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Somehow or other though many countries have managed to implement universal healthcare that very much matches what the US offers at a much cheaper cost.
And the citizens of those countries would never, ever think of switching to the chaos that passes for a healthcare system like the US has.
Those countries control the amount that can be spent. The UK dilutes and delays care to the point that care eventually received is less effective. The drugs are generic and they do not have a hospital cartel colluding to fix prices.
I can slash the amount the US spends tomorrow.
Have an illness due to obesity? No health services for you unless you pay 100% up front out of pocket.
Smoking or alcohol related illness? No healthcare services for you unless you pay 100% up front out of pocket.
Illness related to age? No healthcare services for you unless you have dependent kids.
Gunshot wound from committing a crime? No healthcare services for you unless you can pay 100% of the cost out of pocket.
Many of those countries control the amount that can be spent. If you and I go to the store with $400 and you only spend $200 while I spend $400 do your groceries really cost less?
Actually, the better analogy is that Americans spend $400 for healthcare that is costing someone in another country only $200. The outcomes in the U.S. are not that superior to other countries, but we spend a lot more getting the same results.
Actually, the better analogy is that Americans spend $400 for healthcare that is costing someone in another country only $200. The outcomes in the U.S. are not that superior to other countries, but we spend a lot more getting the same results.
Yup.
That said, a large amount of this is having an unhealthier underlying population, other nations free-riding on our pharmaceutical spending, medical workers (not just talking doctors here -- talking absolutely everything from doctors to nurses to radiology techs to non-medical hospital workers and more) getting paid a lot more here, etc.
None of these are simply fixable, and even the one that could be most easily resolved (other nations free-riding on our drug spending; solvable with the "Dorgan amendment'/importation legalization) would precipitate a crisis as other countries would fight the inevitable increases in drug costs outside America while the drug companies would see their profits crash and try to fight it as hard as possible.
Actually, the better analogy is that Americans spend $400 for healthcare that is costing someone in another country only $200. The outcomes in the U.S. are not that superior to other countries, but we spend a lot more getting the same results.
Except in the other country everyone pays $200. Here a few guys pay millions and lots pay $400 and lots more pay zero.
That said, a large amount of this is having an unhealthier underlying population, other nations free-riding on our pharmaceutical spending, medical workers (not just talking doctors here -- talking absolutely everything from doctors to nurses to radiology techs to non-medical hospital workers and more) getting paid a lot more here, etc.
None of these are simply fixable, and even the one that could be most easily resolved (other nations free-riding on our drug spending; solvable with the "Dorgan amendment'/importation legalization) would precipitate a crisis as other countries would fight the inevitable increases in drug costs outside America while the drug companies would see their profits crash and try to fight it as hard as possible.
Doctor's salaries for specialists tend to be double or even four to five times higher than in other countries, so that is a factor in high healthcare costs.
The drug companies on average make profit margins in the double digits, so even with R&D expenditure their drug prices could be lower, and they'd still make a very good profit. The average profit margin for all industries in the U.S. is around 2.2 %.
Doctor's salaries for specialists tend to be double or even four to five times higher than in other countries, so that is a factor in high healthcare costs.
The drug companies on average make profit margins in the double digits, so even with R&D expenditure their drug prices could be lower, and they'd still make a very good profit. The average profit margin for all industries in the U.S. is around 2.2 %.
What drug companies do they have in other countries that we don't have here?
Some interesting posts on here, as an Australian employer the only costs I have is workers compensation, health care it comes out of my lads pay as they pay tax.
But there is one big difference between the USA and Commonwealth countries, we would call all the money that politicians get from Insurance companies etc corruption.
Are your politicians prepared to tell insurance companies etc to get lost when they arrive bearing riches ?
there is no way in the world you will convince me we cannot fix a large portion of the problem by instituting solid, simple freemarket principles.
Ok, you have spewed the obligatory ideology. Now, think about it in the world of reality. The free market will avoid serving the common good in this case, their solution was to dump high risk or obviously ill patients and stick it to the healthiest. Made perfect economic sense for them. That it why we have so many band aids in our system. And our private system is clearly is not producing better deals for the typical citizen. Free market principles tend to be great for commerce, but they are not the answer to every important societal question.
Some interesting posts on here, as an Australian employer the only costs I have is workers compensation, health care it comes out of my lads pay as they pay tax. But there is one big difference between the USA and Commonwealth countries, we would call all the money that politicians get from Insurance companies etc corruption.
Are your politicians prepared to tell insurance companies etc to get lost when they arrive bearing riches ?
No, because we have diehard capitalists that don't see how this goes against their own family's best interest. If insurance companies are posting great profits, then Americans will believe that those companies are doing a good job.
We Americans do have access to some of the best healthcare in the world. Too bad it would bankrupt many Americans if they ever do need it.
Would any conservative consider a single payer health care system, like expanding Medicare to cover everyone? Health care costs are taking a big bite out of individual, family, and business budgets. Would freeing businesses of health care costs with single payer be a wise move?
Medicare and Social Security are financial train wrecks what in Gods name makes you think for one freaking minute that the governments will not turn this into a worse train wreck than what it already is? You have the balls to put "think" at the end of your statement?
We are so fawked
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