U.S. Health System Gets Dismal Score

[RedEarth]

U.S. Health System Gets Dismal Score

High Cost, Poor Efficiency, and Lack of Fairness Mar System

Countless reports have detailed how the United States lags other nations -- some industrialized, and some not-so-industrialized -- in bellwether statistics such as infant mortality and overall life expectancy.

But it's not for lack of money. The U.S. spends a far bigger chunk of its economy on health care than any other nation, but has less and less to show for it.

The U.S. now spends more than $6,000 per capita on medical care, compared with $2,000 to $3,000 spent by the U.K., Germany, Canada, and France.

But a major lack of efficiency and equity lead to rampant waste that squanders resources that could be spent improving health, the commission's report suggests.


A third of the adult population under 65 lacks adequate health insurance, forcing them to seek more expensive care in hospital emergency rooms and other places.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/127/116770?printing=true

[Warpy]

1. The working population is not only sicker than those in Europe

we're starting to get shorter, too, after 5 decades of getting taller in each succeeding generation. We've leveled off and even started to decline. Europe is getting taller.

Bad wages, bad prospects, bad housing, bad food, and no access to medical care have taken their toll on the US population.

Not only has our industry been exported, but our health and our hope have gone, too.

[indepat]

5. The Repuke dreams are being realized

[elehhhhna]

6. Part of the shortness trend here is due to immigration from third-world

countries.

[burythehatchet]

2. We must stop using the "Universal care" phrase

and fight for single payer healthcare. 100% access for all, no restrictions. Healthcare must be a considered a human right.

[rodeodance]

3. yes, that term freaks people out -as it is demonized. but even Russ Fein

gold uses it for his plan.

[sandnsea]

8. single payer is demonized

Universal health care was coined to describe alternative plans that provide universal access but aren't total single payer - like they have in most countries in Europe.

[burythehatchet]

10. UNless the insurance companies are substantially removed from the

delivery system, the problem cannot be solved.

[sandnsea]

12. Not anywhere else

Canada is the only western country that outlaws private pay for medical care or private insurance. Every other country has a public-private cooperative and there's no reason we can't have it here too. Medicare and Medicaid can be the base layer, subsidized insurance the next layer, and private pay for anybody who can afford it. That's actually the way it is in Europe and most capitalist countries.

It's actually all pointless anyway because Walmart's $4 generics and $40 clinics just circumvented the whole debate for at least another 20 years. *sigh*

[burythehatchet]

13. See post 9, I think we're on the same page

insurance should be in play only when there is a true risk. Risk is absent when considering what is expected.

[OhioChick]

4. K&R

Due to our pathetic healthcare system.

[mom cat]

7. A key issue is the 30% the insurance companies take off the top.

Medicare only has a 3% overhead.

[burythehatchet]

9. ..and the characteristics of that financing model

are the root cause of the problem:

Since the financin entities essentially operate at a 30% expense ratio <[i>regardless of the size of the premium volume, the higher that volume the more money is siphoned into profit and administration (P&A). Over the long term, it is clearly in the best interests of the financing entity to have a LARGER pool of losses, since it drives up the amount of P&A.

In the risk management business, the organizational benchmark is to "self-insure" the amount of expected losses. When you self manage the losses that are forecast to occur, you eliminate a large portion of P&A, and get a lot more for your money. The most imporant role that the financing (insurance) companies provide is marketing, for gad sakes.

[mom cat]

11. That is the height of insanity. It is our health care!