Reply #11: A Nebraska Economist slings facts on the Heath Care Crisis

[populistdriven]

The US projected life expectancy is in 30th place.

A newborn Japanese person can expect to live five years longer.

American infants die at a rate twice that of Swedish children.

The US has the highest failure rate at eliminating avoidable deaths.

The US spends 200% more per person on health as other developed countries

The 50,000,000 uninsured Americans pay higher rates for health care than insurance companies pay for the same treatments.

The best solution is to provide universal coverage by extending the successful Medicare program to everyone. Americans would be richer by the remaining 40 percent of total health expenditures now eaten up by insurance company profits, misleading advertising, overpriced prescription drugs and the excessive need for emergency care caused by the lack of regular preventive care.

Dr. Hendrik Van den Berg is a Professor of Economics and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
http://www.dailynebraskan.com/opinion/americans-need-universal-health-care-1.1849623

Also;

American Journal of Medicine & Harvard Medical School - 60 percent of personal bankruptcies in the United States involved medical bills - Health insurance appears to be useless when it is most needed. Twenty-five percent of insurance companies cancel coverage immediately when an individual covered suffers a disabling illness. Within a year, another twenty-five percent of insurers cancel coverage.

Even with medical coverage, here are the average annual bills, out of pocket and after insurance payouts:

Multiple sclerosis: $34,167
Diabetes: $26,971
Injuries: $25,096
Stroke: $23,380
Heart disease: $21,955

http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2009/06/04/majority-of-bankruptcies-due-to-medical-bills/