This is when you know reform is needed:

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

The Economist praises the Swedish health care system over the American on issues of incentives.

Article linked here:

http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13899647

Also....an image worth keeping in mind for defenders of the broken system:



Now, there's something wrong with this picture. See if you can tell me what it is.....

X-posted from my own LJ.

Comments

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

system is pretty good in providing coverage
cost is driven by legislature

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

To the 1%, maybe. 40 million uninsured in a state that rules over 300 million is not so good.

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

insurance - paying for coverage
but quality coverage is available to the whole population

available != affordable

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Er....yes, available = affordable.

Did you get your math from Sci-Fi?

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

as I said available != affordable

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Yes, availabe = affordable in the USA.

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

Person with $0 can come to almost any ER in USA and get high level care.
Person in USSR with lots $$$ would have to seek high level care.

USA = available
USSR = affordable

available != affordable

[dwer.livejournal.com]

uh... ER care may be expedient, but it is not "high level care". High level care includes things like, you know, regular examinations and preventative care.

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

that a ton of people get in ER

also did you notice how little medicaid pays for regular check-up, anyone can afford that, they just need to explain to doc their situation

PS: In Philly there are free clinics as well.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

I would argue that regular examinations and preventive care are what drive up the cost of insurance. At my age I am glad(?) that is included in my insurance program, but 20 years ago I would have prefered "catastopic" insurance, and paid for the other stuff myself....using the moderately decent example of car insurance. Would I have saved and invested the difference, probably not.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Er.....person in USA have to pay, person in USA fucked if have to pay without insurance.

Now, understand intelligent-speak, Tarzan?

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

THEY STILL GET CARE

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

And the people who can only get their care in the ER DRIVE UP THE COST FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

Jesus Christ, why is that talking point acceptable still when it is obvious that people having to use the ER for their care is part of the set of problems bankrupting us????

[chessdev.livejournal.com]

even MORE amazing -- the same people who object to Obama's plan are arguing that costs would *go up*.

But then turn around and DEFEND scenarios that drive up the costs even more AND provide less care.

[chessdev.livejournal.com]

If it's not affordable then what's your point?

Are you arguing that it's good we can treat people physically
and then break then financially instead?

If not, then it's not REALLY available since most people
wont use the health care if they can't afford it -- thus it's not available.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

There are not 40 million uninsured.

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

there are few billion uninsured

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

We're talking the US.

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

40 million figure includes only the US citizens and permanent residents?

[dwer.livejournal.com]

actually, it's closer to 50 million.

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

got solid statistics?

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Actually, it's closer to 10.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

40 million includes citizens, residents legal and illegal, and anyone who has been without insurance for any length of time over that calendar year. So if you were insured for 50 weeks of 52, you're consdered uninsured for that year.

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

So since any illegal is included, I would just put few billion of possible illegals on top

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

There aren't anything resembling a billion people in the US.