lol. It was pretty funny when I broke my wrist skiing and found this out, you can probably remove it yourself if you want to take the risk of not being ready yet to take it off. My city's hospital is known for being pretty good so a feiend drove me there from the mountains. Got there at 7pm, by 7:45 I was out :D My sister torn her cruciate ligament (the one under the kneecap) while skiing as a teenager, she got the whole treatment of mountain ambulance down the ski slope, regular ambulance to my city's hospital, xrays, brace, crutches, out the same day, for 30€ (cost of crutches).

[@christopherkelledjian3122]

This is why I love socialized healthcare. Canada doesn’t have a perfect system but at least I won’t go bankrupt.

[@EmmEmmm26]

Same in Australia. I can't imagine life without it.

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

USA should adopt the Canadian healthcare system but the lobby of the insurance companies would never allow that 😅

[@lemiepassionichannel4352]

As someone that worked as a security guard in an hospital the real problems is that the queue for getting checked, especially white codes, which are basically the less important patients to check is the waiting time, which yes, causes a lot of stress and heat among people waiting. Then light green and medium green are a tiny bit up in the scale of patients to check first, then code blue and yellow, code orange and finally code red, which means you had a bad accident. We are talking about bones exposed, severe burns, etc

[@Maymama_dashes]

Should’ve flown my dad to Italy back in October. He nearly cut his foot off from a chainsaw hitting his foot and 3+ weeks later, he hadn’t even had the wound CLEANED! Almost 4 weeks after the accident he had surgery, and the surgeon told us the bulk of the surgery was simply cleaning the wound of all the debris (oil from chain, wood chips and splinters, and other things you’d expect from an open wound down to the bone going untreated for almost a month)

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

In every ER in Italy this is a red code situation which will be treated with maximum priority. Good luck to your dad ❤

[@auang]

If you go to a hospital in Italy and come out alive, then that was a successful day by our standards.

[@Chic.Geek75]

New jersey here, the Times that we had to go to the emergency room lately. One it was because I was prescribed mounjaro for diabetes and I was having palpitations for 2 hrs straight, so the hospital after taken your vitals another nurse comes and ask for credit card for payment method..I have private insurance and a great one so to be charged 200 dollars. My husband unbeknownst to him. He didn't feel right, so he went to the emergency room. And found out he was having uncontrollable high blood pressure. Again a nurse asking how he was going to pay and he said bill me..200 for a visit..my husband pays a lot for private insurance, and I agree with you! Smdh

[@lauracipriani2103]

These prices are due to the fact that medical assistance is paid by people’s taxes. The bill you have got is NOT what the state (all of us) pays for that. The problem is that many people do not declare the right amount of taxes and use the health system anyway. However, medical access is universal. I do not know how long it would last if people do not pay taxes. In some regions (northern Italy) we have a very high standard whereas in some other regions the treatment is not very qualified.

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

Not true, all around Italy the hospitals are qualified, the standard is very high and everything is covered, the taxes are wasted by the politicians like the actual Meloni government.

[@Vivi.D87]

Hi, Im a follower from Sweden ❤️ wehave more or less the sam system here. And also it depends in what region or city you live in how fast you get a surgery for example (when its acute or an emergyncy this does not apply, then you get help imidiately). But still I would ratherhave it like this than as in the US where its socio economics that rule if you get health vare or not. Everybody has the same worth rich or poor and should be treated medically the same. Keep doing what you do ❤🎉

[@corradolabinaz7700]

On average in Italy every income earner pays around 3.000 € / year for healtcare, even if he never goes to a doctor. Which can be a good bargain anyhow, but definietly not free. And that figure does not includes visits and services that are formally free, but require so much time many prefer to pay by themselves.

[@Badtz2]

That could be compared to paying for an insurance like in the USA, with the difference that an insurance will do everything to deny you the care you'll eventually need in order to make money (so you'll have to pay even more, or not get care at all) while public health system will not deny the care you need.

[@santopino756]

Wait times can be many months in Italy for non urgent operations. It can be 1 day if urgent.

