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by array_key_first5 hours ago |
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upvoteby mgaunard2 hours ago|
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A specialist also requires a referral in the UK. There are also much more medicines which are prescription-only than in the US.

That's why in practice we have all these (private) services to get easy GP appointments via phone, video or even online forms. While everyone knows those appointments can't realistically do any real medical work, they serve to give you prescriptions and referrals.

It's just a gatekeeping mechanism, that you can more easily bypass if you have money. The more you pay, the more they care about your user experience and how streamlined it is.

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upvoteby reillyse4 hours ago|
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In the US if I want to see my primary care doctor I need to wait 2 months for the appointment.

I pay $500 per month for the privilege (and a $50 copay)

So I’m paying $1000 in the time period where I’m getting no service.

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upvoteby zdragnar4 hours ago|
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Where in the US are you? I was able to book a visit with my primary the very next day less than a month ago.
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upvoteby array_key_first2 hours ago|
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Not the person you replied to but I'm in North Texas and I just recently had to reschedule my physical. And yup, the next appointment is 2 months out.

I also had cancer in the past and you might think that that would mean I get faster appointments. I do not.

And I have a very, very, very good PPO plan.

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upvoteby chrisjj1 hours ago|
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> I also had cancer in the past and you might think that that would mean I get faster appointments. I do not.

Sadly you do not may be because lower life expectancy -> lower return on treatment "investment".

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upvoteby 0xffff22 hours ago|
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As usual when people say "the US", we're papering over the fact that the United States is really 50 countries in a trench coat.
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upvoteby chrisjj1 hours ago|
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> the United States is really 50 countries in a trench coat.

Appropriate attire... when you're in a trench :)

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upvoteby tracker14 hours ago|
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That was my thinking... even for specialists, I can generally get into a new one within a few weeks.

My SO is on state Medicaid (cancer) and does experience the kinds of waits mentioned above... so I guess it does follow similarly for government/state backed healthcare, where I'm mostly out of pocket.

But even when I had relatively typical coverage, I didn't have issues getting into a doctor more often than not. I think getting my sleep study was the longest wait I had for anything, they were months backed up with appointments... but my kidney and retina specialists were somewhat easy to get started with.

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