OOC - Mad Kings Monkey II (recruiting closed)

[Scott DeWar]

Work does that on purpose, ya know

 

[Axel]

I find mine just tries to kill me through stress and too overload. Given pension age here is now 70, I reckon there's a good chance I won't live to see it...

 

[Scott DeWar]

I find mine just tries to kill me through stress and too overload. Given pension age here is now 70, I reckon there's a good chance I won't live to see it...

I hear aussies have good health care. True?

 

[Axel]

I hear aussies have good health care. True?

How can I put this without it sounding like a diatribe... We did (and still do), is the short answer. Read on for more info (more than you ever dreamed).

We do not have the money to have a US style state of the art health system. We do not have the people for a British NHS style "everything is free" system. Australia has roughly the same landmass as Europe or the US but only about 23 million people. Duplication of basic services across the continent has always been the bane of Australian infrastructure.

Still, our system was pretty good. The federal government set a "schedule payment" for most medical services, like a GP visit or a new pair of glasses. Doctors et al could (and do) charge what they like (we're a capitalist country, after all). The federal government would cover the schedule component of the bill (and all of the bill for defined low-income earners, veterans and select others). Say, for example, the schedule for a GP consult was $35. The doc charges $50, so you need to fund the $15 difference out of your own pocket. There are some doctors that only "bulk bill" (i.e. they only charge schedule payments and are effectively "free").

Likewise on pharmaceuticals. Anything on the pharmaceutical benefit list (non-experimental stuff and things determined as "value for money") is dispensed at a consistent fee of around $15, with the federal government covering the rest. Is around $5 per script for veterans and low-income health card holders etc.

Additionally, emergency hospital treatment is free (state government responsibility). Many surgeries that are routine (ingrown toe nail, vasectomy, Caesarian etc) are also free in the state hospitals. Though there is often a long waiting list for "elective" surgery like a hip replacement. There is no dentistry cover, like the NHS, unless emergency surgery is required.

For all of the above there is a 1.5% levy across all income tax brackets. We call the whole thing Medicare and have had it since around 1970. Pretty sure it only applies to citizens and permanent residents, except accident and emergency.

We also have a dual private system, which is awkward. Federal government discounts private insurance by up to 30%. It basically lets you get discounts on non-Medicare stuff, like dentistry, podiatry, "elective" physio, chiropractic etc. There are also private hospitals. They charge like wounded bulls. Even with private insurance you can be thousands of dollars out of pocket. But, they have quality staff and very short waiting lists.

In the federal budget, tabled last week, the above is basically dismantled. Script fees go up by $5 each, for all people all the time. A $7 "co-payment" for all Medicare schedule claims will also apply, which means the death of universal health care (note some states are making noises about moving GPs into the state hospital system...). Apparently, we can't afford it anymore. But! We can continue discounting private health insurance by 30% and can afford a company tax discount rate drop of 1.5%.

Frankly, I think we've just made a quantum leap towards the world's first modern corporatocracy.

 

[doghead]

Hello everyone

Work has been pretty mental for the last few weeks (hence the sporadic posting) and it doesn't look like it is going to change for a while. On top of that, I am travelling, with all the associated connectivity issues that entails.

So rather than try and keep things running on a drip feed, I am going to put the gaming on on hold 10 Jun. Hopefully at that point I will have the time to give the game the attention it deserves.

Apologies for the inconvenience. I look forward to seeing you all when I get back.

Regards

thotd

 

[Scott DeWar]

How can I put this without it sounding like a diatribe... We did (and still do), is the short answer. Read on for more info (more than you ever dreamed).

EDIT
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Frankly, I think we've just made a quantum leap towards the world's first modern corporatocracy.

Well that all pretty much answers all of my questions. There has been an Aussie at my favorite wifi sight and he was talking about how great your health care system is and I wanted to hear another person's opinion.

re: world's first modern corporatocracy

first I had to add that word to my dictionary

second, this sounds so much like a G.U.R.P.S. game I have played in.

 

[doghead]

Hello

I am back and keen to get back into things once I get five minutes to myself so that I can catch up. Hopefully I will be able to do so and be in a position to get back into things in a few days. But for my sanity's sake, I will say should be good to go by the weekend.

... Assuming anyone is still around

Hope everyone is doing well. Be back soon.

thotd

 

[Axel]

I figured this one was the up to date ooc thread?

I'm still around, happy to keep on keeping on. Best of luck slaying the RL monster. Damned thing has fast healing 20 or some such.

 

[Scott DeWar]

Aqui estoy!

 

[doghead]

Scott, I'm going to need some numbers for the actions - Initiative, Attack and Damage.

thotd