this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2025
209 points (94.8% liked)

Ask Lemmy

33397 readers
1489 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


6) No US Politics.
Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world or !askusa@discuss.online


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I spent half that time in Critical Care (much of that on a ventilator, a small amount sedated), and most of the rest in a specialist neuro-rehab unit. I would have died otherwise.

Fortunately it cost me nothing - Thank Bevan for the NHS - but if I were in the US I imagine I would be financially crippled!

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Geodad@lemmy.world 38 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That depends.

Are you wealthy? If yes, you're fine. If no, you're fucked.

Are you a veteran? Same answers.

Are you poor? You probably died in the waiting room.

[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Are you a veteran? Same answers.

Ha. Hahaha. Yeah. No. Not necessarily.

Source: knew way too many vets with awful, untreated ailments from my time in US healthcare.

[–] Geodad@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I have heard that VA hospitals are better in some places. I really have had better care from the VA than from public health care.

[–] tux7350@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Most people don't know but you can get the best of both. You can push for what called "community care" through the VA. If the VA admits there isnt a VA doctor close enough to you, they will send you to a private doctor of your choosing and pay for the whole thing.

I was able to get back surgery by the best doctor in the region this way. I refused to work with the VA doctor due to a bad appointment. I waited weeks to see this doctor and he spent 5 minutes looking at my chart to say I was too young to be helped. Could've just told me over the phone. Went back to my primary and complained and they signed me up for community care since they were the only other in the area.

[–] Geodad@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Yes, I've tried community care.

I actually got worse care 9/10 times. The wait times are sometimes longer to get established as a patient in the public sector.