I Choose France

The next time I'm about to deliver a baby, I'm getting on a plane.

Thanks to Annette

I have given birth in two different countries—France and the good old U.S. of A.—and let me tell you, my homeland let me down, big time.

My daughter was born in France. I had a cesarean and they kept me in the hospital for 15 days because they wanted to make sure I was taken care of. I had my baby with me all the time. I had a midwife, a personal nurse and fabulous food (it was France, after all). It was like taking a two-week vacation at an upscale spa! When it was all over, I paid nothing and my insurance paid $800. That included everything: my room and board, my anesthesiologist, childcare, all the medications, everything.

Then I had my son. In America. Mistake. The docs kicked me out after a day and a half, bleary on painkillers, still in agony, with no babysitter for my older daughter. In France, they would have had a crèche for her, but never mind. What disgusted me most was the final bill: $11,000. Let me say that again: Eleven. Thousand. Dollars. Not francs! In the end, I paid $1,000 and my insurance paid $10,000. All for a crummy, uncomfortable, 36-hour stay in the hospital. With crappy food to boot!

Certain people in our government (most of them men) claim that socialized medicine is a terrible idea. Um, for whom? The hospitals that inflate their bills? The doctors who charge $500 an hour? The insurance companies who set high deductibles and refute every single claim submitted? Yup, for them it's a terrible idea. But for the rest of us—particularly all you pregnant women out there about to give birth—socialized medicine is a dream, albeit an unattainable one as yet. So the next time your labor kicks in, skip going to your local hospital and try hopping on a transatlantic flight instead.