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

Makes sense 😊

[@aomumoo]

It’s interesting to me that anti universal healthcare people often cite “long wait times.” I am in Houston, Texas. We have the largest medical center in the world. Our health system is widespread. I’m on a PPO with one of the largest networks in America with my health insurance. The difficulty we experience finding specialized doctors and the waits are astronomical. And the costs are skyrocketing and the denials are just awful. So it feeeels like those “longer waits” may be worth it to have dependable affordable healthcare.

[@nicolanobili2113]

Well, I don't know where that young lady lives, but I should mention that waiting lists may vary enormously depending on several factors. The first one is the part of Italy you live in. The second one is when you go to hospital: on Saturday evenings, for example, more road accidents are likely to happen, so if you are not in critical conditions you may have to wait. Another point to consider is the severity of the wound or medical issue. Again, we should consider the size of the hospital (some small hospitals in the countryside may have relatively shorter "dead times" between patients)... In any case, if you do not want to wait, we have private clinics and hospitals too. I normally use public health services, once that I really needed an ophthalmology visit quickly, I went to a very specialized medical center and paid... about 150 Euro, not an arm and a leg.

[@lb8141]

Ovarian cyst ruptures are horrendous. I am so sorry that happened to you but glad it happened in Italy. ❤❤❤

[@quinevere]

but it didn't 😭 it ruptured in the US and she only went to the Italian ER 3 days latee

[@ytbpromeneur]

Yes, the United States treats its citizens harshly. Life in Western Europe is much gentler. I understand why Americans are so insistent on good health. They're afraid of getting sick. In the United States, being sick is a misfortune. To be free is to live in a country where misfortune has been eliminated.

[@the_sam_strong]

Yes, but italy is also a country where they privatized the water so in my region where we had a water crisis they prioritized getting the water to water companies rather than the region's citizens, so we are forced from months now, MONTHS, to be without any water during evening and night time till morning. Also italy is a country where most taxes will go in politicians' pockets rather than be used to do something good for everyone like repair streets full of holes. So for one thing that works fairly well here, dozens of others don't, and are quite unacceptable if you ask me.

[@am-gl5lr]

I'm italian, and I lived in the US for many many (too many ) years. I finally moved back to Italy and I remember all the times I had to undergo even small procedures, and for each of them I had to pay and arm and a leg (and I had health insurance!!). Not to mention the medicines with astronomical costs. Health care in the US it's a shame, and it is way too expensive and is also the most expensive in the western world. Glad I'm no longer there.

[@UnpaidInternJR]

It's weirdly comforting to know that the UK isn't the only place with insane waiting time

[@cal7348]

È peggiorato da quando è successo il covid e hanno bloccato mesi operazioni ed. Esami.... Molti medici si sono dimessi anche i bassi stipendi. Quindi è per questo che il sistema è peggiorato ultimamente. Ultimamente devi pagare per fare esami velocemente

[@UnpaidInternJR]

@cal7348 Oh no che peccato!! È la stessa qui, il covid ha peggiorato le cose. Qualche ora era normale, ma tutta la notte? No

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

Grazie (sono ironico) governo Meloni per aver tagliato ulteriormente il costo della sanità pubblica in favore degli inutili armamenti.

[@zodd0001]

Hospitals were invented by the Church in the middle age. It embody the virtue of Charitas, charity. So it is free.

[@witchy90210]

Mind you in the US those would be very similar wait times, I would say that the hand surgery appointment took even less time to get than in the US.

[@pepper1188]

Agree. Waited with a family member for 5 hours last month.

[@dod2304]

took me one week to get into surgery for my shattered wrist last year, but broken bone surgery is usually shorter than say, Carpal tunnel surgery. Broken bones are more urgent. Cheers.

[@dod2304]

@@pepper1188 She was speaking of Dario waiting a week to get surgery on his broken hand. But. If you mean the ER. Yes. Awful. I was told by ER Docs and I've followed the advice since, do not go to the ER unless you're dying or obviously in so much pain or have a high fever, it won't wait for Urgent care or your Doc in the morning. I went to Urgent Care first for my broken wrist but I was Xrayed and wrapped up/stabilized and sent to the Er because it needed to be set, and they don't do that.

