Health care: Paying more, getting what?

So here's a pop quiz: Which of the following countries spends the most public money on health care? Canada, France, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom or the United States.

The answer is the United States, which may surprise those who consider our nation to be the apotheosis of private-enterprise health care. It is true that, as a percentage of health care spending, the U.S. is more “private” than these other countries. Taxpayers pick up only 45 percent of our national health care tab, compared to 59 percent for the next-most-private system, Switzerland, or 82 percent for the most public system, the United Kingdom’s.

(All figures are for 2007 except for Japan, which is for 2006)

But health care is so hugely more expensive in the U.S. than in these other countries that our 45 percent adds up to more dollars, person for person, than their 59 percent, or even 82 percent.

In fact, if you look closely at this chart, you’ll see that we are already paying more, through our taxes, than Japan and England spend on their entire health care systems—and almost as much as they’re paying in France and Germany.

Did I mention that we are the only country on this list that does not have universal health care?

This is one of the many fascinating nuggets of information to be found in the newly-released 2009 edition of health data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a consortium of 30 industrialized countries.

Over the next few days, I’ll be exploring these statistics in more depth to find out what—if anything—we are getting in exchange for this extravagant spending.

—Nancy Metcalf, Senior Program Editor

Comments

[Trancen]

Joe | Jul 16, 2009 7:13:39 PM

You failed to mentioned that none of those countries give free healthcare to none-citizens that burdens this country.

_______________________

Actually joe, like so many Americans, you simply assumed other countries don't provide healthcare.

About 2 years ago my friend was competing in a swim meet in France. He broke his only pair of glasses. Friends helped him to the optometrist where he got an eye test and a pair of glasses for $12 US dollars.

When they say everyone gets affordable medical care, they mean everyone.

[USCitizen]

I can truly understand what everyone is saying. As a citizen of this wonderful country, I really dont expect that some rich person will have to pay for my medical care. I lost my job last year and could not afford to pay the huge monthly premium to keep it, try paying out 450 when you are bringing in 600 a month. At any rate, I am sick at this time, but cannot afford to pay for the diagnostic test to see what is going on. I checked it online and sounds very much like ovarian cancer, but you know, I am not going to worry about it, because even if I could manage to come up with the 1500 to 2000 dollars to see what is going on with me, I still would not be able to afford the treatments. I paid my taxes all my life, and now that I dont have insurance and I am not old enough to get medicaid, screw me and screw all of us....

[Ken Shim, RMT]

It makes perfect sense. Deregulating and privatizing the health care industry leads to what deregulating and privatizing often does. Consider this another version of the current financial meltdown or the earlier savings and loan scandal

[Aggie]

It is hard to believe that an organization that calls itself the champion of the consumer can take such a position on health insurance and care. If government is so good at running businesses, then why not nationalize food, clothing, etc.?

The truth is countries with socialized medicine are not doing well. Some people in the UK are doing their own dentistry, because they cannot get in to see a dentist. A hospital was told not to change bed sheets between patients (just turn them over!) to save money. Just do an internet search on "problems with nationalized health care" and the results from the British press alone will make your hair stand on end.

Your statistics are misleading. For example, in countries with socialized medicine, a baby is not counted as a baby unless it survives for 24 hours, or in other cases, unless it has reached a certain size. Thus, do they appear to have better infant mortality rates. They just don't count the stillborns.

The problems in the US health care system are the result of government interference in the market. Our government already controls a vast amount of health care in Medicare and Medicaid expenditures and mandates. More government in health care will mean higher costs, lower quality, and rationing. It always does.

CU should be promoting freedom of choice in health insurance and in medical care. Right now, government rules and mandates that restrict what kind of insurance people may purchase and what companies must cover make health insurance unaffordable for many. Why shouldn't a young person just out of college be able to buy a bare-bones policy that would cover him or her for a catastrophic event? Instead, they are forced to pay for what other people want and have managed to persuade politicians to include in all policies.

Finally, if government health care is going to be so wonderful, why have all Democrats in congress refused to be part of the plan they are going to foist on us peons? Because they know it will result in a 3rd world system.

[CJ]

What has always been clear over the last decade is how most Americans are either ignorant or deliberately naive about health care in other countries. What has always been easy is to simplify things to one issue or one aspect like gun control or abortion or illegal aliens. What this article shows is that Americans need to see the big picture and how it can be changed or improved. What is not mentioned is that the inflation rate in health care is easily twice or three times of the CPI and at the rate, the cost of health care will eventually exceed the ability of the american public to pay. You worry about changes happening now, who knows what happens then when Govt needs to step in just like the auto industry and take control and charge of the industry.

[margaret]

Joe:

What is your source for your comment that non-citizens don't get free health care in the lower-health-care cost countires. I have heard of American citizens in European countries not being charged for their treatment in those countries.

[Joseluis Villavicencio]

There is something wrong with this picture. The fact that Taxpayers pick up "only" 45 percent of our national health care tab is wrong: If you get sick why should "I" pay for "your" health care needs? What is this obsesion with "universal health care"? Most people in this survey favored the Public Health Care plan because they know that somebody else,(the rich)other than themselves is going to pay the bulk of it. Once in place, Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) is going to dictate what is covered (abortions for sure) and who gets the liver transplant. it won't be everybody! I have seen people including undocumented individuals (that I know for a fact) go these clinics without appointment for the simplest needs "my son had a little temperature this morning" and get treatment AHEAD of of others that have and pay into their health care insurance. This is wrong! I bet that if they have to pay for that "little temperature this morning" visit they WOULD NOT go to see the Doctor!!!!

[Joe]

You failed to mentioned that none of those countries give free healthcare to none-citizens that burdens this country.