Our Insane US Healthcare System

No other nation in the world does health care the way we do in the US.

--We have, far and away, the most expensive health care system in the world. --We are the only nation that ties health care to profit. --We are the only nation where citizens go bankrupt from health care costs. --We are the only nation where our number one cause for bankruptcy for citizens is health care costs, approximately 40% of all bankruptcies in the US are from this, year after year, consistently. Insane. Obscene. Immoral. Fixable.

Wealthiest Nation in the World? Really?

Right. The United States. "Wealthiest nation in the world."  Sure we are.  Let's look closer.

First of all, there's that pesky issue of this biggest, most killing international pandemic in the last more than 100 years.

Coronavirus: Why America Has More Deaths Than Any Other

And sure, this COVID pandemic is an event, a "one off", if you will, that will go away. Here's statistics that are more complete, more over time and the entire nation and world.

US ranks last in worker benefits among developed countries: data

In comparisons to other developed nations, the U.S. lags in providing fundamental employee benefits.

For starters, we're the only Western, industrialized nation that a) doesn't have universal health care and that b) ties health care to profit and profits.

Real rocket scientists, we are.

Some of the facts from the article:

• Famed for their successful public health care systems, northern and Scandinavian countries like Canada, Denmark, Sweden and Norway ranked the highest in the top 10 countries with the best health care benefits.
• In the U.S., health care is privatized and does not offer universal health care, and Zenefits notes that private hospitals also propagate treatment inequalities between individuals who can afford higher quality treatment and those who cannot.
• Retirement benefits are another weak spot for the U.S.; older reports indicate that the U.S. comes in 16th place among the countries with the best retirement plans.
• This inequality in U.S. retirement planning extends to racial injustice as well. Some 24 percent of white family households are covered with an employee-sponsored retirement plan, compared to 16 percent of households of color.
• Throughout the globe, the U.S. also came in 32nd place for highest life expectancy, averaging 78.5 years.
• The U.S. is also notoriously stingy with its paid time off. Be it for sick leave, parental leave, or general work-life balance, the U.S. shows zero mandated paid holidays whereas similar countries within the European Union average between 20-30 paid holidays for discretionary use. Maternity leave is protected under U.S. labor laws, though, with 12 weeks of unpaid leave being the baseline for companies.
• Other countries, such as Finland, Germany, Japan, and Canada give their employees more time, ranging from 161 weeks to 52 weeks.

Note, too, above, what nations have higher standards of living, folks.

Yes.  Socialist. Democratic Socialist governments and countries. Go figure.

So congratulations, America, Americans. At least, with all this, above, we also have this, below, eh?

U.S. Has Worst Wealth Inequality of Any Rich Nation

Say... Do you suppose, just suppose the two could be related?

Ya' think?

Additional link:

COVID-19 pandemic death rates by country

Quotes of the Day -- On Health Care

Universal health care is such a complex beast that only 32 of the world's 33 nations have been able to make it work.

--Duke @Maxonsdad 

If you think Covid treatment should be free (of course it should), why do you think insulin shouldn’t be? 

Or cancer treatment? 

Or mental health?

Health care should not be run for profit. Period.

--Robert Reich @RBReich

The Democrats Are Asking Some Great, Even Important Questions Today

 Yes sir and ma'am, the Democrats and their Democratic Party are asking some great and important  questions today over at their website. Without further adieu, they are:

3 Questions for Senate Republicans Today

Three key questions for Senate Republicans to answer today — and they didn’t even have to watch President Trump’s spectacle last night to answer:

1. If the Supreme Court rules to invalidate the Affordable Care Act, why do you still not have a plan to replace the health care law and maintain current protections for pre-existing conditions? (Reminder: all of the GOP’s deceptive pre-existing conditions bills would still gut those protections.)
2. Will you commit to accepting the results of the November election and pledge not to undermine public confidence in the outcome with unfounded claims about voting?
3. Why are you comfortable supporting a president who refuses to condemn white supremacy?

If they can’t provide straightforward answers to these basic questions, they have no business serving in the United States Senate.

Senators?

Senator Blunt?  Senator Hawley?

Your answers, gentlemen?

At What Point, America, Do You Get This on Health Care?

Okay, America. It's 2020. Worst, most killing international pandemic in more than 100 years.

You're the only Western, industrialized nation without universal health care. You're the only nation that tied and ties health care to profit.

The U.S. is the Only Very Highly Developed Country Without Universal HealthCare

You have, far and away, THE MOST EXPENSIVE health care system IN THE WORLD. And it also gives you THE WORST OUTCOMES, for all that money.