[@pepper1188]

@dod2304 I was replying to the comment that said that there are similar waits in the United States which is definitely true depending on your insurance and location.

[@witchy90210]

@@dod2304 I dont even remember how long I waited to get carpal tunnel surgery in the US, for both of my hands. Maybe a few months? I think? The only real reason was because the doctor just does them on Thursdays since i opted for the fast one, so he just schedules them on that day to just do that.

[@pieraspisso4265]

Il servizio sanitario italiano , ma anche quello europeo in genere , funziona male grazie all'interferenza di personaggi che hanno passaporto americano . Questi personaggi che tengono sottoricatto, i nostri politici di qualunque colore o bandiera siano, hanno deciso che i governi devono cedere ai privati questo servizio , che spremeranno fino all'ultima goccia di sangue i loro clienti . Per giustificare la privatizzaxione e' necessario degradare al massimo i servizi, cosi' saranno gli stessi "polli" a spingere per la privatizzazione .

[@dod2304]

Really, waiting 2 weeks for that kind of surgery isn't bad. I broke my wrist very badly last year and it was a week before my surgery. They did put in a plate and screws but it wasn't where they could leave it in so I had to go back 4 mths later for them to be removed. I had a Medicare Advantage insurance plan and in total it probably cost me about $400 if I'm remembering correctly. Not cheap but not horrendous either. Medicare Advantage plans are notoriously bad at paying for other things however. Here's a bit of advice from me. Don't get old in the US People treat you like you've got dementia and your insurance is limited. Now they're talking about slashing Medicare And Social Security. Oh goodie. Something exciting to look forward to in the New Year!Well, I didn't intent to go on a rant. But here's your info for the day if you didn't know😜 Buon Natale, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Blessed Kwanzaa, Blessed Yule. to you all.

[@kathyharmon2093]

Uh WHY did you choose an advantage plan!😳I have original Medicare and a supplement my total out of pocket expenses for a year do not exceed $220 for the year and I can literally see any doctor in any state

[@alexroot1980]

I love to travel around the globe but this is the main reason I'll NEVER EVER give my residency up in Italy! Anyway welcome to Italy! ❤️🇮🇹

[@giulioB__88]

the queuing problem can be avoided by paying a premium. _intra moenia_ : basically you pay 140 euros and the doctors "work overtime" visiting privately inside the public hospital. then the doctor gives half of that money to the public hospital. it is a reasonable expense, and leaves doctors free to earn more, and those who want to spend money to hurry up sooner

[@fabiopiccinelli8469]

But most cases you don't "choose to spend money" to hurry up, but you have to spend money because the time of the public system is too long. So in that sense the system is not free.

[@UDG2000]

free health care for all = civilization

[@freo_8927]

it's not socialism, it's welfare. Proud to be european

[@Karen_Obim]

I had a severe stomach pain 3 months ago. It’s been a couple of days and I thought it’ll pass. On the third day I told my mom, that’s it I am going to the pronto soccorso, I can’t take this anymore it is so painful already. She accompanied me and we took the cab, the driver was surprised why at the Santo Spirito Hospital? There are others nearer what with all the traffic going there. My mom insisted because she knows the hospital she gave birth to my sister there and had a good experience. She won’t go anywhere else. Been there all day ran mri test, twice they got me into the gynecologist for transvaginal test just to make sure it is not related to endometriosis which I was diagnosed three years before. Turned out it is Peritonite. Got into operation at around midnight. They clean everyday, the food is- well, I must say not bad but could be better I guess. I couldn’t eat anything other than semi liquidi anyway so 🤷🏻‍♀️ I am released after 6 days. €0 expenses, they even gave me a box of injections for free that I should be injected for a week. The doctor officer from INPS had a visit and he told me to get extension from my medico di famiglia for another 5 days as I am still so thin and weak. I stayed in a room with another girl and told me her parents also insisted going to that hospital. She said that most public hospitals in rome unfortunately lacks funding. But when a hospital is funded by the Vatican, rest assured it is a good one. I really don’t know, this is the first time in my entire life I have ever been in a hospital not even in my origin country Philippines. (They say in the Philippines, if you don’t have money they won’t even entertain you 😢 so most filipinos are afraid to go to the hospital even if they are so sick becuase of the financial burden) So this is the only experience that I had. I am really happy and after weeks of eating just certain food items. Now I am back to eating anything that I want plus NO STRESS ABOUT MONEY

