U.S. scores dead last again in healthcare study

[Fozzledick]

(Reuters) - Americans spend twice as much as residents of other developed countries on healthcare, but get lower quality, less efficiency and have the least equitable system, according to a report released on Wednesday.

The United States ranked last when compared to six other countries -- Britain, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, the Commonwealth Fund report found.

"As an American it just bothers me that with all of our know-how, all of our wealth, that we are not assuring that people who need healthcare can get it," Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis told reporters in a telephone briefing.

Previous reports by the nonprofit Fund, which conducts research into healthcare performance and which promotes changes in the U.S. system, have been heavily used by policymakers and politicians pressing for healthcare reform.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65M0SU20100623

Anything other than single-payer is just paying more for less coverage.

[Oregone]

1. Single-Payer is a good start

But look at Canada...its still lagging in a few rankings. The government needs to also examine specific bottleknecks in private delivery, as well as expenses, and socialize that delivery accordingly.

BTW, I think there is miles between 5th and 6th place. Ive never met anyone in Canada that died or went bankrupt from lack of medical treatment, which also brings down stress and promotes social mobility as well as health.

[MountainLaurel]

2. Not a surprise

To anyone with half a brain.

[JoshieR]

10. It seems that...

a lot of the people commenting on that article on the source website have 1/2 a brain or less. It is very hard for me to understand how people don't realize how much weath and power lies in the pockets of the weathiest Americans. How can a person argue that something as crucial as healthcare (aka survival) should be determined based on how much money you have. Profit should not be a factor in whether my loved one dies of cancer. It's disgusting how these conservative, anti-single payer people think. Would you take police protection away from people who are poor? Take away their right to a fair trial? Why would you take away their right to healthcare simply because it costs $25 for a Q-tip in a hospital?

I have 2 small children who, it seems, are always sick. It is nausiating taking them to the doctor, not because I don't have health insurance, but because, even with insurance, healthcare is expensive. $20 copays here, $40 ones there, perscription deductibles, etc. It gets very expensive. The most annoying part, though, is the fact that these executives, you know the ones who make $300k to $400k per year, have all of their copays paid for by the company. So the people that are best suited to pay for these things don't have to pay for them.

I am so sick of right-wingers talking as if we owe something to the wealthy citizens of this country. "They employ people"...as if I should be greatful. Without the working class people, there are no corporations. Business owners need us as much as we need them. My having a job is not a favor granted to me by a wealthy owner and I refuse to condone rewarding the wealthy persons in this country with free healthcare and tax cuts when their contribution to the economy is no less than that of the employees that work for them.

/rant

[postulater]

11. "My having a job is not a favor granted to me by a wealthy owner."

They fail to realize that productivity only happens when employees are satisfied and motivated.

Nice rant.

Welcome to DU.

[Wickerman]

3. Study: Scores dead as US again last in healthcare

Is an anagram an anagram when you play it with sentences?

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. +1

:thumbsup:

[Scuba]

4. Well 30% of our healthcare dollars....

...go to insurance companies that ADD NO VALUE to the process of delivering healthcare.

The Aetna CEO does make $11,000+ per HOUR though. Still waiting for it to trickle down.

[DesertFlower]

5. but, but, but they keep

telling us that we have the best health care in the world.
:sarcasm:

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. For those who can afford it, that is probably true. The rest of us can FOAD.

x(

[Nikki Stone1]

6. Kaiser Foundation predicts a 20% increase in average health insurance premiums

this year. That's why single payer was the way to go.

[bluethruandthru]

8. +1000

[hvn_nbr_2]

12. We don't have a healthcare system. We have a corporate profits system.

Any healthcare that happens to occur is just an epiphenomenon.

[SocialistLez]

13. +100 NT