So why is it that Americans pay the highest rate on Earth for health care. But rate # 16 in Quality of care???

Question

Countries like Norway or Denmark and Switzerland. All hace better systems at a lower cost per person.

Is the disparity because of executive salary's???

Answer 1

Because gov't in those places care about the people. Here in the US it's all about who can make more money from people. We could have the best system in the world if people in this country actually cared about the health of the nation and not just their own.

Answer 2

Valid question.
There are various reasons but I will give you a major reason.
Pharmaceuticals.
The USA pays for R&D on drugs. I looked into this a few years ago when I found that Claritin-d that I payed a pretty expensive price for in the USA was 40% cheaper in Canada and 50% cheaper in Mexico.
And you didnt need a prescription in there but did in the USA which was another fee for the doctor visit to get the thing.

I know this much, if the cost of R&D on pills was spread out and the price was teh same everywhere, it would be significantly more in other countries and significantly less in the USA.

The viablity of socialized healthcare in some countries may not be so solvent if the USA didnt bear the financial burden for new products.

Answer 3

Link?

Answer 4

Executive salaries are asymptom--but aren't the disease. We could go back and forth all day unravelling the problems--or just trying to list them. But here's just one example (that is costing taxpayers about $10 Billion (not a typo) annually--possibly several times that:

Seniors need assistance and medical care--and no one has a problem with that. But if a senior is unable to take care of themselves long-term, about the only option left is a nursing home--because as a result of lobbying and campaign contributions (bribes) that's the only kind of care Medicare/Medicaid will pay for in most cases.

But there is an alternative--which the nursing home industry lobbyists have so far blocked Medicare/Medicaid from paying for--assisted living. This is a system that for the majority of seniors allows them a much higher degree of independance--more control over their daily lives--and cost on average about half as much as a nursing home. But Congress has --and continues to--refuse to change the rules (back to those lobbyists and bribes ("campaign contributions").

And on this issue, Democrats are jsut as guilty as Republicans. Its a truely bipartisan ripoff.

Answer 5

I think if you look closely you may come to a different conclusion. What you have to ask is what is the standard for quality of care? I think it depends on point of view. do they get CT scans etc. You really need to ask yourself what do you want/expect from your doctor. Many of these systems cut people off for say mamograms at a predefined age say 75 years old because they dont expect you to live past 85 and if you get Breast cancer it takes a few years to die, vs the USA where we keep going on several issues like this thus increasing cost and you cant say the patient had better quality of care. We also spend the majority of our healthcare costs on elderly patients in the hospital whereas in europe they tend to just cut them off. Can you say the extra year or 2 in a nursing home was better care???

Answer 6

No, it's because we pay for all the research and development. Since we have the highest standard of living we get the shaft. And NO I DO NOT WANT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE. I pay for my health care, it's expensive and worth every penny. Ask the Canadiens how they like there wonderful socialized medicine. It's a joke.

Answer 7

"Quality?!!" I've seen their "Quality." You need to make a decision about your definition of "Quality." Please quote your resources. Perhaps their "quality" is why so many from around the world pay so much to come to the U.S. for their health care. Yes, we pay more. Most of those countries you've listed have a socialist healthcare program -- meaning, the people pay an incredible amount towards taxation and have to then pay less for substandard care. Thanks, I'll pass.

Answer 8

1) Out of control litigation.
2) Overpaid drs & hospitals.
3) We pay for almost all the medical research in the world.

Answer 9

EU is cheaper. Hospital care which is free is generally of less quality. The private hospitals cost more and have better care.

Answer 10

The European Union has a better quality system...and it costs less. The USA should follow their lead.

"In America....if you go to the hospital with no health insurance....and you see the bill...you might have a heart attack!!"