4 ms·

I believe it's generally known to be true that health care in the UK, where I live now (I have also lived in the USA in the past), whether measured by % of GDP

by jrmg 15y ago

I believe it's generally known to be true that health care in the UK, where I live now (I have also lived in the USA in the past), whether measured by % of GDP or by monetary cost, is much cheaper per capita than health care in the USA[1]. Life expectancy, probably a good measure of the efficacy of a health care system, is very close, perhaps with the UK having a small lead, if anything[2]. If we were to allow anecdotes, I'd also say (and I find this to be a good thing) that people in the UK don't avoid going to the dentist or doctor because it's too expensive. I'm sure that there must be studies that show this to be true. Even if we're not allowing the anecdotal argument, however, if you're prepared to say that the system in the USA 'does work', you're surely prepared to say that the British system also works? Personally, I have a hard time not believing that, since it seems to produce comparable, if not better outcomes, for less cost, it's the better of the two systems. Note that I'm /not/ arguing at all that a private health insurance system could not be devised that also worked as well - perhaps better. I'm also not arguing that any public system will be perfect. To argue that a public system /can't work/ though is, as I said, ludicrous. [1] http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=health+care+cost+per+capita+USA+vs+UK http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=health+care+cost+per+ca... [2] http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=life+expectancy+USA+vs+UK http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=life+expectancy+USA+vs+...

carbocation 15y ago
Until we have a cure for the metabolic syndrome, I'd say that comparison of health care quality by life expectancy doesn't actually do what you think it does. America is incredibly obese, and this is a lifestyle choice that makes comparisons of the quality of care quite difficult.
- jrmg 15y ago
  Fair point, but can you find another statistic that /would/ show that public healthcare doesn't work?
  - carbocation 15y ago
    I wouldn't even try to make the argument that public healthcare doesn't work. Comparing across systems and cultures (again, obese vs the rest of the world) is tough to do well. I was thinking perhaps some measure of in-hospital mortality would be useful, but even that would be confounded. Perhaps the Massachusetts model might work for in-US comparison to other states, but MA is not really comparable to single payer systems in the rest of the world. It's a really interesting topic and I wish I weren't at work so I could brainstorm more with you about how to get a clean comparison.

by jrmg 15y ago

carbocation 15y ago

Until we have a cure for the metabolic syndrome, I'd say that comparison of health care quality by life expectancy doesn't actually do what you think it does. America is incredibly obese, and this is a lifestyle choice that makes comparisons of the quality of care quite difficult.

jrmg 15y ago
Fair point, but can you find another statistic that /would/ show that public healthcare doesn't work?
- carbocation 15y ago
  I wouldn't even try to make the argument that public healthcare doesn't work. Comparing across systems and cultures (again, obese vs the rest of the world) is tough to do well. I was thinking perhaps some measure of in-hospital mortality would be useful, but even that would be confounded. Perhaps the Massachusetts model might work for in-US comparison to other states, but MA is not really comparable to single payer systems in the rest of the world. It's a really interesting topic and I wish I weren't at work so I could brainstorm more with you about how to get a clean comparison.