Health Care in America
I just read an article on HealthScout that quotes a recent survey on Health Care in America. The findings include:
I must admit this caused me to sit up and take notice. As I have mentioned here before, health care was one of the big issues that pushed us to make the move to France, along with the U.S. political situation. Although, to be honest, the two are certainly closely linked. JM and I were definitely in that group who were "very worried" that they wouldn't be able to afford health care coverage over the next few years. Indeed, I'm pretty sure that by this point, we would have had no, or close to no, insurance.
This issue of the cost of medical care has even followed us here to France, in that I still can't get used to the idea that it is okay to go to the doctor if we're not dying. I tend to self-treat far more than the average French person.
Even JM's recent bout with root canal and the subsequent repair of his broken tooth had us stressed until the end. We figure it would have cost a couple of thousand dollars in the States, including the crown. Here, although he hasn't had the crown done yet because the dentist wants to wait for several months to be sure there are no abscesses,etc., we actually paid nothing for his care! Obviously, that is also dependent on the Mutuelle (complimentary insurance to cover the part not paid by social security), but we had NO dental insurance at all in L.A.
Not having to worry about losing our home if one of us becomes ill is a huge relief for us. I don't think we could ever afford to return to the U.S. for the health insurance issue alone. Self-employed, under employed, unemployed people are just left out in the cold by the U.S. system.
Clearly, the debate over health care goes on here in France as well. There is a new list of medications which will not be reimbursed by social security, which means the costs for individuals using those drugs will go up if they want to keep taking them. However, the medications are dropped because there does not appear to be scientific proof as to their efficacity in treating the illnesses for which they are prescribed, not because an insurer thinks they are too expensive. That alone is an important distinction.
Surely, the health care of its 300,000,000 citizens (as of this morning) should matter to the United States at least as much as the "war on terror," shouldn't it? What are the statistics of how many people die from lack of timely medical care each year as compared to the number who die in terrorist attacks? And, isn't THAT truly terrifying?
Ciao for now.
Randy
The Health Care in America Survey of 1,201 adults was conducted between Sept. 7 and 12, 2006. Key findings include:
- 28 percent of respondents said that in the past year they or a family member have put off medical treatment because of the cost. Of those who delayed treatment, 70 percent said they needed care for a serious medical condition.
- Among those with health insurance, 60 percent are worried about not being able to afford coverage over the next few years -- 27 percent said they are very worried.
- 54 percent of those without health insurance said they don't have it because they can't afford it.
- 80 percent said they're dissatisfied with the overall cost of healthcare to the nation. Cost came out ahead of quality when they were asked about their own healthcare.
The survey was conducted jointly by the Kaiser Family Foundation, ABC News, and USA Today.
I must admit this caused me to sit up and take notice. As I have mentioned here before, health care was one of the big issues that pushed us to make the move to France, along with the U.S. political situation. Although, to be honest, the two are certainly closely linked. JM and I were definitely in that group who were "very worried" that they wouldn't be able to afford health care coverage over the next few years. Indeed, I'm pretty sure that by this point, we would have had no, or close to no, insurance.
This issue of the cost of medical care has even followed us here to France, in that I still can't get used to the idea that it is okay to go to the doctor if we're not dying. I tend to self-treat far more than the average French person.
Even JM's recent bout with root canal and the subsequent repair of his broken tooth had us stressed until the end. We figure it would have cost a couple of thousand dollars in the States, including the crown. Here, although he hasn't had the crown done yet because the dentist wants to wait for several months to be sure there are no abscesses,etc., we actually paid nothing for his care! Obviously, that is also dependent on the Mutuelle (complimentary insurance to cover the part not paid by social security), but we had NO dental insurance at all in L.A.
Not having to worry about losing our home if one of us becomes ill is a huge relief for us. I don't think we could ever afford to return to the U.S. for the health insurance issue alone. Self-employed, under employed, unemployed people are just left out in the cold by the U.S. system.
Clearly, the debate over health care goes on here in France as well. There is a new list of medications which will not be reimbursed by social security, which means the costs for individuals using those drugs will go up if they want to keep taking them. However, the medications are dropped because there does not appear to be scientific proof as to their efficacity in treating the illnesses for which they are prescribed, not because an insurer thinks they are too expensive. That alone is an important distinction.
Surely, the health care of its 300,000,000 citizens (as of this morning) should matter to the United States at least as much as the "war on terror," shouldn't it? What are the statistics of how many people die from lack of timely medical care each year as compared to the number who die in terrorist attacks? And, isn't THAT truly terrifying?
Ciao for now.
Randy
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