Best Health Care In The World...Really?
wesmorgan1;)
Here's an excellent, if sobering, graphical examination of health care spending around the world from National Geographic. The presentation represents three particular data points - spending per person, number of doctor visits per year, and life expectancy. Click on the graphic to enlarge.
The question is simple. If life expectancy and availability/frequency of physician care are significant measures, what exactly are we in the US getting for our more-than-twice-the-average expenditures? Sure, there are many procedures that are more easily available in the US, but how many of us need those procedures? We're paying through the nose for prescription drugs, even as the pharmaceutical companies somehow manage to profit under negotiated prices elsewhere in the world.
This is why we need to change the system. Many of those opposed to reform have adopted the talking point that healthcare represents one-sixth of our economy, but I would suggest that this chart shows that it doesn't have to be that big. Your thoughts? (Note that I'm not asking approval or disapproval of particular legislation, but your thoughts on the general question.)
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Reader Comments (14)
I think you pretty much know my thoughts on the subject, but let me say that the big fat blue line leading away from Japan on the graph helps me understand why my wife hates the American medical system so much. lol
I'm so tired of these mis-leading comparisons. For once I would like to see life expectancies by country for cancer survivors, or 100 other areas where the U.S. excels. As for life expectancy, the U.S. compares favorably with these countries once you eliminate deaths by handguns. Also, these single payer countries don't account for the "full cost" of their health care through the taxes applied, inefficiency of the system and black market health care costs for those not wanting to use the wonderful government health care i.e. Cuba style.
how can one stat ever represent the broad stroke that is the health care industry. I mean c'mon lefties... really? How long are you going to pimp this stat before you realize how foolish you all look doing so?
Thats a potent statement TM......"As for life expectancy, the U.S. compares favorably with these countries once you eliminate deaths by handguns"
You're saying the proliferation of handguns causes the life expectancy for all 300,000,000 Americans to drop by 3 to 5 years?
Well Skinny, enlighten us, what stat would you prefer we use?
Good God. The I’ll-just-make-it-up nonsense never stops. The man's a veritable fountain of earnestly believed misinformation.
I don't see anything about lawyers in that graph.
well said..
But somebody have to take initiative...
You might think that last comment somewhat flip, but it isn't. Take a look at countries that have banned direct-to-consumer drug advertising; they have lower rates of medical recidivism, better compliance with drug regimens, and lower prescription costs overall. It's a serious play--even before you consider that the average member of Big Pharma spends 10x as much on advertising as it does on R&D--and one we should consider in the US. The vast majority of patients are NOT equipped to make the medical decisions necessary in choosing medications, and it's ludicrous to create patient-to-doctor pressures for particular drugs.
How do we know they balance out if they are not on the graph?
I'm not trying to trip you up...I'm just a little leery of graphs in general, especially when all I see are the results (and when the topic is a controversial one).
I suspect the graph is pretty accurate. Maybe we have a high death rate due to all the illegal drugs and obesity in this country.
Speaking of drugs, why isn't it considered "dumping" when our drug companies can sell to foreign countries at a lower cost than in the US? Maybe they get away with it since they still make a profit off it.
As far as health care goes, and the OP wasn't really asking about that, I was out of work several time in my 50s and late 50s and took blood pressure medicine and cholesterol medicine. After Cobra ran out, I couldn't get health insurance at all. Humana was one of the companies that turned me down cold. After I retired, I started getting solicitations from them to join their Medicare Advantage plans. Needless to say I told em to stick it. I did finally get a high deductible, high cost health insurance since a guy on my bowling team sold insurance and got me in as a personal favor. They still almost turned me down when a clerk not in on the deal processed it at first.
Now that I'm on Medicare, I have a first rate supplemental insurance that costs about $175 a month each for my wife and me. Today, we went to a seminar at Laser Spine Institute to see if minimally invasive spine surgery would cure the lumbar pain I've had for the last 6 years. I was convinced that they could really fix it with no overnight stay, no general anesthesia, minimal blood loss and only about a 5/8" incision. When I talked to a patient rep, she explained that Medicare and suppl would cover the surgery and I would be responsible for the facility fee. I asked what that would be and was told it was $16,700. I have that in investments, but can't bring myself to pay it. I guess I'll try for epidurals. Health care in this country is great if you can afford it. If you can't, it's still great, but you'll be destitute.
mabye we have a lower life span because all our young men and women are off fighting wars other countries are completely incapable of handling on their own.
Ironically, Japan has really no military to speak of.
Deadnuts;
Just curious if the $16,700 number was open to negotiation with the hospital? It seems a cash transaction would be attractive to them. I've had some back issues over the years so I hope you find some relief.