Health care in five capitalist countries

[bixaorellana]

You can watch these videos online. It's an overview of health care in the UK, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, and Switzerland.

I've only watched the segment on Britain so far and was fascinated.

FRONTLINE: Sick Around the World

[joanne28]

Really interesting. The Canadian model is much like the British, except that each province effectively runs their own health care, funded by the federal government.

There is also private health insurance (from most, not all, employers) for areas not covered, such as dental work and hospital rooms. Even hospital charges are based on whether the patient opts for a certain type of room. We just went through it in January. Since we specified a semi-private room for my husband's first stay, we were on the hook for the charges. At $245 per day that added up. But we both have insurance with our employers and paid nothing. My husband's second stay we said we didn't care, so no charges. We now know what to do.

I'll try to catch the rest of it when I can - I'm skiving off work here. Everyone else (all 3 of them) are out. My two office mates went for a walk! So I feel entitled to surf when they do that.

[Kimby]

Why health care in the US is so expensive:



The house that is being built for the administrator of one of the insurance companies that serves Montana residents. (Construction was delayed while they finished their fabulous new lake house.) Yes, that's real slate on the roof. In addition to the two 2-car garages, the house sits atop a subterranean 13-car garage. For his classic car collection.

It ain't health care, it's "wealth care". For the CEOS of the insurance companies.

[auntieannie]

aarrrghhhh! Kimby, that is SO ANNOYING! It makes me want to scream!

[hwinpp]

Can you believe that in Thailand there's pretty good health coverage for 30 Thai baht per month? Covers hospital stays as well. Of course people there are used to and expect a different standard from those in the West.

[fumobici]

American medicine has become completely detached from any sense of monetary value or market discipline, The industry seems to just spend and pocket money as if there were a literally unlimited supply. It's become little more than a giant conveyor belt hauling obscene piles of extorted money (pay or grow ill and die!) from people and depositing it into already rich people's bank accounts. Veterinary care is more rationally managed.

[Kimby]

Apr 30, 2010 2:07:20 GMT fumobici said:

American medicine has become completely detached from any sense of monetary value or market discipline, The industry seems to just spend and pocket money as if there were a literally unlimited supply. It's become little more than a giant conveyor belt hauling obscene piles of extorted money (pay or grow ill and die!) from people and depositing it into already rich people's bank accounts. Veterinary care is more rationally managed.

And more moderately priced, too.

[patricklondon]

completely detached from any sense of monetary value or market discipline

Almost inevitably. Market discipline depends on buyers and sellers who are both in a position to be well-informed about what's being bought and sold, and to understand each other's self-interest when setting a price. When it comes to medical care, the customer (patient) is mostly not in a position to know whether a particular treatment or procedure is necessary or value for money, given that their priority self-interest is to survive or get better (when neither might be possible), and the customer who pays (insurance company) has a conflict of interest between getting value for money for their premium-payers and maximum profit for their shareholders. It's all too complex for market relationships.