[@thomasg627]

I would add to your excellent description that you always have the additional option of paying a small sum for speeding things up by moving the parts that you find too slow in the public system to the private system where you pay the bill yourself. Doctors and hospitals in Italy have long adjusted for the waiting times the public system has for certain things, they fill in just these things as a private service for pay, where that pay is usually really low and has no waiting cue while the rest of the treatment still comes from the public service.

[@valentinastones]

Italian companies contribute 43% of their earnings in taxes, compared to around 28% in the US. These funds support various public services, including healthcare, which is why it's nearly free for citizens. 🇮🇹💼💡

[@nouseforaname4328]

As an italian, let me say one thing: if our healtcare seems so cheap is because government takes, every month, a large part of our income to pay the healtcare system. So, of course, when you go to the hospital, you have to pay nothing or almost nothing. That's because you already paid for it. Nothing is free in this world. Nothing

[@giuliadestefano2997]

It's certainly not free, but it allows everyone to have health care. An acquaintance of mine works as a housekeeper, she had a daughter when she was very young and is raising her alone. She had a horrible accident that almost killed her. She spent many months in hospital and when she returned home she had to undergo a lot of therapy. Thanks to public health care she was able to do everything she had to do not only to survive, but to almost completely regain (within the limits of what was realistic for her type of accident) the mobility of her body. The Italian public health service is certainly not without its flaws (such as long waits), but no one is abandoned to their own devices.

[@oliverl2172]

Yes that's obvious. That's not the point.

[@LordVandor1]

Well, it's true, however you pay a FAIR amount of your income, and not a super inflated price dictated by a monopoly. Epipen in Britain costs TWENTY TIMES less than in US

[@notMattGarska]

Aplarently we still spend LESS than what the US government spends into their system, if I understood correctly, becsuse of insane profiteering they do that and lack of collective bargaining

[@soxar64]

"large part" come on don't be a wuss. You don't need to lie just because you don't like paying taxes

[@simonedellabella3092]

let's sayt together: healthcare IS a HUMAN RIGHTS! When a system doesn't save a life becuase of money, that's evil.

[@lislearnitalianwithsongs]

Ciao! The other week I underwent a delicate surgical procedure. I had a stent placed in one of my coronary arteries by a team of kick@$$ cardio surgeons, Who used State of the art - Star Trek machinery to perform the procedure. I was hospitalized for three days, had numerous labs and exams done, during and before my stay at the hospital, and all for the grand total of ZERO Euros. This happened in the north east of Italy. All the doctors were very sorry in telling me that the surgery couldn’t have been done sooner (I have been waiting for a mere 10 days), because there was a waiting list of people who were older, more at risk, or had just “booked“ the surgery before me. I am so glad I’ve always paid my taxes. It is money really well spent. although my channel focuses on teaching Italian through songs, I am really thinking I could make an episode about the Italian national healthcare system. Thank you for this video!

[@elleanna5869]

There is no perfect system but all that I can say is : people who live in countries who approach health as a human right and still take seriously Hippocratic Oath, protect what you have and the full human dignity it gives you. US approach health like frivolity and a luxury , that's unfortunate to say the least.

[@QueryState]

I'm so glad for my constitution. Art.32 Italian Constitution: "The Republic safeguards health as a fundamental right of the individual and as a collective interest, and guarantees free medical care to the indigent. No one may be obliged to undergo any health treatment except under the provisions of the law. The law may not under any circumstances violate the limits imposed by respect for the human person."

[@chivolavale4094]

I too am Italian and strongly believe that the taxes that I pay for the Healthcare system are the best spends I doo. EVERYONE has the right to be able to access the cures in case of illness. In Italy also the illegal immigrants have the right to access for free the needed assistance.

