EDITORIAL: Are we ready for health reform yet?
If American Exceptionalism is an indisputable truth rather than a catchy, self-aggrandizing boast, please answer one simple question.
Among the world’s most exceptional (wealthy) nations, why does ours have the highest medical costs with the lowest life expectancy?
Sorry, AE fans, but in the biggest game of all, we’re losing.
According to research from the nonprofit KFF Health News, annual health spending per person, per country is as follows:
U.S.: $12,900
Germany: $7,400
Sweden: $6,200
France: $6,100
Canada: $5,900
Australia: $5,600
U.K.: $5,400
Japan: $4,700
And yet, life expectancy by country paints this starkly different picture:
Japan: 87.6 years
France: 85.5
Australia: 85.4
Sweden: 85.0
Canada: 84.7
Germany: 83.4
U.K.: 82.8
U.S.: 79.3
So, what do we get for our extravagant health spending? If you say “freedom,” you’re not completely wrong. Our country’s encouragement toward companies investing heavily in research has led to innovation, and with greater freedom for citizens comes more allowance to lead unhealthy lifestyles.
It’s true that the nations spending less on citizen health also tend to have stricter regulations. But doing an overall cost/benefit analysis, what conclusions do you draw?
With an apology for the American Exceptionalism smack at the beginning of this editorial (we thought the discussion was important enough to grab your attention), here are two suggestions for lawmakers to consider:
1. Find more middle ground on regulation — not all or none — in the coming year. Other than profit seekers at all costs, who really wants the most expensive health care and the lowest life expectancy?
2. Explore and develop better ways to offset costs and improve quality in later life stages. For example, make it more affordable for people to care for elderly relatives at home.
Most of us harbor dying wishes to leave something for our kids and grandkids. Where legacies end in hospital and long-term care facility billing departments, sorrow follows.