U.S. Healthcare: Most 

Expensive and Worst Performing

The U.S. Has the Most Expensive Healthcare System in the World

And we're the only nation--IN THE WORLD--where citizens can and do go bankrupt for health care costs.

Only in America: Bankruptcy Due to Health Care Costs

And not just bankruptcies, which is bad enough, but it's the NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF BANKRUPTCY in the nation.

Health Care Costs Number One Cause of Bankruptcy for American Families

And now? As I said, with this worst, most killing international pandemic in over 100 years? And the job losses? And so, people losing their health insurance?

Millions Have Lost Health Insurance in Pandemic

COVID-19 Job Losses Threaten Insurance Coverage

27M Americans may have lost job-based health insurance

At what point do you get this?

How long are we going to let corporations and profits be more important than people? And their lives?

You didn't used to be clueless. Or heartless.

Or downright stupid.

Missourians!! On That Vote Tomorrow!!

Missourians!

On that Election tomorrow!

Here you are!  Vote!!  And make sure these are your votes!!

Yes on 2!

Yes for healthcare!

No on 3!!

No on Republican Party gerrymandering!

Clean Missouri

What is the Clean Missouri Initiative?

Vote 'NO' on Clean Missouri ballot issue No. 3 on Nov. 3

Either Instead of or Along With Defunding Police, Let's Do These

Either instead of or along with defunding police, for a much better, stronger society, let's do the following, instead. I've been saying this for years.

Time to 'Reinvest in People' and 'Cut Weapons of War': Barbara Lee Unveils Plan to Cut Up to $350 Billion From Pentagon

We pay more out, year after year, than any other country, far and away, for what we call "defense." We buy bombs and weapons and have bases all over the world.

You'd think we were still fighting World War II.

And we just keep increasing how much we shell out for this "defense."

It's insane. It's not rational. It's certainly not moral nor necessary. It's not making us stronger, either, as a nation. This businessman said this correctly and it was 3 years ago.

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma says the US wasted trillions on warfare instead of investing in infrastructure

And keep this in perspective, too, before anyone says it would weaken us as a nation.

If we cut our defense budget in half---cut it IN HALF---we'd still, still outspend and overspend EVERY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD.  Still.

Then, after that, how about we STOP INCARCERATING SO MANY AMERICANS.

Check this out.

United States Still Has Highest Incarceration Rate 

in the World

We incarcerate more people THAN ANY OTHER NATION.

Put that into perspective.

China has approximately 1.43 billion citizens.
India, 1.353 billion people.

We, the US?

We have a paltry 329 million people.

But we jail more fellow Americans than ANY OTHER NATION, to repeat.

How is this not insane?  It's completely, totally unnecessary. Again, obscene and immoral.

Here's a thought.

Instead of jailing so many people, how about we take that money and, oh, I don't know. INVEST IN THEIR SCHOOLS, instead?? Invest in health care? Invest in social programs?  Take care of our people instead of throwing them away?

Check out this one statistic:

America Spends Much More on Prisoners 

Than Students

The U.S. spends more on prisons and jails than it does on educating children – and 15 states spend at least $27,000 more per prisoner than they do per student, according to a new report. (link below)
And along with this incarceration is the fact that, since the end of the Civil War, we, the United States, have also disproportionately incarcerated FAR more African-Americans as a percentage of our population.

Black Americans incarcerated five times more 

than white

Let's stop this insanity. Let's stop this ugliness. Let's stop this waste and stupidity.

Let's do this, America. 

Let's invest in our people.

We'll be far stronger, all of us, because of it.

Shocking Information On Coronavirus Deaths in St. Louis

I just saw this article online from Newsweek.

ALL CORONAVIRUS DEATHS IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI HAVE BEEN AFRICAN AMERICANS

Honestly, that is shocking.

That's one heck of an indictment of our health care system and even, honestly, our society.

These are fellow Missourians and Americans. We can't allow this now but going forward.

More:

The Coronavirus Is a Wake-Up Call for Racial Inequality. It’s Time to Change the System

COVID-19 is disproportionately killing minorities. That’s not a coincidence

Here's That "American Exceptionalism" For You

Here you go.

Just one more way we are "exceptional" as a nation.

There is an article out just now on countries with the best life expectancy.

Countries with the best life expectancy

And get this.

The top countries are all Democratic Socialist nations…

And they all have universal healthcare.

We, the US, are at---wait for it--the number 34 position.

34

Cuba is in the number 33 position. They live longer in Cuba, freaking Cuba, than we do here in the States.

We also have a worse life expectancy than Slovenia.

