[Article] Catastrophic Health Insurance

[Loki]

"People are only nice when it's for money"

When someone's income is highly dependent on their ability to retain clients, they are nicer to those clients. Unreasonable?

[Khendraja'aro]

I provided a pretty convincing theory as to why that relationship would hold.

And? I can easily conjure up similar theories for my relationship.

Neither "convincing" nor "theory" do make true a statement.

[Flixy]

When someone's income is highly dependent on their ability to retain clients, they are nicer to those clients. Unreasonable?

Makes it more reasonable that they act nicer, or that they don't dare to go against something that a patient wants. Doesn't mean that the other doctors are immediately complete assholes to all patients. You know, most people are nice to their patients even if it does not affect income. Sure, doctors in the US will act nicer, but even in Britain I'd guess that rude doctors are in the minority.

[Ziggy Stardust]

From numerous conversations with Brits, including left-wing ones who still profess to love the NHS.

Odd, I can't say I relate to it. Although it makes sense that people are more prone to talk about their healthcare when they've got something to complain than when their experiences have been satisfactory. Not often you'll hear: You know, I was at the doctor last thursday, and he helped me out fine and was rather nice". "Well, that's interesting".

So, if you'd like a conversation with a Dutchie also enjoying "free" healthcare, has had many run in's with all kinds of doctors the last 2 to 3 years and believes they were adequate, and far from rude, let me know.

Apparently it being "free" makes up for all its shortfalls.

Apparently to you perhaps.

[agamemnus]

Just saw this thread.

Ok Wraith, do it.

[Steely Glint]

Again, that's because Brits think doctors are the ones doing them a favor by being so generous as to see them.

I don't know where you getting this idea. In none of these cases has the persons motives been not wanting to bother the doctor, it's that they don't think they're actually sick enough to need one.

I've noticed that some British doctors think it's perfectly fine to be rude to patients, call them liars, ignore their complaints, and be generally obnoxious. You can't get away with that when your salary is based on your ability to attract and keep patients.

I've never experienced anything like that. There was one doctor who seemed a little reluctant to actually treat patients, so I ended up not going to him anymore. Not saying you're wrong and it doesn't happen, though, just as in the US there are elements of the system which will push patients towards unnecessary & expensive medical procedures because they make money that way. Both are just side effects of the two respective systems.

Terminology might be different in the UK, (I'm really not sure) but I'm assuming Steely meant to say MRI.

Yep.