To think the most shocking thing about James VDB's death is...

[Hitthebestbooth]

...that a famous actor, recognised worldwide for his role in Dawson's Creek (putting this in the first lines for the benefit of MNetters who love to comment 'who??' on these threads) struggled to pay for his cancer treatment? His death has left his family 'out of funds'.

Now, James Van der Beek had enough fame and affection from fans that a Go Fund Me has raised a lot to support his family already. But there must be countless families across America who are ruined by medical bills - if Dawson couldn't pay for his cancer treatment, how do non-famous people in ordinary jobs cope? What do their families do after they've been crippled by the costs and still lose their loved one along with their homes and security for their children?

As a millennial, I was so sad to read of James' death. I loved Dawson's Creek. But it makes me very afraid for a future where Farage gets his hands on the NHS and we find ourselves in this position too. I have plenty of bad experiences with our healthcare system and am not saying it's perfect. But if I or my husband are diagnosed with cancer tomorrow, we won't have to sell our possessions or ask friends and family for money or risk leaving our kids with no home after treatment costs. There are plenty of wealthy people out there eager to take the NHS apart and sell it off, and for all people say we'd get a European system and it would be improved, it seems far more likely that capitalist greed will win out and we'll actually get an American model.

James Van der Beek's death highlights just how ruinous that model is. He spent his illness selling off memorabilia and trying to raise money. He died knowing his family's finances were left decimated. And he was someone with more resources than most. It's a sobering indictment of how bad things can get, and I am truly afraid that a Reform government would put us all in that dystopian scenario.

There are all kinds of options I could put for a poll but I'm just trying to make it really simple.

YABU - US healthcare is fine
YANBU - US healthcare is a terrifying prospect

It happens all over the world. Most people can't afford expensive cancer treatment so they don't have it. This country can't afford for everyone to have expensive cancer treatment either. That is why we have a huge national debt and pot holes.

Think I’d take pot holes over people not being able to access medical treatment any day.

Obviously, but they are an indication that there isn't enough money. A bit like rape trails taking 3 years to get to court, lack of policing, underfunded schools, limited national security etc. We take 'free' health care for granted because so far there have been just enough people willing and able to fund it whilst keeping the national debt at a reasonable level. However, it isn't sustainable and the cracks are beginning to show.

The American health insurance system is not a question of there not being enough money; it's run to generate obscene profits. It exists to enrich a small number of people beyond reason at the expense of everyone else.

There are other healthcare models in the world other than the US system and the NHS.

Yes I know. My fear is a Reform government who would adopt the US model.