US Health Care vs. The World
Posted in Health Care , Health Insurance
December 1st, 2009
It’s no secret that there is a current struggle with the U.S. health care system. According to a recent Towers Perrin study, the average cost of medical coverage for an insured, employed worker is predicted to be $5,124 with no dependents, and $15,084 annually to cover an entire family in 2010.
Even more astounding is the number of Americans without insurance. Currently, there are an estimated 46 million without health insurance coverage and unfortunately, that number is expected to grow to as much as 50 million by 2010.
While the United States is often revered as one of the greatest countries in the world, when it comes to health care, its ranking often falls below other industrialized countries. This is part of the reason that Congress is working so hard to completely overhaul the current health care system.
But if you’ve wondered just how the United States measures up to other countries in health care, let’s take a closer look at our nation in comparison to others.
Health Care Costs Around the World and the World Health Care Ranking
According to 2009 data from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the total health spending for the United States in 2007 equaled 16% of gross national product. This was by far the highest amount of spending dedicated to health care in the world. According to OECD, the average amount spent on health care worldwide was 8.9%.
Some of the countries that followed the U.S. in total health spending were:
- France with 11% spending
- Switzerland at 10.8%
- Germany at 10.4%
On the other end of the spectrum were Poland, Mexico and Turkey with total health spending of 6.4%, 5.9% and 5.7% spending, respectively.
World health care rankings also determine which countries are ranking well, which is distributed each year by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2009, the United States ranked 37th in the world in health care. But while it could give a huge indication to the current state of health care in the country, many experts refute the ranking’s validity, noting that it is dated and flawed.
Quality of U.S. Health Care
While the world health care ranking is arguably not a true indicator of our quality of care in comparison to the rest of the world, with the U.S. leading the world in total spending, the question arises as to whether the quality of health care is comparable to the amount of money spent on that care.
In 2007, a Pennsylvania government study found that among 60 surveyed hospitals, those that received $100,000 to perform heart bypass surgeries versus those that received $20,000 for the same operation showed comparable lengths of stay and death rates. Even more interesting is that while the U.S. is revered for quality technology and care, according to OECD, in 2006 the life expectancy at birth in the United States was 78.1 years, which is less than the OECD world average of 79.0 years.
So if the lower life expectancy is not necessarily a reflection of the quality of health care in the country, could it be a lack of health care altogether?
A 2009 study released by the Cambridge Health Alliance found that people without health insurance have a 40% greater chance of dying than those with private insurance. According to the study, the main reason that patients were more likely to die was because they didn’t seek preventative care or early detection. As a result, illnesses progressed far beyond what they would have with an insured patient.
Unfortunately, the lack of health insurance often ties back to the rising costs of health care, as well as an increase in unemployment. People simply cannot afford coverage. So while the quality of health care at the doctor’s office may be stellar, many people cannot make it to the doctor or hospital to receive care.
Health Care Reform: Will We Measure Up?
The major health care overhaul being debated is a great indication that things need to change within the U.S. health care system. There is evidence that health care is overpriced, leaving millions underserved. As a result, President Obama has spearheaded an effort to create affordable insurance to the American masses.
So far, Congress has spent many months creating bills among various committees within the House and Senate. Provisions have been thrown in and adjustments have been made. But ultimately, the ultimate goal of the reform is:
- Reducing rapidly rising health care costs
- Protecting consumers from insurance abuses (i.e. denying coverage due to preexisting conditions)
- Providing affordable options to those who are uninsured
- Avoiding additions to the federal deficit
There have been a number of initiatives proposed to make this wish list a reality. However, the final bill has yet to find its way to Obama’s desk for signing into law.
After all is said and done, the hope is that the new health care system (which is set to cost nearly $2 trillion over 10 years) will decrease health care costs and effectively provide millions with affordable insurance options. Maybe then, the U.S. health care system will help increase the nation’s life expectancy and eventually measure up to other countries with not just the best equipment and top-notch physicians – but also the ability to provide Americans with access to quality care when needed.