retired_burnandshine99

AA: Alcoholics Anonymous

And yes, I love the Scottish royal family

retired_ms.jones55

:eek: :thup:

Thanks, fellas!

Actually this is much more than i expected to recieve in return for my question (needs time to recycle the info). I owe you all a big time. Some additions are warmly welcome, but i can't see if it can get any better.

Thank you all :thup:

retired_tinkfaeree

Now, may we know what you need this information for?

KingsbayYHPE

Russia's about to invade the UK, impose a Communist regime on us, and Andy wants tp know where to settle so he and his Granny get the best treatment

retired_ms.jones55

My doctor degree research is about stable growth of national economy, so i wanted to know what that certain things are in developed countries.

Now i see that (mostly common):
<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>medical treatment is paid while medicines mostly have discounts (vice versa in Russia)
<LI> basic education is free while higher education is paid in one way or another (both are free here, if one's clever enough)
</UL>

This confirms my conclusions that in social sector post-social ex-USSR Russia has to move from free but low-quality (to call the things with their names) to paid and higher quality services - mainly concerning health care.

Unfortunatelly, there's no enough disposed income to do that in near future.

retired_crazybonejr

Here in Canada, it's pretty similar to everywhere else.

Grade school is paid for by the government, but any post secondary education is the responsibility of the student.

Health care is covered by the government for basic or "necessary" medical care, which does not include dentistry work or eye care. Anything beyond that, insurance is required. A fair number of companies do offer some sort of insurance benefit packages, but not all and universities/colleges do as well. Once you retire, however, you must pay for your own health insurance, or cover the costs of any medical expenses. But in the cases of emergencies, nobody is ever denied care, regardless as to whether or not they have insurance.

Prescription drugs are paid by the patient, unless your insurance covers the cost, and most only covers a percentage. There is also "Pharmacare" which reimburses you if you end up purchasing a certain monetary amount or prescription drugs in a year, though this varies from province to province.

Insurance costs vary, depending on the type of coverage you're wanting.

That's about it

retired_kesavan

I'll give you the American point of view:

Education is free through high school. Any college/university education must be paid for. There is the option of private school for K-12th grade, but parents would have to pay for it.

Health care is not free here generally. If you don't have insurance you need to pay full price. There are some "free" clinics, but few and far between. We have millions of Americans uninsured currently.

KingsbayYHPE

It really pÃ*sses me right the **** off that people have to pay for Health Care and Education...almost as much as paying for Water (either bottled or from the tap).

It should be everyones' right to be educated free of charge and in the best of health to the limits of their educational ability.

We can always find millions of quid (billions of dollars) to bomb the **** out of a bunch of innocent Arabs, but not to educate and heal our children?

Makes me ****in' sick.

retired_ms.jones55

Hmm.

We here have a so-called 'Unitary social tax' which is paid by the employer (~26% of wages). It covers several issues, medical insurance in particular. We have obligatory (that) and non-obligatory (individual) medical insurance, and the level of service varies hugely. Everyone can receive medical treatment on a free basis, but sometimes it's just crappy.

Medicines are at full price except for retired people, who have discounts.

State education is free at any level, though there are paid sections for those who fail their tests.

So, Ian, seems you like this idea better than others. Hmm. The question is in corrupcy here. But, overall, free education and health care for all with paid services for those who want more/better seems the right choice then? Eh... Utopia it's called, hum?..

retired_jmathias

No, it is called ex-Yugoslavia