Reddit reviews The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care

>Is there some kind of phone service to call for medical advice?

Not only is the answer yes, but Canada basically took that idea from America.

Source: this book, the chapter on Canada's system.

Canada and Britain arguably have better healthcare than us. But France, Germany, and Japan have better healthcare than anyone, at a much lower price than we pay, and they aren't single-payer. Here's how they all work:

• Private, non-profit insurance plans
  
• A mandate
  
• Subsidies for anyone who can't afford the mandated coverage
  
• No denials or discrimination for preexisting conditions
  
• A nation-wide standard price list for providers
  
• No claim denials for anything on the price list
  
• Effective electronic medical records
  
  Everybody is covered, period. Doctors don't need administrative staff, insurance companies don't need medical underwriters. Japan is the cheapest with healthcare at 6% GDP, despite the fact that they have almost no waits and they go to the doctor an average of 14 times a year. Germany is the most expensive, but they cover things like week-long visits to the spa for stress relief, and they still spend a lot less than the U.S.
  
  Source: The Healing of America by T.R. Reid.

MD here. Many of my elderly patients ask me, "Why do the politicians want to mess with the greatest health care system in the world?" I try to explain to them that we (USA) have one of the very worst systems in the world. Propoganda has worked on these patients. I tell them to read the book, "The Healing of America". (link below)
IMO, Americans are uninformed or misinformed about healthcare and our political system will prevent meaningful reform until a crisis arises which breaks the current system, or until there is a huge, national public outcry demanding change. We're just not there yet.
http://www.amazon.com/Healing-America-Global-Better-Cheaper/dp/1594202346/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268663520&sr=8-1

TR Reid, The Healing of America is a great read about this topic.

I liked this book.

Mmmm. I smell trollbait.

If you're really interested in educating yourself on healthcare, I sincerely suggest taking an hour and watching this lecture lecture. T.R. Reid provides one of the clearest, most politically objective overviews of world healthcare I've ever heard. The lecture is essentially a free run-through of his book. If you're capable of stepping beyond the American political echo chamber and really looking at what works and what doesn't work, then save yourself $13 and check out the lecture. I think you'll find it edifying.