(I had posted this over a year ago on another forum---and I thought it would be nice to share here in light of our possible free healthcare like they have in the UK. This is a conversation on a website in the UK) "OK this is a bit random but I had my 1st child in the States, and the 'goodies' they gave you over there were pretty good.I got a huge supply of pads for me, nappies for the baby, Lansinoh cream and breast pads for nursing. I'm having my 2nd at St Thomas (in London) in 3 weeks, I'm just packing my bag right now, and was wondering what I needed to take with me. Will they give me nappies and pads there, or am I expected to bring my own? Anyone who's given birth there??? " ___________ No idea about St Thomas but we get NOTHING - absolutely bog all not even a hospital towel to use post birth shower! You should be prepared to take everything from pads and nappies to towels and soap and everything inbetween! __________________________ They won't give you anything! Take everything, even towels and an extra pillow. _________________ I did manage to get a maternity pad out of a MW when DS & I were sent back to the PN ward when he was a week old. But basically I was wandering the corridors weeping and wailing and almost ended up with a psych consult too... ___________________ I had all my dd's at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn, i didn't even get bloody breakfast as i wasn't there the day before so hadn't ordered any My mum had to change my bloody bedding after i had given birth as they wanted me to keep it! ___________________ Actually, my care for the most part was great, but right enough, I sat in blood soaked sheets for three days!! Here is the REAL link to this forum in the UK 

I am wondering if there will be huge splits in Health Care? I would imagine some clinics will not be accepting the Federal insurance policies. Private insurance or cash pay only. Of course the private sector health care would be better, and this would lead to even more segregation in the country. Of course all the government would have to do is yank the doctors DEA licences or tax them heavily and they would probably go away. 

borracho, "Private insurance or cash pay only. Of course the private sector health care would be better, and this would lead to even more segregation in the country. " YES. This is what has happened in Canada. Canada outlawed "private practices"---but guess who opened the first private practice?---the doctor that was at one time their equivalent to our Surgeon General. The new private practices are nice and spa-like in design and people with money are using them. 

Lottery drawings to get a doctor!! Sounds like fun....yeah right! 

Yeah, remember when the draft was run by lottery? There's no real winners there. 

Health Savings Plans explained. We just switched to an HSA this year. We pay roughly $500 for insurance....the extra that is now saved goes into an HSA plan.