we pay about double the per capita expense than other countries for both people under 65 and over 65.

As for the over 65 group, I have to wonder if that's partly because in the US those over 65 are generally in worse health than in other countries. There's likely a good number of folks who have been uninsured before 65 who - finally - qualify for Medicare and now have insurance. But because of the lack of health care while they were younger, they're now sicker than their counterparts in other countries.

Plus, even Medicare has co pays and deductibles, which give incentive to poorer folks to put off health care until they can't any longer.

I seem to recall that there is a life expectancy difference between the US and countries that have universal health care - and that difference doesn't favor the US.

In my opinion, the real solution isn't SP-UHC, it's going all in and hiring doctors and nurses and all the ancillary folks needed to run clinics and hospitals. What I'm thinking is not Medicare for all, its VA for all. Don't turn the government into a health insurer, let them be the health provider.

--Peter

US Policy FAQ

---

Contact Shrewd'm
Contact the developer of these message boards.