Super Jellyfish

Healthcare in America vs. healthcare in the rest of the world [Wash. Monthly]

Here are the percentages of Americans who say they are “fairly or very satisfied” with their own health system: Poor: 45%, Elderly: 61% and Everyone else: 34% …

First, the elderly in America, who are covered by a state-run national healthcare system (Medicare and Medicaid) are way more satisfied with their healthcare than everyone else. As it happens, the elderly in other countries also tend to report higher satisfaction levels than other people, but usually by just a few percentage points. In America, where the elderly are covered by a national system and others aren’t, the elderly are more satisfied by a whopping 27 percentage points.

Second, even the poor are more satisfied with their healthcare than the rest of us. The poor generally rely on a combination of Medicaid, emergency rooms, and free clinics for their healthcare, a system that’s hard to beat for sheer inefficiency and appalling service.

Very interesting.

Why won’t American support a national healthcare system? I suppose it feels too socialist.

(Credits to Brad Delong for the clipping.)