No Healthcare For YOU!!
2018-01-12 02:21:13 UTC
Americans Die Younger Despite Spending the Most on Health Care
By Laurie Meisler
August 2, 2017
Typically, the more a developed country spends on health care, the longer its
people live. The U.S., which spends the most on health care, bucks that
trend. Compared to the 35 countries in the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development, which promotes policies to improve social and
economic well-being, the U.S. life expectancy of 78.8 years ranks 27th. It
has the fourth highest infant mortality rate in the OECD, the sixth highest
maternal mortality rate and the ninth highest likelihood of dying at a
younger age from a host of ailments, including cardiovascular disease and
cancer.
The U.S. is the most obese country in the OECD, leads in drug-related deaths
and ranks 33rd in prevalence of diabetes. Yet 88 percent of Americans say
they are in good or very good health, according to OECD statistics. Only 35
percent of Japanese, who have the highest life expectancy in the OECD, regard
themselves as healthy or very healthy.
Unlike other countries in the OECD, the U.S. mostly relies on voluntary
health insurance to fund health-care costs. Public health insurance, such as
Medicare and Medicaid, accounts for 27 percent of coverage. By contrast, the
10 countries with the highest life expectancy depend on voluntary insurance
for an average of less than 6 percent of their costs, and government spending
for nearly half.
One big reason U.S. health care costs are so high: pharmaceutical spending.
The U.S. spends more per capita on prescription medicines and over-the-
counter products than any other country in the OECD.
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-health-care-spending/
By Laurie Meisler
August 2, 2017
Typically, the more a developed country spends on health care, the longer its
people live. The U.S., which spends the most on health care, bucks that
trend. Compared to the 35 countries in the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development, which promotes policies to improve social and
economic well-being, the U.S. life expectancy of 78.8 years ranks 27th. It
has the fourth highest infant mortality rate in the OECD, the sixth highest
maternal mortality rate and the ninth highest likelihood of dying at a
younger age from a host of ailments, including cardiovascular disease and
cancer.
The U.S. is the most obese country in the OECD, leads in drug-related deaths
and ranks 33rd in prevalence of diabetes. Yet 88 percent of Americans say
they are in good or very good health, according to OECD statistics. Only 35
percent of Japanese, who have the highest life expectancy in the OECD, regard
themselves as healthy or very healthy.
Unlike other countries in the OECD, the U.S. mostly relies on voluntary
health insurance to fund health-care costs. Public health insurance, such as
Medicare and Medicaid, accounts for 27 percent of coverage. By contrast, the
10 countries with the highest life expectancy depend on voluntary insurance
for an average of less than 6 percent of their costs, and government spending
for nearly half.
One big reason U.S. health care costs are so high: pharmaceutical spending.
The U.S. spends more per capita on prescription medicines and over-the-
counter products than any other country in the OECD.
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-health-care-spending/