Socialized Medicine New Zealand Style

I can't say enough good things about socialized medicine. It is one of the driving factors keeping me and my family here. Once again, I engaged the public health care system and was very pleased with the service.

Today I went into Christchurch to take Cruz for a follow-up test at the hospital. About a week ago, I received a couple of letters in the mail indicating the dates and times of appointments that a pediatrician had scheduled for him. When we showed up at the hospital there wasn't a long registration process or lengthy administration session regarding insurance, just the service.

Upon arriving at the department, I placed our appointment letter in a box at reception and waited our turn. The technicians were efficient and pleasant. They completed the tests using the very latest in equipment and then we left. It was that simple AND money NEVER changed hands.

I myself have overnighted at Christchurch Women's and found their service and expertise fabulous. My American readers might not believe that there is actually a person who comes around and asks if you might like to have a cookie and coffee, tea or other drink at morning and afternoon tea time and then again in the evening before you go to bed. This isn't an additional service, this IS the service.

Now I know you might be saying, it's awfully nice that you got a cookie but how was the care. Well, let me tell you that having numerous specialists on your case, conferring about your ailment/problem and then directing your treatment is something that most people would love to have and believe me, I did!

Now, if you want to have a back-up plan just in case something MAJOR occurs and you want to have coverage to see doctors in the private sector, health insurance here is incredibly inexpensive. For a family of five, we pay a small fraction of what we might in America. Quite frankly, I think we pay less for all of us than we would to cover one adult in the U.S.A. As an aside, let me assure you that the doctors in the public system are just as good as the ones in the private system. How do I know this? They are the same doctors!

I have used my health insurance to cover a major surgery last year (which I'll be blogging about on my one year post-op anniversary in December). Can you imagine an insurance coverage where you pay nothing, there is no co-pay, no percentage unpaid? Well this is what we have. My insurance not only covered all of the hospital, surgeon, radiology and other associated fees, they also paid 100% for me to stay5 days in a PRIVATE room. How can you beat that? The fact of the matter is you can't!

So, while New Zealand is known for its clean and green image, it should also be known for having options for health care that are accessible to everyone and for that I am thankful.