Americans Dying Prematurely
Cancer mortality rates in the U.S. are lower than Canada and France, but we need to look at overall longevity. Michael Moore’s documentary “Sicko” points out that on average, Canadians live three years longer than we do, and the French live considerably longer.
The reasons the French and Canadians live longer is directly related to the fact that we have 47 million people without health insurance. Those without health insurance feel sick, but decide they’ll get through it. Americans, who don’t have health insurance tend not see a doctor until it’s too late and they die prematurely.
According to the latest polls 78 percent of Canadians are happy with their system. They have delays with the Canadian system, but the average wait is four weeks for elective surgery. According to “Business Week”, we have long waits for certain things, also. For example American women may have to wait, as long as, six weeks for a mammogram. The difference, between waiting in U.S. and waiting in Canada, is that the Canadians have a triage system, which determines, who needs care the most and entitles them to go to the front of the line. That’s not the case in this country. If you’re lucky enough to have a good health care plan, you’re going to get quicker service.
You’ll find people criticizing the Canadian system, but not the French system, because the World Health Organization says the French have the best health care system in the world. The French have taken the profit motive out of health care.
The middle class in France pay more taxes than we do in America. However, many things are covered. Their kids go to college for free. They have no medical bills. Their day care is cheap or free. If we add up what Americans have to pay for those services, plus the taxes we pay, we end up paying more than the French.
The United States has slipped to 37th in health care around the world, just slightly ahead of Slovenia and Cuba. Perhaps the reason America doesn’t have the finest health care system in the world is, because there are four health care lobbyists for every member of Congress.
The reasons the French and Canadians live longer is directly related to the fact that we have 47 million people without health insurance. Those without health insurance feel sick, but decide they’ll get through it. Americans, who don’t have health insurance tend not see a doctor until it’s too late and they die prematurely.
According to the latest polls 78 percent of Canadians are happy with their system. They have delays with the Canadian system, but the average wait is four weeks for elective surgery. According to “Business Week”, we have long waits for certain things, also. For example American women may have to wait, as long as, six weeks for a mammogram. The difference, between waiting in U.S. and waiting in Canada, is that the Canadians have a triage system, which determines, who needs care the most and entitles them to go to the front of the line. That’s not the case in this country. If you’re lucky enough to have a good health care plan, you’re going to get quicker service.
You’ll find people criticizing the Canadian system, but not the French system, because the World Health Organization says the French have the best health care system in the world. The French have taken the profit motive out of health care.
The middle class in France pay more taxes than we do in America. However, many things are covered. Their kids go to college for free. They have no medical bills. Their day care is cheap or free. If we add up what Americans have to pay for those services, plus the taxes we pay, we end up paying more than the French.
The United States has slipped to 37th in health care around the world, just slightly ahead of Slovenia and Cuba. Perhaps the reason America doesn’t have the finest health care system in the world is, because there are four health care lobbyists for every member of Congress.
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