Healthcare around the world

BBC did a good piece comparing a few systems around the world:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8201711.stm



I really think these people, advocating these other systems, can help us get change this time around.

or MediCare because we do have some coverage, just not through private companies.

Medicaid and Medicare for the kidney patients and disabled are not what I would call health insurance because they (with the exception of the kidney patients perhaps) require that you be on disability or public assistance.

Part of the problem with the health care system we have is that people have to be nonworking and in many cases dispossessed to qualify for the government programs. Many of these people could be working to some degree, could be contributing more than they do, if they didn't have to choose between pursuing work/wages and getting health care.

The AIDS folks are a perfect example. I have known many men with AIDS who could work regular jobs if they were allowed to, but couldn't risk losing their medical benefits or having to recertify for disability if they can't continue working or working full time.

The system is screwed up a couple of ways, not just in health care but also in disability and other forms of public assistance. They in essence tell people that they can't work, and then call them abusers when people who can work don't because of the inflexibility of the system.

are definitely things that need to be fixed, but I think they are indeed fixable and that a medicare-for-all-who-want-it type of public option is still one of the best ways to go at this time.

The Central Intelligence Agency's 2009 estimate of infant death rates per 1,000 live births puts the US as the 180th nation on the long list, meaning 179 nations are worse, but the list is 224 nations long. The death rate for newborn infants in the US is 6.26 per 1000 live births. The US rate is NOT AS GOOD as that of:
#185 Taiwan - rate 5.35

#204 South Korea - rate 4.26

#219 Macau - rate 3.22

and finally
#224 Singapore - rate 2.31 deaths per 1000 births.

We should have a little reality in our "debate" on health care reform.

Thanks for your post - rec.

mark

The Chavez government has set up thousands of free neighborhood medical, dental and optical clinics. I've used them. The care is on a par with any I have received in the U.S. The U.S. desperately needs similar programs. If we had "Medicare for All", we could have them. Americans understand and are happy with our Medicare program. The solution to our health care crisis is to provide Medicare for all our citizens. Let's keep it simple: "Medicare for All".

we roll over for the Republicans. (That's part of the reason why I am currently supporting a strong public option. In theory it could be very close to single payer by default if the bulk of Americans choose it over private insurance.)

make it easier for us to open the door to them doing that. So in theory, we get the Public Option, only a small amount of people get to use it, it weakens private insurers, shows public it works well, then we legislate getting more people a part of that option, weaken private insurers more, etc. then we get the big companies to start having the Public Option a choice for their employees as well, which would take legislation since they won't be allowed on it right now, then we strengthen it enough to take out the most egregious for-profits and have a system that is better.