Health Care in the U.S. is
obviously broken.
It is expensive
The United States
spends much more per-capita on heath care than any other developed country. Not
only this, but the rate of increase is greater.
Source: OECD Health Data 2011
It is NOT the
best in the world
According to OECD[1], the U.S.
ranks 27th in Life Expectancy[2], has the
4th highest infant mortality rate[3], and
ranks eighth to last in overall life expectancy[3]. Despite political campaign
boasts, the U.S.
is NOT the world leader in health care.
The shortage of family
doctors contributes to the poor primary care performance.
United States
|
OECD Average
|
|
Number of Physicians
|
2.4 per 1000
|
3.1 per 1000
|
Doctor Visits
|
3.9 per capita
|
6.5 per capita
|
Average stay in
hospital
|
4.9 days
|
7.2 days
|
Source: OECD Health Data 2011
United States
|
OECD Average
|
|
MRI Machines
|
25.9 per million
|
12.2 per million
|
MRI Exams
|
91.2 per 1000
|
46.6 per 1000
|
CT Scanners
|
34.3 per million
|
22.8 per million
|
CT Exams
|
227.9 per 1000
|
131.8 per 1000
|
Knee Replacements
|
212.5 per 100k
|
118.4 per 100k
|
Coronary Angioplasty
|
377.2 per 100k
|
187.6 per 100k
|
Source: OECD Health Data 2011.
Prescription Prices
Pharmaceutical prices are also higher in the United States than in other OECD countries. A study of the 50 top-selling prescription drugs found that US pharmaceutical prices were at least 60% higher than those in five large European countries in 2007.[4]
Spending on Public Health and Administration is particularly high – more than two-and-a-half times the average. Administration of the US health system alone accounts for about 7% share of total spending.
Pharmaceutical prices are also higher in the United States than in other OECD countries. A study of the 50 top-selling prescription drugs found that US pharmaceutical prices were at least 60% higher than those in five large European countries in 2007.[4]
Spending on Public Health and Administration is particularly high – more than two-and-a-half times the average. Administration of the US health system alone accounts for about 7% share of total spending.
The Problem is NOT that Medicare doesn’t pay
enough
Compared to other countries, Medicare pays reasonable rates for procedures. The problem is not that Medicare doesn’t pay, the problem is that medical providers charge too much for the results they provide.
Compared to other countries, Medicare pays reasonable rates for procedures. The problem is not that Medicare doesn’t pay, the problem is that medical providers charge too much for the results they provide.
What you can do
As medical costs soar
and Federal and state governments capitulate their duty to govern effectively,
it is important for individuals to take responsibility to manage their own
health care costs, even if they are covered by insurance.
One thing that can be
done is research competing providers. One way to compare costs of the same
service from different providers in your area is to use the services at NewChoice Health. There you can discover National minimum, maximum and average
prices as well as local provider prices for common procedures.
[1] .
(Members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Israël, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States
[2] OECD (2012), "Life expectancy at birth, total
population", Health: Key Tables from OECD, No. 8. doi: 10.1787/lifexpy-total-table-2012-1-en
[3]
OECD (2012), "Infant mortality", Health: Key Tables from OECD, No. 9.
doi: 10.1787/inf-mort-table-2012-1-en
[4] Kanavos, P. and S. Vandoros (2011), Drugs US: are
prices too high?, Significance, The Royal Statistical Society, March 2011,
pp.15-18.
