Swedes buy insurance to skip long health queues

The Local (Swedish) ^ | 17 Jan 2014 | Staff

[managusta]

The Nordic model, known for high taxes and its cradle-to-grave welfare system, is getting a radical makeover as nations find themselves cash-strapped. During the post-war period, the Scandinavian economies became famous for a "softer" version of capitalism that placed more importance on social equality than other western nations, such as Britain and the United States, did.

Sweden aims to make sure people can see their general practitioner within one week, which the organization said was a modest goal in and of itself.

"The target for maximum wait in Sweden to see your primary care doctor (no more than seven days) is underachieved only by Portugal, where the corresponding figure is 15 days," the report stated.

Health system wait times in Sweden were deemed so lengthy that they pulled Sweden down the European ranking despite the country having technically advanced healthcare at its disposal.

"Why can Albania operate its healthcare services with practically zero waiting times, and Sweden cannot?" the report authors from the Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP) organization in Brussels asked, albeit acknowledging modest improvements. "The Swedish queue-shortening project, on which the state has spent approximately €5 billion, has achieved some shortening of waiting times."

[managusta]

Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn.

[WayneS]

In its year-ahead report, industry organization Swedish Insurance said many people now felt they did not know what they could expect from their health care providers.

"There is a lack of certainty about what the individual can expect from public welfare and which needs have to be taken care of in another manner," the report authors noted.

Interesting. Does this mean the government CAN'T take care of all health care issues for us?

/s

[Nifster]

Brits bought all sorts of extra insurance so they could get care and those policies got outlawed.... The state always finds a way to make things worse

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Here , we will have long lines just to see a doctor , after we pay for insurance .
Go figure !!
What is wrong with this picture ?
We end up paying 1/3 more in expense , to get less medical care ..
We can thank the Fed Government for that !
"I am here from the government, and I am here to help !"

[cuban leaf]

Here , we will have long lines just to see a doctor , after we pay for insurance .

---

Yep. This is why we don’t do health insurance any more. Many of the folks I work with are buying stuff like this:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_sabc?url=search-alias%3Daps&pageMinusResults=1&suo=1390415503556#/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=kuvings+masticating+juicer&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Akuvings+masticating+juicer

And watching movies like these:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvzDHGLEUyw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGJYQ5E5T7Y&list=PL4369D4C85B0690C9

[null and void]

Years ago I worked with a young Swed who when asked, asserted he was quite happy with the 85% tax rate, look at all the things we get for that, medical care, education, housing, etc. etc.

I wonder if his answer would be different today?

[proxy_user]

AFAIK, about half the people in the UK still have private health insurance.

[Black Agnes]

Unless you were working on Sweden, you should have asked him why he was unable to find suitable employment in Sweden.

[Army Air Corps]

FYI

[Nachum]

Good info, thanks.

[Hawthorn]

Comments?

[a fool in paradise]

Where’d they get an innovative idea like that?

[keyesguy]

State of Minnesota does something similar in other areas of state government. Provide rotten road infrastructure, but for extra you can pay to use carpool lanes. Two months to get a car title, but if you pay extra you can get it in a few days. Great business model, provide crappy service in areas of you monopolize, and then charge extra to provide competence.

[paolop]

I saw “Swedes”, something about health, and then then the opening line, “The Nordic model...” and was very interested in the article. Actually, I skipped the article and looked for pictures.
What a disappointment!

[minnesota_bound]

You can shorten the web address by going to www.tinyurl.com
Add your long address and they shorten it.

[9YearLurker]

Has anyone checked the appointment wait times in MA recently?

[bjorn14]

Swedes are pouring over the border into Norway for jobs. When my wife hears a Swedish accent. She says “goodie we are going to get good service.”
Natives and other foreigners don’t give a ratsrump. Sometimes they might if they hear my American accent but usually not.