this post was submitted on 04 Nov 2023
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That’s what drives me nuts about this talking point. As someone with a condition that requires specialists and lands me in the ER a lot, wait times in the US are abysmal. Referrals to specialists often take months or more than a year, and even after getting in it can be several months to schedule an appointment. And ER wait times are absurd, rarely less than 5-6 hours, usually 8-12 or more.
I'm one of the few who even have a primary care physician but I really only see them basically annually to get my blood pressure meds, or for general non-urgent health concerns like, "I'm tired all the time, is it that I'm in my mid thirties, or do I have low testosterone like my dad?" The wait time is usually like 4 months unless I think it's urgent, then they can usually squeeze me in in the next 3-4 weeks. I don't normally have to schedule the blood pressure visit but only because they'll schedule it a year out for me when I'm there.
Anything else, like respiratory infections, covid, flu, strep, etc... urgent care is my only option and unless I get there at 6am when they open it's usually a 4 hour ordeal.
You're lucky to get treatment in 4 hours at urgent care. Where I live there is one clinic for over 100,000 people. You show up at 4am and that's usually too late. They regularly put up a sign on the door that says "Was are only seeing 10 people today. Go to the local ER if you need medical care." When you go there you can wait up to 2 days... or you give up and go home... or try in another nearby city.
My family and I save up our medical needs and get it dealt with when we travel. It's faster and easier to pay cash for medical treatment when we are overseas visiting family than it is here in Canada.