Coincidentally, Israel, to whom we give millions of dollars, has a far higher life expectancy than we in the US. They are #14 on the list. And yes, it really is true they have universal healthcare, too. We don't but they do.

People in the Republic of Korea have a longer life expectancy, at number 9.

Singapore is number 4---number 4---on the list. Far better, far higher than the US.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what lots of guns and money and zero universal healthcare gets us.

Enjoy that exceptionalism, folks.

This Is How Insane, Obcene and Immoral Our US "Healthcare" Is-- And How Overpriced

This is how insanely expensive US healthcare is.

There is a fantastic, eye-opening article in today's Sunday New York Times that spells it all out and that every adult American should read or at least be aware of.

A Mexican Hospital, an American Surgeon, and a $5,000 Check (Yes, a Check)

This patient, this woman was flown to Mexico, to Cancun, from here in the States, Wisconsin, specifically, along with her surgeon in order to get a full knee replacement.  That's one thing. You'd think that would be crazy by itself, right? After all, we have the "best healthcare in the world." don't we?

But wait, there's more. A lot more.

• The cost of her flight was included in all the costs and charges
• Her doctor was also flown there for the surgery
• Her doctor's flights down and back plus a hotel room for him were all included in these costs
•  Her doctor was paid 3 times--3 times--what he would have earned here in the States doing the same surgery
•  She received a check for $5000 to do it and then the kicker---
•  It still cost less than it would have here, in country

"The hospital costs of the American medical system are so high that it made financial sense for both a highly trained orthopedist from Milwaukee and a patient from Mississippi to leave the country and meet at an upscale private Mexican hospital for the surgery."

Repeating, this is how monumentally stupid, insane, obscene and immoral our for-profit healthcare is here in America.

Insane.

God, we're stupid.

I say again, we are the only, the only industrialized nation that does this, that ties health and healthcare to profit.

Reputedly, a Canadian Asks Some Very Good and Relevant Questions of Us

What Tying Health Care to Profit(s) Gets You

Yes sir/ma'am, this, this, among many other things, is just what, exactly, tying health care to profit and profits gets a nation---us.

U.S. Health Care Ranked Worst 

in the Developed World

Note two things about the article--First, it is from Time magazine, not some wild, irresponsible rag and two, it was published June 17, 2014.  As prices and costs for health care in our nation get ever-higher, this only becomes more true and only gets worse.

This study is from just last year.

Study: US healthcare system is worst 

among 11 developed nations

Report: U.S. Has the Worst Health Care System

Here are some of the other things tying health and health care to profits gains you.

Once again, U.S. has most expensive, 

least effective health care

Health Care Costs: 

The Leading Cause of Bankruptcy

So congratulations, America. The rest of the world knows better than this. We pay more, far more, than any other nation for health care and we have the worst medical outcomes.

Aren't we brilliant?  Seems "exceptional" to me, right?

Will you EVER learn?

Missouri Makes a Very Dark List

Wow.

Missouri not only made the top, worst 10 on a new survey of the 50 states in America, it actually made the top, worst 5.

America's 10 worst states to live in 2017 

- CNBC.com

"These are the 10 worst states in the US for quality of life, including crime, health, social tolerance and the environment."

So check out what they say about our own Show Me state:

5. MISSOURI

Show Me how to stay safe in Missouri, where violent crime in all categories has been rising, in some cases by double digits. Missouri also lacks statewide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, marital status, and gender identity. And the state is near the bottom for public health funding.

2017 Quality of Life score: 99 out of 300 points
Weaknesses: Crime rate, health, inclusiveness
Strength: Attractions
2016 Quality of Life rank: No. 49

Note that last statistic, too.  2016 Quality of Life rank:  49.  Out of 50, of course. Only one state worse than us, whoever that is. 

Even on this list, we're worse than Mississippi, for God's sake. 

WORSE THAN MISSISSIPPI.

Let that sink in.

I know I personally take no comfort whatever in learning that neighbor state to the South, Arkansas, is ranked 4th worst or that, again, neighbor state Oklahoma is ranked number 3.

We should no way be on this list. This is horrible.

We must do better. We have to.

And we start by getting Republicans out of public office.

Let's get started.

Those Health Care Hikes Announced This Week?

You likely heard about the double-digit hikes in health care costs for people with Obamacare?

There are some things to know about it all.

First, the costs won't be passed on to the patient. They will be paid by the subsidies in and from Obamacare. So the person getting the care won't be gouged. Their health care won't get any more expensive. Sure, this is still not good because that money has to come from somewhere but at least the person on the street, that patient won't have it any worse.

