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In the US about 50% of healthcare is paid by various levels of government. The US spends about twice the percent of GDP on healthcare as most other western coun

In the US about 50% of healthcare is paid by various levels of government. The US spends about twice the percent of GDP on healthcare as most other western countries. So if the US could just figure out how to get similar costs to what Europe has, the US could have a European style government healthcare system without high taxes.

syshum 8y ago
Price Control and lower Quality. For example in the EU Ward style rooms are common with 5+ beds per room many have 10+, in the US 4 people in the room is bottom level of care where most get 2 people per room They also have heavy price controls on Drugs, if the US one of the few remaining countries with out them goes down that path Research will suffer as the US funds a huge amount of Drug Related research that the rest of the world gets for far far less investment There are 100's of other differences in how te US system works different in the US, and US Consumers have come to expect those things. This is with out getting into the all the problem associated with 3rd party payer systems like the US has where we have "insurance" that is not really insurance but prepaid healthcare.
- sonnyblarney 8y ago
  "Price Control and lower Quality" You forgot: massively more economically efficient. Despite that I agree quality is a little lower - it's not that much lower. Health outcomes are similar. In hospital in Montreal, the halls were lined with patients, not enough room, but ... they were doing a big round of a specific surgery (for some common things they line people up and do it factory style one after the next). This might seem uncomfortable, but you get similar outcome at fraction of the cost. Also - it covers everyone - which is a huge advantage. One of the most misunderstood issues of how socialized care works is the 'risk' element is removed. If you are messed up - you just go to the hospital. You're not going to go home with a $20K bill for a broken arm. It's an 'existentially' powerful aspect of daily life that is different. But yes, fully socialized as in Canada is unfair, there needs to be a private outlet.
  - syshum 8y ago
    One of the most misunderstood issue of how private care works is confusing the US System as a private system. It takes the worst aspects of a Private System and the worst aspects of a Socialize system and merges them into the abomination we have today. I would tend to agree that a Socialized system would be better than the current US system, I however do not agree that a Socialize system is better than a Truly private free market system of care
    - njarboe 8y ago
      It would be nice if hospitals had to have a price list and companies were allowed to build them wherever they wanted. That would be a good start. Having at least one big western nation without socialized medicine is probably a good thing for the overall health and improvement of the medical field.

syshum 8y ago

Price Control and lower Quality. For example in the EU Ward style rooms are common with 5+ beds per room many have 10+, in the US 4 people in the room is bottom level of care where most get 2 people per room They also have heavy price controls on Drugs, if the US one of the few remaining countries with out them goes down that path Research will suffer as the US funds a huge amount of Drug Related research that the rest of the world gets for far far less investment There are 100's of other differences in how te US system works different in the US, and US Consumers have come to expect those things. This is with out getting into the all the problem associated with 3rd party payer systems like the US has where we have "insurance" that is not really insurance but prepaid healthcare.

sonnyblarney 8y ago
"Price Control and lower Quality" You forgot: massively more economically efficient. Despite that I agree quality is a little lower - it's not that much lower. Health outcomes are similar. In hospital in Montreal, the halls were lined with patients, not enough room, but ... they were doing a big round of a specific surgery (for some common things they line people up and do it factory style one after the next). This might seem uncomfortable, but you get similar outcome at fraction of the cost. Also - it covers everyone - which is a huge advantage. One of the most misunderstood issues of how socialized care works is the 'risk' element is removed. If you are messed up - you just go to the hospital. You're not going to go home with a $20K bill for a broken arm. It's an 'existentially' powerful aspect of daily life that is different. But yes, fully socialized as in Canada is unfair, there needs to be a private outlet.
- syshum 8y ago
  One of the most misunderstood issue of how private care works is confusing the US System as a private system. It takes the worst aspects of a Private System and the worst aspects of a Socialize system and merges them into the abomination we have today. I would tend to agree that a Socialized system would be better than the current US system, I however do not agree that a Socialize system is better than a Truly private free market system of care
  - njarboe 8y ago
    It would be nice if hospitals had to have a price list and companies were allowed to build them wherever they wanted. That would be a good start. Having at least one big western nation without socialized medicine is probably a good thing for the overall health and improvement of the medical field.