[@workinprogress3609]

I have had three children, one without any meds and the pain wasn't anything as bad as when I had a ruptured ovarian cyst. And it happened twice, about 20 years apart.

[@mercurio2990]

Mi diceva un amico americano, che c'è troppa differenza tra gli americani, tipo un possidente di una fattoria in Texas o nel Midwest non importa nulla di pagare le tasse sanitarie per magari un tassista newyorkese... E quindi non cambieranno mai metodo.

[@minotaurus91]

Su quello che ti ha detto il tuo amico sarebbe quasi da farci una battuta, se non fosse che da questa osservazione emerge un problema profondo dell'America... E cioè la mancanza di coesione sociale e nazionale, tipica di un paese ultrafederalista e iperindividualista con enormi differenze al suo interno. L'Italia per contro è un paese molto più compatto e omogeneo, con poche differenze da una regione all'altra (a parte i dialetti e i soliti campanilismi), con una lunga tradizione di solidarietà e volontariato, e per questo meno propenso a dividersi sul piano socioeconomico.

[@mercurio2990]

@minotaurus91 tutto giusto quello che dici, aggiungo che magari il primo ospedale un ricco possidente lo ha a 300 kilometri o è talmente ricco che di tasse potrebbe pagare uno sproposito per curare 2000 tossici all'altro capo degli stati uniti e magari non gli frega nulla.

[@Arzach91]

Healthcare is free here, but the NHS is falling apart due to cuts, mismanagement, and corruption. There are huge differences from region to region (expecially from north to south) since healthcare is a local matter and it's not managed by the central government. It's true you don't get bankrupt to buy insuline but you might have to travel across the country to a hospital that has the machinery or the expertise to cure your condition. Also, waiting lists are pretty long and the earliest appointment for important or even life-saving exams can be even two years away. Every year more italians choose private clinics while some just give up curing themselves. Private insurance companies are slowly kicking in and most of the population fear we're heading toward an American style NHS

[@giorgioscano8980]

n USA those who don't have money die of hunger and hardship, alternatively they die due to lack of medical care and drugs, it's not going too well... in Italy those who can't pay are treated anyway, have heart surgery if necessary and are operated on free. there is a reason why the average lifespan in Italy is higher than that of the USA..

[@rerejones9095]

I have had numerous trips over to the emergency room for an ovarian cyst rupture in my lifetime. I’ve had seven never did I ever have to wait hours and hours. The gynecologist made it clear. There’s sometimes you can have a rupture and if it’s big enough, it can cause internal bleeding. My friend had one that ruptured, but they were going to be doing surgery on her and it was a size of a grapefruit and it literally about killed her.

[@antoniovasile565]

Here in Europe if you are sick you will be able to ‘enjoy’ the illness without worrying to go bankrupt* * in same cases, especially if you are self-employer and have debts you may go bankrupt here as well.

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

Probably because you never paid any taxes 😂

[@bufordmaddogtannen]

The cherry on top is that if you actually want to pay out of pocket and go down the private route, an MRI in a private clinic in Rome would cost betwen 130-150 EUR, which is still peanuts compared to the US.

[@robins3206]

Meanwhile, I (in the United States) had to have surgery in September to have a kidney stone removed that was too large to pass on its own. The surgery cost ~$60,000 (more than I make in a year). 😭

[@nicolanobili2113]

My goodness! My wife has had two in the last 3-4 years and we did not spend a penny both times!

[@QueryState]

please, fight for human rights in your country

[@ad_astra468]

It’s slower now than it was in the past because there’s a lack of doctors and there have been cuts to healthcare spending because we still have to implement austerity policies until the debt gets much smaller (so for the foreseeable future).

[@katelijnesommen]

I've been to the ER and general practitioners in Italy quite often between all of my times travelling there. It's not a perfect system but it works quite well - I've never been charged for anything and I've always been helped in the end, even if it took some time. I wouldn't say most government systems are efficient in Italy, but their healthcare is pretty good, even taken in the European context, where most countries have a form of socialised healthcare.