Second, this---

The truth about healthcare premiums: 

They'd be a lot higher without Obamacare

The fact is, the health care corporations in this country are still just gouging the hell out of all of us here in this country. They still just keep relentlessly, year after year, jacking up the prices of their drugs and treatments, etc. And what's great, at least for them, is that now they get to blame the Black guy, they get to blame Obama and his Obamacare.  Worst of all, too many people will believe all that nonsense, that the price rises are the fault of Obamacare.

No one should be fooled. The fact is, the ugly fact remains, we are the only nation in the world that ties health care to profit. It is, single-handedly, clearly, the only reason our health care is, far and away, the most expensive health care and health care system in the world, on the planet. And for all that money, let me remind you, it's also the least effective for us. Check this out.

Once again, U.S. has most expensive, 

least effective health care

Yes, this is from 2014 but keep in mind, since this survey, our health care costs, as we know, have risen even higher, and not by just a little bit. And the higher the price goes, the less can afford it, the less get that health care.

We must untie health care in this nation from profit and profits.

That's all there is to it.

What we're doing now, what we've done up to now has gotten us this outrageously high, not just expensive but super expensive, deeply immoral system.

And it's killing us.

This Is How Bad American Health Care Is

Here is a perfect example of how bad our American health care is, given that we tie it to profit and profits. From the LA Times:

How a bite from a stray dog shows 

the sick state of U.S. healthcare

Jan Kern was bitten by a stray dog while traveling abroad and ended up with a jaw-dropping illustration of why the U.S. healthcare industry is completely sick.

That’s because she underwent a series of rabies shots in three countries at four medical facilities. What that revealed, and which will surprise no one, is that Americans pay way more for the exact same treatment than people in other nations.

Moreover, her experience highlights the lack of uniformity for drug prices, including commonly used medications. One facility might charge a few bucks for the same drug that costs thousands of dollars at a U.S. hospital.

“There’s no rhyme or reason to our medical system,” said Rick Kern, 61, who contacted me about his 62-year-old wife’s global healthcare adventure after reading my recent column on drug prices...

The Kerns are former Palos Verdes residents who now reside on Lake Tahoe. While traveling in Southeast Asia a couple of years ago, Jan was bitten by a stray pooch near Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple. The couple went to a nearby hospital, where a doctor recommended vaccination for rabies, necessitating a series of four shots.

The first shot at Royal Angkor International Hospital cost $125. That included $66.75 for the dose of Verorab, a $25 hospital charge and a $25 doctor fee.

Jan received her second Verorab shot at a clinic in northern Thailand. The bill this time: A mere $18.50, which provides the best evidence of the drug’s actual cost. Even with the clinic’s overhead factored in, a shot of Verorab, which is manufactured by French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur, was priced well below $20.

Things changed dramatically once the Kerns returned to this country. For her third shot, Jan visited Torrance Memorial Medical Center. It was a Sunday, and she had to go to the emergency room, so that added considerably to her cost. The tab for a single injection: $5,254.85.

Shot No. 4 was administered at the Redondo Beach branch of HealthCare Partners medical group. This time the bill was $427.

It’s important to note that the Kerns weren’t on the hook for any of these charges. They’d shrewdly purchased travel insurance before their trip, which covered all related medical costs, even once back in the United States.

Also, that crazy bill from Torrance Memorial was the hospital’s opening salvo in haggling with insurers. Such astronomic charges typically are paid only by those lacking coverage. The actual insured price invariably will be much lower.

And Verorab, which is commonly prescribed for rabies in Europe and Asia because it’s relatively cheap to produce, isn’t available in the United States. Costlier vaccines must be used.

Even so, the Kerns’ experience demonstrates the financial pitfalls that await anyone with a high-deductible health plan and thus responsibility for a greater share of medical costs. It also underlines the lunacy of U.S. healthcare pricing.

Clearly a big hospital like Torrance Memorial has more overhead expenses than a little clinic in rural Thailand — it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison. But that doesn’t mitigate how a bill for less than $20 in another country can turn into a bill for over $5,000 in this one.

“Even if the Torrance bill was $1,200, that’s still a stark difference in prices,” said Nadereh Pourat, a professor of health policy and management at UCLA. “It shows that the free market doesn’t work for healthcare. It works for buying televisions, but with healthcare, there’s no price transparency.”

It's crazy what we allow for and in health care in these United States.

I keep saying, and its true, we just aren't that bright.

Link:  U.S. Healthcare: Most Expensive and Worst Performing

America's Health Care System

America and our for-profit health care system.  Yay, us.

