Cross posted at HA
Last weekend We had dinner with a former fellow of mine. He is now a Professor of Cardiology in Japan. His clinic charges 1/2 of what a similar clinic in the US charges. True he is paid less than a colleague here, but Yuji does not have a massive debt from school, doe snot need to put aside a fortune to send his two kids to college, gets the same inexpensive healthcare everyone else does, etc. The quality of his work?
Japan’s healthcare is worldclass!
Ours is good too, but no better and a lot more expensive.
1. Healthcare in the USA costs 50% to 400% more than it does elsewhere. WHO PAYS THE BILL?
We do. Our businesses will never be comeptive if they have to bear this burdfen.
2. There is no free market in US healthcare.
Up to 80% of people
.. in some states are insured by a single company.
Patients usually have only the choices allowed by their employers.
3. Helathcare elsewhere is so good that Americans have begun health tourism
Contrary to the reprican fear mongering , Americans are going to cheaper countries for healthcare they can not afford here. Is healthcare the next industry we want to offshore?
4. We are unprepared for emergencies
Our hospitals emulate our car companies .. they use ajjust in time model that means we strive for near 100% occupancy. That is fine UNTIL .. the big one hits … an epidemic flu could bankrupt the US.
5. A medical education implies ~$300,000 ihn debts
Hang that around a young person’s neck and then ask them to cut costs.
So, DON’T FIX IT. Tie a rock around our econiomy and throw it over the side.
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