In the US, where we have "the best healthcare in the world", 69 cents of every dollar

[Atticus]

spent on healthcare actually buys healthcare. Over 31 cents of every dollar goes for overhead, paperwork, CEO bonuses and dividends to shareholders.

In Canada, that terribly inefficient socialist system, 99 cents of each dollar spent on healthcare buys healthcare. Overhead is ONE CENT per dollar.

This is the discrepancy and the plunder we are about to sanction with the force of law and fund with taxpayer dollars. But, of course, it's "better than nothing".

For other inconvenient truths, see: http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_12523427

[Sannum]

1. But Canadians have to wait in line for healthcare.

I know a friend who has a cousin who has waited 4 years for chemo and a hip replacement. :sarcasm"

[HughBeaumont]

10. Gotta LOVE those anecdotal "Convenient Friend/Relative" stories.

All of the knuckledraggers, as much as they love 'MURKA and don't travel much, seem to always have one when it comes to health care discussions. You know, because such burdensome wait times and bureaucracy NEVER happens in OUR great system :eyes:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. when they charge $100 for support stockings

they charge far too much for health related things here

[kenny blankenship]

3. Oh but once the insurance giants have their pipeline to the Treasury all hooked up

things will turn around and become efficient and spitspot. You'll see!

[BrklynLiberal]

4. i would have guessed that the ratio was worse than that...It seems like only about

25 cents out of every healthcare dollar actually goes to healthcare in this county..

[robinlynne]

5. I agree. I think they are counting all the millions in advertising and jets and other things

as healthcare, i.e. business expenses.

[rucky]

12. If you count all the savings gained from denial of care...

and the amount that the patients spend out-of-pocket, your number sounds about right.

[Monk06]

6. Think of it as a 31% Corporate Health care tax. See sounds a lot better that way doesn't it?

[Brigid]

7. In Canada they don't have to deal with . . .

health insurance industry lobbyists and health insurance company CEOs with compensation so high they can afford multimillion-dollar vacation homes.

[indepat]

8. This unnecessary and heinous 30% corporate tax on health care surely depicts for even the blind

to see just how venal, corrupt, and self-serving the Congress has become. Please, anyone, set me straight by disproving this simple assertion. :P

[GeorgeGist]

9. It's the profit, stupid.

It pays for nothing.

[PVnRT]

11. K&R

[Festivito]

13. And, some of that 69 cents is even grossly overpriced service costs.

Hospitals have to overcharge in order to pay for indigent services. That's part of that 69 cents that decent countries do not have to pay since everyone is covered.

Plus, they have to charge extra in order to be reimbursed for things as silly as aspirin, and pay the staff to write the bill onto the insurance company form.

...

I think the real value is somewhere between 30 and 50 cents for actual health care.