[@marishapeters1647]

I have a friend who lives in Italy that is a nurse and she ended up in the ER because of heart issues and she is in a rural area and she said the ER there was appalling but then the doctors she went to in Rome were by far way better. But I also think that the US system is getting worse with wait times and patient care in general. Doctors are getting pushed to see as many patients in a day as possible and you’re getting pushed out of the hospital because insurance won’t pay if you stay too long. And then heaven forbid if you need fast care and the doctor is out of network. They need to make the insurance companies here change their policies and not have so much control over what doctors can and cannot do and deciding if a doctor is in or out of network

[@PositiveZ7]

It’s mind boggling how doctors and nurses seem u fazed when they find that it’s an ovarian cyst. It is a pain I cannot put into words.

[@Giovanni-o4s]

In USA you haven't this sistem because they tell you that is a comunist system...taxes for healt is not comunism..fight you too to have that system..you will live without troubles..priceless.

[@beanie7547]

My daughter had hers rupture in Europe and her bill was €4. It’s absolutely wrong the medical differences between the US and Europe especially for our senior citizens. But yes there are positives and negatives to both systems.

[@alessandrof2421]

Italy has a lot of problems....but it's a European country, you cannot compare it with a 3rd world country

[@kathyharmon2093]

As a retired nurse in the U.S. I have had multiple broken bones and the longest I’ve ever had to wait for surgery was 36 hours , if he had to wait weeks for surgery tells me there is a health care shortage there😢

[@silviarosellini1]

Every case is a single one. It's not a rule to wait that much for surgery.

[@antoniopannuti2088]

Italian here. My mother broke her femur and she went under surgery to fix it. She stayed in the hospital for many days and after that she went through rehabilitation. Total cost: €10. Another thing: when you compare the health care system between two countries you should consider 1) the GDP 2) the overall cost of the healthcare system and 3) the outcome. Obviously the per capita GDP is way higher in the USA, and the cost is also way higher in the USA than in many European nations. When it comes to outcome, Italy is n7 in Life expectancy at birth in the world. US is down the list at 48. US has also the largest healthspan-lifespan gap, representing the number of years burdened by disease, among 183 nations. You do the math. You could do waaaaaay better!!!

[@ZachSawyer2077]

Our healthcare system in Italy got systematically destroyed by our incapable politicians. I’m glad you still got all you needed but I’m very upset it took so long every time to get help. Our healthcare needs much more support than what it gets, it should be able to function much better than that.

[@mygetawayart]

healthcare is The primary reason i would never live in the US. It's absurd that in a country as wealthy as the US, people seriously risk going bankrupt because bloodsucking private healthcare companies block any effort to make healthcare, which is a human right, available and affordable to all.

[@valealice]

I am italian and will go to the USA for a 3 weeks raod trip next summer...and I am so fu**ing scared to get sick there, like terrified 😂

[@fabi7013]

It’s not a big deal…just absolutely buy a health insurance travel cover and do not underestimate the maximum levels of cover… The cost of these travel insurance solutions is not excessive and it’s a big investment compared to the lack of coverage…

[@matiacolusso5509]

For God's sake, get an insurance before you live. Rather save on food but don't step a foot into the US without an insurance. An ambulance ride alone might costs you thousands of dollars. Just to get to the hospital.

[@iulius951]

And honestly, I know members of my family and myself in the US have spent long hours in ERs here and wait for surgeries. Nowhere in the world, unless you have top money, you get in and be seen the moment you walk in (one exception: I hit my head once and they were worried about a concussion and internal bleeding: I was in to see someone in a few minutes). Having said that, you pay for it here too with high insurance costs (paid by you and/or your employer) and also with less preventive care, especially if you don't have money. People with no money wait until they are really sick and go to ERs etc and then something that should have cost $40 ends up costing us $300... I am from Italy and my older relatives there had excellent care late in life for major events, and NEVER had to worry about how to pay for it, or about not having needed care. It's not communism or socialism. It makes sense for the community.

