If the US has the best health care in the world why do we rank 42nd in life expectancy?

Question

President Bush has said we have the best health care system in the world.

I do not even know where a Pizza Hut is near me.

As far a gang numbers being part of the statistics its a fair number like it or not it is part of our population.

Answer 1

Our eating and leisure habits are part of the problem, but the other problem comes simply from trying to categorize something as complicated as healthcare as "best" or "worst".

The U.S. has the best healthcare AVAILABLE in the world. I have no doubt of this; other countries may have comparable care, but no country exceeds the U.S.

However, ACCESS to that system is limited due to many factors, the most obvious of which is cost. We are one of the few countries that views healthcare as a "for profit" business. Our healhcare costs are TWICE those of the next closest country, and yet Americans see doctors with less frequency.

Healthcare is certainly one of the gravest problems facing the United States today, especially with so many "Baby Boomers" retiring (or soon to retire). Unless something is done quickly, the cost of healthcare will bankrupt the nation.

Answer 2

Well, first of all, we do have the best health care in the world. If, god forbid, you should ever get really sick, there is no other place in the world you'd want to be. However, even the best health care system in the world can't stand up to the abuses Americans put their bodies through. If you really want to know why we rank 42nd (that seems high, but never the less) I suggest a simple drive to the mall will give you the answer. Along the way you'll see dozens of McDonalds, Burger Kings, Pizza Huts, Taco Bells, etc. etc.. Once you get to the mall, find yourself a seat and watch the blubber roll by. If people aren't going to watch what they eat and get some real exercise, well, you see the results. Dieabetes (practically an epidemic), heart disease, cancers, and on and on. Get off the couch folks and go eat a carrot.

Answer 3

Because infant mortality in included in that number and every country has a different way of deciding what is or what is not a "live birth". In the US, any child, no matter the size, that is breathing when it is born is considered a "live" birth whereas in many nations (such as Canada and France) children have to be a certain size and be breathing for a length of time in order to be considered. Mark Twain wasn't kidding when he said "there are lies, damned lies and statistics" . But hey, if you really think Chad has better health care than the US, I invite you to move there.

Answer 4

Not sure where you got that information...probably from an American....the American medical is based on the Canadian just like many other countries in the world....

We have a better system...it has problems but it is still much better than yours...we don't pay what you do for medical...we can choose our doctors we are not told what ten we can choose from....we have open medical...we can travell to see a doctor of choice...not one that we are told that we can see

When we go to the hospital...we are not told that our insurance company will not cover us...or that we have gone to the wrong hospital...we are covered in any hospital.....

As a Canadian and Irish Citizen I have coverage through out Canada and any EuroNation....I have lived on both sides of the street...

before you say you have the best make sure you are right...

Answer 5

I'm not sure we do have the best health care, but our lifestyles have a lot to do with life expectancy. Being couch potatoes who eat too many french fried potatoes is a factor. We may eat too much red meat, and too few veggies compared to others.

Scandanavian countries might have better health care, but I think they are also more likely to ride bikes to work than we are (or I'm just remembering my civics/geography lessons from 45 years ago).

Never the less, we could have better health care if we had free government provided health care plus private health care for those who can afford it (like we have government provided police protection plus private security services for those who can afford it). The main purpose of democratic government (or any government) is to provide defense against things that threaten citizens, and sickness and injury are threats.

I don't understand how Republicans and conservatives can see free public health care as any different than national defense. In fact, free health care would benefit Republicans since so many people stick with jobs that provide health insurance rather than form their own businesses due to fear of not being able to afford health care, and that helps Democrats. The GOP tends to appeal to private business owners, whose numbers would increase if more people started their own business rather than hold onto jobs that provide health insurance.

Answer 6

The US has the best health care in the world. You would have to examine the stats that tell you the US is 42. We have upwards of 45,000 people killed on our highways and over 16,000 killed every year by guns. There may be numerous countries that have no deaths from auto accidents and very few deaths by guns.
If you count death by only natural causes or old age, you may get a very different figure.

Answer 7

Health care is just one part of the equation. Don't forget about diet and exercise, which many Americans who die early failed at. The point you are trying to make is that the US Healthcare system isn't perfect, and of course I agree with you. But, well, find another way then this one.

Answer 8

The number you're using has "ghetto/gang/democratic voting slave farm" statistics mixed in with the general population. This throws the actual number off and really does an injustice to the community who needs the most help because it makes their numbers look better.

Answer 9

Here is the problem with our health care. We are good at treating diseases, not preventing them. Maybe we need to instead focus our energies on not getting sick in the first place. People would live longer and it would be cheaper as well.

Answer 10

We have the best health care if you have the money to afford it. Otherwise it is far from perfect. We rank 42nd because of this. People can not afford Dr's they wait to long diseases and cancer are not caught in time. Multiple other reasons also but unhealthy life styles are a big one.