Can someone please help me to respond to some healthcare questions...

[ejpoeta]

On the site I remarked the other day that ticked me off about the faux news talking points.... I need some help with this....

Here is the guy's response to me when I said we spend twice as much as other countries. I know I saw there was a study or something regarding this... but i can't remember where it was from. Anyone able to help me?? This guy is trying to claim that any life expectancy and such is due to things like nationality and how they count people and such.

totally false...we do NOT spend "twice as much"...where are you getting that from?

As for the infant mortality rates...why don't you look into how those numbers are calculated...you DO know that the US counts every child born with any sign of life...right? Whereas Sweden doesn't count children smaller than (I think) 30 CM...regardless....

what about the life expectancy rates? Take into account nationality (and therefore genetic makeup) in the calculations...I bet you didn't do that...did you?

I agree that I might not have insurance someday in the future...it's a certainty if Obama and the far left have their way

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Here's a chart that might help.

From this site: http://healthcarevoices.org/news/articles/new-reports-highlight-two-ways-a-public-health-plan-can-save-money/

And there's some great stuff here: http://healthcarevoices.org/news/articles/new-reports-highlight-two-ways-a-public-health-plan-can-save-money/


I have a pdf copy of the entire report, "Hidden Costs of Health Care Report", but don't know where I got it.


Edited: Found this as well: http://seekingalpha.com/article/146992-comparing-u-s-healthcare-spending-with-other-oecd-countries

In 2007, the total spending for health care accounted for 16% of the country’s GDP, the highest share among the OECD and almost double the OECD average
On a per capita basis also the U.S. spent the highest with a total of $7,290 which is two-and-half times the OECD average
The public share of health care expenditure in the USA (45%) is less than any other OECD country
Despite spending the most, the U.S. provides health care coverage for only the elderly, disabled and some of the poor people
In comparison, the same amount is enough to provide universal health care insurance by the government for all citizens in other OECD countries


Great stuff about the report (costs $108 for the real report) is here: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/8092034/OECD-Health-Data-2009---How-Does-the-United-States-Compare
35% of total health care expenditures is done by private health insurance which is the highest In OCED
Despite the high medical expenditure,there are fewer doctors per capita in the U.S. than most other OECD countries
Life expectancy in the U.S. is lower when compared with Japan,Switzerland, Canada and Australia
Infant morality rates in the U.S. is higher than most OECD countries. In 2006, it was 6.7 per live births relative to OECD average of 4.7
The proportion of daily smokers has fallen the most (> 50%) between 1980 and 2007 in the U.S. due to public awareness and high taxation
Obesity rate among adults is the highest in the U.S. in the OECD countries at 34.3% in 2006. Higher obesity rates leads to higher health care spending in the future

[ejpoeta]

2. thank you for this. it's a great help.

[SPedigrees]

3. Here are links to articles that may also help.

For Americans, Getting Sick Has Its Price
Survey Says U.S. Patients Pay More, Get Less Than Those in Other Western Nations
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/03/AR2005110301143.html
By Rob Stein Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2005; Page A02

Infant mortality study deals another blow to U.S. health care
By Lindsey Tanner - Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/may/10/infant_mortality_study_deals_another_blow_us_healt/

Canadians Healthier Than Americans
Main Category: Public Health News
Article Date: 31 May 2006 - 8:00am (PDT)
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=44315

Study Says Older Americans Are Less Healthy Than British
By ALAN COWELL
Published: May 3, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/03/world/europe/03health.html?ex=1304308800&en=15f0953e62a19bd7&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

The above links all still work despite the fact these articles are several years old. I'll wager our American health and healthcare system have not improved in those few years.