[@mafaldarusso6441]

In Italy we have exceptional doctors and excellent hospitals, but in the last decades a policy has been perpetuated that aims to transform our health system into something similar to the US model, whereby if you pay you have a way to access treatment more quickly and to be able to go to the best hospitals... Furthermore, the richest regions enjoy more money for hospitals which are therefore better equipped (they have newer buildings, more efficient machinery and better trained doctors)... In short, it is becoming a disgrace, especially for those who are poor and cannot travel far from home to seek treatment. My grandfather, the son of Italian immigrants, was an American citizen but, unlike his brothers who wanted to return to America when they were adults, he chose to stay in Italy, one of his brothers had some fingers on his left hand amputated, due to an accident in the factory and due to lack of health coverage they did not reattach them... I will never understand how it is possible not to evaluate the fact that a person can return fully efficient from a productive point of view (and therefore economically for the entire system) but only think about the immediate profit for the hospital

[@MrBoulayo]

Ma magari in italia venisse un sistema lontanamente simile a quello degli stati uniti. Ce lo sognamo.

[@clelia7820]

@@MrBoulayo Sì... è un incubo che io regalerei volentieri a tutti quelli che la pensano come te. Incubo corredato anche con una malattia cronica a scelta, per il piacere di pagare le medicine almeno 100 volte più care. Buon anno!

[@mafaldarusso6441]

@MrBoulayo io vorrei un ritorno al sistema sanitario pubblico "puro", com'era fino ad una trentina di anni fa. Nelle altre nazioni europee funziona, perché da noi no?... No, non lo sogno un sistema sanitario come quello americano, io vivo al sud, da noi ci si ridurrebbe come nel Burkina Fasu

[@MrBoulayo]

@@mafaldarusso6441 quindi ti piace vivere in un sistema sovietico dove tutti vivono sulle spalle di tutti gli altri, forzosamente? Perché quello è il sistema pubblico. E se nel sistema pubblico una cloaca di politici "illuminati" decide che bisogna deviare tutti i fondi per comprare tonnellate di ibuprofene perché un comitato tecnico scientifico ha stabilito che c'è un'emergenza di mal di testa, lo faranno a scapito di tutti i malati di cuore o di cancro!

[@Roberto-w1n4f]

​@@mafaldarusso6441 nel resto d'Europa dipende dove, in Germania e Svizzera è privato, ma l'assicurazione costa poco, è obbligatoria (se sei nulla tenente te la paga lo stato) e sono super efficienti, Giappone è privato... il problema è solo negli Usa, perché le assicurazioni hanno pochi obblighi son poco regolamentate, e sono di fatto un oligopolio che spreme i cittadini.

[@shotokhan4078]

To be honest she only talks about italian public system but the truth is that having a public system doesn't prevents the existence of private clinics where you can go and pay! So we have a mixed system and it could be much better but it's still very good!

[@rscaht]

ok, guys I'm long term chron desease patient, 2 surgery,and years of treatment with monoclonal antibody , total costs 80K over the years? total paid 1K max .

[@Atarix777]

I live in italy since about 20 years and I really can't complain at all. Compared to anything else i've seen, this system works very well. Imo, all workers in healthcare over here should get a hughe raise for the great jobs they are doing. Sure, it is stressfull when you have to go to the emergency room and you're classified as a "code white" (happend to me sometimes,too), but on the other hand I prefer that instead of beeing a "code red" just to pass faster ;) All in all, I am really grateful for how things work overe here.

[@Libri_amore_e_fantasia]

And now American politicians start to realize that other people around the world have a longer life expectation...hello??!! Thanks God I live in Italy and my parents decided not to emigrate in the States.

[@TheRudespo]

I think the system created in Italy works in same way, beside the private sector grow very much also in Italy ,which is not bud but not many people can afford it. In any case you have always an option in Italy, or the near country ,like croatia ,Romania, Egipt were price of treatment are even lower than Italy ,as usually we are blessed, lmao.

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

Egypt! 😂 Are you kidding? Remember Giulio Regeni and the two kids which died while on holidays with their parents ❤

[@TheRudespo]

@@user-od6gi4lz8t yes still medical treatment are very affordable expecially dental treat.