U.S. Healthcare: Most Expensive and 

Worst Performing

"Obamacare." It's Working

Yes sir. The Affordable Care Act, "Obamacare" worked. It's working. Don't let anyone say it's not. From June of this year.

U.S. will spend $2.6 trillion less 

on health care than expected

It's working, folks. It works. More than 20 million Americans now have health care and overall, we're spending less, far less.

20 Million Americans Get Insurance 

Under Obamacare

And it's not just that these 20 million Americans have health care, either. It's also that more of us are covered now than ever before.

More Americans Than Ever 

Have Health Insurance Coverage

Still, given all this good news, our health care costs are still, far and away, the most expensive in the world and outrageously, even obscenely so. It's clear we have more work to do, absolutely. But this was a terrific start. And we wouldn't have it without this President. We wouldn't have it without the Democrats pushing it. And the Republicans have wasted many, many person-hours trying to undo it. They've held at least 62 different votes, trying to undo this saving, helpful legislative act.

Sure, I say again, it's not perfect and there's still more we need to do---like single payer plans--but the ACA, "Obamacare", worked and is working.

Now, let's do more.

Links:

Obamacare, As Seen from the Diabetes Trenches

No, doctors don't hate Obamacare

Two ways Obamacare is working | Physicians News

Physicians for a National Health Program

Who We Are, America

Who we are, what we've become, what we're actually doing, in spite of what we think of ourselves.

---Our health care has become unobtainable for millions of us.  And we know it.

US Healthcare: Most Expensive and 

Worst Performing

---Same with college education (actually, according to this ranking, we're 3rd most expensive in the world but climbing).

10 Most Expensive Countries for College 

in the World in 2015

---We spend more on what we call defense than any other nation, bar none and far and away, yet we no doubt think of ourselves as a peaceful people and nation.

World's Top Military Spenders: U.S. Spends More than Next Top 14 Countries Combined.

---same with weapons---we are the world's number one arms seller.

World's Largest Weapons Exporters

So congratulations, America and Americans. I don't think you really know exactly who you actually are and/or what you're doing in the world and even to your own nation.

The Great American Smokeout Tomorrow!

Yes sir! The annual Great American Smokeout is tomorrow!

For any of the smokers out there, maybe today is the day to take this push and try to quit, if even for a day. There are so many benefits, too, as you may well already know. There are many benefits to your health but saving money factors in and more.

So good luck tomorrow and have fun with it! (If possible).

Leawood, Kansas?

So a new ranking list came out last week. It was this:

2015's Best & Worst Small Cities in America

And that's all well and good and you wouldn't maybe think much about it but look what small city made the number 5 spot on the "best" list:

The best small cities in America:

1. Princeton, N.J.

2. Littleton, Colo.

3. Dublin, Ohio

4. Brookfield, Wis.

5. Leawood, Kans.

6. Southlake, Tex.

7. Westfield, Ind. 

8. Northampton, Mass.

9. Ankeny, Iowa

10. Crystal Lake, Ill

Leawood, Kansas?

Leawood freaking Kansas?

One of the best small cities in America?

For what? It's cozy, old downtown area?

Here's at least part of what the rankings were based on--

Overall Rank	City	Overall Score	‘Affordability’ Rank	‘Economic Health’ Rank	‘Education & Health’ Rank	‘Quality of Life’ Rank
1	Princeton, NJ	61.90	1144	1	7	41
2	Littleton, CO	57.62	742	331	54	28
3	Dublin, OH	57.22	171	43	112	190
4	Brookfield, WI	57.18	206	169	8	248
5	Leawood, KS	57.09	77	14	123	523

So... wait. 

Let's start right here with "affordability."

Affordable?  Leawood?  Anyone and everyone in the Kansas City metro knows Leawood is anything but affordable. It's one of the most expensive and exclusive cities in the area. I guess if you compare it to San Francisco or New York, it's affordable.

And the rest of the these rankings, above? Economic health, education and health and quality of life ratings?

Well of course they're all high numbers in Leawood! The people out there are loaded! And not just with booze.

How insane.

If you just put cities on paper, I guess you can come up with rankings and ratings totally disconnected from the actual world out here. The next area city on the list was Wildwood, Missouri (?) at number 30. Shawnee, Kansas, 54. Liberty, Missouri----131. (ouch). Lenexa, 223. Nothing to advertise about, for sure. Blue Springs?  615.  Yowza.

Side note: Also surprising, at least to me, is that all 10---all 10---cities on the "worst" list are from California.

That's got to have 10 different City Halls and Chambers of Commerce scrambling to change things, I would think.