Universal Heath Care in Denmark

Health care is not an issue I particularly enjoy talking about because it seems currently, it can be a touchy subject. But today, I got my renewal private insurance card and decided that I am going to suck it up and vocalize my thoughts on the Danish Health Care System.

One of the advantages to paying the ridiculous high taxes in Denmark is the universal heath care system. It is a nice change to see everyone in a country taken care of medically. Imagine a place where if you require some huge surgery, you won't pay a dime. Or if you need to be admitted to the hospital for weeks, you will never incur any costs. I think back to 1999-2002 when my brother, Joe, underwent multiple surgeries, was in and out of the hospitals on practically a monthly basis, and even spent a little over a month at the Mayo Clinic in AZ. The amount of money that boy racked up was unimaginable. Our family was blessed to have so many friends, family, strangers and even a miraculous generosity of a hospital, that my family didn't suffer financially the way I am sure many many others could have, and do on a daily basis. I think of all that and I can't imagine how wonderful it WOULD have been if that money was never racked up in the first place. Then of think of all the people in the states that aren't fortunate enough to have insurance in one form or another and am thankful that my brother DID at least have insurance. But what if he didn't?

Fortunately, here in Denmark, that is never a question.

But, when I think, "What if Joe had lived in Denmark in 1999 when he got sick", would it have been any better financially? Without a doubt, yes, but in that, I'm not positive he would have gotten the same care that he NEEDED to survive when he needed it. Would he have gone on a waiting list to wait for surgery and would that wait have been too long?

We have read in papers and discussed in depth with some of our Danish friends and even our Danish teacher about the problems of the hospitals being overcrowded and many times patients in the hospitals are left in the hallways because there are no rooms for them. There have been pictures in the newspapers of hallways lined with hospital beds. I met a Canadian girl about 6 months ago who had recently been to the hospital. She told me how she was surprised that she waited about 7-8 hours in the waiting room. Apparently this is common, my guess is that it is because everybody is able to go to the emergency room, so, naturally, there are more people there! Makes sense in my mind!

We know people personally that have had a family member diagnosed with cancer and put on a waiting list to get treatment. By the time their name came up, 2 or 3 months later, the cancer had progressed too much for the chemo and radiation to do anything. This is unfortunately a common problem in the system and that scares me!! Actually, scares isn't strong enough...that terrifies...horrifies me! What if, God forbid, Michael or I are diagnosed with the big "C"? Without our US health insurance allowing us to hop on a plane for immediate treatment back home, would we be left to sit and wait for that call?

BUT....Private Health Care is becoming more and more available over here. Many companies are starting to provide it to their employees. Since Texas Instruments is such an amazing company, and always seems to be very forward thinking we are fortunate to have private health insurance though TI. If we have an emergency, we will go to a private hospital, if something horrible happens to one of us, I can rest assured, we will be taken care of in a timely manner and that makes me....my hubby...and our moms (I'm sure) much happier. :)

Denmark's Health Care system is without a doubt, wonderful. It would be amazing to raise children in an environment where as a parent you weren't stressed about having some kind of insurance and having the comfort of a safety net, knowing that no matter what happens, you and your children will be treated. Those hefty taxes certainly could pay off if a woman had a baby in Denmark and was faced with multiple complications. Our "normal" health insurance card also works as travel health insurance. If we make our way to say, Ghana in Africa, and we get sick, we are covered in Ghana with our "Yellow Card". I think that is AWESOME. Another cool thing is that if you came to visit us here, and got sick in Denmark you also would be covered by the Danish Health Care system. Not because of associate to us, but simply because you are on Danish soil. Pretty cool huh?

In short, this is my opinion of Danish Health Care (*not to be confused with my opinions on universal heath care) as a foreigner:

It seems that there is a particular group of people this system is good for. They are the people that aren't healthy, but aren't severely ill. If you want a mole removed, you'll have to wait months. If you get cancer, you'll have to wait months. But I think, if you break a leg, or get appendicitis, they will put you in a cast or remove your appendix pretty quick.

Back to Joe.
I am thankful that Joe lived in the states when he got sick. At this point I don't have complete faith in the "normal" Danish Health Care system. Perhaps I've heard WAY too many bad stories and it has made me skeptical. However, I hope we never get the opportunity to form a first hand opinion.

Now, dental and vision.... Thats a WHOLE different story for another day.

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Footnote:
* Universal Health Care is VERY VERY good.