[@robymotard93]

Il nostro sistema sanitario è lento ma funziona

[@MariaTeresa-b7w]

ka possibility of being treated practically for free is the reason why thousands and thousands of immigrants want to come to Italy every year...

[@pile333]

👏 Let's imagine if USA improved its healthcare to resemble the European one: it would be an earthly paradise.

[@dod2304]

It would be so unbelievably welcome and amazing. Unfortunately not holding my breath on this one.

[@surlespasdondine]

@@dod2304 there would still be many other issues but one problem would be fixed.

[@Carla....]

Not every country in Europe is the same. I'm Italian and live in Belgium. In Italy yes many of that is free but there is a looooong time to wait for some things.. sometimes 7 or 8 months for exams to do. And if you want to do it faster you have to pay by your own. In Belgium there is nothing free. But you can choose public or private appointments or hospitals. Publics are a little bit cheaper but not free.

[@Carla....]

Physiotherapy for example in Sicily my aunt has to wait 1 year to have an appointment. In north Italy psychologists are also free but you have to wait 6 months for your turn.

[@pile333]

@@Carla.... Yes, I'm italian too but, as Kacie has said, not even in Italy it is "free", nothing is. European healthcare systems differ from each other but citizen's health is overall surely better considered than in the today's USA.

[@fradamiano]

Italy is not all the same. There are grate difference between nord and Sud Italy haltcar. You mast specific where are you located.

[@simonenespolo3662]

In Italy, to get a red code, you have to be on the verge of death.😂😂😂

[@StefanoCarta73]

there's something wrong with this story. As a non-EU citizen, like Americans, the Italian national health system does not cover medical care, much less injuries sustained while skiing. you have to made a private insurance and in particular a very expensive one that covers skiing. probably these people lied in the hospital about the accident. in any case the bill will arrive and it could be very very expensive (even tens of thousands of euros). I agree that it will be much lower than in the united states, where the cost is enormous and inflated by many other factors besides insurance.

[@kacierose]

@@StefanoCarta73 not sure what to tell you! I had a Carta d’Identita & Permesso di Soggiorno at the time of my skiing accident and health insurance required by my visa that cost me €150 for the year, but they never asked me for it, and the bill was 40€. After that I became a resident and was a part of the Italian health system through my taxes for my next visit! Just explaining my experience, everyone’s will be different 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@bizio0105]

​​@@kacierose if you have permesso di soggiorno is like if you're an Italian citizen for the SSN, so you'll go as every Italian resident person. The 40€ bill was probably because "white codes" have to pay what we call "ticket" which is a contribution/access fee for treatments that aren't classified as urgent, although as the knee was broken they should have changed it to green and you wouldn't have paid anything as it happened for the cyst.

[@julieaskingforafriend]

Hey! Have not seen you out here in a while! Glad you're back. And I'm hoping that with this new administration, at least some of America's health care idiocy gets straightened out. However, I do not want the taxes that we see in Canada and Europe where health care is "free" because "free" health care just means a bigger tax bill! There is literally no such thing as "free" health care any place on the planet.

[@AlessioCollura]

Nonetheless, every single time someone asks us citizens to change the NHS they respond go away and increase the bills. Maybe going bankrupt to survive isn't as bad as they say.

[@LeoGoesSport]

Proudly working from Italy ❤️ to pay tax in Italy 🍕

[@lerriderri3678]

Is it the same in every state in u.s.?

[@rotschimmel]

Too bad that in southern regions of my country public healthcare is just a legend and if you have a serious problem you can't access a hospital unless you pay thousands of euros to a private doctor first, otherwise the waiting lists can be of many years even if you have a dangerous disease.

[@ronan1me]

Waitlist to get seen. Is ok. Since there is sick leave in italy. In the Us theres none of that.

[@QueryState]

healthcare, sick leave and vacations are really things that US is missing.

[@capriceg7042]

(#700) I love how socialize health care seems more amazing then Healthcare in the USA! ❤🎉🎉