The magical, wondrous land of the American ER

It seems that every Australian has some horror story concerning a trip to an Emergency Department. A mother that waited 6 hours to have their newborn seen for a mild temperature, the university student with a fractured wrist that sat in an overcrowded waiting room for all of a Friday night, the angry businessman with a headache that stormed out after 4 hours without being seen. It is continuous fodder for tabloid newspapers, the stories of obscene wait times, stretchers in hallways, the vitriolic tales of citizens frustrated with the state of the health system.
Yet, despite all the problems with the Australian emergency departments, regardless of the hellish waits or overcrowding, one element is often neglected. That health care is available to all Australian citizens. Universal. This word takes on a new meaning when you enter a private megahospital in the United States. The emergency room is impeccable. No stretchers in hallways, no long wait times. At many American hospitals, you can check the wait times online. A trip to the ER need not be a frustrating experience.

Walk around and the system appears perfect. Sufficient numbers of doctors and nurses. Single bed rooms, a plethora of equipment. An MRI scan can be organised in a matter of minutes.

But look a little closer and the illusion fades. Your name on the doctors computer screen, whilst stating your personal and medical details has a specific column for the name of your insurance company. A tiny plaque at the door outlines the responsibilities of the hospital if you do not have insurance. All the incredible service, all the impeccable care comes a cost, insurance. If you do not have it, that ER door to this paradise slams shut.

Nearly 50 million Americans do not have insurance, one person in six. One person in six living with inferior access to health care, the door to emergency care firmly shut.

Australian Emergency Departments do not seem so bad after all.