Comments

CaroleRivkah Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 8/19/2009 - 11:08AM Report Abuse	I grew up in France, and I still have relatives there. I have a dual U.S./French citizenship, and let me tell you there is a lot I love about the U.S. but healthcare isn't it. It is really scary growing old in this country. Everyone has some sort of major health problem, at least toward the end of life, and this really can wipe you out and your family financially in the U.S. Here, the worst your health is, the less you can get insured or the more you pay. Of course there is medicare, but if you get more than the minimum plan, it is really expensive at a time in your life where you have the least income. And Even if you saved and planned ahead, the bills are astronomical. In France, my 89 year old Dad is on dialysis. He gets to see the best specialists (and believe me, they make a very nice living), and because he is older and has a life threatening health condition, everything, including all presriptions are taken care of at 100% by the national insurance system. The mininum rate of reimbursement is 80% for younger people. He goes to his dialysis by private ambulance 3 times a week, and that is also paid for. The system is not perfect, and they do pay more taxes, but when you add it all up, believe me he does come ahead. There is also the peace of mind that comes with it, and the preservation of human dignity. And the quality of care? At least as good as here, since they have the same modern equipment, excellent doctors, and medical decisions are solely based on what is best for the patient (imagine that). The proof? The U.S. is now trailing many other western countries in human longevity. Maybe this is difficult to understand when you are 20- something and healthy that it is a good thing to pay more taxes for healthcare, but everyone gets old, will need extensive or chronic care at some point. And Women who put in the extra time and effort in their career early on may have to face the high cost of fertility treatments in the U.S., which are rarely covered by private insurance.
dodd_09 Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 7/8/2009 - 8:37PM Report Abuse	Now im from USA I don't know anything about france.I saw one of the coments about long waits and inadequate specialist. It cant be much worse than here I pay out the butt for my insurance every week then when I do go to the doc I still have to pay more. Then unless I know whats wrong with me to tell them it doesnt do anygood anyway. And let me say the wait sometime is rediculous. I had a tubal pregnancy a couple of yrs ago. I spent 13 hours in the emergency room. 7 hours in the lobby and the other six sitting in a room attached to a drip with noone accually looking at me. Now tell me that USA is superior to others when it comes to health care. I can't say we are worse but I am far from bragging about our service.
LittleOph Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 4/17/2009 - 11:26AM Report Abuse	Being French, I must say I do not second SwissGuy... for a second. It is true that many hospitals are understaffed, but not to the point he describes. I have friends in Switzerland, Swiss ones and French ones. What they say is "true, you earn more, but you have to pay for everything, so in the end, you don't have more". The best bargain consists in working in Switzerland (better salary) while living in France (better conditions for daycare, health insurance and so on). Besides, if the sanitary situation was so bad, I'm not sure Angelina Jolie would have given birth to her twins in a French public hospital. The situation is far from being as idyllic as described by Annette (find a crèche? really?) and I wouldn't dream of staying 2 weeks (I was getting crazy after 3 days and finally got out after 5), but no, I don't have to wait for hours before I see a doctor. And I fail to understand how the average French person can lose 2,500 euros a month while earning 1,300. I work in human resources, so I know what I'm talking about. Were all taxes suppressed, the salary would raise from 1,300 to 2,000, no higher. And that would mean no more health insurance, retirement insurance, unemployment insurance... Sorry, I'm not ready to lose this. And there's still 1,800 euros lost somewhere, between the 700 I count and the 2,500 SwissGuy counts. I live here, I work here, I pay my taxes here, and I'm perfectly happy with it. Thank you.
SwissGuy Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 1/25/2009 - 7:18PM Report Abuse	I could give you the story about Germany as well, part of my family being German. Or Sweden, where I just spent last summer. Or Belarus, where my wife is from. In all those countries, health care is "free". All of them would gladly trade with Switzerland. Or the US. I highly recommend the French Canadian movie "The Barbarian Invasions" to learn the truth about the Canadian "model" as well. Eye opening! The worst is: in Switzerland, we've got more and more government involvement, more and more Socialism. And the inevitable consequence is HIGHER COSTS and WORSE PERFORMANCE. Since health insurance was made mandatory in 1996, prices have risen by 500%! I used to pay 60 CHF, not I pay 300 - per month. That was exactly what I predicted back then. Socialism carries a gigantic price tag that will wipe out any apparent benefit. Don't fall for the lies - IT'S A TRAP!
SwissGuy Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 1/25/2009 - 7:13PM Report Abuse	But don't the French get "great service"? I have no idea where you had your great experience, but it's not typical. Most hospitals are totally understaffed, have lousy equipment and are falling apart. When a brand new hospital was inaugurated in Paris, they found Legionnaire's disease just 1 month later. Bad air conditioning system. France is moving closer and closer to situation of the old Soviet Union - you're entitled to get everything for "free", but you either can't get it or it's worth nothing. In Switzerland where government charges just 50% of what they take in France, everything works far better - incomparably superior infrastructure, better services, punctual transports etc. etc. When rich French people want to give birth under the best conditions, they come to Switzerland. The average obviously can't afford that.
SwissGuy Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 1/25/2009 - 7:08PM Report Abuse	If there's one word that comes to mind when I hear Frace, it's "Socialist hellhole". It's all good and well to imagine that you got stuff for free, but you should know that there's no such thing as a free meal. Never. SOMEONE has to pay for it. And in France, it's everyone except the political class. You think you got a bargain in France? You wouldn't think so if you paid the taxes there - government consumes about 65% of the entire GDP. That destroys the economy to a point you wouldn't believe. 4 years ago, I read the official INSEE statistics for salaries in France. The average income for the TOP 1% was 4400 Euros. THE TOP ONE PERCENT. That happens to be just about the GLOBAL AVERAGE for all Swiss workers, which in France is at 1300 Euros. 80% of all French workers earned less than 1700 Euros. In Switzerland, 80% make MORE than that. In other words, the French people get screwed out of your $11'000 about every 3 months by paying for a gigantic government. Yes, the average French person loses 7'500 Euros EVERY 3 MONTHS due to Socialism or 30'000 Euros per year. That's currently $51'000. EVERY YEAR.
