Is there any country with a medical system that people don't complain about? For instance is there anyone in the world that would agree: "Gee, my healthcare is so cheap, it's surprising that it covers everything I want it to without me needing to go out of my way to justify my treatment options and I have so many medical professionals available to me at a moments notice!"
France is #1 in care according to the world health organization for 1/2 the cost per capita. It is all private, well-regulated, and provides universal coverage (your company pays your premium; if you have no employer, the govn't does).
We are #37 according to the world health organization and we cost twice as much.
I'm sure people in France complain, but they have way less of a reason to.
Some reasons for the cost savings: universal, portable medical record, insurance companies have to remit with three business days, reference pricing, one system not medicare, VA, private. Private insurance companies don't make tons of money they are so well regulated...
> France is #1 in care according to the world health organization for 1/2 the cost per capita. It is all private, well-regulated, and provides universal coverage (your company pays your premium; if you have no employer, the govn't does).
> We are #37 according to the world health organization and we cost twice as much.
Note that ranks alone are not sufficient to evaluate this comparison. If the top 40 countries for Healthcare outcomes all had near-equivalent mortality rates, e.g., it wouldn't necessarily be a problem to be #37.
That said, they don't have equivalent mortality rates, so the ranks do happen to discriminate quite a bit.
Life expectancy in the USA is lower than France primarily due to other factors like obesity, sedentary lifestyles, substance abuse, suicide, and violence. Those problems can't really be fixed through healthcare system reforms (although making our healthcare system more efficient might eventually free up some funding for other social issues).
The NHS is one of the most beloved institutions on the planet AFAICT.
Of course everyone would prefer if everything were better all the time, but complaints about the US system and clearly not on the same plane as those about UK’s.
Wow, the last few years are a shocking drop. In 2010, 70% reported "very or quite satisfied" and 18% "very or quite dissatisfied." 2010 - 2020 seemed to hover around 60-65% "very satisfied."
Unless you're reading news items about no ambulances or beds, being left on trollies in corridors, waiting lists for procedures lack of available GP appointments. Before covid not as a result.
I have experience in Germany and the US. I don’t think there is much difference in these aspects. As far as GP appointments go, here in new Mexico the wait time is measured in months and years.
IMO, the problem with healthcare is the same issue as with other labor-intensive things like childcare, education etc. It's Baumel's cost disease. Products hey cheaper due to automation and get cheaper relative to services. This makes these things get really expensive in relation. The most common intervention for this unfortunately is demand-side subsidies which of course make things worse. The other intervention is tighter controls which means more paperwork which also make things more expensive. Happens everywhere.
Of course, because comp is much higher in the US than in most countries, including most western countries, maybe worth the exclusion of tiny, unusual places like Switzerland.
I don't mean to start a flame war, but the most positive things I've heard are from Indian colleagues/friends who are used to paying cash for very affordable service back in India.
No insurance or national coverage, just low overhead and high skill.
Those colleagues were very wealthy by Indian standards to begin with and have only increased their purchasing power by being abroad. India does in fact have free care at government facilities and they are certainly not "low overhead and high skill". I'd pick rural American healthcare over rural Indian healthcare 10 times out of 10.
