Thread: Health Care Myths

Learn from health care abroad, by Trudy Rubin

Published: Wednesday, March 03, 2010
One of the most bewildering aspects of the current health-care debate is the failure to learn key lessons from health systems abroad.

Conservative talk show hosts decry the alleged evils of “socialized medicineâ€

Those countries don't have millions of lawyers running amuck like we do. The people of those countries also spend more time walking/riding bikes because of their high automobile operating costs which are twice the US level. Those countries don't have 30 million illegal aliens and anchor babies. That's why their health costs are less, not because the government runs it.

Absolutely true about the lawyers. The Repubs are correct that lawsuits have to be reigned in here in the USA.

Also, you are correct that Europeans generally have healtier lifestyle, and food supply.

Also, they have programs that help encourage a healthy lifestyle. In France, Doctors get paid extra if their patients quit smoking, losse weight etc.

But they also don't have out of control insurance companies driving up costs, and they spread the risk among the entire population, which is the most cost effective way to provide coverage.

I have live in two different countries with universal medical care and the care I received was equal to that I get here, except under by Blue Shield PPO I often have longer waits to see specialists.

Originally Posted by Bettybb

But they also don't have out of control insurance companies driving up costs, and they spread the risk among the entire population, which is the most cost effective way to provide coverage.

I agree the insurance companies (and drug companies) are part of the problem also, but there has to be a better way to get them under control than forcing everyone to buy health insurance, or having government health insurance. Look at all the fraud in Medicare and Freddie Mac corruption.

It seems to me a very important comparison is NEVER MENTIONED in this discussion, the wages earned by medical practitioners in these other countries.

Bowman wrote

I agree the insurance companies (and drug companies) are part of the problem also, but there has to be a better way to get them under control than forcing everyone to buy health insurance, or having government health insurance. Look at all the fraud in Medicare and Freddie Mac corruption.

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I am open to all suggestions. We are smart enough in this country to come up with a solution. But the problem is the moneyed interests don't want it to happen.

I disagree on the idea that everone should not have to have coverage and pay into the system. What that means, in reality, is that people won't buy coverage, but when they get sick,or get into an accident, the taxpayer picks up the tab. That is not right. They are scamming the system.

In effect, we have right now, Medical Care Leaches; those who do not pay into the system, but let the taxpayer pay their medical bills.

Unfortunately, the way the system is set up right now, there are a lot of decent people, who would like to be able to buy insurance, who don't want to leach off the taxpayer, but cannot afford to do so.

There are countries out there with hybrid systems, where everyone pays in, but health care is run by the private sector. But here the insurance companies are taking huge profits, and running up overhead. We are paying for it through the nose.

I really wish the Repubs had come up with a plan. But all we have got is the Obama plan, which while I am not thrilled with it, is better than nothing.

Our local government has come up with a plan that is interesting. For people working for small employers (less than 50 employees) who make less than $18 per hour, the employer can pay $150 per month towards the health insurance , the employee pays $75 per month and the local government picks up the rest of the tab.

The local government did the calcuation, and found it would result in the governement paying about 50% less on health care for these folks. Right now the taxpayer is picking up the entire tab. Far better these folks, and their employers pay something into the system don't you think?

Ratbstard wrote,

It seems to me a very important comparison is NEVER MENTIONED in this discussion, the wages earned by medical practitioners in these other countries.

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In the countries I have lived in that had universal coverage. doctors were still among the top earners, though they did not earn as much as some doctors do here in the USA.

But the fact is, doctors here don't follow the normal rules of competition.
When was the last time you saw a doctor post his costs for certain procedures so you could comparison shop? Some states have proposals so you could do just that.