U. S. Expats Are Revealing The "We're Being Scammed" Realizations They Had After Moving Abroad

[thucythucy]

146. I think the situation, while apparently better than in Canada,

is getting worse in the US. There seems to be a growing shortage of health care professionals due to any number of factors.

I know some doctors, fed up with the increasing power of insurers, are taking early retirement. This happened with my own GP who told me she retired after she found herself spending as much time doing paperwork for and on the phone with insurance company people as she was with her patents. I also just recently had to wait four months for a dental cleaning, because there's a shortage of dental hygienists in my area--which is fairly urban. There's also a nursing shortage of long standing which also seems to be getting worse.

And as you note, this is much worse in more rural areas. There's been a trend of smaller rural hospitals and practices being bought out by various conglomerates, including private equity firms, which then close them as cost cutting measures. This is happening even in some cities, In Boston, for example, Stewart Health Care has closed or is closing two hospitals and left their patients high and dry. Two other hospitals: Shriner's and St. Elizabeth's, have also closed. And there is a pronounced shortage of psychiatric beds, especially for children and adolescents, which seems to be nationwide.

Considering that the US pays more per capita than any other nation on earth, you would think we would be able to get a grip on these problems, which have been a long time coming. You'd think we'd also rank higher among industrialized nations in terms of life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, and others. All of which belies the oft heard claim that ours is "the best health care system in the world." I suppose it depends on who you are, where you live, and how much money you have.

Anyway, best wishes and happy new year to you and yours.