SwissGuy Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 1/25/2009 - 7:00PM Report Abuse	This is a classic case of "What you see and what you don't see" as the French economist Frederic Bastiat called it. I'm Swiss and I know the France extremely well. After all, I'm just 25 minutes away from the next border. I have worked all over Europe, the USA, Latin America and even the ex Soviet Union, all the way to Siberia, so I know a bit about how things work. I wrote software for many, many domains, including medicine (my system has been in use at both medical emergency services in Geneva). I worked for large corporations (DuPont, HP, IBM, various banks), small companies and aid organizations and also various government services, such as the social security of Switzerland (the AVS). By now, I know very well how the hidden part works. If you're interested in the part about France you don't see, please read on:
anastomosis Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 1/6/2009 - 10:00PM Report Abuse	I have a dear friend at work who is always so baffeld at the USA. In Germany, her home country, mothers are in the hospital and well taken care of for a long time, as in France and they are given 3 years, yes YEARS of PAIN, yes again, PAID maternity leave by law paid for by their employers. Guess who has lower rates of childhood abuse, neglect, post-partum depression and everything else we rush new mom's and babies into??? My aunt moved back to Scotland 5 years ago so that she actually COULD get the cancer treatment she needed as well as be able to afford it without having to sell everything she owned to be eligable for federal aid (Medicaid). I think socialized medicine is not a bad thing
ohboys Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 9/22/2008 - 6:30PM Report Abuse	that sounds wonderful! I think the guy who talks about long waits etc is out of touch. We need universal health care!
amorsiempre23 Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 9/22/2008 - 6:06PM Report Abuse	I think it's nice that you had such a nice birth experience in france, i'm sure its much more relaxing both to you & the baby. Unfortunately, it's not that way here. This will be my first baby, it may not be the most comfortable here but all I pray for is a happy & healthy child! thanks for sharing your experiences! :)
Mama_Cain Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 9/16/2008 - 11:13AM Report Abuse	Ah....my husband and I have been contemplating on moving to France and though I know you pay taxes up the ass I also know that the social services are unbelievable! I am not having anymore babies...but yes, I've heard it is fab. (sigh) Thanks for the confirmation that we are not making a huge mistake..awe don't know if it will work out (he is requesting a transfer from work -corporate based in Paris--but wish us luck!! And good luck with the delivery!!
Stephanie27x Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 9/15/2008 - 1:02PM Report Abuse	Well im English & i gave birth to my son here in London and when we go to hospital its basically free becuase you pay like tax to the NHS(national health service) & towards your pension... but i want to give birth to my daughter/son in Italy were my partner is from. I just find it exciting and has meaning seeing as his.her father is Italian. Hope you had a good time in france giving birth, personally i find france really dirty & full of rubbish lol.
jlt79 Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 5/29/2008 - 7:51PM Report Abuse	France is fab. I'm a Canadian and we have national health care, 12 month paid materinty leave with job security and our country is doing just fine. I find it absurb how the American government doesn't take care of it's hard working tax paying citizens like they should. Stand-up for what you beleive in and maybe one day someone will listen. ;)
mn_dad Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 5/29/2008 - 7:44PM Report Abuse	I'm sorry to hear you had such a negative experience in this country, but I don't think socialized medicine is the answer. We had a wonderful experience with our doctors and nurses in this country. Fortunately for you, I don't think you got to see all the negative sides to socialized medicine; the long wait to see a doctor for a routine illness or injury, the shortage of every type of medical worker, dealing with the huge government bureaucracy for the smallest of details, and of course the confiscatory taxes to pay for the entire thing. If it's so great, ask our Canadian friends why they all come down to the U.S. to get routine check-ups. So enjoy France for all it's scenery and beauty...and keep the socialized medicine there.
NewYorkDude Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 5/29/2008 - 6:50PM Report Abuse	BTW, don't move to France... we need more open-minded people here. :)
NewYorkDude Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 5/29/2008 - 6:49PM Report Abuse	I hear you! We (my wife) had 3 babies in the US, all natural, and the insurance usually paid between $20 and $40K (depending on which hospital and anesthesia levels), ABSURD! For the first one we only paid about $500, with my second insurance we had to pay about 5 grand on our own and with the last one just about $1000. We never spent more than 3 days in the hospital, the food was barely adequate, the accommodations varied between cramped and OK. It is said the direction in which this country is going... I love it here, but I see your point clearly.
stop Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 5/29/2008 - 2:32PM Report Abuse	why don't we all move to France?
PCNamePro_Kay Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 4/3/2008 - 12:48PM Report Abuse	Well I was actually born in France, and, although my memory of that visit to hospital is slightly blurred, I do know that their medical service is great. But I don't know anything about the American side of it.
Mom2Karma Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 3/31/2008 - 11:58AM Report Abuse	Wow that is great that France has such nice medical attention! Of course I had a natural birth and was in the hospital for seven days. I really feel it depends on your doctor. It was my first baby and I was in the hospital for seven days (the food was actually really good) and I only paid a total of 350 dollars with my insurance picking up the rest.
KLGomez Send a Note Send a Gift Write on ME page 3/17/2008 - 7:50PM Report Abuse	What is WRONG with this country?