US healthcare 'to blame' for poor life expectancy rates (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

The US healthcare system is to blame for declines in the country's life expectancy ranking, a study suggests.

The Columbia University report rejects claims that factors such as obesity have shortened life-spans for Americans relative to other wealthy nations.

The study blames reliance on costly and fragmented specialised care, and calls for systemic reform.

Its release comes as President Barack Obama's healthcare reform remains a key issue in upcoming mid-term elections.

Higher costs

The study notes that in 1950, the US ranked fifth among leading industrialised nations for female life expectancy at birth, but only 46th in 2008.
***
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11502938

[applegrove]

1. Preventive health is really important in a doctor.

[dflprincess]

2. It isn't the health care that's to blame it's the inability to access it.

Sadly, we are still years away from reform that will allow us to seek care when we need it without having to check our bank balance or call an insurance company for permission to get treatment.

[xchrom]

3. No. Really? Who knew? Nt

[bemildred]

6. Ya think?

:thumbsup:

[glitch]

4. Hideously poor nutrition should have a seat at this table.

Double whammy.

[burnsei sensei]

5. Yeah. I guess it just fucking doesn't help

when a person has no access to health care.
Costs were the elephant in the room that no one spoke of in the health care reform legislation.

[HuckleB]

7. Ugh, but kick and rec.

[raccoon]

8. Kick. nt