Why the U.S. pays more for health care than the rest of the world

[turbinetree]

[erronis]

1. I've been reading this book, and it's making me sick - about US healthcare

Another sickening read is "America's Bitter Pill" - Stephen Brill.

The US is being screwed by corporate healthcare.

[Dustlawyer]

5. and it all comes down to what she says at the end, Lobbyists giving money

to our politicians and those representatives selling us out!

When will we ever learn to stop focusing on the symptoms such as complaining of the costs of health care, ruining of the environment, minimum wage... and attack the root cause of most of our problems, the ability of the wealthy to buy the influence that all comes at our expense?

We need to end campaign contributions, Super PACs, dark money, and the revolving door, and enact Publicly Funded Elections!

[erronis]

6. But then we'd have to support those people making 100,000++++

Can you imagine some insurance executives that have declared income of several millions? What would these poor babies do if the US had universal healthcare?

Don't forget all those lobbyists (500K+/year)?

The Pharma reps (100+/year).

The headquarters of 100+ insurance companies paying CEO, admin, IT, etc. costs?

I'll run a rough, rounded estimate here, right now:
The for-profit healthcare administration industry would lose $2,000,000,000 per year. (Give or take a few pennies.)
The consumers would gain around $5,000 per year. Sloppy since multiple people in a plan, etc.
Companies would gain $2,000 per year. Pay into universal healthcare premiums, stop paying insurance admin overheads.
Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial would all be together. No stupid "who pays what for whom".

So,to be generous to those who still want to suck at the teat of the taxpayers -
The US could win 1-2 trillion dollars, per year. It wouldn't flow out of the country into tax havens and yachts.

Now, what to do with all those useless insurance plan salespeople, and their lobbyists?
And most especially - how do those poor congress-critters stay afloat without the grift/graft?

Stay tuned. I'm guessing in 10 years this will all be resolved. Either Putin/Soviet style, or by rational decisions.

[rgbecker]

2. What the Market will bare.

That sums it up. And when you are sick, you'll have few choices and you will pay anything you have to get well. Great business model. Makes all the other businesses in the world seem like too much work. Explain to me why the Federal government shouldn't step in big time.

[Moral Compass]

3. Highly recommend this book

About to finish it.

Great book.

Please buy and read.

[SergeStorms]

4. Sickening. Literally.

Healthcare in America is driven by greed, and greed alone. "What the market will bear". So I guess people will do without food, clothing, shelter etc. because everything is second in importance to one's health, correct? Until it isn't. I imagine that's why (along with the fascist christians) the reason euthanasia isn't a serious alternative to end of life discussion. There's just TOO MUCH DAMNED MONEY TO BE MADE! God bless the U.S.A.