Friday, January 05, 2007

 

Pay More, Die Younger: Medical Care Fails

The nitty-gritty is this: American health care is a failing system. It’s failing at keeping babies alive, obesity under control, and our elders are dying younger than in countries with national health care. And more money is spent in this country, per capita, on health care than in other first world nations.

US Health Care System: Paying More, Getting Less
By Meredith L. King
ThinkProgress.org
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/printer_010507HA.shtml
Thursday 04 January 2007

It is no surprise to hear that the U.S. health care system is in shambles. Health care costs are increasing faster than wages and nearly 47 million Americans - 8 million of whom are children - are uninsured. Millions more are underinsured.

Yet, we continue to spend more on health care per person than any other country, including countries that provide health care coverage to its entire citizenry. According to a new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2003 alone, health spending per person was at least 24 percent higher than that of Luxembourg (the second highest spending country) and over 90 percent higher than countries considered global competitors.

But our health care system spending is not buying us superior health:

* Americans on average die at a younger age compared to the average age of death of comparable nations. Japan has the highest life expectancy.

* The U.S. infant mortality rate is 6.9 deaths per 1,000 live births, while Japan and Sweden have rates below 3.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.

* The obesity rate among adults in the U.S. is 30.6 percent; the highest rate of developed countries. This rate is nearly 21 percent higher than the rate of the second highest country, Mexico.

Nor does it buy us better health care or more resources:

* About 70 percent of deaths and health costs in the U.S. are attributable to chronic disease, which are largely preventable. Yet, only half of recommended preventive services are provided to adults.

* The U.S. has fewer practicing physicians and nurses per 1,000 people than comparable countries.

Instead, our health care system is pushing millions of hardworking Americans into relentless financial constraints and sends thousands to early graves.

With new policy leaders, the impetus for real health reform is now: we can afford to provide every American affordable health care that emphasizes prevention, while controlling costs and maintaining individuals' choice of doctors and plans.

Comments:
In the past 30 years, the costs of healthcare have soared in the United States. Due to rapidly escalating healthcare costs, Americans in ever increasing numbers have begun to search for alternatives that could reduce their personal out-of-pocket medical expenses. In the last few years, hundreds of thousands of Americans have chosen to become Medical Tourists.

Cost of medical and surgical procedures in Mexico is very low compared to what is paid in the United States. In most cases, the savings from their medical treatment can give people extra money for vacation. Indeed, a patient and his/her family can take a luxury vacation in a Mexican resort and pay for the trip with the savings they receive on getting their procedures in Mexico. Medical Tourism in the city of Guadalajara can certainly be a win-win proposition. While taking care of health needs at big discounts, shopping sprees, sight-seeing, cultural pursuits, and trips to nearby beaches and spas can all be arranged around a medical appointment schedule.

For more information contact www.surgicalcareinternational.com
 
ahhh, I've had experiences with Mexican medicine; if it's all that's available, it's good enough.

I'm pissed you chose to advertise, however. Vayase.
 
Obese Children are becoming an epidemic in America! The medical care system here is run for the benefit of the doctors and insurance companies, not for the patients.
 
What's the corelation between obese parents and obese children? I imagine it's about like the corealation between parents who were abused as children and the abuse of their own children. Trans-generational.
 
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